The Witch’s Cat: A Story of Healing

By M. Susan Nolan and K. C. Nolan

Journey back centuries ago when evil was seen as good and good as evil. Cross the bridge of time with Gabella who returns from the present, to her life as a healer. She is reunited with those that have similar abilities. Together, they meet a ‘panther-like’ cat that transcends time and space to join them.

Thomas Sinclair is the evilest man in town. He uses fear of death to control the townspeople. The healers must put an end to centuries of evil. Mysterious Thorn appears out of nowhere. He’s not as he seems. Find out who he really is and why he must allow his future soul-mate to experience her unjust death.

When Gabella is captured by Sinclair, sides are chosen and the war begins. People in town don’t want to lose their healers. The evil ones don’t want to lose their power over the town. On the day of the hanging, at the final moment, the knight appears! Experience the story of Gabella, guided and assisted by her close friends, her ever elusive and wise grandmother, and of course Loki, the cat!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665572873

M. Susan Nolan

M. Susan Nolan was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has always had a passion for writing since age 6. Being an avid reader inspired to write, she enjoyed historical fact and fiction novels. Attending North Side High School she received multiple recognitions from teachers and peers alike, and has always been an advocate for encouraging others to pursue their own goals of writing and following their dreams. This includes her son, editor and co-author, K. C. Nolan. This story is inspired by the healing power of light and love, family, friends, and of course... cats!

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

My friends and co-workers warned me about dabbling with past life regression therapy. I had explained this wasn’t ‘dabbling,’ it was for healing purposes. I was plagued by recurring dreams. They were vague, and as time passed there were more images. These became very real! All I know is that I woke up choking and gasping for air! I had read about regression therapy. The client experienced memories of a past life trauma that affected their quality of life. This could be physical, mental or both! I met with a therapist that had received excellent reviews. After a lengthy assessment, she said that I had met all of the necessary criteria. An appointment was set up. Before I continue, I will describe this recurring dream that was interfering with my life!

There was a room full of people. Many were those I knew. Some were friends. It was very loud! Everyone was talking at once! I was the guest of honor. (Or so I thought at the time). So many were cheering and shouting! What was this about and why was I here?? Suddenly, I realized they were shouting at me!! The cheering became louder, as a very obese, red-faced man, pointed directly at me, shouting Death by hanging!! It was then I would wake up, choking and gasping for air!!

Before healing can begin, you must experience pain. It is like pulling out a thorn, or having a tooth pulled. All I can say is that Lilly, my therapist, is amazing! She explained all of this to me, then she answered my questions and concerns.

The first session was disappointing. Lilly had me totally relax on a futon made of memory foam. There was nondescript, but soothing background music. She instructed me to do a breathing exercise, similar to what is taught in Ashrams by Gurus in India to their devotees.

I became very relaxed. Her soft and articulate voice was becoming increasingly distant. I fell asleep. There were no dreams, no anything. I woke up choking and gasping for air as if it were my very last breath! This time, no dream to precede this horrific episode! Lilly explained that events of severe past life trauma can cause this blockage of memory. When confronted by a trained professional, the mind automatically shuts down. The subconscious mind prevents the conscious mind, from remembering the traumatic event. This depends on the severity of the event. Repeated sessions gradually bring the memories to the conscious level. If we remembered all our past life experiences, this would be too much to process!

This is why we will focus on the particular past life experience, that is causing all of this pain in your daily life, Lilly explained. It was then I realized that I had chosen the perfect past life regression therapist. She went on to explain that the fear of pain was preventing memories of this certain past life. This may take some time. I was thinking ‘time and money’. It was as if she had read my thoughts. We could do three sessions a week and I will charge you for one. Would you agree to allow me to use you as a case study? It wasn’t until the fifth session that progress was made. After the breathing and relaxation exercise, I was in a surreal state of mind. Lilly’s voice was distant. This didn’t seem like the usual type of disconnected dream I had experienced multiple times. This was real, I had lived this life at one time. Now, I was living it again!

‘I was walking along this path, lit by brilliant light. I had walked down this path many times. It was fall. The air was crisp. I heard familiar sounds. An owl, crickets, and distant, noisy chirping of birds. Soon I realized, the light on the path was not the sun. It was the moon! Something brushed against my leg. I didn’t know what it was, just that it was soft and comforting, with a connection that made me feel complete!’

CHAPTER 2

I will not go into details about each session. They lasted over a year. Lilly warned me though, that I should consider terminating the sessions altogether. I was becoming increasingly attached to experiencing this past life. She was having problems bringing me back to the present.

All I knew was, the nightly dreams had ceased. I no longer woke up, struggling to breathe! What I was reliving during these sessions was pure bliss! She warned me quite bluntly, that I had not reached the event that had been causing the horrible choking, and struggling to breathe, which is why I was here in the first place. I had to reach this event, if I were to heal and let go of this past life and its trauma altogether!

