A Walk On the Wild Side With Author David Michie
We are excited to share an interview with the internationally best-selling author of The Dalai Lama’s Cat series, David Michie. His work has been translated into 30 different languages and can be found in over 50 countries.
A prolific writer, a few of his other works include spiritual thrillers like The Magician of Lhasa and The Secret Mantra as well as titles like Buddhism for Pet Lovers and Hurry Up and Meditate.
In addition to his work as an author, David Michie is also a keynote speaker and coach on mindfulness and mediation. In 2015, he established Mindful Safaris to lead groups to Africa for natural encounters with wildlife.
He took some time to answer questions about upcoming works that his readers can expect as well as where he stands on the great dog versus cat debate!
You are a prolific writer with best-sellers like The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Magician of Lhasa. How does your regular mindfulness practice connect with your writing?
The Magician of Lhasa
Regular meditation practice is a valuable foundation for any creative person because we're at our most creative when we are relaxed and playful. Creativity may be an accident, but we can all learn to become more accident-prone! Getting into a state of mind conducive to creative expression is why I start each day with a one hour meditation session, and have nothing to do with any digital device or the outside world until after I've finished that and have enjoyed breakfast on the verandah with the parrots.
More specifically, I feel that through my books I am bringing readers along with me on my own inner journey. As such I have a responsibility to them as well as to myself to constantly deepen my practice. Just as teachers often say that their role requires them to further their understanding of a subject, so too it is my heartfelt wish to share my own unfolding journey with readers in a way that will inspire them to find greater purpose, resilience and wellbeing in their own lives.
With books that have a personal connection to our furry friends like The Dalai Lama’s Cat and Buddhism For Pet Lovers, can you tell us more about the pets in your life that have inspired you to share these stories?
My very first memories are of a Siamese cat called Pandy, who accompanied me through the first 21 years of my life. I was animal crazy from a very young age, so in addition to Pandy and a succession of family corgis, I also had a rabbit, guinea pig, golden hamsters and a cockatiel permanently on my shoulder from the age of about 12. As I grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa, I spent some vacation time at a local Lion and Cheetah park, where I helped take care of orphaned wildlife. At the time, I didn't think there was anything very unusual about giving an elephant baby a bottle of milk. It was only after leaving Africa, and living in London for some years that I came to realize what an extraordinary privilege it had been.
You’ve explored a number of fictional themes in different forms with your writing. Which genre would you say best describes you?
I am a storyteller seeking to inspire inner growth and transformation. My work belongs in the Mind, Body, Spirit category, but often finds itself on the Fiction shelves. Some publishing professionals have told me that I belong to the same broad category of writers as Paulho Coelho (The Alchemist), Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingstone Seagull), Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie), and James Redfield (The Celestine Prophecy).
Can you give your readers an insight into what you’re working on next?
Awaken the Kitten Within
The Dalai Lama's Cat struck a chord with readers for a whole bunch of reasons. I am planning to develop that in a new series of Feline Philosophers, where the cats of some of the most influential teachers and philosophers act as our insider guides to the lives, times and philosophers of some of the most inspiring and intriguing people. While researching the series, I have been surprised how many such people really did have a treasured cat in their lives. I plan on beginning with one of the world's most famous spiritual poets - and cat lover - Rumi!
As a fun question, in the great debate of cat people vs. dog people, where do you stand?
Am I allowed to be non-binary on this one?! I've never understood why a deep affection for a cat should preclude the joy of throwing a ball for a dog in the park. They are such different kinds of beings and relationships with them nourish us in such different ways. I am also a great lover of parrots of many varieties, and let's not even get started on African wildlife!