Greetings and Thanks, Great Spirit!

It’s lovely outside.  We received a couple inches of snow overnight, transforming everything back to a New England winter wonderland.  As the sky brightens with a thin gray overcast, it’s a beautiful day.

What a gift yesterday turned into.  I am so grateful for the Magic that manifested.

Really, yesterday started as an ordinary day.  I listened to My Guides, and shared what I noticed, learned, and enjoyed from my hike the day before, including what I recognized and appreciated in our hike leader.

There’s actually an interesting connection I have with the ranger.  He hired and worked at Olympic National Park with a good high school friend of mine.  That was over twenty-five years ago.  I traveled out to Olympic one summer back then to visit my friend.  We hiked in to his backcountry station, we trekked to a glacier, and then I visited the rugged Olympic coast.

On our hike this past Sunday, as we were overlooking the Connecticut River, the hike leader informed us that bald eagles can be found on the river.  I told the story of my one and only sighting of a bald eagle in the wild, flying down the Olympic coastline along the tall cliff-front, as I walked up the thin rocky strip of beach below.  I shared how impressive a sight it was; as this huge, regal bird grew larger, soaring overhead.  Breath-taking and magical.

So it was a full and joyful weekend.  I already shared with you my encounter with the cedar waxwings, which feels magical when they visit every couple years.  My wife and I hiked on Sunday, being led by the ranger who also worked with my good friend out in Olympic.  We learned about the history and geology of the area; and, the woods seemed to come alive with the sounds and views of birds and animals.

These joyful events showed up in my Sunrise Pages, as they stayed with me.  My Monday started with my Pages; then, quite tamely, I did some paperwork and record-keeping.

Wanting to get out and active, I headed out for a run.  My goal was to run 5K, but I never quite hit a groove, and I kept feeling I had run farther than I really had.  Still, when my monitor read 3.10 miles, I considered pushing for more; then, a few seconds later, I changed my mind and stopped.

I began walking to cool down, and I decided to circle the parking lot I was in, to walk along the river, by the place I had seen the cedar waxwings a couple days before.  As I looked upriver toward where we live, I spotted a large bird flying toward me.

It couldn’t be!

It was hard to be sure against the whitish-gray overcast, but this bird seemed to have a white head, and as it flew past, I saw its white tail.  It continued following the Mascoma, until I lost sight of it.  Against any realistic chance, I decided to walk along the river, hoping it might land where I could get a better look and confirm my sighting.

Lo and behold, in a wide slow wetlands section of the river I had never visited before, there was the eagle, being harassed by five crows.  Seemingly unconcerned, the eagle perched on a high tree top and didn’t budge, as the crows cawed and dove, trying to run him off.

I watched for many minutes; wishing I could share the experience with my wife, wondering how long it might last, wishing I could capture an image of the experience, growing cold in my sweaty running clothes, wondering if the eagle might be nesting here or nearby, not wanting to break the spell.

Finally, I decided to walk back home, to put on some dry clothes and a coat, and return with a camera.  I doubted the eagle would still be there, but I went back anyway.

I was right – no bald eagle.  But, there to greet me in the trees by the water’s edge was, surprisingly, a group of cedar waxwings.  They hung close for about five minutes, and then took off.  Also paying a visit was a hairy woodpecker.

I was beside myself with wonder!

I had seen only one bald eagle in the wild before, more than twenty-five years ago on the opposite coast, in the rugged wilds of a national park.  Suddenly, one day after sharing that adventure, I am visited by another bald eagle, right here in my new hometown.

It feel like a true summoning – Magic.  I didn’t “need” this to happen; I just tapped into the Pure Joy and Connection I had felt the first time, and I remembered it and shared it.

Suddenly, there the great bird was.  And, the waxwings and woodpecker.

I kept thinking, “Honey, look.  Can you believe it?”

Magic happens!

So grateful, Eagle Spirit!  Thank you for soaring in my life again!