Beavers Have Returned

Beavers have returned: 

yesterday morning, just as first light softly begins to shows my local pond, and finally I catch a clear sight of my neighborhood beaver, or one of them at least, as I don't actually know how many there might be. It was enough to see one, thrilling me to the core, as after a long wait, decades really, it seems beavers have returned. 

I've written of this before, how beavers had made their way here by following a local stream, establishing a home, only to be removed by neighbors concerned about damage to the trees surrounding the pond, and possible issues concerning their property. Valid concerns, although studies suggest, as well as actual practice, that we're capable of controlling many of these problems and that a small, but thriving beaver community only adds value to the ecosystem if their activity is kept in check. Yet still they removed and we haven't seen them here since. 

until now. 

beavers have returned.

we saw signs for many months, gnawed trees, branches and larger limbs gathered along streams, and my hope began to rise. There are larger lakes nearby that support a thriving beaver population, and my small pond is connected by many streams that would provide a viable path for their return. And that's just what they did, a few at least, taking their time, and eventually reestablishing themselves here. We saw the signs, the story they told of their travel and presence, and now my local pond is a home for beavers. Again, and maybe this time they'll be allowed to stay. 

and this seems to be likely, as we see wildlife management teams working with controlling the damage of a beavers work, protecting many trees with wired fences, and many neighbors are happy to have them here, trusting that nature and wildlife officials will keep a healthy balance. So far that's the plan, and I really hope that we continue to welcome their presence. 

as they're magical to behold. 

last winter a caught just the briefest glimpse of one swimming near the edge of the pond. I wasn't even sure that it was a beaver as they're presence here wasn't yet confirmed and winter mornings are still quite dark on my earliest walks. But I was pretty sure it was and neighbors began to share their own sightings and encounters. So my morning walks throughout the winter kept me watchful for beavers, as well as my always hopeful search for owls, foxes, and the always elusive coyote. 

and yesterday morning, 

finally, 

another beaver sighting. 

this time on land, a small island, and I just missed being able to capture it on film. But I will, as each morning holds a but more sunlight, and I'm vigilant, approaching each walk as a possibility for magic to appear. And of course it always does, even without the sighting a beaver, there's a mystery to the morning, always a hint of possibilities. That's what draws me from my bed so early, an excitement that this day will reveal just a bit more of life's mystery's. 

and it does...

sometimes, 

even in the form of a beaver.

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: It's Ours 

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Hardwired for Meditation

Hardwired for meditation: 

some people are natural drawn to meditation, sitting for an extended period of time with either breath or mantra as their gentle focus. Others favor more dynamic methods such as a flow of yoga asanas, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Sufi twirling. Yet for many there doesn't seem to be meditative path they're suited for, perhaps believing that they're not meant to have a quiet mind or enjoy a moment of true stillness. 

but we all are.

we're hardwired for meditation.

and it's as simple as walking, gently so, being surrounded by nature as it's found, in the company of trees, flora, and even the smallest patch of grass will do if we give it our attention. Our brains are designed to be drawn to fractals, it's a factor of resonance, the brains patterns matching the construct of nature and settling into an easy rhythm and alpha waves, with studies showing a reduction of stress by up to 60% after even moments of this natural exposure. 

and amazingly it happens completely on its own. 

with least effort

 it seems we're hardwired for meditation. 

naturally so. 

fractals are the patterns of nature, self-replicating at different scales, and they're found throughout every landscape without need of searching them out. They're present to the eyes as soon as we step outside and gaze upon a single tree or blade of grass, belong to the ripple of a pond as a breeze sweeps a signature design across its surface. Nothing need be sought for, no effort given, we are awash in fractals from the moment we emerge from house to nature. 

and that's our meditation. 

as simply and easy as that.

we just need to leave our busyness and distractions behind, or at least to get the full benefits of what fractals offer, turning their gift of healing into an actual practice that never fails us. This is where a little effort is needed, an intent to surrender to the experience of nature, not splitting our attention to a screen or play of music. We only need to be in nature, fully so, and even if the mind wanders we will soon be drawn back to the beauty of the world, those patterns of intelligence designed to quiet even the busiest mind. It seems we're hardwired for this to happen. 

an easy meditation. 

naturally so. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: Much the Same 

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Common Grackle

Common grackle: 

so it seems that I've recently discovered the common grackle, a medium sized bird that slightly resembles a crow or raven at first glance. Of course they've been here all along and in large numbers too, yet somehow they've escaped my notice, never capturing my imagination. I'm embarrassed to think that I've dismissed them as simply a blackbird without distinction, as even their name suggest that there's nothing very special about them, in fact, most often, they're considered a nuisance, problematic for farmers, aircraft, and other types of birds.

the common grackle has an image problem. 

really though, they're a beautiful bird, yes, with some issues of population and a somewhat aggressive nature, descending on crops and driving other birds away. But it's an issue of survival, a grackles instinct to thrive in an often difficult world for birds and people. It's hard to fault them for the many habits that we seem to share with them, our own large numbers, competition with others species, and consuming a vast amount of resources. And at least we're not given a label such as "common people" and described as a nuisance species. Perhaps most truly, we're seeing a bit of our own image reflected back to us with the grackle and like little of what we see. 

and it's easier to blame a bird.

especially if it's a common grackle.

this doesn't mean that they're aren't some issues to address, or that the damaged caused by the grackle isn't a real concern. But nothing will be solved without looking at things from a holistic perspective, seeing things from nature's angle and how everything belongs within the context of a larger picture. Grackles belong here, the environment is their home, and this includes the loudness of their call and often aggressive behavior. It's our home too, with all of our own faults and destructive tendencies. So there's much we can learn from grackles, perhaps even gaining a sense of hope that we possess an intelligence that allows us to view the world with empathy and compassion. 

to once more be holistic. 

grackles also give back to nature, they perform a necessary role of predator as well as prey, being a nuisance only through the lens of our own perspective. This doesn't mean they don't cause problems, or remain in competition with other birds. They do and are - but holistically they somehow belong within the entire framework. 

as do we.

perhaps that's lesson from the grackle.

that we are all belong in some unique and unfathomable way. 

and that's our connection. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: A Quiet Life of Seva

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Thank you.