Animal Signs
An Evening Conversation
Before I had even left the house, the congregation was starting to gather…
The hummingbird, ruby-throated and glistening in the late day light,
hovered over the feeder, drinking lustily.
“Remember”, he hummed, “remember to feel joy in that grieving heart of yours.”
Then the delight and shock of indigo as the blue bird arrived on the deck
sitting with the bright yellow squash flowers.
The bird that is my remembrance of mom…
No words, her presence was enough.
My heart swelled with an inhalation and then softly sighed out.
As I walked through the yard and neared the gate to enter the kingdom of the river and trail and woods,
a herd of deer welcomed me with a bark of alarm.
They began to run with thundering hooves as they bound away.
As I stood there in awe, a last doe ran in front of me…no one is left behind in the family of communtiy, of where we belong.
The light lowered, the air cooler now, and the sun glossed the green leaves almost golden in their late day glow.
I walked slowly, with reverance, and awareness of my every breath.
Then the great gift of the night arrived, my lifelong totem, the great blue heron,
alighted on a river rock right across from where I stood.
I could hear its toes scratching the rock as it pivoted, looking here and there, and then right at me.
As she took flight and flew with silent expanded wings pumping down the river,
I remained a while longer taking in the medicine of the moment…
“Sometimes we stay too long in one place looking for something. And so, it is wisdom to know when it is time to fly on…”
Further down the trail I arrived at my favorite tree, she stands like a Brontosaurus,
4 trunk like legs, a hollowed space underneath, perfect for a hiding place or fort,
and then a long necked trunk swooping up skyward with her headress of leaves.
As I leaned all of my weight against her, soft mossy bark against my skin, I felt a blush of warmth - “You are strong.” She whispered.
I was about to walk on when, again, the deer barked an alarm. I was chasing them without meaning to.
Knowing how I don’t like to be disturbed, and also that I am but a guest here in these woods, I turned back to my home.
Just then, a last call rang out in the distance, the trumpeting of Canada Geese, a memory of my childhood days on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
followed by the train whistle…
I was in the culmination of my life journey with animal spirit messages raining down.
This was no ordinary evening walk now, this was a home coming.
There I was standing in the wisdom of these wild things, sovereign and free.
Thank you for reading - Members of the Circle, look for a Mother Day exclusive video coming out tomorrow (Friday 8th)