32 Comments

It seems as if you’re taking this adventure camp to the extreme with your bear encounter! I sure hope Willie or Winnie weren’t anywhere in sight (if they came along on the trip). I remember when we were banging on pots and pans at 7 pm to thank the health care workers during the early days of the pandemic. Good thing these household items serve many purposes in emergency situations! Stay safe, sane, and serene.🙏🏻

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No doggies. They are with their trusted pet sitter at her doggie camp where they get to run and play with others. Well, Willie might play a little, but mostly he gets spoiled rotten.

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I need to get my hands on medicine cards and read Arundhati Roy's book. Her book, An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire shaped me as a journalist.

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She is tremendous.

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Your Colorado experience reminded

me of my time in Maine. On a small beach across the lake from a friend’s came where there were moose prints in the sand and followed by bear prints. My friend had taken the boat back to the camp and I was minding his two kids for a couple of hours. So there we were in a place where we knew there was wildlife.

There were a few other folks on the beach and they had a boat so I the far from wilderness savvy Englishman at least I saw a potential “exit strategy” if Mr. Bear returned.

The kids had an inter-tube to play with and my friend’s son was playing with it but just left if for a moment to talk to his sister. The next thing you know the wind had caught the inter-tube and it was blowing offshore at some considerable speed.

So in I go to retrieve the damn thing! I was getting close to it but each time I was close to grabbing it blew further away. At some point, I realized that I was tiring. I was a good swimmer then but I was quite a distance from the shore and I was starting to struggle. I adopted the “one final push” strategy but as I gave it all I had left of my energy, my life did seem to pass before me. but I did reach the inter-tube and safety. Some folks in a boat had seen my little adventure and motored over and took me back into shore. I was thanking God for my deliverance. My friend’s son said to me “you are quite a good swimmer Peter...but you didn’t really need to do what. Dad said we need a new one anyway because that one leaks”. My friend’s daughter who was quite a bit younger than her brother,

maybe only 6 or 7 said “I am glad that you are back because I think I saw a bear just over there!”,

There was no bear fortunately but we did see a moose swimming across the lake later. When my friend picked us up later, he asked us if we’d had a good time. His daughter told him that she’d see a bear while I was swimming in the lake! I had some explaining to do later over a very cold bear, sorry beer!

What’s the moral of this story? Don’t chase after inter-tubes when you are in charge if bear defence duty! Px❤️

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Hysterical! Glad you made it, Peter.

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Thanks! I made it to nearly drown on another occasion but that, is a whole other sorry and I still love the water! 🐠🐬🐟 🌊

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Bear Medicine ... swoon. Fun Medicine Wheel wisdom, in the West Direction lies the divine energy of the feminine, and the lessons of Dignity. It is also the third sacred path of human transformation, the healing path. Allison you are such a shining role model of what it means to Walk in Beauty, a beautiful graceful harmonic balance between one’s walk and talk. It’s a rare quality to find in this world, as it is hard earned. Grateful for your courage and willingness in sharing your healing process and journey so openly with others. Those ripples of positive healing vibes resonate strongly deep in my heart. Thank you. 🐻🦋🤍

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Love your words Erinn

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Erinn, you seem to know much more about Medicine Wheel wisdom than I do. I want to learn more! