My deepest apologies to those who follow our blog. Hopefully some of our readers have not quit checking in thinking we’d abandon everyone. Like each of you, sometimes life gets really crazy. Shamans are not exempt for the worldly chaos. We reside physically in this plane and experience it to it’s fullest – ups and downs.
Over a year ago, we decided we would be returning to Oregon soon. Well, soon is rapidly arriving and there is a lot to be done here to make that transition. We are finishing some much needed upgrades in our house to prepare it for renting, and that always takes a lot longer than we plan. So, if ever we’re away for a long period, you will likely find us under a pile of sawdust or covered in paint 🙂
A couple of blogs ago, I told you the story of the coyote’s tail and promised to fill you in on the coyote’s “tale”. It wasn’t a very big or exciting story, but here is the Coyote’s Tale.
When I prepared for the journey, I removed the tail and fur tufts from the freezer where I had placed them for safe keeping until I could do what ever processing is necessary. (When we get to Oregon, I’ll need another freezer or bigger one, as it often contains a healthy dose of “road kill” awaiting processing.) To my surprise, the tail was pretty well disintegrated. Maybe I hadn’t checked it closely in all my excitement, as it appeared intact, but the bone was actually gone, but the fur was still placed exactly as if it still surrounded the bone. So, this coyote tail certainly isn’t going to embellish my south shield that was in the planning.
I gathered a piece of the fur and stepped into journey space. I was immediately taken to the meadow where I found the tail and was introduced to a young coyote pup. His name was Chip (strange for a coyote, but probably easier to pronounce). We spent some time just romping and playing in the meadow with him and the other pups. It was really a pleasant and fun time. No particular messages, just lots of fun and play.
Month’s past and Chip was now an adolescent coyote. We got to spend “a day in the life of a coyote”, searching for food, enjoying the hunt and spending time enjoying the rays of Grandfather Sun. The next thing I knew, I heard a shot and Chip’s yelp as he fell to the ground. My guides and I surrounded him, and knowing there was nothing we could do on the physical, we assisted him in making his transition.
It was here I found myself back in the meadow, standing over the remains that I had found. As I was gathering the offerings Chip had left for me, and said my prayers, I asked that his spirit be guided home. When I did this, one of the elders from his pack came forward and thanked me for assisting Chip and seeing that his spirit reached a place of rest. The elder said I would always be one of the coyote family and I was welcomed into the clan with a rollicking howl.
At this point, Chips entered as a spirit guide, and under took some personal level work with me. He did some very deep digging in both my navel and throat chakras. This had to do with unearthing some of my buried creativity and clearing the communication channels. From our conversations, it seems I have some writing and teaching in my future. This also cleared my ability to howl. So, if you hear a strange sounding coyote howling off pitch, it’s probably me 🙂
Once I returned to this reality, I remembered back to when I discovered Chip in the field. When I had completed my offering, we heard the coyotes howling off in the distance and Gary and I felt I was being thanked for clearing the space and healing the animal’s spirit.
So, now I get to run with the coyotes. Sounds like fun! I wonder where it will take me???
Don’t forget our Fall Harvest Give Away for a bear rattle. To enter this drawing, send me an email to admin@shamanicconnection.com with the word “drawing” in the subject line. Or better yet, become our “fan” on Facebook and automatically be entered in the drawing.
On December 1, we’ll pull a name from the basket!
Until next time (and I promise it won’t be so long).
Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie