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The four ravens stood still and silent on the cedar-post fence, like carved ebony statues…just staring at me, watching. Suddenly, one of these beautiful statues sprang to life, responding to my invitation to connect…

Often when we face life’s challenges with determination and courage, we discover our most empowered selves.

Have you ever felt, even momentarily, that you have not accomplish anything or gotten anything done? It’s not like we always have to be busy, but often we can feel that we ‘did nothing.’ Yet…rarely is this true.

Most of us know how hard it is to lose our dearest friends, but when death stacks one loss upon the other in a short time, then something deeper is asked of us.

I am so done with my culture diminishing, shaming, sanitizing, and pathologizing the rich, fertile Soul of our shadows, vitally important shadows laden with primordial wisdom.

I was grief-stricken that they would only have this one little gift, and what I gave them to take home to Mama….and then no more. How long would they survive?

They seemed almost suspended there, all facing me. It was an eerie feeling, as if aliens had flown in and were scanning me to collect data, to better understand who and what I was.

I saw shame again flit across the little girl’s face threatening to snuff out all hope. I watched her shrink back into herself, joy retracted. I started to speak, but the father was already marching forward.

In my culture, I have witnessed a form of verbal violence that affects the emotions and psyche of our tender human spirit. This violence is so pervasive and accepted that it's almost invisible. It is often disguised as love, spirituality, wisdom, and being helpful. And yet, more often than not, it fosters shame, alienation, and a lack of true human connection.

If I had knelt down, I could have reached my hand out to touch him. But I was rooted where I stood, and could only stare in stunned awe.

After about half a mile, I sensed someone or something watching me, and possibly following me. I felt the prickles of awareness on the back of my neck, and up my spine.

How many souls before me stood with faces tipped upward in breathless awe of those same twinkling stars? How many souls were comforted by their timeless presence? How many ancient boats were guided through dark seas? All I knew was that they tenderly watched over me, just as they tenderly watch over us all, no matter what we feel, no matter what events unfold. There they sit in the night sky loving us as if holding together the very fabric of The Great Mystery.

Suddenly, Little Robin realized that Mrs. Thatcher had just attacked her dream. No one else has been attacked. Why me? There had been one too many times when Mrs. Thatcher ridiculed Little Robin in front of the whole class. Today would be the last time.

Even as I lay immobile in my bed, my soul wandered with the deer. Single file, we climbed steep, rocky slopes, and slowly descended into deep, sandy ravines. They roamed through my mind and soul just as they roamed the mountain through all forces of nature.

In split seconds my thoughts frantically clambered over each other, racing to the top of my awareness. My brain exploded in liquid terror that screamed through my veins like razor blades. I automatically glanced in my rear-view mirror and saw bumper-to-bumper cars mere feet behind me.

As the coyotes drew closer to me, they started a shrill, high-pitched yipping. Although they didn’t growl or make huffing sounds, the warning was not to be ignored.

Nature repeatedly reminds me that there is nothing more powerful or fundamental than my own intuition and instincts. When we spend quiet time in nature, we are reminded of our own already-existing intelligence and inherent knowing, our already existing inner strength, courage, and wisdom.