In The Forest

From the Crow and Wombat kingdoms

through Tania Conibear

 

 

" Why do the crows call out so much, Dad?"  asked Miram of her father.

 

Miram could hear the crows calling in a chorus in the distance beyond the shed where she and her father were.

 

Her father looked up from the tool he was mending with a furrowed brow of concentration.

 

" Yes Miram, they are vocal. Go out and speak a request to the wind for the crows to come close so that you may ask them."

 

Miram looked at her father. She was not sure if he was joking or serious . He had that unreadable look upon his face. Minutes passed in silence, but for the crows' echoing voices in the distance. Miram shuffled to the edge of the high stool she was sitting upon and jumped off.

 

"  I think Milly and the puppies might need checking,  Dad . I'll go see them" said Miram.

 

" O.K, Mim, "  her father responded.

 

 

Beyond the quiet darkness of the shed the day was clear and bright , the sparkle of summer gliding into autumn upon all things. Miram walked to the shed with the puppies inside but then walked past.

She follows a little path beyond to the hills  and forest at the back of her family's farm.

 

Up and up she goes. Walking through swathes of grass ,  rich with nodding heads of seed , she begins to believe she is wearing a vast grass skirt swaying with her movement. Her hair could be a flurry  of wildflowers that flows with the winds breathe . She wonders if she could be a little grass goddess filled with the blessings of summer fulfilment .

 

Crouching to rest near the top, Miram looks about her. A shadow flows over and she hears the close swoosh of wings . A crow has landed on a rock close by and moves from foot to foot gathering balance. They look at each other and the crow inclines his head from side to side . Suddenly with an uplift of his black wings the crow vaults into the air and flies . Miram with a sudden urge jumps up and runs ,following the wind path the crow has taken. With a skipping dance over rocks she tries to keep the crow in site, but he is gone. Her breathe comes quickly and fills her ears .

 

"You like to run then , little one !"

 

Wondering who said this Miram stops. Above her circles the crow in slow swopping graceful flight.

 

"Would you like to run with me? Come lets go together," the crow offered.

 

Away the crow flies and Miram does run. She runs faster than ever before, yet without effort.

 

"See we can match our pace, Miram ," said the crow , now flying above her with slow steady wingbeats.

Miram is astonished, but beyond knowing how she is thrilled by the lightness of her step and the wind now positively blowing in her face as she runs fast.

 

The forest quickly gathers about them now and a little hollow lies ahead . Miram slows to a walk and steadies herself against a tree while looking for a way down. The trees bolt to the sky all around with wide strong girths, layered with soft ferns at their bases. Miram feels the presense of this hollow. She feels she is crossing a border as she steps beyond the rim and is now in a creation whole unto itself and filled to the brim with life. The crow alights upon a branch close by as Miram gazes in wonder , a new beauty layered everywhere she looks . Orchids draping from trees, rocks mossed over in vibrant green hues and everywhere overarching silken fronds of ferns.

 

" Are you happy to be here?" the crow enquires, looking right into Miram's eyes

 

" Oh yes , but it is so wide , so filled with life I am almost afraid. I could get lost here, everthing is different wherever I look."

 

" Well the threads of magic of the forest are many and woven intricately. You live in a house with four walls and fields cleared and managed. You may well be afraid here. But dont be. Do you need to be afraid of life? What makes you afraid?" the crow asked.

 

 " It ...it is much more than me , bigger and more than I can ever know," Miram said trying to explain.

 

"Your four walls tell you this. Reach deeper into your heart. This also might cause you fear to begin with, but you will find a wide expanded creation there also. It is within . In your true expanded state you are like this forest. But there are things unknown within that wish to stay hidden. Learning to find a path again and again when you go to your inner world is the key. What is unknown becomes known.

Will you come and meet my mate? Our nest is a little further, beside the stream."  asked the crow

 

 

By a stream of glassy water rolling across a bed of stones the crow brings Miram to a tree whose lower branch holds a nest of sticks and bark and feathers. A glossy black head and beak looks down at Miram from the nest. Landing upon the closest branch the male crow who has guided Miram, greets his mate in soft, low scrawling voice.

