stream (Photo credit: simplerich)
This happened to me today, around 2:45 EST. This isn’t a ghost story, or fictitious in any way.
Allow me to preface this account by saying that I am no stranger to the woods of the Eastern U.S. I grew up surrounded by mountains in SW Virginia, and spent many hours in those woods – hunting, fishing, just walking . . . you name it.
I have never gone for very long without returning to the woods, even to this day. I can usually tell you what animal is making a noise without even looking, just by the sound of the way that they travel. I am, by no means, some expert tracker or adept woodsman, but there isn’t much that I haven’t experienced in the outdoors. I know when a storm is coming just by watching how the leaves turn in the wind.
Today, I was in the woods, by a stream. I was in Northern Virginia, near where I live. The creek by which I was squatting down had, over the past three years, yielded to me two, prehistoric, milky quartz arrowheads – in the water.
As I said, I was squatted down by this creek, looking at rocks. A creek full of tumbled stones is always a joy for me – a regular treasure hunt; you never know what beautiful little piece that Creation may present to you.
As I was there, on my haunches listening to the water, I was whispering my mantra, which I wrote about here: http://risinghawk.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/like-a-prayer/ [Since I wrote that post, I have discovered that the mantra, when whispered, seems to embody the sound of the wind and a stream - the woods - and that is what led to go to the woods today]
Quite unexpectedly, a deer caught me off-guard as it leaped across the water upstream from me. I was downwind, so I don’t think she realized that I was there, either. In the distance, there was a crow sounding a distress call, which led me to believe that it had likely found an owl’s roost, or perhaps a hawk. The squirrels were very active, too.
Then, the wind changed. There was no chance of rain today, but rain was blowing in. The breeze became quite strong – very cool and refreshing – and I could hear the rain as it began to blow through the tree-tops, sweeping in my direction. It sounded like a pretty big rain coming in. In fact, the wind through the trees was unusually loud, and I began to feel little drops of water hitting my arms. Now, here’s the kicker – my arms were dry. There was no water, no tree sap, no insects or anything else on my arms . . . and the sky was clear. This lasted about 10-15 seconds, then it was over.
I cannot begin to describe the power of that moment, but I know that the mantra was involved, and a deep connection to Spirit that I hadn’t felt to that extent before.
I wasn’t drunk, (or even drinking for that matter), or on medication, or in any way delusional – it happened – and what occurred can not be dismissed by any sort of “logic” or scientific blather. I was keenly aware of the moment. I felt no fear . . . just awe.
Today, I can say without reservation, that I was touched by a “Spirit Wind,” and it felt magnificent. I wish I could tell you what it meant, but I can’t – I don’t know.
The importance of this story isn’t my experience. It is that if I can experience such a thing, then so can you; because I am not special or superior in any way to anyone. If you make yourself available, there is magic to be had.
Many Blessings To All…
LOTD
