Music Monday Offering...

I am a lucky woman to count on both hands

the ones I love...

Love and Light my Lovelies

(dedicated to my Sisters of Light)

The Harvest...

thats what has been happening here

lots of harvesting

drying

pureeing

freezing

baking & cooking

*

herb & tea potions

being brought together

for cooking & medicinal purposes

 *

I love this time of year

so much

boots

gloves

sweaters

toques

a time of soup and comfort foods....

as many changes that are happening outside

there is equally the amount of changes happening

inside of me

some of what is happening

I understand

some other things I don't

lately

I have felt the need to cocoon

the desire to go deep within

something is stirring on the horizon

I am not sure what

I do know it will be amazing

and I want to get there

so badly

and yet

I feel held back

like there are things that need to be done

before I get there

things need to be 

dried

pureed

frozen

and stored away

for when I need them

I feel pulled in all directions

and yet I stand in one place

feet planted firmly

with strong roots that go deep 

I want to run the race

but I cannot leave the gate.

and yet

I am happy

I am content

I am in the knowing

I am filled with love and joy

I am blessed

Love and Light my lovelies

Bear and I...

This  is when I first saw him....
a cub with his young mother
She had come into the fields with him
to protect him for the other male bears
who are know to kill the make cubs
in order to protect their territory.

It was fall
and his size led me to believe he had been a late cub
His mother seemed young
and inexperienced.
The Puppy Prince and I had been walking 
on one of  the many dykes
when he began to bark
All I saw was the bench up ahead
and thought him to be  doing his nervous puppy routine
but as I approached where the bench was
I saw, to my complete joy
the rear of a bear going into the black berry bush
Upon coming closer
I realized there was something else
in the tree
under the bush
a cub
The Mother joined him in the tree as we past
Logically
I knew one should be scared
but I was not
infact
I was thrilled as I had my camera with me
and my trusty hound
whom had caused the young mother
to take her cub and herself to the tree.
This is how I knew she was young
because mature bears have a way of looking at dogs
that say
"Really?"

That was two years ago...
Last summer my husband
in his bike travels
saw the two of them
again roaming the farm lands
an area rich with berries
and the water ways rich with fish.
I did not see them
But when he came home
with numerous stories of their sighting
I could not help but believe it was them
my mother and cub from the fall before.
*
But then there was one....
towards the end of summer
the young male was on his own.
I do not know what happened to the mother
What I do know is that he took of residence
in my church... 
right down this pathway...

in the land of Coyote...

 Eagle...

Heron...

of Beaver and Duck

and many other creatures of the air.

It is a land of deep magic and beauty,

so I was not surprised

at his return.

It was on one of my early morning runs

with the Puppy Prince

when I became re-acquainted with him.

I had seen something in the cranberry field

just on the other side of the water way

by which I ran.

I thought is was a black garbage bag

but as I grew closer

I realized it was him...

sitting at the side of the field

enjoying a breakfast of cranberries. 

100 meters of water sat between us

as we looked at each other for a few moments

Oh and was it a moment....

until the Puppy Prince ran back to my side

wondering what the hold up was

and caught sight of the bear.

He then proceeded to bark

which was enough annoyance 

for the bear to cut his breakfast short and walk

further into the feild

away from the noisy creature

on the other side of the water, up the bank.

I saw him every morning for just over a week...

Somethings we would wake him up from his bed

deep in the black berry bushes

or sometimes we would see him lumbering in the feilds

staring his day with some berries.

One morning I even saw him walking with Coyote

that was curious!

They were walking side by side and at one point

after Coyote has spotted me

they touched noses.

When I returned home 

I searched the internet for any information

on Coyotes and Bears cohabitating

there was no such information

only old First Nations Legends about

Coyote and Bear

*

And then one day

he was gone

heading in to the mountain

for winter

and his long sleep

as I hoped and waited for his return...

Over the summer

I heard talk of him

from those I would meet on the dyke

Either I had just missed him

or we had retreated when meeting someone on the trail

who said he was ahead.