 

" Miram, you are far from home. Come to see the forest have you my dear? asks the female crow.

 

"Yes , I was guided," replies Miram, looking upon the male crow who bobs his head in acknowledgement. " Are you sitting upon eggs ?"

 

" Yes, and soon they will hatch and we will be busy with their care," the crow explained. " How is the Law where you live ?"

 

" The Law ?" questions Miram, " I dont understand what you mean."

 

" The Law is how balance is kept in all things, in your life, in all life and the many lives of those that have lived before us.  The Law has been in great decline for many ages. We call for True Spiritual Law as we fly and journey. "

 

"I have heard you and wondered what you were saying. You call so much," answered Miram.

 

" Great change is upon the Earth.We call to awaken those who can listen and respond as you have. That is why you have come, dear Miram, "  spoke the crow in a gentle voice.

 

"Come Miram, come down to the waters edge ," called the male crow .

 

Crouching together by the stream the male crow explains,

" Time is not always the same , sometimes it rushes as this stream does and time for Earth is beginning to rush and the flow allows many things that were slow or stopped , to move again. We all have debts to balance , called karma and in the rush that is beginning the debt or karma can be washed and dissolved away.   Do you see?"

 

" I think so. It is the water that dissolves the karma? asked Miram.

 

'"More it is fire , the fire within you that will do this.  This flower upon this vine is like the fire. A flower of fire blooms in your body and to keep your body healthy you must push the fire into the flower each day. It will burn away the karma.  Make peace with fire. It is your friend."

 

" I can do this?" asks Miram in wonder.

 

" Oh yes, it is your purpose. Call upon magnetic fire, magnetic air,  magnetic water , magnetic earth and ask them to weave all within you , like our strong nest .

 

Suddenly a low booming sound rolled towards them through the forest and a sudden wind caught at the tall canopy, flailing the branches and sending showers of dry leaves down upon them.

Both of the crows remained very still, watching above . Miram felt like hiding or running but she did neither and remained firmly standing. The frenzied wind passed and the sound rolled away.

 

"What was that ! " exclaimed Miram , "Surely not a normal wind or sound."

 

"We may be a little world woven into wholeness in the forest but we feel all that passes around and through from the world. Sometimes things are aimed straight at us. Miram you have felt a wind of harm . You hear and feel it not in your life as a thick fog sits on the senses of many people, and the harmful winds pass unoticed. "  the crow explained as they walked back from the stream.

 

" Where does it come from? What is it really?" Miram wished to know.

 

" My dear, when people forget that they have a vast creation inside of themselves things can happen within that can be harmful , to others and to themselves. Forgotten parts  sometimes can be angry and harmful. They unite with many forgotten parts of many people and create a wind that is heavy and dark and can harm."

 

" Do I have this inside?"  Miram said quietly.

 

'It is the nature of forgotten parts  to sometimes be angry and harmful. Yes you have and we have.  But when you know this and gather up the lost parts of yourself  they can be changed and come into the light to join with you in a new harmless way,"   the crow talked very gently to Miram to explain this.

 

Miram felt quite sick in her stomach and her heart ached with sadness. She could not deny the foulness of the wind she had just felt.  She felt quite exhausted.

 

" Miram are you feeling sick?" asked the female crow.

 

" I am sad and feel heavy inside ," Miram admitted.

 

"Why not rest upon the stream's edge and bath your feet in the water," the male crow suggested.

 

"  Yes , I will I think , thankyou," Miram turned to go.

 

" Miram, heal your sorrow each day. Balance is returning. Move into the balance and you will be in the flow of the change as it comes . A golden time is ahead and we are in great joy for its coming."

