Original Programming

Two years ago, before my first sojourn to South Africa, I received a message from a spiritual medium. The essence of which was this: "It's important for you to see and experience the cheetahs, because they haven't lost touch with their original programming. Cheetah is cheetah. Simple. Never worried about yesterday or tomorrow. Not fretting about the storm scheduled to pass through, or what others may think of it. Cheetah lives moment to moment. It is a special creature, and has a purpose. Just like when you were created, the universe decided it needed a 'Joanne creature,' and you were brought into being. This trip will help you to remember YOUR original programming."

This reminded me a bit of Neo in the Matrix, when he comes to realize the truth of who he is...his original programming, so to speak. With each cheetah visit, the bandwidth of experiencing and understanding my original programming, expanded and the inner knowing deepened. I attribute a huge portion of this learning to my love for Shaka, though most recently, Cassidy also provided lessons.

During my 2017 autumnal stint at The Dell Cheetah Centre, Cassidy weighed in at 8.8 lbs, and hadn't yet lived 90 days on earth. I'm not joking when I say, it took me a good 4-5 days to fully accept that I was in the presence of an actual cheetah cub and not an extraordinarily cute automaton...because, come on! I was playing with, petting, and being attacked by a live cheetah cub - how could it be real?

Sitting on a floor-bound mattress, I stared into her eyes as she stalked me, and lunged in playful attack mode. I laughed and pet her head, and attempted to extricate her from my shoulder as gently as possible. After a week of this, I learned, she'd just keep coming (and using those little teeth on me) unless I upped my game. Although I'd seen Georgia, Michael, and Estelle (the management team and owner of Dell) rough house with her a bit, it didn't occur to me that this parental play informed her that she's the little one, and I'm the big one. I'm not her prey! And truly, people are never the prey of cheetahs; however, I certainly behaved as though I'd make for good hunting practice.

Photo credit: Georgia Holmes

Mostly, she joyfully chased her favorite stuffed toy or played with her empty two liter plastic soda bottle (a different kind of recycling for sure!), as I dragged them across the mattress, just as I do for my cats at home. She'd run herself ragged, and flop on the floor, panting, until she caught her breath, lapped some water from her bowl, and started the whole cycle again. Except for one day, when she draped herself across my lap to rest...left for a bit of play...and then came back purposefully fitting herself into my arms like a baby. This is how her human moms fed her in the beginning - cuddled into one arm, while the other held a bottle, and I was graced with the honor of such a snuggle, despite not having a bottle to offer.

A feisty creature, Cassidy did not bestow this magic on all newcomers. One of the male volunteers, who had been at Dell for two weeks when I arrived, took full advantage of "animal time" every day. Armed with a book and camera, he'd trek off to read to Pablo (the caracal), take photos of Tiggy and Bells (the servals), and visit at the fence with any cheetahs willing to acknowledge him.

I noticed quickly, though, that he never spent any time with Cassidy. Why? "She doesn't like him," I was told. I thought, "Oh, come on! She puts up with me; I'm sure that's ridiculous." And then I watched. He did make efforts to see her, watch her, capture her photograph, and she would get into a fierce stalker's pose, watchful of his every move. Or she'd hiss, letting him know he was too close. And once, she even hid behind me, peeking around every so often, to see if he was still there. While quiet, he seemed a kind enough man, but she'd made up her mind. Fascinating to witness.

In favorable weather, Cassidy took walks with Georgia around the Centre grounds. She didn't venture far, spooked by blowing leaves and new territory. One lovely day, Georgia fitted Cassidy into her harness and attached the leash (both are for the cheetah's safety), while we volunteers made our morning rounds.

On the day I speak of, Georgia decided to let Cassidy have the run of the place, swiftly trailing behind those over-sized baby-cheetah legs. And where did Cassidy go? Wherever I went. I didn't realize this was happening, until I overheard Georgia discussing it with Cassidy. This delightful 12-week old cheetah followed from the serval enclosures, all the way to Pablo's camp, which is up a hill, near the highest elevation of the property. Then she followed down by the small animal enclosures...where the the owls, small-spotted genet, and lilac-breasted roller reside...and over near the feeding kitchen, at which point, she was done with me. Was I prey? A friend? Entertainment? I don't know, but I can tell you, there was something spectacular about having a gorgeous cub accompany me, as I chatted to her about where I was off to next. And each of the places we went together forged new ground for her.

A funny thing happened a few weeks after I got home from South Africa. My friend, Estelle, sent me this message, "So, the shock of the decade - Cassidy is not a female after all, but a male!!!!! We are so embarrassed by getting the sex wrong!!!!!!!" In fact, three experienced cheetah breeders/caretakers, AND the veterinarian, all missed on this one. And, as I understand it, this is not uncommon in smaller cats. In fact, we all believed my own house cats were girls, until the vet corrected us (and they'd already been to a different vet for shots!). And still, Cassidy is loved for the beautiful cheetah being he is, regardless of his gender. He is, who he is. Simple.

Cassidy, just one week ago! Photo credit: Estelle Kemp

So, what did I learn from Cassidy about original programming? He eats. He grows. He plays. He gets tired. He makes friends. He's curious. He gets angry. He releases waste. He sometimes feels scared, and he doesn't like everyone. He chooses who gets close, and he willingly accepts love from those he trusts... in fact, he's even willing to extend a little trust to try on someone new, and see if he deems them worthy of his time and energy. Once even the simplest bond has formed, he's willing to explore lands that were formally frightening. And, each moment is whole, just as it is, whether people recognize him as male or female, whether they recognize his magic or not - he is whole in each moment.

While I'm a human, "Joanne creature," my programming is, perhaps, not so very different. I'm on earth in this vulnerable body. Bodies require attention. If I act in accordance with my original programming, I feel my feelings, and trust myself. I may extend that trust to others, though not everyone. Through these relationships, I learn about setting boundaries. When I maintain clear boundaries, I discover what I want - moment to moment.

Through all of this, I grow, stretch, and extend my self-trust into faith. This faith honors a deep knowing within that I am both a part of, and a vehicle for, a greater consciousness than my own mind. I don't know that a cheetah perceives this complexity...perhaps it isn't important. Yet, as both a vehicle and part of the universal knowing, I believe the great connector for all of it, is love. In knowing this love, I allow this truth: I am whole, exactly as I am, whether anyone else gets it or not.

I invite you to remember, that the universe also chose to make a YOU creature. And I encourage whatever steps may lead you to the path of your own original programming.

With love,
Joanne Lutz