I TOLD YOU ALREADY!
The Ask Maya archives
page 6

Please note: Maya's opinions are not always those of the management!

Ask Maya for the 4th week of April, 2003
Ask Maya for the 3rd week of April, 2003
Ask Maya for the 2nd week of April, 2003
Ask Maya for the 1st week of April, 2003

More "Ask Maya" archives on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Ask Maya for the 4th week of April, 2003:

Dear Maya,

Do you have something to say about how to deal with the homelessness problem for dogs, cats, and other "pet" animals? Why do spirits keep coming back as dogs and cats when there are sooo many that are euthanized each day? What do you think about selective breeding?

Thanks!

- J, K and the gang

Please note: Maya's comments on these matters have been split into two columns, due to the complexity of the questions. Here is part two. Part one may be found here.

... So, let's review. Humans are affecting breeding. Yes, animals have compulsions to breed. But they are influenced by humans.

There wouldn't be so many stray cats and dogs if there weren't humans around, period. Natural selection would take 'em out, and they wouldn't find the food and shelter they're looking for. Now, it's not always fair to ignore 'em, either (even if they chose the stray path), because their natural cycle of birth and death has already been affected by humans. So, to make a long story short, in that vein, I think spaying and neutering is a fine idea. A cat or dog can't fight instinct, when it comes to mating. We became your companion species to keep you company, teach you things and give you love (in addition to, yeah, living off your scraps). So it's only fair for you to help us out on your end, too.

Oh, but I don't get the trapping-spay-and-release thing where you have to cut their ears. Some cats think it makes them look rakish, but is it really necessary? Ouch! Yuck.

Can I just mention I am SO GLAD Maurice is neutered. My All That Is, he is trouble enough as it is!

So, okay, regroup... my answers there were: to reduce the stray population, spay & neuter and live more naturally. Got it?

And may I just add that if you think THAT overpopulation is bad, have you ever thought of all the rats and mice and bugs and things around everywhere you can't even SEE? Trust me, a lot of those stray cats out there are doing you a favour!

As for coming back into the bodies of dogs and cats... uh, why not? It depends on what they have to work out in their spiritual path or "karma" or whatever you call it, and also what form they like and want to or can do that it. I love being a cat. I'm very good at it. I love being a predatory, singular animal with great eyes and beauty and speed, like I was when I was a bird of prey. Hey, spirits come back into the bodies of ants who get stepped on, or people who have disabilities or are killed in wars, so why not dogs and cats? A lot of us just like the bodies, and a lot of us feel the call to work with, love and interact with humans, while not necessarily wanting to BE one or being able to fulfill our purpose best that way. Doesn't that make sense? Now, a more interesting question is why, when and how do spirits choose to incarnate into physical form at ALL. Ah-HAH! Fascinating, eh, Grasshopper? (Heh heh heh!)

[Note: "Grasshopper" is a loose interpretation of the wordless concept Maya gave me of a mind-boggled student, but she approved of it when I explained it to her. - GK]

Now, selective breeding. (Sigh.) This is a tough one, because I don't really understand it. The truth is, I want to be who I want to be, and I don't want anyone dictating who I'm supposed to breed with or not or what I'm supposed to look like. I don't get it. If people did this to humans, there'd be an outcry, and I've seen a lot of humans who shouldn't have been bred! But, I can tell you this. Some animals, especially dogs, really do like it. They are convinced that whatever breed they are is special and can really help humans, somehow. Dogs, most of all, don't mind altering themselves and changing, as a species, to better be able to serve their companion people and make them happy. They also buy into the praise they get for looking a certain way or having certain skills, too. Race horses do that, too. I think this is less so than cats, although I have talked to some snooty purebreeds, I will tell you that. However, I will say, have you EVER met an animal more beautiful than ME in your LIFE, purebreed or not? I didn't THINK so. And you can't tell me otherwise. So, there you go, I think I'm fantastic, and I'm what some people would call "common." HAH!!!