 

Miram nodded and thought about this. She moved a little higher up the stream and settled upon a large rock covered in thick moss and spongy to the touch . Taking off her shoes she dipped her toes in the water and then both whole feet.  The cool chills rose up her legs soothing the pain in her body, melting it away. A calmness came upon her and she could think about what the crows had spoken of.  It was all so new but it felt like she had just remembered something that she had always known.

 

The ribbons of colour in the rocks shimmered beneath the water, polished smooth by the dancing flow. Bubbles formed and spun in eddys, joining with others then disappearing. The filtered light in the forest glowed in shimmering play upon the water.

 

In the quiet a lizard emerged on the other side of the stream with head erect and tail held poised. It came to the water's edge and drank darting its head up again to look and listen. It lept back apace then stopped.

 

" Oh my goodness, I didnt see you sitting there. What a fright you gave me. People do not often blend in as you are. My word, you are colourful though. Many colours."  spoke the lizard to Miram.

 

"Colours ? Around me ? You mean the the flowers and plants are colourful. Yes they......"

 

" Oh no , you're colours my dear,  Very nice, very........."

 

There was a large movement in the ferns and the lizard disappeared in a flash. Miram felt she might do the same. Whatever it was it was big . Its rustle was big!  Pushing through the ferns came a large furry head with little ears. A wombat!  With a large rounded body and short legs , no  tail and a very sturdy set of claws for digging the wombat was fascinating to see up close.  He was busy. Busy with the scents of the earth and the touch of the plants upon his  large nose  and the quest for the water he knew was ahead.  Sniffing the air he drew in the language of the bush all around himself and padded forward to the water. He watched for a moment.

 

" Might we share this spot a while my sister?" enquired the wombat.

 

Miram was glad he didnt disappear as the lizard had.

 

" Yes, I would like that. I should ask if I can share it with you?"  Miram replied.

 

" Blessings for sharing , I say. Lets share then"

There was quite a long silence .The wombat  then moved to have a drink from the steam.

 

"The water is a blessing. I  live close to the water. All my life I have lived close to the water." the wombat mused " It trickles in my dreams and  I can hear the rivers deep in the Earth inside my burrow."

 

"  Oh, that must be wonderful,"  Miram pictured this in her mind and felt it too. "A burrow in the earth? With tunnels too?" asked Miram.

 

" Yes, would you like to see it?

 

" Oh yes, I would , thank you."

 

 " Forth we go then , this way through the ferns."

 

Miram gathered up her shoes , danced across some rocks to cross the stream and followed. To do this she needed to crouch down low , sometimes on hands and knees.  The chocolate earth was richly layered in leaves and mulch and softer than she could ever remember feeling . Myriads of insects shared their lives on the forest floor, Miram noticed .  Ants of all kinds were ever busy , spiders centred upon gossamer webs .  Miram was paying attention to these things when the wombat was suddenly gone and Miram stopped abruptly facing a large tunnel entrance into the earth, quite big enough for her to fit down crawling.

 

" Come Miram, there's room for you in my burrow,"  the wombat's voice called.

Miram hesitated, but not for long and crawled into the tunnel carefully. Adjusting her eyes to the lack of light she could still see her way. Pungent was the damp earth and the feeling of it all around her was such a new experience. Curving and sloping then rising again Miram then came to a sudden widening of the walls.

 

" Well done !  You have wombat sense I see!"  said the wombat

He was close by now.

"We are in my burrow now, come make a little spot for yourself."

Mirams eyes were now able to see the wombat sitting against one of the walls. The earth floor was dry and loose and comfortable she found and she moved against the wall lying down half curled in a little ball.  She was quiet for a time.

 

" Oh it is so beautiful, I did not know it would be like this. I feel so safe and calm," Miram spoke in wonder.

" Its my Dreaming place .  I wander long journeys  in the Dreamtime wrapped in sleep here. So glad you like it. The trees whisper to me through their roots , the Earth speaks , the air of the forest flows in and sings. " the wombat spoke softly with love in his voice.

 

"  I dont sleep close to the Earth. All of a sudden I wish to. I miss it somehow. How can I miss something I have never done before?" Miram wondered.

