Even if you do not believe that signs can be sent as a personal message, you have to admit that there are some pretty incredible sightings. Orbs in photographs, a white feather floating down from the sky when no bird is in sight and cardinals visiting on the windowsill are all explained as "signs" from beyond. If you do not believe..fine..go on about your business and brush these things off as nothing. To my way of thinking, if it brings comfort, then by all means...believe! Why not? Life can be pretty crazy and, occasionally, we all need to have something that tells us we are not alone.
A few days back, my brain was cluttered with a thousand things. The mind was troubled with events surrounding the Bayou. The turmoil would go into a slight lull only to return with a vengeance. It is not like me to lie awake at night pondering what might be as I have always had full trust that my life was being handled by a stronger power than I possess. Granddaddy had once told me that each day of my life had already been planned and I should simply strive to do the best with what was given. It had always worked like a charm. That said, I sure have been having a lot of sleepless night lately as my brain just cannot seem to let go of the anxiety. (A few weeks ago, a conversation with a snake helped tremendously but was not lasting! Yes, I talk to the critters of the Bayou.)
After one such sleepless night, I headed to my peaceful place. The waters of the Bayou and Bay always seem to have a positive effect on my troubled mind. To the east, heavy clouds hung close to the horizon promising a stormy day ahead. I was all for that as a good storm clears the mind. After twenty minutes or so of meditation (good for the mind) and stretches (good for the body), I turned to head back up the hillside. It was then that I saw a reassuring sign that all was going to work out for the best. The thick clouds had lurched up as if two hands were forming a heart. A clearing in the middle held the only bit of brightness in the entire sky. A sign?
I have always been told that the heart is the center of physical and spiritual being. It is where compassion and understanding begin and where true wisdom originates. (Not to be confused with knowledge, here.) Anyone can be fed information and retain it but true wisdom is knowing how to apply that information in the everyday life. In short, you can be smart but not wise. My spiritual wisdom seemed to be shaken to its core and, to retain my peace, I have to restore it. Spiritual wisdom is not something that can be taken for granted. It has to be maintained. I am fully coming to believe this is all true more than I ever expected.
Whether the heart-shaped cloud could be considered a sign or not remains to be seen. Since that morning, the nights have been more restful, however. Peace...it is good for the body, mind and spirit.
It is sort of ironic that a Great Egret was circling the pier early this afternoon. The bird flew in three large circles around the entire Bayou (and pier) before coming to land in the midst of the marsh. It is not uncommon to see the egrets but having one circle around me after having a dream about one last night was a bit...well...soul-stirring. In my dream, a Great Egret flew in to greet me on the pier as they often do but this one came to my side and gently laid its head on my hand. Its wings were wide-spread and its beautiful white feathers gleamed so brightly that I could hardly look at it. Then, the bird flew straight up and out of sight. When I awoke, my heart was racing and I felt as if something was on the verge of happening. In view of my love for the critters of the Bayou, perhaps the dream of an egret befriending me was enough to move me but seeing the bird today has caused a good bit of pondering. Was there some deeper meaning to the dream? Was the bird trying to tell me something? If one is to go around looking for images and signs, they are sure to be there, yet, I was not looking.
It has often been said that there are deep meanings to our dreams. An appearance of a Great Egret has been associated with a new beginning. That an preceding task set before you has been completed and that a new prosperous, peaceful life is ready to be attained. In other words, it is time to stop living in the past and get on with the future. The battle before has been won the hard way and now a life of peace is at the threshold. While a lot of folks do not put much trust in dreams, one can only hope that something like this one holds true.
Then, there was the actual bird flying in circles around me and my home. The large, white egret flying around and around the Bayou with me as the centerpoint was purely fascinating. I like to choose that the bird in the dream was foretelling of peace and prosperity and the bird doing the flying was letting me know that this tranquility was to be found where I live. The Bayou has always been my little piece of paradise so this comes as no surprise. Then again, the bird may have been just trying to decide where would be the best place to catch supper. Who knows? It is something to ponder, however.
Weather is a fickle thing. At least, the weather in the Deep South is. In the early morning, you don a sweatshirt and jeans while walking through heavy fog and, by afternoon, you bask in the hot sunshine wearing a T-shirt after having kicked off the shoes. Here it is the middle of December and our day was literally HOT! The outdoor thermometer read 84! Such temperatures sure did not match up with the snowmen decorations that I was placing in the entryway! Don't despair! Tomorrow, we shall see rain before a cold front smacks us with freezing temperatures! My snowmen will feel right at home!
Son and I cut firewood, today, in preparation for this next cold snap. The two cast iron woodstoves will be chugging nicely, all the while, consuming the chunks of pecan wood. Perhaps a bit of cooler weather will get me in that "Christmas Spirit" that I am so lacking. Yes, the Little Bayou House is decorated with a tree, garland and lots of twinkly lights. Yes, the table is being mounded over with delightful baked goods. Yes, gifts are in every nook and corner. No, I am not into it. I do, however, love the coziness of the place.
This afternoon, while I was carrying an armload of firewood to the bin, something fell out of the old oak tree and smacked me on the head. At first, I thought perhaps a squirrel binged me with an acorn but, when I stopped to check, I found it was a small sprig of mistletoe. I have always heard you should stand beneath the mistletoe in hopes of catching a kiss from someone but I never knew the stuff would bean you on the head! It was a good thing that this was just a twig and not the whole bunch that is growing in the treetop!
Funny thing about that mistletoe stuff...it comes from the Anglo-Saxon words mistel and tan. While that may seem logical, it is illogical that we wish to kiss under it when you realize that the word mistel means "dung" and tan means "twig". So...poop on a stick is the stuff you are hanging above your doorway while awaiting your honey bunches. Sorry, that does not sound overly romantic. Neither does having the stuff drop out of trees on top of your head.
