principles Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

In For a Landing

A line of thunderstorms came through our area just as the sun was contemplating setting. Besides billowing harbingers of potential mayhem and torrential downpours, one scenario depicted in the sky was a snowy owl coming in for a landing.

I’d actually just completed closing Sacred Space following a session with a client when a deep and prolonged rumble of thunder rippled out across the sky. Stepping outside, I got goosebumps when I took in the scenario unfolding above my head.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether anyone else can see what you see. Not if the magic of a moment infuses with you awe. Or hope. Or maybe even the tiniest sliver of a sense of being part of something much greater than the superficial illusions that we normally chase and often cherish.

Besides these clouds, there were a few rainbow moments that, oddly, appeared to be less a rainbow and more a multicolored bar. I couldn’t manage to get a photo of it fast enough, but the traditional colors of a rainbow made a brief appearance in the sky sporting the sharp, clean, rectangular edges of…a flag. Or a banner. It seemed more a statement than a wish.

I was so frustrated that I missed the shot.

Speaking the Truth – Photo: L. Weikel

An Evening Chorus

The last several nights have been deathly silent as I wrote my posts. Those moments when the rain wasn’t falling and tink, tink, tinking on the metal casing of our window air conditioner, the air was still and close. The atmosphere was super-saturated (my skin’s assessment, not a meteorologically defined status statement) and no self-respecting insect, plant, or animal wanted to exert an ounce of unnecessary energy in pursuit of movement or song.

But tonight is different. Perhaps this shift will last and the weight of fearing to embrace change will lift from our psyches. It’s up to us to give our true selves permission to sing, just as the voices of the katydids, crickets, and annual cicadas are nearly deafening this evening.

We’re being pushed to question the way we’ve been doing a lot in our lives. What beliefs do we hold onto until our fingers bleed? Where do we place our faith? How do we know what’s true? What approaches to life are we so sure about that we’re willing to build our reputations on them?

What principles do we believe in so passionately that we’re finally going to risk finding our voice and speaking out?

Conversations – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-91)

Affection and Respect

Karl and I watched the Super Bowl tonight. Like a lot of people in our area, we were rooting for Kansas City.

One of my nephews lives in the KC area, so that would’ve been excuse enough. But actually, it was the fact that Andy Reid, the former Eagles’ Head Coach, is now the Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs that made us want to watch the game and root for the Chiefs.

Super Bowl Stuff

I have to say, the commercials this year were better this year than they’ve been for the past several Super Bowls. For quite a while, it’s seemed as though the commercials were just getting dumber and more obviously targeting the lowest common denominator. Overall, this year’s crop had the right mix of those that touched the heart strings – most with an appropriate balance and one or two that took the emotional appeal too far – and those that were amusing.

And the half time show was excellent. While I knew her name, I had no idea Shakira’s music sounded the way it does. (I know, I know. I shouldn’t be admitting this out loud.) And both she and J Lo were eye-poppingly astonishing in their athleticism and choreography – not to mention their voices.

The Main Event

Of course, the main event was the football game itself. And wow – these two teams did not disappoint. Competitively, this was hands down one of the most entertaining football games I’ve seen in a long time. Besides the amazing rally KC dug down and produced in the final six minutes or so of the 4^thquarter, I think my favorite part of the game was in the 1^stquarter (I believe), when Andy Reid made the call not once but twice to “go for it” on fourth down.

I can remember so many games in which the conservative, “cautious” tack was taken that demanded punting on fourth down. Ugh. So boring. This time, it felt, Andy and his team were here to win. They were going to lay it all out there, take the chances they needed to take, and believe in their ability to convert their plays successfully and get a first down.

While I realize this is ‘just’ a football game (albeit the literal ‘be all and end all’ to most fans), it was inspiring and exciting to see them take those risks – and even better, to succeed at their endeavors!

Perhaps my delight in watching KC take those risks was because that type of courage stands in stark relief against the utter cowardice we’ve been forced to witness in the Senate over the past two weeks. Didn’t it make you wonder even for just a fleeting second what it would feel like to witness our representatives standing up in unison to the bully in the pulpit (so to speak) and just saying, “NO!?” How would it feel to have the honor and integrity of our country defended by those who’ve actually taken an oath to do so?

Yeah, I wonder too.

The Reactions of So Many

The best part of the amazing comeback orchestrated by KC’s extraordinary quarterback (I can’t believe he’s only 24), Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of the team was the palpable affection and respect shown by absolutely everyone toward Head Coach Andy Reid. Even 49’ers fans, it seemed, couldn’t begrudge Andy the win.

From the announcers to the players to the fans both at the game and interviewed on the news later, everyone almost seemed to get a little teary-eyed over “what a great guy” Andy Reid is, how profoundly he deserves to finally have a team of his put it all together and achieve the highest honor in the sport.

Watching and listening to the love and admiration so many have for Andy Reid, with nary a snarky word or begrudging attitude offered, was like a balm to my heart. We’ve been forced to witness some really horrible stuff lately. We’ve been asked to condone behavior that has debased us and the principles and values upon which our country was founded – all perpetrated by those who are ostensibly ‘leaders.’

They are the furthest thing from actual leaders.

There is no question that whatever it is that Andy Reid brings to his teams and the people who work with him, it engenders love, affection, respect, and admiration.

Oh, to have those feelings spring forth for those who represent us to the world…

(T-663)