by Lin Northrup
“Gray Wolf, when I had to battle the panther, I was able to fly up to the treetops. How did that happen?”
“You’re learning how to focus your mind and use that power to go beyond the limits of your physical body.”
She started bombarding him with more questions about flying, but all he said was, “Keep practicing.”
She knew by now that her animal teachers would tell her only so much. And it always ended with, “Keep practicing.”
“Why do I feel so light in this world? Like I could float way?”
“Violence and fear don’t rule this world. Without that dense energy, your mind and body are lighter. You’ll get used to it. Go ahead. I’ll meet up with you later.”
Herds of antelope, zebras, elephants and wild horses stretched as far as she could see. Flocks of colorful birds flew in intricate patterns against the sky. In the distance, highways of light connected sparkling towns and cities that looked like floating spaceships. Or were they spaceships? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt something ruffle her hair. Turning around, she stared up at a very large elephant. Behind her a family of twenty elephants were quietly watching her.
Overcome with joy, Leela couldn’t breathe. Or move. Ever since she was little, she’d dreamed of being with elephants.
Elephant broke the silence. “I’m here to escort you for a while.” Her eyes were wise, like an ancient seer, who knew the secrets of life. And her wrinkled skin revealed her advanced age.
Leela knew the eldest female was in charge of the herd. “Are you the leader?”
“Yes, I am,” said Elephant.
“In my world elephants are disappearing. They’re killed for their ivory tusks and the babies are orphans. I can’t stand thinking about it.”
“I know, she said, brushing away Leela’s tears with her trunk. And now it’s time to evolve a new dream for the planet. Climb on my back and we’ll take a walk.”
Leela looked up at the towering creature wondering just how she was going to do that. Sensing her hesitation, Elephant, kneeled down on her front legs while Leela climbed up. She walked slowly with her family following close behind.
“This is how things should be,” sighed Leela, adjusting her body to fit Elephant’s stride. “It smells so fresh here. The air is so clear. What are the sounds I’m hearing?”
“Every living thing has a its own tone,” explained Elephant.
“Like a musical note?”
“Yes. Every animal, tree and flower is listening to each other. Much of your world is choked with pollution and noise. Here, Mother Earth is the teacher. You’re learning her lessons, so that’s why you’re hearing her songs.”
Elephant walked to the river and before Leela knew what was happening, she was sprayed with water. “That felt good!” said Leela, rubbing the water through her hair.
“Our trunks help us keep clean and smell water miles away. It’s our sharpest sense. What are you learning about your sense of smell?”
“All my sense have quadrupled. I see things and hear things I’ve never noticed before.”
“Good. That will help you communicate with a world that is invisible to most humans.”
Riding atop Elephant, Leela smiled at the baby calves running alongside them. “How many are in your family?”
“Many. And we never abandon a sick or elderly member of our family. We take care of each other and that’s what makes us strong. In the new world you and the children are creating, the human tribe will be stronger when they take care of each other.”
Far ahead she saw a great gathering of elephants. Was it her imagination? Were children riding on the elephants?
“Can we go faster? I see children over there! I want to meet them.” But as they got closer, the children were gone.
“What happened? Where did they go?”
“You saw children visiting this world in their dreams so they can hold it in their memories. Their time here is creating the future. You’ll meet when the time is right.”
Leela was disappointed she couldn’t meet them now, but kept her feelings to herself.
Elephant moved among the herd with such dignity, Leela could feel their respect for her. She spoke of the changes that were coming to earth and when their time together was over, Leela slipped down into the tall grass. “I’ll remember what you told me,” she said, watching Elephant walk away.
Gray Wolf was nowhere to be seen so she kept going. Whenever a tiger or zebra or gazelle came over to sniff and greet her, she stopped and listened to them. As she hiked deeper into the canyon, it opened up to reveal a sight she’d never forget. Rainbows crisscrossed the sky. Turquoise oceans sang with the sounds of dolphins and whales. Crystalline lakes were filled with fish. Thick forests stretched across the earth. Extinct animals returned and beautiful towns and graceful cities were designed to blend in with nature. Lost in the wonder of what she saw, it took her a moment to realize Gray Wolf was standing next to her.
A great blue heron flew above them silently communicating with Gray Wolf. “Watch for Heron,” was all he would say.
“I want my world to be just like this one. I feel like I’ve come home. I never want to leave.”
“You’re here for only a short time. Absorb the energy of this world and when you find your totem, you’ll be ready.”
She saw him looking across the field toward a grassy hill where a white wolf stood. He began howling. When the white wolf howled back, Gray Wolf ran across the field to reunite with his mate.
As much as she longed to be with him, the animals were depending on her, so she had to keep looking for the mysterious totem. He said she’d be ready when she found it. Ready for what?
Scores of birds flew across the sky, but when she scanned the horizon, she didn’t see Heron. Wading deeper through fields of flowers, she came upon a patch of wild daisies and decided to stop for a while and send her thoughts to Heron. Tempted to pick some daisies to make a garland for her hair, she remembered to honor their sacred space and ask first.
