On a recent hike, we paused along the trail to enjoy a small picnic. Oden, our dog, suddenly spun around, alerted, and startled awake, from his resting. Just behind us was a coyote, who, by the time I turned to look, was already silently trotting off. The boys and I were quieted, and elated at the same time, by our close encounter. It seemed to communicate more, simply in it's happening, than our words could make sense of. After watching him in wonder, until well out of sight, we attempted to return to our snacking. Each taking unspoken turns to check our back, and see if the wiley character had returned. Before long, another coyote was spotted, down the hill and across the field. It, too, stopped and gazed up at us, at which point turned and came up the hill, crossed our path not far from us, zipped under the fence, and trotted up the hill to join the other.
We all felt some stirring in ourselves, chatted about it as we continued, but quietly the experience stayed with each of us in a different way. I have seen plenty of coyotes. Once in a rainstorm I was accompanied, for quite a distance, on a solo trail run - which gave me quiet a start when I first became aware of my company. But, something about being crept up on, spied on from behind. Then having the opportunity to watch, the trickster himself, from such a distance, and for so long. Something about this particular visit called for me to come out and play.
It's spring after all. There is a laughing, giggling, trickster quality wafting about the air we breath. Even the soil we work is full of surprises, what with new seeds emerging each day, blossoms blooming. It all makes me smile a bit more impishly. If I do declare, Coyote was the harbinger of spring!
Happy first day of spring! May the energy of the season call you out to play, invigorate your very body with the energy for deep roots and new bright shoots. It's spring!
