Find Your Wild I love backpacking. There is something immensely satisfying in traveling with all your belongings carried turtle-like on your back. Each footfall takes me further from civilization and deeper into the wild. Each step leads me back to myself. Worries, concerns, and my to-do list, all fall away; I am a snake shedding its skin, reborn into new life.
There were many Magpie messages for me that night. I have always loved these birds. I admire how elegant they appear in their formal tuxedos with their long snappy tails. They seem clear cut, black and white, and then I see the flash of blue and the shimmer of iridescent green that sparks around them, reminding me that there is a hidden magic to life. I admire their intelligence, their ingenuity, and resourcefulness. These birds are bright and bold and proud of who they are.
Looking to the Horizon The earth meets the sky in a thin line. The land pours over the edge into a vast unknown. We look to the horizon because hope lives there. It [...]
At sunset, there is a clarity of the air that transports me from the ordinary into the extraordinary. Warm light spills across the landscape, a web of spun gold that captures my heart. The liminal time between day and night hangs suspended in the gauzy light. In this magical space, we can find ourselves. We can feel our essence, pure and clear, free of the distortions of our daily living.
The first time I met Raven, up close and personal, was when I was a young woman working in the Rocky Mountains. I had often seen the birds floating on the wind, high above me or heard their calls, but I had never looked a Raven in the eye. I came upon her as I was walking in a meadow. She was striding through the tall grass, just a few feet from me. I thought she might fly away or be frightened by my appearance, but no, she stood her ground and observed me. She had such strength and presence, in truth, I was the one who felt intimidated! This bird was huge! She came up to my knee and looked at me with such intensity; it was as though she could see right through me. From that day on I felt a special connection with Raven. I read all about them and would watch for them. They are amazing creatures with a keen intelligence. They have many vocalizations and can problem solve and use tools. They build alliances with other species and will work together to achieve their goals. They are very family oriented and form strong pair bonds. Ravens are playful and love to fly as demonstrated by their aerial displays.
The forest has a wild abundance of life and possibility. It holds all emotions: peace and joy and fear. The unknown and the unknowable are here. There is an intersection of the visible and invisible. I see the trees and know that I am only encountering a small part of the Being that is the tree. When you look at the forest, the forest looks back at you. The woods teem with animals, yet they are elusive and hidden. I know that bears, cougars, and wolves all live in this realm. Although we do not encounter them face to face, we can sense them on the periphery of our vision, dancing in the shadows. The soul is like that, shy and elusive, camouflaged by our roles and responsibilities. The forest beckons hidden aspects of our Being to come forward, offering us a glimpse of an unrealized truth, opening our hearts to a new understanding of ourselves.
Trading Fear for Respect Bears tend to evoke fear in most people. We fear their strength and power. It is proper to have a healthy respect for bears, to know their ways and [...]
Our culture sees Owl as a symbol of wisdom and insight. Owl carries this medicine on silent wings and guides us through the darkest night. Owl teaches us that we are not flying blind, but are guided by our intuition. Owl teaches us to trust our inner knowing and our deepest Self. Owl Spirit Medicine reminds us to go within, to trust the ancient wisdom that lives within and through each one of us.
A hawk was my first teacher of Oneness. A bird of prey that hunts other birds, this slender brown hawk offered me the most profound awareness of oneness.
The cranes offer a simple wisdom for how we can live our life. We can greet each day, grounded to earth, full of joy and gratitude, energized by sunlight and the possibility that lives at the beginning of a new day. We can raise our voice and jump for joy and awaken to the Life force that will lift us up and give wings to our Spirit.
