A newsletter by Caryn Colgan for sparking ancient memories, emotional and karmic healing,
and new spiritual awareness.
In This Issue
The Day I Underestimated A Predator
Are You Sleep-Walking Through Life?
Radio Good Spirited: Jean-Claude Coven TONIGHT!
Submissions: Stories, Questions and Ideas
“Nature Conspires to Awaken the Sleeper .”
— Ancient Pact, Volume 1: The Element of Air
You never know when something is going to happen that gives you a real scare. The trick is to survive those scary times and then hopefully wake up to live life in a more conscious way. Every conflict bears the silver lining of lessons learned.
The cloudless autumn day made it hard for me to sit at my desk. Unable to concentrate, I put my little dog in the car and headed for the trails on a nearby mountain. Since the day I adopted him from the pound seven months ago, Spyke, a toy fox terrier weighing ten pounds, has been my constant companion—within reason. I can’t take him everywhere but I take him wherever I can.
On this warm fall day, he provided the perfect excuse to get away from work and enjoy the sunshine. My only concern was the coyotes that frequent the hillsides. However, Spyke had been bathed the day before and still smelt of flowers. To further disguise his dog-hood, I had him wear a shirt our friend Patsy had given him—pink and blue stripes. This all sounds silly now, but at the time it made sense.
I parked the car at the base of the mountain, put on a windbreaker, and stuffed a bottle of water in a pocket. We walked in a gully filled with rocks with the flanks of two old mountains on either side of us. To our left a well-worn path crested the barren ridge. Joggers or fast walkers made occasional appearances.
I felt a need to relax and hike at a more leisurely pace so I chose the more circuitous, forgotten looking trail on the right flank. Scrubby pinion pines dotted the hillside and I thought I might find a vantage point for a midday meditation.
Spyke’s legs may be short but he loves to hike. My devoted companion either hiked at my side or a few steps behind me. Once in a while he would stop to sniff something interesting or tippy-paw over something I couldn’t see or smell. He was clearly enjoying our trip as much as I was.
Once in a while I surveyed the path and reminded myself to pay attention for coyotes. However, as I climbed higher, the trail disappeared and the dirt became softer and less compacted. Every step I took became a struggle when my foot sank four or five inches, like walking in a sand dune. I forgot to watch my surroundings.
At the summit of the first hill I paused to catch my breath and give Spyke a drink of water. I noticed some pretty stones and began poking around for more. Suddenly I heard a dog barking nearby. The sound startled me because I had not seen any other hikers. I looked for the dog and couldn’t see the animal at first. It barked again and my eyes riveted on the coyote standing under a scrub tree just a rock’s toss away. The animal had its gaze locked on my little dog.
Immediately I grabbed Spyke and tucked him under my arm. He didn’t make a sound. When I yelled “Hey” as loudly as I could in the deepest voice I could muster the coyote stopped barking for a couple of seconds. When the coyote began again its tune changed from dog-like bark to the high-pitched yelping of a hunting predator. Warm liquid moistened my hand as Spyke’s bladder reacted to his terror. In the distance, behind the crest of the mountain, I heard at least two coyotes respond.
I didn’t want to hurt the coyote but to defend myself and my dog. I looked around for a rock. I found a palm-sized jagged stone and picked it up before backing away. The yipping continued. I yelled a couple more times as we retreated down the mountain as fast as I could manage with a ten pound dog on one arm and a heavy rock in the other hand.
Suddenly, the coyotes became quiet and I felt truly frightened. At least when they were making noise I had a vague idea of their location. When they were silent I had no clue of how close they might be. I quickened my pace as I waved the rock over my head, trying to look intimidating.
My dog didn’t even moan as I shifted him to the other arm and dropped the rock. I picked up a gnarly short stick because I figured the rock would only work once and the stick might give us a better chance. Just as we neared the gully at the bottom of the hill three or four of coyotes began the high-pitched hunting calls again a few hundred paces behind us.
I jumped across the gully and raced for the clearing just as a couple of joggers and their large dogs trotted toward us. The coyotes must have become discouraged by our new reinforcements because their barking ceased. Spyke & I strolled more or less confidently back to my car.
When I encounter any sort of difficulty I always ask myself,“What did I learn from this?”
