EAGLE BLESSINGS

Our story begins as he was enjoying one of his favorite lakes. It was another calm warm day. As the sun got lower in the sky he grabbed the kayak and went out for a paddle. It was a perfect evening for exploring. This evening something on the far shore was calling him. He reached his hand out far to check the sun. A hand a half above the horizon, was enough time to cross the lake and see what was calling. He always followed his instincts and what pulled him. He never knew what he might find but often a pull meant something was waiting. Often he would find subtle things others would miss, or they may see what he saw but would miss the meaning. Every bird and animal, gust of wind, colors on the water all had meaning for him. Eagerly he set off across the water wondering what he might find.

This evening the lake was very still and warm. He had the sail on just in case a breeze might come up, but with the calm he expected an evening of paddling. As he paddled the long distance across the lake he tossed about ideas he had been working on. He wondered about making new art pieces made from found natural items. Remarkable stones, seashells, driftwood perhaps would catch his eye. When he reached the far shore he saw the rock formation he was remembering. Perhaps it was sandstone he thought. He really didn't know stones very well. It was soft tan with beautiful cracks in it. Often quartz would wash in between the cracks and fill the vane with fine white crystals. The stone often broke in square like shapes with the edges already softened by the years of water washing on them. They would be wonderful to build sculptural pieces on. As he reached the far side he paddle slow and close to the shore observing the stones beauty and the stillness in the air.

He turned into a familiar cove and looked for the spot he was thinking of stopping. Then he felt someone. He was being watched. He slowly looked up and there he was. An Eagle was seated on a limb just above him. Ten or twelve feet over him was all. The Eagle sat just watching. He gave a wave Hi to the eagle and bowed a deep bow. As he did he sent out a message. Mind speak is what some call it. It's how the animals all communicate. He was still learning but was getting better at sending and listening. He sent out - You are beautiful. I won't harm you. I'm just here to explore and look at stones. - The Eagle must have heard or sensed he was fine and surprisingly he didn't fly away. They always fly, but somehow tonight was different. He just sat and watched him like he accepted his words.  

    
He continued paddling a few feet further and pulled up on the shore a short distance away from the watching Eagle. He moved slowly and hummed to himself as he looked at what was on the shore. He picked up rocks and driftwood to see if they seemed like keepers for projects. Some he would set back down, others he gathered and carried. When he got an arm full he would go over to the kayak and make a pile. Then he went back to looking for more. The Eagle sat there watching him the whole time. Every once in a while the Eagle would check something across the cove but mostly he just watched him gather up shiny objects and sticks.

As he foraged he thought about the Eagle and wondered why he was watching. Had he been the pull he felt earlier back at camp? Or were the stones calling eager to be used in projects? He reached out and asked the Eagle in thought - Are you the one I often see on the Island? - The Eagle replied that he was an older male. The father. The Eagle I saw often was of course the mother and her child. - Ah good, he thought, and responded with deep appreciation and honor to meet him. He looked at his growing pile of sticks and stones realizing he had too many. He sorted through them looking for the best for keepers. The Eagle sat above him watching. Then he loaded up the kayak laying the heaviest stones down keel in the center for stability. He left the extra's beside the boat in a neat pile for another day. He pushed the kayak in the water and gently got in. As he slowly paddled away he waved Good Night to the Eagle still watching from his perch. He wished him a wonderful evening and thanked him for sharing his cove.
 
The Sun was just setting with a beautiful shimmer reflecting on the water. If he'd hurry he may reach camp on the far shore by dark. A gentle breeze began to blow. Perfect. He thanked Spirit for the help as he lifted the kayak's sail. The wind caught the sail and the boat began pulling forwards. With all the weight of the stones it didn't respond quickly to the wind. It slowly crept forwards like the big old heavy wood schooners he remembered from Maine. The wind picked up a little more to help his journey. The boat was heavy but stable as he set sail across the lake. He thanked all, the Wind and Water, Stones, and Trees for the Gifts, Great Spirit for everything for all of life, and the Eagle for hanging out on this perfect evening.