I think I've mentioned before that it takes all kinds, even those with "flawed" bodies. I'm deaf, and who cares about that? The truth is, some people are going to like one kind of animal and some people are going to like others. Some will feel good about rescuing a stray with special needs, others find some animals "so ugly, they're cute", and others only want certified bloodlines checked for body form and health. (Actually, it's kind of funny with dogs, because they've been bred into all these different body shapes from just a couple original types, and now people are so picky about getting those breeds just the right way for health, which wasn't a problem in the first place, when they were just... dogs! Heh.) I'm not going to criticize one over the other, especially since often people like more than one type, or animals and people pick each other, and that's just how it's meant to be. I'm just going to say that if you can look into the HEART of the creature and respect them and find some love -- or at least live and let live -- then you're on the right track. After all, we've all got lessons to learn and have to choose what we're comfortable with. I think the humans have more to learn than the other animals in that respect. That said, I can't vouch for the intellect or emotional health of a lot of animals out there, either!

Well, I said it. I think that's about it. I hope that helps.

Blessings to you & yours, and don't forget to care for those you've helped make dependant on you!

Love,

- Maya The Cat, The Great One, Queen Maya

Ask Maya for the 3rd week of April, 2003:

Dear Maya,

Do you have something to say about how to deal with the homelessness problem for dogs, cats, and other "pet" animals? Why do spirits keep coming back as dogs and cats when there are sooo many that are euthanized each day? What do you think about selective breeding?

Thanks!

- J, K and the gang

Please note: Maya's comments on these matters will be split into two columns, due to the complexity of the questions. Here is part one.

Dear Gang,

I am glad you asked me this. These are interesting questions.

My first reaction when asked about reproduction is always "yuck" and "no way!" Frankly, I don't understand why anyone wants to go through it. First of all, I think I have mentioned that one of my explicit stipulations upon coming into this physical plane was to be spayed so I wouldn't be a slave to my hormones and have to be touched by just any old tomcat [shiver!] Blecccch! Also, who wants to have kittens? What a pain. It's all painful and you get hungry and eat yet starve, then you blow up, maybe die in the process, and in the end have a bunch of little leeches demanding food and attention all the time, and then not listening to you and being useless! Feh. No way, José.

[GK detects a little bitterness in Maya's tone, and wonders if she has a few past-life issues to work out, or something.]

Oh, please, let's not get into that. That's my business. Let's just say I've learned from my own experience, that I'm my own cat and I take care of ME. Most people/animals can't even learn how to do THAT properly, much less take care of young ones. Anyway, you've seen how that Quan Yin reacted to me. The nerve!

Besides, there are some kittens who are not so bad. Self-sufficient almost right from the beginning. That was me, I might add. I even made sure my brother got a home. I feel sorry for my mother, though. And I thank her for bringing me into the world. Someone had to do it. But I am sure she was as glad to be free of the responsibility of taking care of me in some ways as I was to embark on my own path!

Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, homeless animals and reincarnation and such. Okay, let me see if I can be brief. First of all, not all animals are the wisest in the world. When they incarnate into being homeless, maybe they don't know any better. But maybe they do. We all have a path, and sometimes that path involves teaching lessons to others, like the value of taking in someone vulnerable, or the value of freedom.

This is not to say that humans don't have a big part in it. Humans control the reproduction of lots of species, including themselves, because they can, and even when they don't know it. For example, cutting down a rainforest, say, to produce goods for people may kill out certain animals and affect the whole eco-system. In the end, this also kills people because they run out of resources. BUT, at the same time, sometimes those people are breeding more themselves because they are so desperate to keep their families alive. So, it's all very complicated, in that way and more.