- Never walk alone with a tiny dog in a remote wooded area. Wild animals do what they are meant to do—hunt! I knew there was a potential for danger but I didn’t believe we would fall prey to it. It couldn’t happen to me!
- Coyotes work together as a team. The first coyote could have raced after Spyke and probably captured him. However, it called the rest of the pack so they could work together to get a meal and share it. Humans could learn something from this model.
- Spyke remained absolutely silent during the pursuit. He instinctively knew this was not a battle he could win. Pick your battles.
- I made a careless decision that nearly cost my dog his life. When my decisions involve others I will remind myself to use extra care.
- Coyotes are clever. The initial coyote cleverly barked like a dog to try to lure Spyke into a false friendship. Humans sometimes use similar skills. Some people make promises of friendship or services they never intend to keep while cleverly concealing their real motivation--a free meal at your expense. Make sure your friends are really invested in your well-being.
- Scented baths and pink & blue shirts on little dogs don’t disguise their food value. Coyotes won’t be easily fooled. Humans can sometimes be fooled by fancy websites and well-dressed hucksters. Learn to look beyond the packaging.
Almost Lunch... When my decisions involve others I will remind
myself to use extra care.
Are you sleep-walking through your life?
People, situations, and even animals may present you with
an opportunity to awaken to your reality.
(From ReMember Deck One-Reality is Greater than Perception, Card 7)
Sometimes it is very easy to put life on automatic pilot. Work, eat, watch TV, sleep can become a rut. Your reality is that you are a spiritual being who came to this life with a purpose. That purpose was NOT to live in the routine of scraping by.
In summary, here are some questions to help you live with conscious awareness:
1. What is your Divine purpose?
2. Are you living your life with purpose?
3. Do your work and play lives bring you joy?
4. If the answer to question 3 is "NO", what would bring your joy?
5. Is nature presenting you with an opportunity to ask, "What can I learn from this?" Nature can include "natural disasters", animals, gardens or any other messengers of Mother Earth.
6. Your reality is far greater than the routines that may trap you. What would you like your reality to be?
Jean-Claude & Waking the Lightworker in YOU
A few weeks ago I launched Radio Good Spirited. Tonight Caryn will interview author and speaker Jean-Claude Koven. His wonderful book, Going Deeper, is an entertaining story about remembering the lightworker or Spiritual being you are.
Listen in to learn about the "shift" he predicts.
1. Send your stories or questions to the show at: radio at goodspirited dotcom
2. Call in during the show and share your stories and/or ask questions. The phone number is (646) 716-7181. We can have five live callers online at one time.
You don't have to agree with me to call in. All viewpoints are welcome. There are two ways to participate on the show.You are also welcome to listen to the live show or search the archives for a program of interest.
Visit: Caryn's Radio Talk Show
Be sure to check the program for times as the schedule may change without notice.
Also listen to the archives for the wisdom and sweet insights of Ian Gardner, author of The Milk is White.
A Sample of Upcoming Guests & Topics
Mon Oct 22 |
Bees Are Disappearing & Why We Should Care |
2 PM PST (4PM CST) |
Rose A. Jenkins, Editor & Publisher of Pathfinder News in St. Louis, MO is passionate about enlightening humankind about the "mysterious" disappearance of bees-called colony collapse disorder. She will explore the various theories that have been proposed and highlight what we can do to save our preceious resource... BEES. |
Mon |
Have you ever wondered if an |
2 PM PST (4PM CST) |
Alternative Transportation Club & Electric Auto Association of Northern Nevada. Join our discussion about the facts & myths regarding biofuels, ethanol and Earth-friendly choices we can all make. |
Mon Nov 5 |
Trash Talk with Dave and Lillian Brummet |
2 PM PST (4PM CST) |
Trash Talk - An Inspirational Guide to Saving Time and Money through Better Waste and Resource Management shows readers how they can save money while making their community become a more prosperous, attractive and healthier place to live. |
My friend, Carmen sent me this adorable link:
Bird Adoption and Fun Video
Caryn Welcomes Your Input
Do you have questions for Caryn? Do you have an inspirational story to tell?
Would you like to comment on this or other ReMember issues? Share your ideas.
Please email Caryn Colgan at: news at goodspirited dotcom
All photos were taken by Caryn
May all beings be richly blessed.
Natural Pesticides
