Photography and Thoughts by Ulanawa Foote

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

COYOTE RUN

While shooting sunrise with sweet Wohali, we watched as a couple of coyote playfully ran, slid, skidded and tippy toed across the ice from island to island. I have noticed coyote tracks many times, but this was the first time I had actually seen them.
 
Silently I watched coyote crossing Lake Erie, where the waters have recently turned to ice, and remembered the many stories I had been told. Coyote is an interesting teacher. It is very clever and can be playfully cunning. And it usually shows up to reflect the foolish ways of our heart back to us. Sometimes in our desire to avoid certain situations, the heart begins the process of tricking itself into believing what it wants to believe, rather than productively dealing with and working to resolve things as they actually are. Coyote comes to reveal the traps the heart sets for itself, so it will not be ensnared upon circumstances which could be best avoided. Coyote is a relentless messenger and will tease and taunt until its warning is heeded.
 
Like the coyote I observed, walking on ice can be a very risky thing ... but not as great as the risk of remaining frozen in unpleasant and bitter cricumstances which could  be avoided, if we heed its wisdom and look closely and honestly into the heart. Coyote is a highly adaptable animal and teaches us the need to be the same. It encourages us to playfully, yet warily progress forward. It leads us to places that are nonthreatening, so we can recover and rebound from previous setbacks.
 
Coyote is loyal and devoted and I have read how it will  go to extremes to defend and protect its own. It teaches us the need to do the same. It shows us the importance of working together for the good of all. It allows us to see within our own hearts, steering clear of deception and snares, and like the coyote, RUN!
 
 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

SILENT FEATHERS

It was just a year ago when Ugugu silently flew into my life. I remember it well, as it chose a place to sit and watch where we were actually at eye level with each other, only a few feet apart. It knew I was there, and it made very sure I was aware of its presence. It chose an unsheltered place to rest … out in the open, midway between earth and sky. And I knew it came to take the dead things in my life away. That is what the owl does.
It silently began a work that day within my heart and within my life’s circumstances. And I silently accepted its medicine. I never would have guessed then, the magnitude of change that has come forth when Ugugu began his silent and powerful work in my life. He began removing dead things … a little bit at a time. Dead works … gone. Dead situations … preened and ready to be rebuilt upon. Dead relationships … gone. Dead dreams … resurrected. With every dead thing I agreed to let go of, in its place new joy, happiness, love, and creativity flew in. Sweetness abounded where the decay of life’s bitter circumstances had been just months before. It has been a beautiful year of changes.
On silent feathers, Ugugu has returned to me again. I had been looking for him in the place he visited me last year, as I knew his nest was nearby. But to my sweet surprise, Ugugu moved his nest to my lotus pond. His choice to change his location makes my heart smile. His choice to move it to a place that is so very precious to me personally, makes my heart smile even more. It silently communicates wonderful things to me. I have never been happier. On silent feathers I fly … into another year of beautiful changes. Who knew a turtle could fly? … so high, so far, so free…
 
 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

WHEN TIGER STALKS

So secretive and strong,
the tiger stalks the subconscious of my mind.
With great power and speed,
it suddenly leaps into action revealing what once was hidden.
 It teaches me the importance of patience and devotion,
and the prudence of perfect timing.
Its vibrant and striking colors stimulate my vision
as its powerful gaze locks upon my own. 
I find the depth within its eyes intoxicating,
as in them I feel a vital force
and renewed energy begin to surge through me.
And with that,
a deep desire to optimistically begin again
from a focused and confident place of strength.
Tiger encourages me to curiously explore 
new avenues of creativity
with enthusiasm and newfound vitality. 
It teaches me to balance power with sensitivity and passion.
When tiger stalks,
every cell within my being comes alive …
intensely aware …
and ready to move quickly forward,
ardently embracing the new ways and ideas before me.