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

By Michael Neer and Gwenna Merriman

Junah Cat Discovers How to Listen to His Heart

Junah Cat is challenged by the three sisters to find the secret of the heart. The sisters give him clues to five "heart patches" that he and his friend Mo Mouse must learn about to find the secret. The story unfolds with the help of new friends like

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ocean Sun Publishing
• Release date: Mar 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986714721

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

Secret of the Heart

Wise Tales for a Healthy Happy Life

Michael Neer

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Ocean Sun Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Copyright © 2022 Michael Neer

Author Website at www.MichaelNeer.com

ISBN:979-89867147-2-1

Ocean Sun Publishing

www.oceansunpublishing.com

CONTENTS

Epigraph

Preface

1. Listening and Feeling

2. Petals and Corn

3. Dragonfly and Sunset

4. Rat and Hedgehog

5. Owl and Hummingbird

6. Showing and Telling

7. The Bunny and the Cats

8. The Crow and the Mice

9. Diving and Digging

10. Birthing and Growing

11. The Ladybug and the Leaves

12. The Kittens and the Bunnies

13. The Hawk and the Hummingbirds

14. Catnip and Rosemary

15. The Pond and the Frog

16. Quills and Claws

17. Flowers and Naps

18. Paws and Shells

19. Family and Feeling

20. Thanks and Roses

21. Secret of the Heart

Acknowledgements

About Author

Books by Michael Neer

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat

match the beat of the universe,

to match your nature with Nature.

—Joseph Campbell

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Preface

This is a tale about Junah Cat. He was an ordinary black-and-white cat, but he was different because he was extraordinarily curious about everything. He lived with the mysterious three sisters in the house by the garden. The sisters loved to help things grow, and Junah Cat was no exception. They challenged him to grow by sending him on quests to find the secrets of the garden and the forest. With the help of his friend Maureen Mo Mouse, Junah succeeded in these adventures. Now he was enjoying a well-deserved rest along with extra attention from the three sisters.

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1

Listening and Feeling

Junah Cat was soaking up the early morning sun on the patio between the house and the garden. Every now and then, he would rotate his ears to tune in to a sound in the garden. Sometimes it was a buzzing bee. Another time it was the humming of Hannah Hummingbird flying by on her way to find some nectar in the flowers. His nose would wriggle as he caught a whiff of roses or gardenias. It was a nice lazy day. He was full of food and full of memories from his recent adventures.

Suddenly, sister Laka opened the back door of the house and invited him inside. He looked up, listened, and then stretched. He padded slowly toward the house, as if he had not a care in the world. Sister Laka waited patiently for him, and once inside, she closed the door.

Come over here by the table, said Laka. Sisters Sara and Duma were already seated at the table. Junah hopped up onto the windowsill, wondering what the sisters had in mind.

Junah, said Laka, you have done very well on your adventures.

Yes, Sara said, you have exceeded our expectations. She strummed her guitar with a little flourish as if to celebrate his accomplishments.

You are a very special cat, said Duma, as she leaned over to the windowsill to hum in his ear.

Thank you, said Junah smiling. Then he cocked his head sideways, looking at the three sisters one after the other. Why have you called me inside today?

Ah, Junah, said sister Sara, I bet you think we have another adventure for you. Junah raised his ears and cocked his head to the other side.

Well, we aren’t going to send you off to a faraway place, said Laka.

Junah smiled and lay down