 

" You remember,  and you remember much further back in time than you realise.  Like a book that you as a human may have , you are like a great long book of many lives and you are reading a feeling just now."

 

"  Oh am I? Wombat, I wanted to ask you about the colours. The lizard said I had many colours. What did it mean?"

 

"Well  the colours are called the Language of Light . It is how we can speak with one another because I know the colours and you know the colours.  The colours are tones of creation,  they are very special. They bring many beautiful changes wherever they are.  They are powerful and gentle and they are alive ! For us they are our bridge into a new day of honour for all things. " spoke the wombat with great inspiration.

 

" Oh , such hope is in your words . I feel happy when you speak about the colours." Miram answered.

 

" There is peach , soft pink,  turquoise, and yellow, lavender, silver and gold.  We can draw symbols of their movement too ."

 

' Maybe I could draw them too. Will you show me how in the dirt outside your burrow?" asked Miram.

 

" Yes , my dear , but I must tell you that night is drawing in outside. This is your time for sleep isn't it?"

Miram sat up, a little disturbed.

" Is it? gosh I should be home then. Its such a long way in the dark though"

 

" Well that may not be as outside of the forest near your home it will still be day. Things are changing faster here. "

 

"Oh, I see...... I think," Miram puzzled over this." I must go back to the crows , they may wonder if I have gotten lost. I am so grateful to you for showing me your home and talking with me. I hardly want to leave."

 

" That is my pleasure. We can speak still.  Your heart is the key. An open loving heart will speak and you can call me through your heart. We will go then . I will take you back to the stream."

 

Padding to the tunnel down the wombat went, with Miram close behind. Out into the dusky light they emerged and the cool air rising with even more intense smells of the forest folded about them. The stream was quickly found and the wombat and the child parted.

 

" Go my sister, with a blessing from the Earth."

 

" Bless the Earth in return" said Miram and the Wombat moved away on his nightly journey.

 

Over the stream Miram hopped and walked back down the edge to the crow's tree.

 

" Crow friends , are you here?"

 

" Oh Miram , you are back then. Interesting adventures have you had?" It was the female crow who spoke and peeked over the nest edge .

 

Miram dropped down from standing on tippy-toes to see the nest better.

 

" I have, I met the wombat by the creek and a lizard too,"

 

" All good. My dear do you wish to stay in the forest tonight? Or my mate can guide you home if you wish."

 

Miram was unsure , mostly she wanted to stay, but how?

In answer to the question in her mind the crow said,

 

" With a bed of dry grass over by the log just near,  you will have a lovely rest."

 

Miram looked , she imagined curled between the tree's base and the fallen log and thought this could be nice.

 

" I could.........I want to . I think I will."  Miram decided.

 

The male crow flew in , and came right down onto the fallen log.

" Well Miram, here you are."

" Miram is going to stay here with us tonight, maybe you could help her find the best dry grass for a bed, my dear, " asked the female crow of her mate.

 

" Certainly, maybe some ferns too,"

 

Together they climbed the slope a little,

" Miram we will ask the plants to allow us this gift of themselves and send  a blessing to the Earth,

what do you think?"

 

" Yes , I agree."

They asked and blessed and gathered a pile of grass and ferns that Miram could only carry with arms stretched out wide.

" I have never gathered for such a large nest. Miram theres a stump in front of you!" warned the crow.

Miram could hardly see over her armful but stepped around the stump and back they came to the crow tree. Laying the ferns down first and then the sweet smelling grass a wave of happiness spilled over Miram as she finished . Her own bed in the bush! 

 

" Miram we will be just above you . Remember , connect to the Earth, right down into the centre of the Earth. It is called grounding. You are very safe when you are grounded. Just imagine a great long tunnel from yourself to the Aurora that is filled with colours and starts way above you, my dear. "

 

" Language of Light colours?" asked Miram.

" Just so Miram!  that is what I speak of. Bring the colours all around yourself . Would you like to hear a little poem as you settle in?"