I will tell you about my experience from the start, even though it’s in bits and pieces. Experiencing this past life started with my earliest childhood memories. They were of wonder and bliss! There was a beautiful forest that was like a sanctuary. It was filled with the sounds of many different animals. The noisy birds before nightfall, the distant sound of owls in the evening, and the chirping of crickets. Lightening bugs brightened the darkness of the night sky, like stars within reach. And right before the start of each day, we would enjoy the musical blend of all these creatures.

My Grandmother would wake me right before dawn. We would have a warm drink made from dried, crumpled leaves that we had picked on the nights when the moon was full. This peculiar looking tree seemed to have a life of its own. It kept its leaves, even during the winter. These leaves dropped completely, leaving the tree barren during the nights when the moon was full and high in the sky. We picked the ones that we needed, then set off to our small cottage to dry them.

The next day, the tree was full of its pale green leaves again! It was near the pond in an open area that was surrounded by forest. The branches of the tree were shaped like arms reaching up to the blue sky. During the nighttime, they appeared to be reaching towards the moon. The day after we picked them, no leaves were on the ground at all! The tree was full of life, swaying in the wind as if waving at us, once again with leaves of pale green, sparkling from the sunlight that gently touched each leaf.

The path through the forest to the pond was impossible for outsiders to find. The twists and turns were like a maze. It was unrecognizable as a path at all. It just seemed like part of the forest, with its trees and foliage. Grandmother and I were the only ones that knew this pond existed. The sunlight during the day, sparkled across the water. Even during the different seasons, the water was warm. We often waded in the water, enjoying multi-colored fish, swimming close to the surface.

At sunset, the pond looked like it was on fire! My favorite time was at night, especially when the moon was full. There were two moons! One in the dark sky, the other, reflected in the water. Feeling like I could touch this moon, I waded in the warm water, watching as it came apart and did not look like a moon at all! Grandmother used this to teach me not to make waves. This was a perfect example of that...

The next morning, the warm drink gave me a feeling of calm and energy at the same time. Grandmother explained the reason. The ingredients removed toxins from our bodies. These toxins made us feel sluggish. This drink also brought awareness. We remained in the present. No thoughts of past or future events. Just what was happening right now.

As she was speaking, a butterfly landed on my nose! We both laughed, enjoying every moment! Every day was a new adventure! She taught me the names of many plants and the healing power of each one. After a day of walking through the forest and picking different plants, we carried them back in sacks. The sacks were slung over our shoulders and not too heavy. Then we took them to our cottage, where she would dry them to use when summoned for someone in need of healing. This was the cottage where she raised me and taught me respect for all life.

The cottage was made from sticks, mud, and other natural resources available at the time. Grandmother explained this was built centuries ago. She said time had transformed this cottage. It was a sanctuary completely covered with vines, blending in with the forest except for a wooden door.

This door was light brown in color and left untouched by vines or moss. I asked grandmother why nothing grew over this door. She repeated the same answer that she gave to my frequent questions. You will know when it is time for you to know. I knew better than to ask any more questions. She began drying the leaves and plants we brought home, adding water from the pond to make elixirs for healing purposes.

Suddenly, there was loud knocking at the door!! We both knew who it was, because there was only one person that knew our humble abode existed. We opened the door to a frightened young woman named Charity! My son needs help right now! His fever has worsened, and he has sores all over his body! I had to tie his hands to stop him from scratching them and... and... She broke down sobbing. I quickly grabbed the corded sack that carried different herbs and elixirs. It was always kept near the wooden door. The sack was made of many cords from stems of different colored flowers that were growing near the pond. Grandmother explained this sack was very old. It was made long before I was born. She said these flowers were picked during different seasons. The combination of different stems from the flowers, worked as a preservative for anything inside the sack.

Even as a very young child I knew the risks of being discovered living in the forest. It was considered a crime for anyone to venture into the forest unless they were male in gender, and older than 16. They had to be hunting an animal or checking traps. The punishment if caught was death! I did not understand this, it frightened me! All I knew was that the forest was a magical place of love and healing. I was too young to understand the wickedness of fear and hate. Charity risked her life by visiting our cottage and asking for help. She was brave enough to do this. She knew the winding path that led to our cottage, and was almost invisible, blending in with the trees and vines.

We arrived in the town by sunset. Houses were scattered in clusters according to wealth. Charity had led us to this town many times, sometimes it was to bring an elixir to sooth uncontrollable coughing. Other times it was to wrap someone’s leg infected from an animal bite with salves, made from moist leaves that we collected on our way from the forest. This was the first time Charity showed up at our cottage in need for a loved one of her own. Grandmother knew what the affliction was as soon as she observed the child. He had been in the forest! If caught he would have been put to death! The entrance to the forest contained small yellow flowers that were bright as the sun. Healers were not affected by these, but apprentices of healers were. They were taught at an early age not to touch these. They had to pass many tests to become pure healers.

Charity was born of a healer. She did not know this. There was much she did not know, only that she was pure love. She innately knew not to touch those tiny, yellow flowers. Her son was