Diederichs - Purr: a cat therapy guide to happiness

Contents

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First published in France in 2016

PURR. Copyright 2016 by Larousse. Translation 2017 HarperCollins. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Published in 2017 by

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ISBN 978-0-06-268780-7

EPub Edition November 2017 ISBN 978-0-06-268782-1

Library of Congress Control Number 2017932179

GILLES DIEDERICHS is a sophrologist, relaxologist, and music therapist specializing in the well-being of children and adults. Animal well-being has been an important addition to his practice. He is also the author of the Larousse publications Temps calme, LEnfant papillon, and a variety of relaxation CDs. For more information about his practice and publications, visit www.lescouleursmusicales.com.

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Cover photograph Vasilev Evgenii / Shutterstock

Cat silhouettes: Shutterstock / fischers / Hein Nouwens

T he term purr applies both to cats and engines. It is a sign of balance and well-being for both. In this sense, people are similar to cats since they will purr like a kitten when they feel good. The engine, which acts as the heart of a vehicle, purrs when it is well fueled. So purring is a sign of tranquility and health. In addition, dont doctors evaluate patients by listening to their hearts, the engines of the human body? If this magnificent organ is calm, without arrhythmias or spikes, it probably belongs to a person who knows how to create inner peace, to care for himself and to set a good pace for his life.

What is purring exactly?

T echnically cat purring is equivalent to 24 hertz (which corresponds to the G below the lowest G on the piano at 27 hertz). All cats purr at this frequency, no matter what their age or size. They all purr on G. Only kittens vary this note by adding a frequency at 380 hertz, equivalent to a baby crying. This allows the kittens mother to gather additional information from the purring to determine whether the purr is a simple request or something truly urgent.

What are the benefits of purring?

S cientifically, it has been shown that purring stimulates bone cells, massages muscles and relieves breathing problems. Cats are able to relax using the continuous vibration emitted by purring, which affects both their body and mind.

In addition, NASA has used this information for devices that stimulate and strengthen astronauts bone density (in space, astronauts lose up to 1 cm of bone density per month!). This practice consists of exposing their bodies to frequencies between 20 and 140 hertz. Thanks, Zen Master Cat!

Being in contact with your cat when he is purring allows you to benefit from this soothing frequency while stimulating all of your bones. This is why cats often position themselves along the babys spinal column: the vibrations strengthen the babys back and help the baby sleep...

Purr therapy, a state of mind

W hen a cat purrs, its for a reason: he voluntarily starts the vibratory sequence to enter into a meditative state, which he then uses to travel through the seven dream worlds or alternatively to bring his body and mind into harmony (particularly after a very active period). It is like a universal mantra for him that he continually repeats, just like the OM from yoga practice. Purr and purrpurrpurr... he vibrates all of his bones and gradually quiets his body and mind. His tongue rests against the top of his pallet, resonating the bones of his face and spinal column. His whole nervous system relaxes, and slowly Zen Master Cat slips into a state of peace.

According to Sufi tradition, purring allows cats to mindfully discover parallel universes for enlightened cats. Often, Zen Master Cat chooses to practice during the waxing moon because the energy of the night world is at its maximum, which is perfect for this creature of the night. Zen Master Cat is an accomplished occultist interested in what is hidden behind things. He is not satisfied with the manifestations of the ordinary world...

Zen Master Cat is going to teach us to share in his harmonious purring and to find our own purr therapy mantra so that we can experience the benefits of well-being!

Purr therapy could be described as the art of living in synergy with any type of event, using Zen Master Cat as our guide. He always lands on his feet and is continually seeking to achieve his goal with ease and grace. Zen Master Cat is a living example of a lifestyle philosophy that we should strive to adopt.

Alexander Demyanenko

A s you have already seen, cats purr not only because they feel good and things are going well, but also to step back and gain perspective and to take in experiences with calmness and serenity. Learn to distinguish the different types of purrs and use them to improve your daily life.

T his book includes fifteen approaches that will help you to find peace through purring. Listen to the purr sample of your choice. This sound will be your guide. Its regular rhythm will set the pace for your search for happiness: no sudden acceleration, no abrupt stops, just the right speed... Each approach includes meditations or simple activities to implement in your daily life.