Pets and Ritual

There's an interesting post on the Pagan and the Pen about children in rituals. Well, I don't attend community rituals, and my stepdaughter is in college. But, I do have lots of pets. A sheltie and 5 cats to be exact.

When I started doing ritual at my altar, my cats were obviously intrigued, what with all the plants, burning candles and shiny objects, as well as an edible offering. When they first poked their heads around the stuff on the altar, I had the quickest impulse to nudge them away. But then I thought how wonderful that they are getting involved. Most of the time they sit next to me and I occasionally pet them. And if they want to eat a bit of the offering, they're welcome to it. They too are divine, aren't they? It really makes me think how free and beautiful the pagan/druid/wicca world is. It's not about how perfect, ordered, serious and quiet your ritual is. It's how much it comes from your heart.