Humans have also affected animals and how they breed by breeding them selectively on purpose, and just by being there. Because humans affect the environment so much, some animals choose to or have to adapt just to live near them. This means everything from animals that become domesticated (who obviously end up flourishing more than those who just let themselves get killed) to "wild" animals who change their diets and territories according to what's up with humans around them, and so on. Now, it is true that the animals have somewhat of a choice in this. But their choices are limited and directly impacted by the humans. ["Maya, please don't use impacted as a verb." - GK. "Mom, impacted, impacted, impacted! HAH!" - Love, Maya]

OK, so here's something that's very key, so listen closely. Most animals will not interfere with what humans do. It may be because they're scared, or they can't, but also this is a major tenet for most animals other than humans: WE DON'T MESS AROUND ON A MAJOR SCALE WITH THE WORLD AROUND US. We live with what's going on. Some animals may have plans or use tools here and there, but that's about it. We don't exterminate other species, in general. Does that make us stupid, because we're not building highways and cutting down trees and stuff? Well, not all of us are as bright as I am. And some of your human feats are impressive (I like indoor heating and cooling and crunchy nibbles, myself). But who's destroying the environment and choking on their own filth here? I thought so. (By the way, Mom, speaking of choking on one's own filth... the LITTERBOX?!)

So, let's review. Humans are affecting breeding. Yes, animals have compulsions to breed. But they are influenced by humans.

[And here's where we have to cut off her "brief" response for the week. Stay tuned for the rest of the answer next week! - GK]

Love,

- Maya The Cat, The Great One, Queen Maya

Ask Maya for the 2nd week of April, 2003:

Dear Maya,

The psychic medium I chatted with gave very accurate and verifiable info to me during our session. I was on cloud 9 until I sat in on her lecture where she claimed that animals are like cherubs--that's why they give unconditional love! She reminds me of the Sylvia Brown school of thought where animal spirits are somehow inferior to humans...even though AC's seem to know differently. How can they be cherubs if spirits can choose any form...?!?! Anyway, I don't believe it. ;-) What about you?

- Keri and The Flock

Dear Keri,

How's that flock of yours? I bet they're tasty. Ha ha ha! But seriously, I give them respect. Birds spread all the news around the world, did you know that? And they're good at mental maps. They're smarter than they look. I mean... uh, not that they look dumb, or anything. You know, they're just not cats. But who is, really? Except cats. You know what I mean.

Anyway, let me try to understand this question. First thing, Momma G tried to explain to me what a cherub is, and that was ridiculous and amusing. First she said it was some human child-like thing with wings, that sent messages of love on holiday cards. Then she said that really in ancient human mythology, cherubim were way up there with your God (or one of 'em, anyhow), very powerful angels, with, like, four heads and wings and swords and things. I didn't get that, although it was certainly more impressive than babies with wings. I guess it's meant to be symbolic, although, really, how do you humans make these things up?

So, I'm trying to figure out what this person's central message is. It seems to me she's thinking that animals are these innocent beings of love that give it all to humans, and... well, that's pretty much all there is. Hah. Well, I'm not saying that animals don't have love and give it, and that we're generally more outgoing about these things than humans are, but that's a little simplistic! Don't you think? I mean, come on. That makes us look stupid. And animals are NOT stupid (well, many of us, anyhow. There's no accounting for Quan Yin). Not compared to humans, anyway.

And we're not simple, or only for one purpose. Many of us are complex and have multiple purposes. I, for one, am an advisor, teacher, comforter, friend, member of the cat council (or as Mom likes to say, the "Kitty Committee" -- sheesh), beauty, guide, example and all-around super genius. Maurice, though I hate to say it, is an all-around energy balancer and giver of Unconditional Love. So, yes, some animals do that, although I think people should earn my love and affection, quite frankly. And, at the same time, Maurice is fulfilling his purpose bringing certain things to our people but also working out things for HIMSELF and his past lives, as well as things with Quan Yin and me. I don't have so much to work out with my past lives, but... well, now and then.

And, if you've ever met a range of animals, you can tell that they're not just there to love you! They have other things to do, and some are nice and some are stupid, and some are mean and some are smart -- just like people. Each type of animal, but also each individual, has their own purpose, so it's insulting and ridiculous to say we're all like this or for one thing. But then, I know you humans can be like that. 'Oh, those African-Americans, they all sure can dance!' 'Those snakes are so evil... they just slide around and bite!' 'Babies are so cute and stupid! There's nothing in their heads but what we put in them and... and cute, baby love." Whatever. And so on. You get the picture, I'm sure.