As the sun got low the next evening he decided he should go back across the lake and gather up the stones and driftwood he left in a pile. There was no hurry as there was nobody on the lake, except a few rare fishermen who never got out of their boats. He took his camera along hoping the Eagle may be there again. Perhaps he could get a photo of him tonight. That would be fun. As he got to the far side and found the cove he scanned the trees. The eagle was nowhere to be found. He pulled the kayak on the shore beside the pile. He stood there and looked around to see if he missed the Eagle simply hiding somewhere. But he didn't feel him. Everything was quiet and looked the same as the evening before except for missing the Eagle  

He turned towards the pile of stones and took a step or two. That's when he saw it. As he looked ahead something bright caught the sunlight shining on a log. It was right under the limb where the Eagle watched him. He went over to see what it was that caught his eye. There perfectly laid on top of the log was a large quartz crystal. What? It was one of the largest he had ever found. It was just sitting there perfectly placed. He looked up and the Eagle's limb was there right above it. He picked it up and held the crystal. The energy was warm and wonderful. What an amazing find. How did this get here? He looked again at the log, then up at the empty eagle perch right above him. He looked around the cove and took it all in. There was no mistaking. He knew how it got here.

For a moment he quickly ran through any other possibilities in his head. All were beyond reasonable and he knew he had to drop into silly human reasoning to go here. But he thought...  There were no crystal veins exposed on this shore, or on the ridge above He had climbed and looked the whole area over many times. So there was no way this crystal just happened to bounce down the hill, and it was more absurd that it  just happened to land perfectly perched on top of this log. That answer was simply not reality. Next he wondered about hikers. But they were many miles from any road or trail. Nobody except maybe hunters in fall would walk here. So the next thought was that someone in a boat ... came here ... docked .... got out ... and laid this beautiful crystal on the log ... and left it behind? A crystal from someplace else on the lake? While the only boats here were fishermen, who never crystal hunted. And if they did they wouldn't leave this behind. That idea was ridiculous in many ways. It was far too nice of a crystal for someone to let out of their hands once they found it. And someone leaving it behind hoping the few people, if anyone who ever came on these shores may find it someday was equally far fetched. There were no other answers.

He eventually had to fall back on his initial gut feel,
and what he knew from the start was right ....
The Eagle left it for him.

He called out and thanked the Eagle wherever he was perched tonight for the beautiful gift. He would keep it near.
 

He loaded up his kayak with the remaining stones and driftwood. He sat the crystal beside his seat in the kayak, safe and warm. He paused and looked around the cove, checking the trees and feeling everything. It was all quiet. The Eagle was likely off in one of the other beautiful coves enjoying the evening. As the sun got low he slid the kayak in the water and gently got in. The boat was lighter than the night before. There was no breeze so tonight he would be paddling home across the lake. The crystal sat beside him as he watched the sun setting on the far off ridges. The sunlight danced on the tops of the waves and some pink caught the few low clouds.

It was another beautiful, perfect evening. And he had an unexpected gift perched beside him, from a new unexpected friend. What a day.

The story continues just a day or two later. ....

He was at camp mid morning on another beautiful sunny day. There was a slight breeze, birds sang, squirrels ran about. All was fine in the world. Then he saw giant wings through the trees. An Eagle was flying right past his camp. He watched it zoom past and wondered if it was maybe the mom he saw often on the island nearby. The Eagle looked over at him and immediately stalled. He flipped his wings straight up and down and rolled a tight corner directly into camp. He flew right over his head and gently perched on a low limb right above his camper. The Eagle definitely knew him and wanted to come say Hi. He reached out and listened carefully. What he heard was something like - Oh, So this is where you live. Aha. - As he looked he recognized the Eagle. Yes it was the older male from the cove a few days ago. The one who left him the crystal. He was filled with Joy seeing him again. He thanked the Eagle for the gift and for stopping on his way by. He went in the camper and got the crystal out and held it up smiling. The Eagle sat there beaming like he was glad it was appreciated.

The Eagle stayed for a few minutes as they just looked at each other and enjoyed the day. He thanked him again and did a bow of gratitude. Then with a giant swoosh the Eagle took off flying right over him and out over the water. - See you another day, Thanks Again, he said.

He watched as the eagle soared off across the lake to the far distant shore. He sat wondering how and why an Eagle would bring him a crystal. He had heard of crows bringing shiny objects to people they liked, but an Eagle with a giant beautiful crystal was surely unique. But why not, he thought? Did the Eagle watch him admiring stones on the shore and said I know where there's a nice one to add to his collection? I'll go get it and maybe he'll come back. Or perhaps Great Spirit lead the Eagle to bring it for him? A gift from creator brought on beautiful wings.

All things are connected out here, the wind, the water, the Eagle and Great Spirit, and of course he counted as well. Everyone listens and life flows out here.

He thanked Great Spirit for another perfect day
as he enjoyed the warm breeze flowing across the water.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            A.Seriph.S@26