This summer, we here at Yosemite went through the life changing experience of a 100-year fire. Our house was the very first group evacuated, although we had spent an agonizing 24 hours waiting to see just how close the fire would get. Luckily, my guidance had instructed me to begin moving animals out before the official evacuation began and the energy in the neighborhood had built to panic status. All the animals cooperated with grace and ease, the horses went calmly into the trailer for the first load , and the barncats were close by and allowed themselves to be placed into their carriers. However, KIlmer, the siamese rescue cat, was another story. I had enticed him into the house earlier in the day, but his problem was that he had never been successfully placed by a human into a carrier in his three years on this planet. When I moved to Yosemite, I had spent three weeks feeding him in the carrier to allow him some sort of ease going in there, he has a very intense fear of being trapped and even then I had to be very swift closing the door or he would bolt out. I didn’t have time to coax him in with food now.
When we came back to the house after dropping off the first load of horses, the atmosphere in the neighborhood had completely changed, The sky was orange and black, no more sun or blue there, the quiet was stifling, no birds or insects made a nose, and the energy in the air hung heavily. It was spectacular, and definately awe inspiring in its finality.
My friends Rick and Maryann arrived just in time to take the second load of horses out to safety, along with the barncats. As they pulled out, the sheriff rolled in and told us we had FIVE minutes to leave our home. I lied through my teeth as I told him, no Problemo, we just had one more cat to catch and we would be gone. As my friend Cindy and I entered the house, out bolted one Siamese cat. uh oh now we were in trouble. This cat had never allowed anyone to pick him up while outdoors. Luckily he ran to the open garage door and then eventually into the house. Whew. Now we put the carrier in the bedroom and in a few minutes kitty went in the bedrom too. He was very panicked, he could feel the fire energy approaching.
As I sat on the bed I wondered just how I was going to pull this one off, while KIlmer ran laps around the bedroom. He would not allow me to approach him, at all. I talked to him to entice him to come to me. NO luck. So I sat and breathed and asked for serious help from my guides, they had directed me all morning, hopefully they would assist me now. Just as the cat calmed down and stayed on the bed with me for more than thirty seconds, there was a huge noise on the deck, another friend was here offering her help. I tried to wave her away for a minute, but the cat was under the bed in a flash. To him, a stranger meant “danger, Will Robinson!” So I left the room for a few minutes to thank my friend for coming. Just one more cat to catch, oh no problem! Fake it till ya make it they say!
Back to sitting on the bed and focusing on breathing to calm my energy and impart a sense of NO Problemo to the cat. Oh well, if I cant take him and he stays, he stays, what can I do? He’ll have to take his own chances. Somehow, somewhere, here , EVE, I told myself, stay NEUTRAL. no worries. Allow the kitty to come to you, don’t force the energy. Be patient. You have plenty of time.
OOOOOh KIlmer, my little seven pound ZEN master. Please help me now. And so, miraculously, Kilmer began to slow down the running of his laps around the bedroom, spending more time on the bed with me. He finally came close enough for me to touch., I stoked him, but withdrew my hand before he walked on by, playing a subtle approach and retreat game with him, leaving him wanting more touch with each lap . After a few more laps he was in MY lap. Ohhhhhsweet success , KIlmer totally relaxed and actually melted into me, seeking the security of his human .
Now the task was just how to get him into the carrier, I stroked him for a few minutes and just knew he’d allow me to place him inside of it……and guess what ? In he went. I was so relieved. oh m goodness. He let me set him in his carrier!
As we drove away from our house I looked at the orange and black sky and thanked Spirit and especially the cat gods for being there 100 percent for me and guiding me fully .

Our home survied the fire although the flames came within a quarter of a mile from us….we were the lucky ones, several of our neighbors lost everything in this fire. It created an intense cleansing for all who live here, We continue to sort through the pieces it left us, in a good way.