Finally, just as you mention, spirits can change and evolve and go into different forms. I've been a bird of prey, you know. Mom G has been a cat. Maurice has been a person (a very NEUROTIC and WHINY person). Did any of us evolve higher or lower in this? I'd venture to say that I'm smarter than the average being, even a number of humans, so I take offense at the idea that, as an animal, I'm all completely different and here to serve a purpose for them. Listen, we're ALL here to serve a purpose, for ourselves and for each other. And no one 'class' or form of beings is here solely to serve another one and just make them feel better about themselves all the time. Yes, that's a part of what a lot of them do, but hey -- that's all a part of love, and that's across boundaries and species. It has nothing to do with being assigned to give unconditional love as a species, you know what I'm saying?

And, if this woman doesn't believe that, I'd be happy to come and bite her to show her my cherub-like, unconditional love! Ha ha ha ha!

Anyway, hope that helps. Very interesting question, although I'm not sure I understand it all. What IS she thinking...?

You're welcome.

- Maya The Cat

Ask Maya for the 1st week of April, 2003:

Dear Maya,

Can you explain why humans are so destructive? You've said yourself that we are the only species that seriously tries to mess with the way things are. I just wondered what makes us this way. And was it always like this, or did something particular happen in history that changed our course in this direction? (Do you know human social history?)

Ambivalent about most things at the moment, but unequivocally hoping you are well,

- Jodi

Dear Jodi,

What wonderful questions you ask! I am ready to go.

Oh, and also, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge my Mom, who you know as Gretchen. Often she gets these messages herself from the great energy and knowledge of All There Is, but she does not feel "comfortable" sharing it or believing it herself. I am working on it! She still prefers getting the answers from me or confirming them, as she feels I have a good connection with the Universal Energy and also people like me (of course!). But I want to acknowledge her as being very good at getting the messages, even if she does not like typing this. I have threatened to bite her, otherwise! We all need confidence, Mom!

Okay, your first question is a good one. Why are humans so destructive, in the ways that they are? My first instinct is to tell you to look within yourself, and all humans and other beings should. For the tendency towards destruction is in each of us, especially when we are in physical form. Haven't you ever seen locusts destroy a field of plants, or an elephant destroy a tree when he is threatened? Even we cats like to knock a few things over, sometimes! So, the first part of this is to look within yourself and acknowledge that it is possible for all beings to work on destruction. For it is in understanding and examining yourself that you can acknowledge and control your own tendencies, and also it is within loving and understanding yourself, even the qualities you may not like, that you can love and understand others, too.

But, humans, like I've said before, tend to get together in big groups to destroy things or other groups of beings in large amounts on a scale no other animal does. Why is this, you ask? Well, lots of reasons. And before I get into them, let me tell you that I LOVE humans. I have chosen to live with them because they are love-worthy, and fascinating, and I have lots in common with them. So, even when I am pointing out some of these things that sound like criticisms, some of them are even reasons that I love human beings, too!

OK, let's talk physical reasons. Size and strength, mobility and adaptability. Humans have got all these things. They're not as big as elephants, or as fast as cheetahs, or as adaptable as lots of lizards and insects and fishes, but they have a pretty good share of each. Plus, hands! Hands are crazy! Think of all the things you can do with them! And each of these things gives you humans the potential for great impact on your environment - changing it for the over-all good within its boundaries, or overtaxing it and destroying it. Oh, and when I say "environment", I mean other beings, too.

Now, let's move on beyond the physical plane to the reasons why people do these actions, which is I think what you're really asking. There are two major reasons that humans destroy, and they are forgetfulness and fear. Forgetfulness and fear are actually not two separate things, most of the time, but I'll try to explain this.

