I spent a
few days at the Grand Canyon last week and had an amazing time. Hunny was attending, the GC Field Institute
and I had the days to myself to wander along the rim or sit quietly in our
cabin. (It was my winter get away, with a little more winter then I had gotten so far. I loved it.)
On one of
those days I decided to take a drive down to Hermit’s Rest. I found a spot on the rim where I could hang
out undisturbed. There was picnic table between
two of the overlooks, with room to pull off the road and park the car. I examined the area, went back to the car and
brought out a blanket, gem stones and a rattle. (They had all asked to come on
this journey when I was packing.) I laid
them out on the blanket. I used the
rattle to create sacred space, and meditated.
It was so wonderful to be in such an awesome place. I just wanted to be quiet and melt into the
beauty of the Canyon, so I did. (The only question that had crossed my mind
before going into meditation was, Am I on the right path?)
When I was
done with my time on the rim, I gathered all of my items and headed toward the
car. When I reached the picnic table I
stopped. I had a feeling I needed to
follow that path to the west. I put my items
on the table and walked. The path led to
an open spot on the rim with a bench only two feet from the edge. I took a deep breath and went to sit on the
bench. As I was looking out I saw a bird
way off in the distance and it was coming toward me. I got up from the bench and moved farther away
from the edge so I could look up without fear of falling off. Was it a Condor, I've never seen one? As it got closer, I realized the head was
white. Then, I could see clearly, it was
a Bald Eagle.
My hand
grabbed for the camera in my pocket, but I felt no, just enjoy the beauty of
this bird. It is here for you. I watched this beautiful creature fly over me
and continue on. There were no other
birds and no other people, it was just the two of us. I knew, there was a message for me.
Today, in
meditation, the Eagle reappeared. It was
indeed confirmation that I am on the right path, however, it was much more than
that. I saw the pictures (in my minds
eye) of where I was the first time the Eagle’s communicated with me. It was so many years ago, yet I saw it all so
clearly.
I was on the
top of a chimney rock in North East Iowa.
I was on medical leave and had not worked in months. I was waiting for my employer to settle my
case, and then I knew I would be traveling.
I’d had three dreams telling me to travel to Arizona and New
Mexico. However, in that moment, I was
distraught. I felt beat up, sad, and so
many other things, but mostly, I felt I could not go on living this way anymore. So I was crying and probably even screaming
at “God” because I was scared and angry.
I didn’t understand why I needed to go on this journey. I just wanted everything to be okay, the
depression and craziness to be over.
After many tears, I finally caught a breath and looked up.
When I looked
up I saw a few Bald Eagles flying above me.
They were circling the rock where I lay below the trees. I took another breath and as I watched them I
calmed down, I became quiet, still. It
was then that I heard/felt a message, kind of a voice in my head. Telling me not to worry, to keep breathing
and know everything would be okay. I trusted that my case would be settled soon and that I could than plan for my
journey.
A few weeks
later, still distraught, I took myself camping along the mighty
Mississippi River. I was in South Eastern
Minnesota. While camping I learned that
there was a big rock with a window in it that the Native Americans went to on vision
quest to get their spirit name. I hiked
to this rock b/4 I knew of this tale, I immediately said, Eagle Woman, out
loud when I was hearing the story for the first time. The women who were telling me the story, immediately
said yes that must be right, I’ve got goose bumps and felt a chill when you
said it.
That was in
October 2000, my case with my employer was settled before the end of that year. January 2001 I left Minnesota, to travel to Arizona
and New Mexico and for a while I called myself Eagle Woman. It was something I needed at the time to
gather the strength and the ability to travel across country alone without
fear. I set out on my Epic Journey to find out who I was and to begin my life a new.
I am soaring now and following where spirit leads. I have my first group Shamanic Healing Retreat scheduled for MARCH 21st through the 23rd. Check out my website at www.letspritleadtheway.com and sign up to begin your Epic Journey.
In Gratitude,
Linda G
