The Grandmother's Dream
The Grandmother watched at a distance as her three year old grandchild played on the large rocks and lay in the mossy shadows of the great Oak trees. She had gradually moved from the child's sight and now stood behind the trunk of an Oak growing quite large, some distance deep in the woods from where they lived. Three hours had passed since he Grandmother had stepped out of sight. The little girl was a Child of Nature. She was at home in the woods, alone and unafraid.
Time had no existence here as she climbed trees and swung from wild grape vines. No fear. A better boy than her brothers. The Great Spirit had smiled on this wee one. No one would do great harm here. Not physical. There would be the usual childhood scrapes and bruises, and perhaps in later life a break here and there. But no one would be allowed to inflict great bodily harm. There would always be intervention. It was in the heart place the Spirit would store it's hunger. It's need to understand.
The Grandmother turned to make her way quietly thru the woods and to the dirt dwelling she lived in with her husband. The hour was growing late and she must not let her wee one know she was near and watched in silence. Then after some thought decided to move on home instead of lingering to protect if needed. This time it was up to the wee one.
Many times this summer the Grandmother had walked into the woods with her most loved of children. Showing her how to watch for signs as they made their way deeper into the tall trees and dense scrub growth, pointing out a large boulder or the way a limb hung differently than other tree limbs. After moving several feet past this point of interest she would ask the child to stop and turn to look back from the other side and please to remember what lay ahead and behind herself should she ever go into the woods alone. The sun was moving on now. Shadows reaching long. The Grandmother turned to move homeward.... There was a sound, a rustling through the leaves. There was no wind here. Not even the smallest breeze. There, again, and again. Then silence.... Pausing, she took a long quiet breath, then cautiously leaning her head outward from the tree was startled to see the girl moving shyly, gently towards a shadow which lay upon the ground a few feet in front of herself.
A large, dark shadow. Unmoving, yet obvious by it's form. Like the shadow, the Grandmother did not move. She felt as if she were air-hung. Unable to move. Even though she wished to she could not. Some unseen force held her there as if by magic. The girl moved nearer. A deep throated sound, gentle in it's understanding, bid her sit. Moving forward, sit she did. Crossing her legs, holding her back straight, unafraid. She waited silent, head high.
Watching now, held fast in over powering senses, the Grandmother knew she was Silent Witness. She knew she would not speak of the scene before her for many years. All Will Be...in It's time and place.
The shadow now blended into the form that created it. A wild animal, now tame and loving, sat before the child. A leopard of great beauty.
Darkly spotted, the red-gold of It's coat a soft glow in the forest light, the hour moving on. A soft white light began to engulf the two blending forms now disappearing as one within the light. Now sparkling, dancing. There was a feeling emanating from the light towards the Grandmother with a wonderful stillness full of love which must be that of a true Spiritual nature, the Grandmother thought while waiting. As silent witness she watched the return of the child and the Leopard. The light became less and less. From one form came two. Sitting in silence the two communicated. The child knowing she was now a part of the power that could easily slay her. Knowing too the greatest of Love balanced that same power. Now the scene before her was fading as the Leopard leaned forward and gently placed the kiss of the Great Spirit upon the tiny face. The child, touching the great shoulder of the Leopard gave unto the Great Spirit a gentle Tap of Love.
As the Leopard disappeared into no-thing-ness, the child stood. After a moment turned and moving towards home welcomed the white light and protecting Love of the Greatest of All Spirit. Sending her Great Grandmother some of the Love she had herself just received she did child skip all the way home, taking the lead.