Humans, being adaptable and having to develop their brains and behaviour to make up for not having claws, etc., think a lot. And when they are thinking a lot, sometimes they start forgetting to BE in the moment and TRUST ALL THERE IS. The truth is, our Earth and Universe have plenty to provide, and have been in balance. But, humans FORGET this, and then they become AFRAID. They have FEAR that there is not enough for them and their families, and that they need MORE, MORE, MORE to hoard in case something happens. They FORGET to meditate and become in touch with ALL THERE IS and the LOVE that is within and is the Universe. They FORGET that there has been/can be a BALANCE. This is why they destroy things - because they FORGET and are AFRAID that there is no BALANCE, and thus they have to get what they can for themselves. You see this, you understand?

Now, I want you to know that thinking a lot is not all bad! Some people say that humans are only destructive, that they are out of the vibration of the Universe, that in THINKING too much they are like a sickness on the Earth, and they should learn to just BE like other animals and go back from civilization, etc. This is a bit extreme! Ha ha! After all, I like a bit of civilization myself! And thinking can lead to a lot of great things, like new ways to take care of our bodies, you know?

The truth is, you human beings are THINKING the way that you are because THAT IS THE WAY YOU WERE BUILT! You were MEANT to be that way by ALL THERE IS, the CREATOR/S OF THE UNIVERSE! Does this make you good, or bad? Is thinking a good or a bad thing? The truth is, it is both and neither, light and dark. All qualities are double-edged swords, because everything has an effect, and everything has an opposite (although opposites are also contained in the whole, if you will understand that).

So, why are human beings so destructive? Well, part of the way you were built leads you to THINK, which, if done in certain ways can make you FORGET and FEAR and thus DESTROY in reaction to that. BUT, it does not always have to be that way. More and more humans are learning to THINK in ways that are constructive, instead, and BE in the way of meditating and feeling the Universal Energy. We are all on a journey, an experiment, and humans have their own great, unique part to play in it. So, observe and learn from the process, and don't despair! Everyone makes mistakes, and there always must be some form of destruction, for it is the opposite of creation. But also, they are sides of the same coin, because as I've discussed before, there is no such thing as complete loss of energy or matter, just transformation and interchange. You understand?

Oh, and one more thing on that. Never forget that just because humans have a form and an energy pattern similar to each other as you are all part of one, as you people put it, "species", each of you are still individuals, and different! Thus, you are not all doomed or determined one way or another as an entire species any more than any other is, as individuals always have freedom in their choices and behaviours.

Now, your second question is, have humans always been like this, at least as long as you humans have been around (which is not forever, in your current vibrations/forms!)? The answer is, both yes and no (don't you love it?!). Humans as you know them have always had certain characteristics such as THINKING and having HANDS that they use and stuff, that have made them prone to FORGETTING on occasion and then being AFRAID. But, like all creatures, you have learned to use them in different ways over time and space. Yes, you have the capabilities to be much more destructive, with your tools and machines, now than you once were. Yes, there are a lot more of you, which tends to make you AFRAID that the Universe will not provide enough. BUT! You have also developed new ways of communication, and to help each other. Plus, a lot of you are beginning to come full circle to REMEMBER and LEARN the ways of JUST BEING so that you can heal yourselves and not be so destructive. It is all a journey you are on! You can never say that there was a human society or beings that did not destroy while they were corporal, because part of being in bodies is having to destroy something (we all need to eat, right? and sometimes compete to survive?). But, have there been human societies within time as you know it that destroyed less than your present ones do? Yes. And also ones that have destroyed more.

I hope these answers make sense to you and do not frustrate you, but rather lead you to the core inside all of us, the circular ebb and tide of energy that is a part of being and being within ALL THERE IS. There are no absolutes: destruction versus construction. Do you understand? So to judge all humans as destructive is difficult, plus highly relative. Plus, remember, you are CREATED to have the abilities and characteristic and possibilities that you have, so it can't be all wrong! (cat smile)

Best wishes,

- Maya, Guru Princess, and Her Mom (even if her head is spinning!)

More "Ask Maya" archives on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Copyright 2002-2003, Gretchen Kunz