Attentiveness.

[Mika]

One of the blessings in my life that has happened ever since seeing Avatar, and I think because I have returned to praying more, is a better attentiveness to all the gifts and bounties of Nature around.

Over the last few months I have had some experiences of experiencing connections to Nature in remarkable ways. A heightend awareness of sights, scents and sounds, but as well encounter with animals that I have not had before. It started in the spring when I began going out for long walks in our city parks. The ususal of course is water birds, Canada Geese, ducks and pelicans. The first new experience was one of seeing a Muskrat for the first time and even having it come close up on the shore. The most profound was actually seeing a Beaver (which in the city in a non-occurance), just six feet away from me on the walking path. I ended up sitting down on the side of the path and soaking in and meditating in communication with the Beaver for over 1/2 an hour as it went about its work of collecting a branch and chewing it down (I assume to take to its den). Beavers are Canada's National Animal symbol, and other than pictures I had never been close, let alone that close in my whole life. But even simpler but as equally exquisite is birds, they seem to be abundantly singing and gathering in our trees these days throughout the day, with morning being seranaded with an abundance of musical sounds. One time it was as though a whole symphony was gathered and playing right above our front yard. Even this morning a family of Robins, with one red breasted male in particular was only a few inches away, cocking its head and hopping into the berry bushes around our front deck. Another robin experience was the day of my Dad's 70th birthday as I was setting up in the back yard and seemed to be watching all my busy antics.

I can't say that I've ever felt so close or connected before, but I assume its always been there, I just had never taken the time to be attentive and notice!