Their sweet voices chimed like tiny bells. “Thank you for asking. Go to each of us and you’ll know which flowers to pick.”
Leela went to each daisy, touched their petals and felt a tingling sensation when it was right for picking. Holding her bundle of flowers, she sat down in the tall grass carefully weaving the delicate stems together until she had a daisy crown that fit perfectly. She twirled around feeling like a princess living in an enchanted kingdom.
When a shadow fell over the flowers, she looked up to see the great Blue Heron flying overhead. Shielding her eyes from the bright light of the rainbows, she watched the direction of the bird’s flight trusting that she’d find Heron at the appointed time.
Not far ahead she spotted a doe and her spindly-legged fawn. The doe turned to look at her. “We’ve been waiting for you,” she said, in a soft voice. “Tell me. Are you learning to face your fears?”
Leela thought of all the times her fears threatened to crush her confidence. “I had to face a dark shapeshifter who made himself look like a panther. He tried to trick me into joining him. I was afraid, but he didn’t get me and I made it here,” she said, hoping she sounded braver than she’d felt during that encounter.
“Sometimes you just have to be brave enough. Don’t focus on what you’re afraid of. Keep your eyes on what inspires you and believe in the goodness of life. When you focused on your love for the animals, you defeated the shapeshifter.”
Leela stroked the fawn’s soft ears. “Sometimes it’s hard to trust the goodness of life, or believe that everything’s going to be okay.”
“You’re learning to listen to the wisdom of your heart. It’s more powerful than you realize. When you act from your heart, you enter the flow and attract what you need to help you.”
Thinking about Doe’s words, Leela laid down on the moss-covered ground nex
t to Fawn and gave in to the warm drowsiness that came from utter contentment. Just as she was entering into a dream, Fawn sprang to her feet. Leela opened her eyes and looked up at the tallest deer she’d ever seen. His wide antlers magnified his stature. Doe stood by his side. They were so magnificent together she felt the urge to bow to them. To Leela’s surprise they both bowed their heads to her.
“We’re all equal, Leela. No one is greater or lesser than the other.”
“I keep wishing all children could feel what I’m feeling right now,” she said.
“And what are you feeling?” he asked.
“That you are my family. I don’t know how to explain it in words. I feel happy and peaceful and safe. And I want all children to feel the same way.”
They looked at Leela with great love. Doe nuzzled Fawn’s ears. “Tomorrow’s children will be open to our ways because they believe in the magic of life. But they must take the time to listen, so they can hear us,” she said.
Doe signaled it was time to leave. Fawn looked back at Leela then scampered after them. She heard Doe’s thoughts. “Believe, Leela, and the magic will last forever.”
She made up a song called, “Believe in the Magic” and sang it on her way. Where is Heron, she wondered, looking around. The sky had turned every shade of purple, blue and pink. A shaft of light pointed to a pond surrounded by tall cattails. She ran toward the pond feeling as free as the hawk that circled high above her.
When she reached the pond, she sat on the bank, took off her worn sneakers and rolled up her jeans. After scooping up the sweet tasting water and taking a long drink, she waded in. A rabbit, munching on the grass, watched her while she splashed around. When she settled back onto the bank, the gentle creature came closer. Stroking Rabbit’s silky fur, the world of strife and unrest seemed far away. It belonged to another place and time. She stared dreamily at the carpet of grass. To her amazement, the grass wove itself into an intricate design that pulsated with light. A wave of love poured into her unlike anything she’d ever felt. The feeling was so powerful she could barely take it in. The moment passed and the individual blades of grass reappeared. How could such a feeling come from grass?
“Leela, you saw the patterns of light and love that weave life together,” said Rabbit. “The grass is an expression of that love.”
Leela sat quietly for a long time. Rabbit waited with her. She knew Leela had been lifted into a higher vibration and didn’t want to disturb her. Slowly, Leela came back and her smile was radiant.
“I want that feeling again, Rabbit.”
“Don’t worry. It’s always there,” said Rabbit, hopping away.
The lightness inside her felt so peaceful she decided to stay by the water for a while. Drifting in and out of her daydreams, she heard a light splash and sat up to see what it was. Heron was standing on a sandbar that etched its way into the water. Its long legs and graceful neck gave the bird a stately appearance as it stood there as still as a statue. Leela had never been this close to such an impressive winged creature and Heron seemed unaware of her presence. She crawled behind the cattails, freezing every time Heron’s keen eyes looked in her direction.
When Leela realized she was on top of an anthill, she cringed and whispered an apology to the ants for causing such a disturbance. Sand from the anthill got into her nose. She sneezed and slipped off the edge of the bank rolling into the pond with a loud splash. Coughing and sputtering from swallowing water, she found herself staring at Heron’s long legs.
“I was waiting for you, but you seemed to be having fun playing your game of hide and seek,” said Heron, looking down at her.
Dripping and muddy Leela climbed back onto the grassy bank. “I didn’t want to startle you and so I thought it was better to…”
“Sneak up on me?” asked Heron.
“Well, kind of… I was trying to practice what Fox taught me.”