Not once did I get a glimpse of him

even though I was readily seeking him out.

After coming home from our summer trip

I headed down one early moring

with camera in hand

hoping to get a glimpse of my Bear...

There was plenty of "signs"

that he was there

All along the dyke

bear crap

and let me tell you

they were big

leading me to believe that my boy had grown

to a healthy size. lol

Now I know you might be wondering

how could I know if it was the same bear

well

because I went to where he had made 

one of his sleeping spots

in the Black Berry Bushes

and sure enough

a trail had been mowed down

by a body larger than a dog

down into the bushes

with his"marking" around it.

This is what convinced me it was him

and that he had returned.

But still
no sign of him....

But I was not to be disappointed for long.

The very next day

at 6am

on a Monday morning

the Prince and I were down for a run

as the sun was just stretching up over the mountains

and the fog was holding on to the earth

there he was

about 250 meters in front of us.

He had seen us

before we saw him and was retreating into the fog

away from the human and her dog

It was magic and mysterious

as I could not see him fully clearly, 

but could make out his massive shape through the fog.

I could see as he would pause and turn his head 

to check where we were

before lumbering on

towards the fork in the path.

The Prince had not year spotted him...

too excited to be out and about

taking care of morning business

which was good

as I did not want his barking to startle

or aggravate Bear.

We kept a safe distance from behind

stopping to sit on a bench

as I watched which path he would take,

all the while

the fog slowly lifting

making visibility that much clearer.

It was then The Prince noticed him

and began to bark

Bear stopped and gave him one of "those" looks

the barking fell silent

We watched as he disappeared down the bank

into a watering hole used by the Prince himself

Steadily we moved foward

just in time to see Bear

swimming to the other side of the waterhole

and go up the bank

disappearing into the tall grass

into the field on the other side...

What a treat

What a moment

The images with forever be in my mind

no camera to still shot it

but sometimes

that is not meant to be

the magic

not meant to be captured...

I went back the next morning
but only to find this left behind...
He is gone now
not even markings to remind us
that he was there
He has retreated into the mountains
Getting ready for his big sleep, 
after a summer of fattening himself up
with the bounty of the land.
*
I am ever so grateful to have had this morning with him
and I look forward to his return
Until then
I take with me the wisdom Bear gives
-nourishing self care
-restoration of body
-rested health during a season of quiet
-strength, confidence, leadership
-deep healing
-solitude in spirit
-grounding
*

Thus ends my story of Bear and Me 
What animals have touched your spirit
my lovelies?

Love and Light

 

Music Monday....a dedication

 "Take It On Faith"

There’s only one road
In and out of my heart
I don’t know where it ends
And where it starts
But the night is young
Younger than we
So lets burn right and wrong
I’ll forgive you
And you’ll forgive me
Take it on faith
That I’ll be there
When the pain comes
And I’ll take it all on faith
That you will try, try not to run
When it’s hard, so hard
I can be on fire
Yah I can hold my own
But inside I’m just a girl
Who’s scared to be alone
Today was hard
But tomorrow’s new
And if you’re there for me
I’ll be there for you
Yes I will see us through
And I’m taking it on faith
That I’ll be there when the pain comes
And I’ll take it on faith
That you will try, try not to run
When its hard, so hard
I’ll take it on faith that you’ll be there
When the pain comes
I’ll take it all on faith
That you will try, try not to run
Take it on faith
Take it on faith
Take it on faith
Take it on faith
Take it on faith
Take it on faith
When it’s hard
so hard

*

This post is dedicated to my dear sister-friend

Angela

as she lives each day

the best she can

with courage

and eloquence

beyond measure...

as cancer walks with her

in the shadows.

I love you my friend!

you can find her latest post here

What are you grateful for today 
my lovelies?

Love and Light

Finding Home...

On every account

this summer was about Home 

It was not something I had planned...

all but the part of going back to my home town

the one I grew up in

the one that held me, mounded me, gave birth to me

until I left at 16...

that part was in the plans

as it was the place my neice,

who also grew up there,

decided to get married.

the first night on the road to Smothers, we slept in a truck pull out....half way to our destination

As the time grew closer to summer

and the reality of "going Home"

grew brighter

I became well aware on the importance

this pilgrimage back was for me.

