The Daily Forest Report May 26, 2015 Ravenshead and Other High Strangeness

by nielskunze on May 26, 2015

First, let it be known that I don’t reveal half the mysteries we’re presented with here. This experience with the Forest Life is absolutely saturated with little mysteries and exchanges that don’t make much sense to my rational mind. So many of them I just keep to myself… until a narrative emerges.

Loner

Loner

The greater context we’ve been dealing with lately is one of extreme dryness. Yes, the days are stunningly gorgeous, but so far all of the spring growth has been supported by the residual moisture contained in the ground, left over from winter. The last time it really rained, there was still frost in the ground, so it just ran off into the rivers and lakes… and that was months ago!

Promises Promises

Promises Promises

There have been forecasts and promises, but it hasn’t amounted to anything significant yet.

Bear Print in Dust

Bear Print in Dust

A few days ago we mounted an expedition to a nearby waterfall– that almost no one knows about– so I could get some video footage for another project I’m working on. I rode my mountain bike, and the dogs followed along. The bear tracks were very clear on the dusty road.

Perspective

Perspective

But don’t worry; it clearly wasn’t a very big bear… Perhaps we’d see him at the waterfall…

On the way, poor Lhasa got high-centred and stuck in a cattle guard. I thought she knew about cattle guards! She was lucky to not have been injured, and just waited patiently with her feet dangling helplessly for me to get off my bike and rescue her– which I did; and immediately she was off and running again! Resilient old girl!

The waterfall was a major disappointment.

Waterless Fall

Waterless Fall

There wasn’t even a trickle. The creek exiting Spur Lake above was pretty much bone dry… even though this is normally the time of spring runoff. We’ll have to come back later, I suppose.

At the conclusion of this little bike trip, we were presented with one of those little mysteries I was talking about. Right where I’d parked the truck, we found this:

Bigsquatch Tuft

Bigsquatch Tuft

Why is there a clump of matted hair lying out here in the middle of nowhere at all? (We were parked in a completely different place than usual.) Who did it belong to? Did Bigsquatch shave his pubes? I really don’t know. (And no, I didn’t take it home with me!)

Climbing Over

Climbing Over

Now, moving forward, rainclouds are gathering…

Rain-Kissed

Rain-Kissed

…and the Wild Roses are finally blooming! Rose petals are one of my favourite things to eat on our daily walks. It’s funny; the dogs have to try everything that I eat. Sitka and Toby immediately tried eating roses in imitation of me, but decided that the thorns made them not worth the effort.

Topless

Topless

On the Mesa, I finally took a picture of this topless tree… not knowing that it was a foreshadow of things to come.

Seventh Snake

Seventh Snake

First, down by the river, we encountered the seventh snake of this young season.

Slitherin

Slitherin

This guy had to book it down a steep embankment to avoid being trodden upon by some rather indifferent dogs. They don’t seem to care for snakes much.

Snake, being a favourite prey animal for the indigenous birds, added emphasis to this next mysterious encounter…

Whatcha Got There Sitka?

Whatcha Got There Sitka?

From a distance, I really had no clue what Sitka had found this time. And even when I got there for a close inspection, I could hardly believe it!

Ravenshead

Ravenshead

Somehow Sitka knew that ravens were taboo. One simply doesn’t eat them! (Although, something obviously had!)

Tails You Lose

Tails You Lose

We found the tail nearby, and you can tell by the context of the sticks and plants around it just how big this raven must have been!

Just Feathers

Just Feathers

And all that was left of the missing middle section was this pile of scattered feathers.

Raven is a powerful totem animal with connections to magic and creativity. Honestly, I’m not sure how to interpret this ‘message.’ My feeling about this has to do mainly with the dreamtime. There’s a bloody battle going on right now in the darkness. Raven is our daytime ally who skillfully navigates the darkest of sorceries.

I think we all need to claim our own dreaming as our personal space for healing… or there could be dire consequences. (Not to frighten anyone.)

Here It Comes!

Here It Comes!

Anyway, the rains have finally come in abundance. It rained all through the night! The Forest promises to dish up the most delectable fragrances and feasts today.

Perhaps when I get back, later today, I’ll write a Dreamtime Reclamation… unless I’m presented with more pressing mysteries…

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