 

" Yes please," Miram sat down upon her bed and the crow pulled some more ferns over her. It was soft and smelled delicious . She was most comfortable.  The crow flew up into the tree, settling upon a branch, ruffling his feathers , and he spoke,

 

The forest sings in the night,

Behind the hills fades the light

 

But we have light inside our hearts

and swirling colours play their part.

 

Moving, swelling, as bright as  day

A rainbow within us now will stay.

 

And no more will there be fear.

A path to freedom we will clear.

 

Dark to light ,  embrace whats lost

we forgive all and count not the cost

 

so sleep now and walk your dreamtime

and you and the Earth will be in rhyme.

 

Miram felt the heaviness of her eyelids and fell asleep with the little song all around.

 

 

 

A long sweet chorus of birdsong woke Miram,  It sounded like the bird was perched right beside her! But no, he was not that close. The forest was alive with morning choruses and spun all around with the freshest of light.  Stretching , the ferns fell away from Miram's chest. Her little bed was warm with her body heat and she could only wonder at the dreamy sleep she had spent. 

 

" Hello Miram,  a fine morning, dont you think?" the female crow spoke as she glided down to the water's edge.   Miram followed and knelt down to gather some water in her cupped palms.

 

" I have flown to the forest edge and to the top of our mountain this morning and there is a quietness today.   So the inner journey goes on.  We will all walk into freedom together one day.  Wont that be something to see!  This darkness will not outlast the will of those who are ascending." the crow was adamant.

 

Miram could hear her voice was strong with her own will.

 

" It is a long way, isn't it crow, " Miram said quietly.

 

" A long way? Until we all honour one another?  Well the journey is the most important thing . It is within each day of your journey that all is achieved.  There are many homecomings every day which bring joy and so let us live each step and be in joy."

 

The crow observed Miram for a time. " Do you remember your dreams from last night, Miram?" the crow asked.

 

" I remember going on a long walk in the forest with wombat !" Miram recalled.

 

" Oh good. Wombat makes many adventures. He was showing you his love for the journey, my dear!"

 

" He was !  And the colours were all around us as we walked and I knew I could walk and walk and not tire.  And love was in my heart. "  Miram spoke.

 

" Ah, yes.... it shines in your face today" , offered the female crow

 

Miram was quiet and thoughtful.

 

" It is time for me to go isn't it.  I hardly want to but I know it is time."

 

" Yes its time Miram,"

 

" And if your not quick now you wont be able to follow me!" teased the crow,  bursting into flight and circling overhead.

 

Miram jumped up, " Blessings to you !" called the male crow, now sitting upon the nest.

 

" Blessings, and happy egg sitting!" replied Miram

 

Miram was running now, but slowed as the slope of  the hollow increased. Up , up, up, ferns to the right , ferns to the left  caressing her face as she passed.  And to the top of the hollow's edge. The crow swooped overhead with a leisurely flap. On Miram ran , she wanted to run and happiness coursed as she felt her body's momentum.  Soon she ran right to the edge of the hill overlooking her farm and a new wind rushed up from below and she leant into it and ran again.  A voice came in her heart,

 

In my dreams I am walking,

Down in my burrow by the creek.

I see Miram running, running

Free is she and our hearts can speak.

 

Come again, Miram, to my home

we will go walking,

a new path every day we will roam

You will know wombat is your friend

and walks beside you

As the journey does not end!

 

So fast you go, down the hill

and be as the wind today.

Your heart is open and can fill

 with every moving coloured ray.

 

 

And Miram felt the freedom,  as her heart was growing and lush with a forest of  strength, love and dreams that danced with life, and danced right out into the fields around her.  The crow circled high overhead, calling,  a black speck to Mirams eyes but she waved anyway and ran down into the farm yard.

 

 

 

Tania Conibear lives downunder in the Canberra region of Australia and is in our Group Mastery program.  Tania can be reached by e-mail at danceofbalance@hotmail.com.

 

 

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