This week I have walked twice on a high fell near my home and had encounters with ravens. I took different paths to this moorland setting with wind blown trees and dancing streams. On both occasions I saw ravens dancing the currents of the wind.
Have you ever watched ravens dance? It’s wonderful!
On the first occasion a raven landed on a lonely tree and called in its deep repetitive song that pulsed in the air. I felt an urge to listen to this call. It was as though it was meant for me. How could this be? The raven called again and I stopped walking and looked over towards it. It called again as though saying “Good, I am glad that you are looking. Now see what I see.” With this I glanced near the Raven and saw a deer looking straight at me.
Sometimes we have to listen with open minds as well as ears. Some knowledge and communication can come to us only if we let it. We often presume a sense of knowledge that is not in touch with our natural environment. How often do we hear the sound of a steam and then just say in our minds “it’s a stream”. Then with this assumed knowledge we ignore the communication that the stream could bring us. We do not look and fully see it. Instead we assume what it looks like and give it a category or a label. So we create a false world for it and so create a false one for ourselves. We walk around in a bubble of assumed reality.
When you are next in nature listen to its voice. See its movement and constant growth. Feel it’s life. Assume nothing. Feel everything. As you walk in nature journey deeply into it. See everything as being alive with a profound purpose. Nature is a library of knowledge. It’s shelves are overflowing with its books of wonder.
Pay attention to the ravens call. It might be for you.