“To practice the art of camouflage, you must pull your energy closer to you and watch out for anthills,” said Heron, trying to brighten her mood.
Leela was frustrated that she’d been so clumsy. “Fox would be disappointed in me.”
“Not at all Leela. Fox knows your intent is strong. With practice you’ll become an expert at pulling the veil of invisibility around you. Come, follow me,” said Heron opening her wings and lifting into the air with ease.
Her wet jeans and squishy sneakers were quickly forgotten in her eagerness to follow Heron. Something exciting was going to happen and she didn’t want to be left behind.
At the far edge of the field, she started down a narrow path lined with ancient trees. They sent a silent welcome. A cacophony of sounds filled the air as hundreds of colorful birds flew through the treetops. Confident this was the right path, she started thinking about Fox.
“I wish you’d surprise me and come here. Do you even know where I am?” she asked out loud in case he was tuning in to her. “It would be really nice to have some company,” she added.
More intent on sending her thoughts to Fox, than paying attention to where she was going, she screamed when she found herself standing at the edge of a deep crevasse that sliced open the earth. Two more steps and she would have fallen in. To her dismay she saw that the path continued on the other side.
“Keep going straight ahead,” whispered her inner voice.
“That’s impossible. I can’t jump across. It’s too wide,” she protested, peering over the rocky edge at the rushing water below. Confused about what to do, she called upon her animal teachers, but no one answered.
Old memories came back reminding her of the time she’d fallen off a high ledge in the woods behind the Rumsford’s house. Climbing far out on the ledge to get a stone, she slipped and tumbled to the bottom, twisting her ankle. No one knew where she was. Unable to walk, she watched the dark gray clouds of the November sky thicken ominously. Hours passed. She grew numb from the cold and throbbing pain.
At dusk she heard voices calling her name and yelled until she was hoarse. Mr. Rumsford found her and carried her to his car. He shoved her in the back seat and drove her to the clinic.
“How many times have we told you to stop going into the woods alone? This is what happens. From now on it’s off limits.”
To escape his harsh words and the agonizing pain in her ankle, she stopped listening and slipped back into her own world. During the weeks that followed, she received little sympathy from the family, and if it wasn’t for Janine, she would have felt completely ignored.
Shaking her head to erase that memory, Leela hoped there was another way to get across the crevasse. She took three deep breaths and went into her heart. Her body was filled with a feeling of calm.
“Gather your strength Leela. Those memories are of the past. Be in the present moment where all possibilities are open to you.”
Something told her to wait. The evening shadows were creeping slowly through the forest so she concentrated on making her leaf bed until a soft whooshing sound made her look up. The forest was flooded with light as if the sun had returned to surprise the night. A large bubble of light floated above the path on the other side of the crevasse. Two shapes inside the bubble were calling to her. She had to get over to it.
Just as she crawled closer to the edge, there was a sharp snap above her. A huge branch crashed a few feet from where she was sitting.
“Use this gift. It will help you cross,” said the tree. The fallen limb created a bridge across the crevasse. She looked up at the tree. “Thank you.”
Not wanting to succumb to fear, she closed her eyes to prepare herself for the crossing. A strong gust of wind rippled through the trees. When she opened her eyes, the blue Heron was perched in the middle of the branch.
“Leela, before you cross you need to call upon my teachings. You need balance to walk your path, for balance in all things will allow you to stand on your own,” said Heron.
The great bird opened her wings and flew beyond the trees and out of sight.
“Balance, I need balance,” Leela said firmly to herself.
It would be safer to crawl. But she wanted to stand upright like Heron and trust her balance.
Hearing the roar of the water below, she was tempted to look down, but kept her focus on the place she was standing. She envisioned Heron’s wide wingspan and took a step using her outstretched arms to steady herself.
Despite the dark clouds that hovered above her, she started across. Sweat dripped down her face into her eyes. Just as she got to the halfway point, a crack of thunder brought a flash downpour. Teetering back and forth, she dropped down and straddled the branch. The heavy rain matted her hair blinding her vision. The branch swayed in the strong wind slipping a few inches from the edge. If it slipped again she would plunge to the bottom.
“Get up, Leela,” commanded her inner voice.
“No. It’s too slippery. I can’t see,” she shouted back.
“See with your inner vision. Trust your body and focus on the light.”
Tears of frustration mixed with the pelting rain as the old feeling of being abandoned knotted her stomach. She brushed her wet hair out of her eyes and saw the white light shining faintly through the heavy rain. Taking a deep breath, she stood back up spreading her arms wide.
“Be like Heron. Be like Heron.” She took two steps and then two more. After each step she steadied herself. The wind grew stronger almost throwing her off the branch. She envisioned Fox waiting for her and immediately felt his reassuring presence. Despite the rain and wind, she kept going.
“Yes!” she shouted triumphantly when she reached the other side.
The fog cleared and the storm slowed to a gentle rain. Soaking wet, she was too tired to keep going.
“Well, well, I must say you could stand a bit of drying.”
“Fox? I was just thinking about you. I figured I wouldn’t see you in this world.”
“I keep track of you and can make things happen in any world.”