The Free Radical

Sometimes I don’t have my camera in hand during moments when it would be kickass to have my camera in hand! Some of these Forest encounters are very brief, and at other times, my hands are busy with foraging activities. Luckily though, I’m an author, and I have an inkling of how words might be strung together in order to ‘paint a picture.’

It was the day after Master Red-Tail’s historic narration had been shared with the world. I already felt pretty good about that sharing and was busy entertaining another sort of sublime satisfaction as we (the dogs and I) approached the openness of the power-line from the winding quad track through the dense forest. My hands were busy shoving freshly-picked juniper berries into my front pocket; I always have juniper berries in my front pocket; yeah, I’m that guy!

Master Red-Tail was waiting for us… right where we daily emerge from beneath the thick canopy. He was perched halfway up a tree along the western edge of the power-line cutline. As soon as he saw us, he took flight, right toward us, swooping low across the narrow wedge of grassland. He skimmed just a few feet above the ground and then flew right over our heads. Magnificent! If I’d had a mind for collecting hawk feathers, I could have grabbed a handful as he passed by.

This is the last leftover pic from the day of the oration. (I’m not too sure what’s up with that rabbinical lock of curled feathers at his breast.)

Now, you might think that a large hawk swooping right above you is in some way a threatening gesture. The very distinct sense I got however was one of total approval. Master Red-Tail was happy with us and with the general situation… and I thanked him for the confirmation. (The dogs too are fascinated by the activities of raptors.)

The next compelling encounters to report all involve turkey vultures. For two solid days I was seeing them everywhere! Driving home from my walk, I saw three of them fly over my truck. Stepping outside the front door of our favourite local restaurant that evening, another one disappeared among the treetops of the RV park. And then yesterday, within a minute of setting off from the truck to begin our walk, we were greeted by another turkey vulture who deigned to escort us up the mountain. He only came into sight occasionally as he flew in and out of the tops of the trees.

Turkey Vulture energy always excites me. In my opinion they are the most impressive flyers of all, making their aerial antics look ridiculously effortless. And they are metaphorically the cleanup crew who prepare the way for a New Vision to take hold. In the span of just a few days I had encountered at least a dozen of them! That has to be significant!

Then we encountered that familiar harbinger of New Beginnings, Robin. This one’s breast was extra bright, I noticed, as he cheered us on our way.

This spring’s slow and steady pace seemed to be a bit of a healing for the land and all its denizens and visitors. Things had still remained a bit dry for the fecundity of new growth to really take hold. So when during the night a major new snowfall blanketed the valley, we were grateful for the much-needed moisture.

This looks back across the valley from the Mesa. My house is at the base of that mountain range. A fair bit of snow had fallen, but it looked more like a very heavy frost from afar.

At the beginning of the year, the Forest had been standoffish, as though there was something I just wasn’t getting… and until I did, the Forest was keeping its distance. I’ve stopped bringing my preferred agendas to lay at the feet of this sagacious landscape. I’m listening more, with less bias, to whatever the Forest has to tell me… on its own terms.

All is well. A new relationship has begun… and I think we’re all going to be ultimately pleased with where we’re collectively heading…