Almost a half-moon has slipped by since we moved in. The first few days I kept busy with a lot of preparatory activities. Refurbished my bow-drill kit with new materials, including a new oak-crotch handhold which fits snuggly into my palm. Carved a Zhingob (Balsam Fir) bowl and an Oak spoon, made a nice bough-bed for my sleeping place in the wiigwaam, and scouted the surrounding area. There was sadness over saying goodbye to many of my human relationships at that time – a cycle in the transition to the wild-life I know well enough. Now as I adjust more and more, a number of things and relationships that used to seem important are drifting into the realm of memory.
I realize more and more what a gift it is to be here. I watch the birds fly in from the south. The males establish territories with songs and chasing behavior. And then the courting begins. Now, we’re noticing nest-material starting to get collected. As with the birds, I see there is transition into the green season starting to happen for other creatures. The Hares are turning from gray to brown. Maple buds look like they are about to burst, Tamarack buds are showing a little green on the tips.
It’s all happening – slowly. We had a few days of sunshine. Mostly it was cold – snowing and raining and very windy at times. Winter is not quite ready to pack up and go just yet, as the low pressure systems one after another spin their way above us, from west to south to east to north. Our friend Fire made his home amongst us, and we made sure to keep him well fed with wood from the forest.
What a pleasure it is to be on the same page when it comes to collecting wood, cooking, and a gazillion other things that a well-functioning circle needs in order to thrive (or on how to talk about it). This a gift of being in the same camp with people who’ve also lived for a long time in the old way. We can focus our attention on things more involved than working out details of camp life. Tomas is making a pretty sweet-looking skin boat and tanning hides. Chris is exploring the boglands and learning the language of the birds and other relations. And much more…I have collected wood for bow-staves, and experimented making an arrow in a new way. Started to tan a hide, and to set a trap line for forest rodents around the property.
Every day is an opportunity to become more at home, to grow in relationship with the world here. I’m learning to be more observant and careful with my walking – several times I was startled by water-birds exploding from close by! What if I learned to notice them ahead of time? And so I slow down, and scan the pond and creek-shore thoroughly.
As I find ways to fit in, the need and opportunity comes up to find and change those shadows inside of me that make that difficult. Empowerment or disempowerment? Judgmentalism or acceptance?
Tonight, once again the fire will gradually burn down to embers. Another day will have come and gone. I will turn in, first writing in my journal the Observations I made during the day, the Skills I acquired, and the Awarenesses that came to me. Time for Dreams.