#1 The Origin of The Claw
(childhood)
It is said: "The Bear, The Grandfather teaches us about Ancient Wisdom."
My kinship with Bears began when I was 7 years old. One day, a book was placed into my hands. A beautiful picture of a White Bear was on the front cover of the book. I was soon to discover that this bear was a marine mammal who lived far away in another land called the North Pole, the Arctic. His name was Nanook. Words like Eskimo, Kayaks, Igloos became very familiar as I read about his life at the North Pole. The Innuit People sometimes said that Nano
ok, the Polar Bear was "A person inside a Bear's Hide." The years in my life went by like an Ice Berg floating on the cold ultramarine blue waters of the North.
Soon I was to learn about the different species of Bears, the Brown Bear, the Black Bear, and then came the book about Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a very famous fairy tale story. Both of my books about the Bears became my secret friends. As the years went by Goldilocks and the Three Bears became a fond memory. The Bears became my allies and my life long guardians.
Tracks on the Trail
My spirit awareness and the wild within me even as a child was always predominant. Days, months, years floated onward like pieces of driftwood finding their way in a fast-moving river. I always found time in my secret world of imagination to be with my most beloved animal brothers and sisters. The northeast woodlands became my sacred space and in my moments of solitude I eagerly awaited my unique encounters in my dream time, whether it be my brother, the Wolf or Zia, the Hawk. Grandfather Bear always walked beside me on the path in the innerlandscape of our concealed sanctuaries. I did not cling to my early years. I welcomed each new day. My animal companions and mentors became the essence of my life......
#2 Ursus Sleeps
(Bears Den)
(Many years later)
“Old Man In The Fur Coat” prepared to go to ground. The Long Sleep was not far away. Periods of light no longer filtered into the darkness of the Bear's Den. Outside, Pine, Spruce, and Fir Trees began to nudge one another as ice crystals started to cling to the needles that were covering their branches. The Motherland had begun to snuggle under her new garment of frost. Winterwinds announced their presence blowing with determination in order to remain wild and free. Inside the winter bed of the Bear was warm and friendly. Deep within this underworld, Grandfather Bear was finally asleep. He does not hear the whisper of the wind as a small weasel scampers quickly towards a large pile of brush nearby.
#3 In The Stillness Of The Night
The heartbeat of the coming twilight was faintly heard and soon the space between the here and the now gave notice. At last the stillness of the night had become intimate. Before long I was able to welcome the new thoughts that had been lingering in my mind. Soon my night-time visitors exposed their wispy images as I began my journey into the world of silence.
The Gateway to my Dreamlodge was opened and my nightly stay enabled me to see the secrets of my soul. I always needed to learn more about the fountain of knowledge coming from my higher self and my spirit teachers.
At last I had reached the deep sleep, the now time, my sacred space, my Shangri-la.
In good time, my dream journeys came to an end and like the Bear in his mountain den, I was to leave in order to search out a new light of life, a new time of unexpected radiance, however before I left the sacred landscape of my secret dream sanctuary, I remember a period of time when I experienced a brief void. Later in my semi-conscious state, I beckoned my spirit to welcome the Vision that was now apparent.
"The Veil of Solitude" was soon to be challenged. My dream journeys had come to an end.
#4 Crystal Clouds
Abruptly, and without warning, the vacant space around me became a white cloud of Crystals bursting about in all directions. I was astonished as I watched fragments of crystals becoming lost almost immediately, disappearing and dissolving into nowhere. At the same time, I looked upward and was astounded at the sight of a huge White Polar Bear emerging outward from the slowly vanishing white cloud of crystals.
#5 Polar Bear and Tomiki
The Crystals finally faded away, and then I watched the Bear rear upwards towering over me as I began to back away. He lowered his head downward close to my left shoulder and
my attention was drawn to a mark on the left side of his face. I faltered briefly. I felt as if I had become mesmerized as I stared at this gigantic White Bear. During a brief window of time, I realized I was in a cocoon of silence. When the Bear began to move away from me, I continued standing like a statue. In the next instant the space before me appeared to be blank. Before my heart had a chance to skip a beat, once again, the Bear appeared.
#6 Ice Berg
Break A Way
Nanook Submerged
It seemed as if I were in a mystical trance. As I watched the Bear change into a large Pinnacle Ice Berg, I stood in awe. With another blink of the eyes and before I could move, the Ice Berg began to crumble downward. In a flash, I watched what once was a frozen Ice Berg plunge into the blue Arctic waters and quickly submerge out of sight. Nanook had vanished. Unwillingly, I extended my hand into the new emptiness. I fumbled momentarily as I tried to locate my Bear Pendant that I had left close-by on a small night table. Slowly and with ease I was able to grasp the familiar necklace. No matter how tightly I clutched the pendant in my hand, Nanook was still "just a moment ago." For awhile I could not locate my thoughts. I needed time to retrace my posture and emotions. I decided to take advantage of my own space. I needed more time to exist in the moment until my secret spirit had been subdued. In time I reluctantly consoled myself and relinquished my connection with The White Monarch. Nanook was gone. But was he really gone? My answer came quickly.
#7 The Return
(Nan-or-luck, The Giant White Bear)
Suddenly, a large surge of water shot straight upward into the air. The undeniable natural forces of the Sea Mother towered high above the point of impact over the turbulent waters. The white foam was shooting huge splashes of its own existence, rising high above and about as far as the laws of nature allowed.
The Arctic Wind Spirit blew vigorously over a new massive wave that had formed and was now beginning its journey elsewhere. I called to Tornak (Spirit of Nanook) .. Like a huge white missile, Nan-or-luk, Giant Spirit Brother of Nanook burst out of the water, leaping well into the air and then pulled his enormous body onto a large shelf of drifting ice floating nearby.
#8 Innua
White Snow Spirit began to fall onto Nan-or-luks back leaving icy chunks of snow visible on top of his creamy white wet fur. The Ice Shelf began to drift away towards the open sea. Nan-or-luk faced the Arctic North, but before the garment of the Snow Lord could completely cover his snowy white outline, he turned his head around and looked backward for a brief moment. The Arctic Wind was about to make the final decision and before too long Nan-or-luk disappeared outward into the snowy mist of his icy domain.
The silence returned. I could feel the cold winds swirl around me, but there was a warm light in my heart. A lone tear drop had found its way onto the face of my Bear Pendant that I held in my hand. I looked downward and saw that
“The Tear Drop Had Frozen”
The Vision, like Nanook had come and gone. Once again I remember the words:
"Let Not The Spirit Of the Bear Become An Ancient Ghost"