Secret of the Garden: Wise Tales for a Healthy Happy Life

By Michael Neer and Gwenna Merriman

Junah Cat Discovers the Way of Purr-fection

Junah Cat is challenged to find the secret of the garden by the mysterious three sisters. He teams up with "Mo" Mouse to follow a trail of PURRs, or insights about nature, that make life happy and healthy. He realizes this is the Way of Purr-fection, and the ultimate secret, reve

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ocean Sun Publishing
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781732217621

Michael Neer

Michael Neer writes fables and legends about the quest for the secrets of life. He believes that stories reveal the universal values that we all share. He also has created coloring books and puzzle books on various themes for kids and adults. He has enjoyed a long career of organizing words in creative ways as an English teacher, curriculum specialist, magazine publisher, book editor, and long-time meditation teacher. He has won awards for journalism, newsletter writing, and teaching, and makes his home in Fresno, Calif.

Book preview

Preface

This is a tale about Junah Cat. He was an ordinary black-and-white cat who lived in the house by the garden with the three sisters. But he was different because of his purr-sistence in learning.

He had many adventures in the garden that helped him purr-ceive life in a new way. You are invited to travel with Junah through these tales and listen for the purr that purr-vades each story.

Junah discovered The Way of Purr-fection. He simply purr-sued his natural curiosity in a pure way! That became his purr-pose. He felt it would lead him to the great joy of making his purr purr-manent.

These stories are really parables, or as Junah would say, purr-ables, for you—short fables that illustrate what it takes to reach the purr that purr-petuates.

Listen now for the purr. . . .

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Prologue

The clouds parted. The air was full of the buzz of life. The bright light of the sun reflected onto the clear cool still lake.

The three sat by the lake, looking within.

One, adorned in white, spoke with a celestial voice, Now is the time.

Yes, agreed the one robed in pink, the knowledge must flow to all.

What has been secret, intoned the one in red, must be known.

They looked at each other, then at the still water. It started to ripple from their attention. A spot of black reflected there, then white, then a form, then breath filled the form.

He will be called Junah, they said together, and he will know.

They kept looking within the still waters, and more forms appeared. A garden, a forest, a river. Till it was done.

Then they closed their eyes and rested. They were glad.

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1

Waking Up Inside and Outside

Junah Cat was not born in the house by the garden. He was born somewhere else. But when he was born, the first thing he remembered was hearing sounds, kind of a vibration that woke him up. He knew he was alive, but his eyes weren’t open at first. All he could do was eat and sleep. But once his eyes opened, he started finding out about his body and the world around him.

He learned about the world inside him. He knew when he was hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and awake. He knew when he was curious or wanting to play, when he was feeling cuddly, and especially when he wanted to purr.

He also learned about the world outside him. He liked seeing new objects, hearing the many sounds around him, climbing on chairs and beds, and especially smelling foods and flowers. Eating, sitting in the sun, and chasing things that moved were very special. Junah learned to stretch into all kinds of postures as well as lick his paws to clean his ears. Of course, he found out about jumping, and pouncing, and even falling. Luckily, he never got hurt.

As time passed, Junah knew he wasn’t a kitten any more. He was a bigger cat, ready to explore the world.

Then one day, the three sisters came to his birthplace. Sister Sara played some wonderful music on her guitar; Sister Laka sang a flowing melody, and Sister Duma murmured quietly in a low voice. It reminded him of the first sounds he heard, the ones that woke him up. They took Junah home to the house by the garden. That’s when the adventures really started!

THE CAT’S PURR:

Knowledge Is Gained From Inside And Outside.

2

The Three Sisters and the Garden

Junah Cat’s adventures started when the three sisters brought him to the house by the garden. These were not three ordinary sisters. They looked young and beautiful but spoke as if they were old and wise. They always seemed to know what to do to make everything better around them. They became like second mothers to Junah, helping him grow in new ways.

At first, they wanted Junah to get used to the house, so they kept him inside. But Junah noticed that they liked to talk about the garden that they had built in the back of the house. It was very important to them.

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Sister Sara was the planner. She hd designed the garden to balance herbs and roots, flowers and vegetables in the most natural way. She figured out where plants should be planted to get the most sun. Sara always wore white, had long black hair, and liked to wear pearls. She also played the strings of the guitar in a most heavenly way. She told Junah the plants and animals all liked to listen to her songs.

Sister Laka talked about