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in these anecdotal,
sometimes inspiring, sometimes personal meanderings of the Heart's opening in the every-day-ness of life...

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Nature's Balance...


Monday I was startled out of meditation by a loud BANG against the house or window.  I wasn’t sure which.  So I came out of meditation and hollered up to my husband to see if it had been him.  He replied: No, I thought it was you!  In my head I responded - and you didn’t come running!? lol J

Upon investigation I spotted the Hawk outside, just under a window, standing on its dead prey – a Morning Dove.  It sat there and sat there looking around for several minutes with its intense eyes, as if vigilantly watching for a way of escape.  And then it took off with its prey, landing only a few feet away on the patio, and then hopped its way under some big juniper bushes with its catch in its talons.  It was there nearly an hour before it took off again, leaving behind a pile of feathers. 

 Our initial response was one of shock and sadness.  Nature’s way seems cruel at times, from our limited human perspective.  It was a startling sight to see for sure, as well as sobering.  We romanticize about nature and animals being so innocent, so pure, giving them human-like qualities.  But they are only being true to their nature, their inherent survival nature.  We were reminded that what we witnessed *is* the balance of Nature – life and death – the natural cycle of life.  Of course.  It is the way of things…  DH and I had been reflecting on the need for acceptance of the way of things over the weekend.  That through acceptance of what is, we can come into an inner space of peace and balance with life.   It is so easy to come out of this balance with life, to resist the way of things, and consequently suffer – emotionally and otherwise.  The Hawk and Dove incident was just a small reminder of the precarious balance between life and death, as well as the relationship between acceptance and suffering.  I found the symbolism quite interesting as well – a Hawk and a Dove – a bird of peace and a bird of prey...   The balance of Nature.
 It’s the paradox of fragility and stability,
vulnerability and power,
form and formless,
and learning to live
the fragile nature of the balance…


~

Photo of Hawk and Dove taken through the window
by DH


~

The stone balance on the pedestal is the
same one I did on Feb. 8th.
Amazingly it's still standing,
after a couple of good snowfalls
and wind -
except for the "bird's" topknot...




8 comments:

  1. Yes. Accepting what IS----in all its complexity (even our loved ones' actions that may not "fit" our expectations): you have expressed this beautifully.

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    1. Thank you Chris... Yes, everything. And that is a hard one, especially with family. I have to work on it daily - moment to moment. :)

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  2. Wow, great photo! When J saw the photo of the balanced stones he asked if I thought you'd made a grave for the mourning dove, lol. I had to explain about the rock balancing... ;)

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    1. Too funny! It *does* kind of look like a monument to the bird! lol Dove is completely gone, bones and all - nothing left to bury... Amazing. I didn't know that Hawks ate bones...

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  3. We learn so much from nature... Just now surfacing after 2 weeks+ I've been down with flu & migraines--slowly mending. Good to catch up with you, Christine. :o) Happy Weekend ((HUGS))

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    1. So sorry you have been ill... Glad you are feeling better! Warm hugs for your continued healing!

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  4. Nature is the best teacher although yes it can seem harsh on our emotions. Also, in nature there is rebirth in another form. The spirit of the dove feeding the nature of the hawk. Great post - thank you :)

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    1. Yes, Nature certainly is a wonderful teacher. I never thought about "the spirit" of the Dove feeding the Nature of the Hawk! Interesting idea! Thanks :)

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