I had not been "home" for 12 years

and those 12 years (plus 2)

had been some of the most important years

I have lived thus far.

And somehow I knew
that going back to where it began
in my new skin
was going to be important...
I did not know how
or what it would look like
but I knew
something was going to happen
within...

Hudson Bay Mountain....

And so
because my niece fell deeply, madly, truly in love
with her high school sweet heart
my summer of Finding Home
came to be...

my awesome brother with one of his beautiful daughters...

Summer is not my season
my favorite season begins now
when the Earth begins her descent back into herself
when things begin to die away and hibernate.
Even so
I stepped into summer
with my arms wide open
for whatever she had to bring me;
And her plan was to
bring me Home.

My heart was seared by that which I love
My skin caress with the greatness of possibility
I was tested to see
just how much upheaval I could take....
(that would be in the form of renovations)
and I was challenged to look at who I was
and whether or not I needed to defend that.

a day visit to the fossil beds...

I Loved Deeply

Held my children's hands in their times of need
Guided them with deep Mother Earth Love
and set them free on the wings of Father Sky
I cared for my husband...
doing for him those things I knew made his life
just that much better
I nurtured our connection
cared for our friendship
and fell in love once again
with his exceptional soul.

I celebrated the women in my life

Those from my inner world

and those from my outer world

and I swam in gratitude

for those who had left over the years

and the teachings their leaving brought me.

Twin Falls....a place where a piece of my heart dwells...

I was always one who held on tight to relationsips

almost like a hoarder

finding my worth in those around me
and living in the concept of lack
that if a relationship ended
there would be nothing to replace it with.

But this no longer is the way for me

My worth is found in a place

within my own being

A Sacred place where Divinity lives

a Home for my Spirit

when it is not flying through the heavens

a Home for my Soul

where it gathers strength and knowing.

This all happening

before I even

left...

protesting a pipe line planned to be torn into the fabric of the pristine untouched wilderness of the north

So when I did begin the the pilgrimage

back home...

back to a land of rich first nations blood

to the place of the Raven Clan, The Frog Clan, The Wolf Clan

just to name a few...

I was already on my way.

I drank it in 
as if it were life giving waters
This place was the dirt in my skin
the leaves in my hair
the tone of my voice.
And to share it with the ones I love
a gift.

One morning
I took the time
to spend time with those who had gone
to the next life.
A sacred morning it was
I grieved for the old
I wept for the young
a cleansing for my being
as I walked through the aisles of head stones
seeking those I loved
finding those I knew....
*
And there was the family and friends...

The Fall Fair was happening when we were there a big event in August, bringing many visitors from the neighbouring towns. This was a huge childhood staple....lol....to be walking the midway with my husband in youngest was surreal to say the least!

I was reminded that though there was much struggle

much confusion

much walking with the deep feeling of being lost

there was an "idealic" aspect to a childhood

surrounded by so much family.

A

We were children of imigrants

my many cousins and I

6 siblings immigrating to the same small town

while the remaining 8 remained

in the old country

along with the parents.

my "big boy" youngest, contemplating his first ride on the Zipper...the best ride the midway has to offer

We all grew up together

enjoying Rockwell style Christmas'

in the deep snow of the north

on the vast farm lands

and in the mountains high.

There was a family reunion while we were there...
And in each of their eyes
I saw my own reflection...
not because I look like them
because I don't, I am adopted
It was more about me seeing
 how they saw me
how they knew me
and in those eyes
I found Home.

I was reminded of who I was

I was welcomed back into the village

in which I grew up in.

I was 
because they were.

Many stories were remembered
Many seasons given homage to
and Witness paid to that which had faded.
 *
Home
a place that houses the reflection of self...
that is what the summer gave to me
and continues to do....

What did this summer bring you
my lovelies?

Love and Light