Gratitude is the most powerful emotion of all. If you can be grateful no matter what, you’ll be the happiest person on earth. (Buddhist saying).
When San Diego resident Tracey Van Steenhouse’s elderly cats died, she and her husband decided not to adopt again. They traveled frequently, and making arrangements for the cats had often been tedious. Although Tracey missed her babies, who she’d had since they were kittens, at least she was no longer getting awakened at the crack of dawn by an entitled cat demanding breakfast.
Then in July 2020, Tracey got a call from Shanti’s House, a local feral and abandoned cat sanctuary. Help was needed with a foster. Director Kristina Hancock described the cat, who she’d named Hans Winky, as beautiful but somewhat feral and missing one eye. After caring for him for months, she’d decided that Winky was ready for a real home. Tracey had recently applied to foster cats, so she took him in.
It took Winky a month to finally come out of hiding during the day. But soon the gorgeous snowshoe (a Siamese-tabby mix) had made himself at home. He began to accept affection, including belly rubs. He even got his own exercise wheel and (bribed with treats) began running on it three times a day. Hans Winky had become part of the family. He’d found a place in peoples’ hearts – a classic “foster fail.”
Tracey says the companionship of a formerly semi-feral cat is different from that of a fully domesticated cat. It’s defined by gratitude. “My former cats were very spoiled,” she explained. “They ruled the house. Hans is very sweet, and he never gets demanding. He’s grateful for what he has. He doesn’t ever want to leave, he’s so happy to be here. He has no interest in what’s outside the front door.” And, Tracey added, unlike her former cats he does not insist on being fed at exactly the same time each morning. Now she can sleep late if she wants to! A grateful cat begets a grateful human.
We’re entering the season of gratitude, marked by Thanksgiving and the Scorpio New Moon (Nov.19, 10:47 p.m. PT). Perhaps you’ve never associated Scorpio with gratitude, but if we define it as showing appreciation for kindness and giving back to others, Scorpio fits the bill. Although Scorpio types can be cunning or manipulative, I’ve known far more who are deeply caring and go out of their way to be helpful. Many of them even become benefactors (eighth house = Scorpio) who help transform lives.
Since this New Moon is exactly conjunct Mercury at 28 Scorpio and widely conjunct Venus at 16 Scorpio, there’s a lot of intense, transformative energy afoot. The Sun, Moon and Mercury are opposite Uranus in Taurus, prompting unexpected events or sudden breakthroughs. We could call this the detective’s moon. Sleuthing is heightened with Mercury in Scorpio, and communication, travel and figuring things out are intensified (though perhaps a bit scrambled) due to its retrograde through Nov. 29. If you have problems to solve, even long-standing ones, tackle them over the next few weeks. Ask for help from the Other Side. The ancestors are still very much present; pay attention to any promptings or dreams.
Especially helpful is the beautiful exact trine between Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces. Jupiter is the king of luck (which is strongly connected to gratitude) and it’s exalted during its sojourn through Cancer through next June. Jupiter is also trine Neptune, though not exactly, enhancing spiritual, artistic and romantic affairs. The Scorpio New Moon forges a grand trine with all three planets, so magic is in the air. You might even be able to manifest a long-held dream with the help of this configuration at 25 – 28 Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces, especially if those degrees and signs aspect your chart.
Just remember that gratitude sets the stage for luck. And if it’s truly the most powerful emotion, as the Buddhists claim, let’s focus on what we’re grateful for at this New Moon. Even things that don’t seem like blessings can morph into miracles. Mr. Gratitude himself, Hans Winky, is now learning to overcome his shyness and embrace his new rescue brother Chevalier – a Siamese who’s also missing his right eye!
Here’s a great way to get your Scorpio gratitude mojo going: Support Shanti’s House, the first feline sanctuary with a Pet Therapy & Comfort Pavilion for feral cats on the grounds of a senior living facility. Make a donation through the end of this year, and a generous benefactor will match it (up to $10,000).