The Free Radical

Ah, that’s more like it! We got a thorough soaking… and we needed it. The smell of the Forest after a good rain is indescribable. Someone really needs to build the prototype for Smell-A-Vision. (I conceptually invented this about a year ago– totally feasible!)

As summer’s finery begins to come out in staggering variety, the earliest harbingers of the new season go out in a silent ‘blaze’ of glory…

…while down at the river the evidence of the melting snowpack is obvious.

And on the riverbanks, the Wild Peas have begun to bloom. The flowers already taste very much like fresh pea pods, so I find very little reason to wait. The actual peas in their pods come later in the heat, but tend to be a bit fibrous and stringy… so the flowers are a nice early season alternative.

Meanwhile, this fungal infection was just waiting for the rain to produce its orange jelly-worm spore masses. It’s a bizarre thing when you first encounter it! (Junipers are in the cedar family– that’s why they’re susceptible.)

Rodney seemed to tolerate the rain well enough… although remaining rather tight-lipped (beaked?) about the dismembered member of his clan from a few days ago. There seems to be a stark message in that about a radical shift in humanity’s relationship with the whole astral/mental plane. (Birds in general relate to the astral realms.)

Sitka, the forensic archeologist / coroner, found this dead little bird. Well of course she did; that’s what Sitka does! I’m guessing perhaps a siskin, but I didn’t poke around much looking for the yellow markings.

And let me remind you that animals encountered as predator/prey pairings add extra significance to the symbolism involved…

It’s hard to believe that this is already the eighth snake of the season… and it’s still May! Snake is the herald for Rebirth, Resurrection, Initiation and Wisdom… Yeah, that sounds about right!

And just before we got to the power-line yesterday, Hawk called directly to us. I consider this guy to be my personal guardian. He’s gotten very friendly as of late, and isn’t nearly as camera-shy as he used to be.

I’ve caught him a couple of times lately too, silently following. A couple of days ago, I glanced up to track a small plane in the sky overhead, and there was Master Red-Tail quickly ducking behind the trees. It makes me feel very good to know he’s keeping an eye out.

Along with Eagle, Hawk’s favourite food is Snake… Dining on Wisdom; can’t go wrong there!

I bet you’d feel pretty good too knowing this guy was looking out for you every day!

I honour and appreciate the diversity of life I continue to encounter each day!