Meeting Adjourned

I am sitting out on the bluff on this grey stormy day. The wind is impatiently turning my pages and at the same time cooling me as another hot flash spreads through my body to every cell, igniting something I have no name for.

Gentle raindrops awaken me to the need for creative expression and watering the dry spell of my inner landscape. All the while a seagull glides by and circles over me again and again, probably wondering what I am doing here on this wintery day.

My hot nettle tea is cooling in the thermos dotted with stars, that a dear sister gifted me on her visit in the summer. Where did the time go? It seemed not so long ago that we were lying here on this bluff in the hot sun after swimming in the cool waters sharing with each other those things that matter most in life. The raindrops remind me of her gentle nature and generous heart.

I felt called to the bluff today to write outside, letting Mother Earth speak while I listen carefully. Something new yet ancient is there on the edge of awareness. I can feel it in the movement of the wind and hear it in the waves that are crashing against the shoreline.

The seagull has settled not far from me on the little island near the bluff. It feels like we are the only ones here on this stormy day and just as I put these words on paper a little duck appears out of nowhere between the island and the bluff swimming by and is joined by a mate that is paddling around the island from the other side. I didn’t see Raven coming. But he is loudly announcing his arrival or perhaps the beginning of our meeting. He has much to say.

And yes, we are all listening!

Perhaps he called on the seal who silently emerges from the depth of the ocean to join our gathering. I am starting to wonder what this is all about as the wind pushes and pulls on the pages. I seem to be the one taking notes for this meeting.

I listen to the wind and watch the movement of the waves. I become aware of the ease of my breath coming in and going out. The inhaled air travels down deeply, spreading far and wide, just as the fire of the hot flash did before, creating more space inside of me. In this spaciousness I sense a deep surrendering to what is taking place here.

As the wind touches my face gently, I open to receive the love that is present in every raindrop, every wave, in the trees bending, gently giving movement to the wind’s urging. I sense the love in the nettle tea as I take a sip, offering it’s nourishment to my body and feel the rock’s solid support under me. Raven, duck, seagull and seal are all in agreement: Even though life is constantly shifting and changing, love is always present.

My hand glides over the page and words spread across each line in effortless motion, as I trust what will come, allowing myself to be the scribe.

Suddenly I look up from my page just in time to watch the ducks dive under and disappear in the moving sea while the seagull lifts effortlessly into the air. Seal is already gone and I wonder if the meeting is over. Raven answers: Yes, the meeting is adjourned!

I gather my things: the tea, pen, journal and the little pillow that saved me from getting wet while sitting on the rock and I make my way home to feed the fire and let Frodo (my dear old dog) know that all is well despite appearances.

~Photos by Dancing Wolf

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Winter Blessings

Happy New Year!!!!

A new year has begun!

As all the warm well wishes for each other have been exchanged and the days are now beginning to get longer again, here at Elkenwolf winter is showing off it’s unique beauty with icy temperatures turning water to magical ice creations that delight the senses, even if feet and hands are hard to keep warm while taking pictures.

As I sit here in the deep silence of winter I wonder what 2017 will bring. Out of nowhere a large bald eagle flies high over Reflection Cove taking my attention from my wandering mind to the giant wings moving in a powerful rhythm like the beat of my heart. It seems to know where it is going.

A week before Christmas, as we were getting ready for a big Solstice event, I saw a bird fly towards our living room window and heard the big bang. It all happened so fast it took a few moments for my mind to register what just happened. My partner was the first to lean over the couch to see a little woodpecker lying with it’s head in the snow underneath the window. I remember walking over reluctantly not wanting to see the hurt or dead bird. The moment I saw it lying there motionless it was clear that I needed to check on it. I pulled on my coat and boots and hurried outside. As I rounded the corner of our deck I saw the bird still lying there motionless, the red feathers startling bright against the white snow. I also saw another woodpecker nearby on the ground, hopping away under the deck as I approached and then flying into a tree close-by.

Picking up the unmoving bird very gently with both of my hands I could feel that it was still alive. It had it’s eyes closed but as I positioned it in my hands it moved it’s feet and held onto my fingers evoking sweet memories of the feel of little bird’s feet of my beloved childhood friend: my budgie Hansi.

The woodpecker’s eyes were tightly closed. I hoped that the warmth of my hands were keeping it warm as I stood there looking for any signs and wondering if it could survive both the hard impact with the window and the shock. I spoke to it softly telling it that I hoped it would recover and fly again. Then I also said that it would be ok for it to let go, if that is what it needed to do and that it was loved.

As I stood there in silence waiting for a response the little woodpecker started to blink its eyes. Not knowing what else to do, I held the woodpecker and waited, watching it continue to blink slowly. Then a call from a nearby bird roused me out of my silent watch and I felt almost prompted to turn towards a bush and crouch down. The moment I did this the little woodpecker pulled its wings out of my hands and flew to the tree just behind the bush. It’s mate immediately joined him there. It hesitated for a few more moments, then to my delight flew to another tree nearby, it’s mate following close behind.

You can probably imagine the joy I felt seeing the two of them fly off together, leaving me with a feeling of deep gratitude in my heart and an awareness of the preciousness of life. One morning a few days later I awoke to a loud familiar drumming sound on the metal roof. Instantly I wondered if it was my little friend sending me a message, that all is well.