【Book Review: The Cat's Oracle Under the Tree】

More than a week has passed since the start of this year, hasn't it?
It was only after I had exchanged "Happy New Year" greetings with various people that I finally felt like the year had truly begun.

I recently read a book called "The Cat's Oracle Under the Tree."
I love heartwarming novels, so I'm a huge fan of Michiko Aoyama's work.

I've previously read "Cocoa on Thursday," "Monday's Matcha Cafe," "Red, Blue, and Esquisse," and "Please Go to the Library," so this was my fifth book of hers.
I hope to read her other books and write about them here someday.

So, to give my honest impression,
"It was heartwarming again!! This is exactly what I wanted!! It's the best!!"
That's how I feel.

It was a wonderful reading experience that made me smile involuntarily as I read.

Destiny changes through an oracle from a cat

In this story, seven characters receive a holly leaf with a keyword written on it as an oracle from a cat named "Mikuji" at a shrine, and the story progresses from there.
Each of the seven characters is struggling with their own problems, but by taking action based on the words of the oracle, their worlds change completely.

By the way, I didn't know this, but you can write on holly leaves because they leave a brown mark when scratched.
It is said that people used to use them to exchange letters in the past.
(This is apparently the etymology of the Japanese word for postcard, 'hagaki'.)
That's somehow romantic, isn't it?

Part that resonated with me most: The Sixth Leaf - Space

The story that I particularly empathized with and was moved by was "The Sixth Leaf: Space."
The story follows Chisaki, a housewife who dreams of becoming a manga artist.

First, Chisaki makes excuses about being "busy," but she is actually held back by her own assumptions and beliefs that she "lacks talent." She is also frequently depicted belittling herself, thinking that people more successful than her are "chosen by God," while implicitly believing she is someone who "wasn't chosen by God."

I also tend to be a negative thinker, and I have a habit of starting my thoughts from this point, so I really empathized with this personality trait.
Also, the way she can't help but compare herself to others...

And in this story, the oracle "Space" appears.
Space... does it mean physical space?? Like storage??
That's what I was thinking while reading (I was way off, so it's embarrassing).

The "space" indicated by the oracle in this story referred to "mental space" (room in one's heart).

I had also been thinking recently that "mental space" is important, so it was very timely, and I think my eyes must have widened when I learned the meaning.

This "space" = "mental space" is described in the book as "a space for God to enter." What a stylish expression to come up with!
I envy that sensibility and take my hat off to her. As expected of Aoyama-san. This kind of expression popping up is one of the reasons I love her work.

Returning to the story, Chisaki applies to be an assistant as a stepping stone to her dream of becoming a manga artist, but she is treated with condescension by the assistant leader in charge of interviews. She also feels her husband has no interest in her, and she is disgusted with herself for blaming her surroundings and her age for things not going well. She laments that her self-deprecation and jealousy are growing significantly.
However, she even directs her frustration at something other than herself, saying "something has possessed me."
This part was also depicted in detail, and I thought it was very thorough.

Then, Chisaki visits the shrine again and learns from the head priest how to perform a purification ritual on herself.

1. Stand tall and straighten your back

2. Tighten your glutes

3. Focus your energy on your tanden (the area just below your navel)

4. Exhale completely, then take a deep breath

5. After repeating this about three times, shout, 'Hey!'

I was reading this at a cafe, so I couldn't do step 5, but I secretly followed along with steps 1-4 while reading (lol).
(I can't be the only one, right...?)

The chief priest said this about this purification ritual.

In response, Chisaki replies like this.

The words the chief priest returned with were striking once again.
It felt as if they were being said directly to me.

And, the final words.

This exchange really hit home, and I could no longer just stand by and watch it as 'mere fiction.'
Before I knew it, Chisaki had been replaced by me. It was beyond just empathy.
For about five minutes after that, I was reflecting on my past self and couldn't move on to the next sentence.

Then, entering the world of fiction once again, the protagonist returns to being Chisaki.
From that point on, Chisaki shed all her preconceptions, engaged in honest and straightforward communication with her husband and mom friends, and even felt gratitude toward the leader who had looked down on her during her assistant interview; she clearly seemed to have gained more 'space'.

In the process, she realizes that what she had been sensing from those around her was mostly a 'reflection of her own emotions'.
It means that because she had made assumptions about herself, she ended up believing that those around her thought the same way, or she had acted in a way that made them think so.

This is also something that really happens, isn't it?
There are times when people around you don't really care about the things you have a complex about, but because you are worried about them, you feel like that's how others see you.

Chisaki had been binding her own actions because of this, but after clearing away her 'preconceptions,' she was able to find 'space'.

After all, 'space,' or rather 'mental margin,' is important, isn't it?
If you don't have any leeway because work is tough or things aren't going well with family or a partner, your personality can become increasingly depressed and negative, and since you're basically looking down, you don't even notice when there is light.

By the way, what is 'space' to me?

In the story, she found 'space' by clearing away 'preconceptions,' but I wonder if it really works that well in reality.
(See? I'm starting with negative thinking again, aren't I?)

What kind of state is it for me to have 'space' = 'mental margin'?

• Having financial leeway

• Being able to be without worrying about time

• Being able to immerse myself in thought

These are the things that popped into my head.
And among these, the one that felt most like me and resonated the most was 'being able to immerse myself in thought'.
(Having financial leeway is something everyone shares, right! It's in the hall of fame, so it's excluded.)

Indeed, I like having time to think deeply about things, and since I've recently started getting into art appreciation, I think 'time to think' is definitely important to me.

And next, where are the places where it's easy to create 'space'?

There seem to be many possibilities. Home, a favorite park, a place with memories, etc.
By the way, for me, it's cafes, and nothing else. That was an immediate answer.

In other words, in my case, 'time to immerse myself in thought at a cafe' seems to be the best way to create 'space' and is perfect for clearing away negative emotions.

What kind of things allow you all to create the most 'space'?
It sounds fun to hear about others' experiences, as it helps me understand their values and character.

In this way, reading Michiko Aoyama's works not only makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but also helps you learn more about yourself.
How wonderful it is that she can expand so much from just one book.

I would like to read other works by Michiko Aoyama as well.
See you later!