Day Three

The best part of waking up
is the tickle of rain on the skylight above my head.
Then it is the smile of a girl named Jaz
who stands, stretching her leg up onto
the post of the front porch.
It is the sharing circle,
one at a time, we talk of our day plans,
each one of us finishes with "aho"--
"I have spoken"--
and a collective "aho" echoes back.

The strangest part of finding one's inner child
comes when you realize it was never lost--
it has been stifling a giggle,
smirking just below surface, waiting for the right time.
mine was set free this morning
on an orange blanket of maple and oak leaves,
when I asked the question
what animal would I be today?
I ran, arms wide, wings spread,
swooping through the forest,
hooting like Owl and flying with Wind.
That was also the best part of waking.

this has recently turned into this poem, about Cedar and Diindiis, two boys who live here:

Waking the Child

Cedar dashes through the pines,
the dazzled weave of eyes, hands, feet
and red squirrel’s queried voice
bear out his unspoken bond with the
life of the forest

His marvel over things seen and unseen
repeats this motto: “Be as a question.”

Through his wonder
I awake to find:
we all ask questions within—
but a child puts his Heart in his mouth.

Diindiis hangs in the balance,
the giggled twirl of golden leaves
and blonde upside-down hair,
the feet of a blue jay wrapped nimbly
around Birch branches.

His monkey’s eye view reminds me that the
seer chooses his every perspective.

Through his delight,
I awake to see
we all desire joyful lives—
but a child puts Heart in his action.

Their Heartspeaking
is what teaches me,
not about finding my
inner child, (for she was never lost)

She has been stifled, sleeping and dreaming,
waiting for the right time to awaken.

I set her free this morning.
The question: what animal would I be…?
I ran, arms wide—wings spread—
swooping, the call of Owl on the wind:
Wake up, child! Wake up!



Today was a great day--
I read some wonderful, wonderful stories from Tamarack's soon-to-be-published "Whispers of the Ancients," which...might be found on the website. to check: www.teachingdrum.org/ and link to Snow Wolf Publishing. Otherwise, I'll share them all in time.

I was more satisfied with the eating situation today, after deciding that attempting to "go native" with such haste was just silly. I was happy with some granola and soymilk, and almond butter/banana sandwiches on Wendy's YUM bread. I also got munchies...dried fruit and veggies, and nuts, and chocolate...shhhhh.

A walk later, alone, had me talking to myself, to Dad, to the trees...asking a lot of questions and trying to see whether this will be right. Didn't find many answers, until...

Talked to Wendy on the phone, and then Paul--and happy reports from all around. Paul's truthful, sincere, and much-needed advice: don't ask questions yet. Just wait, settle in, and then see how I feel. Too many questions at this point takes me out of what's going on right now. Ah. Enjoy, relax, learn. Live.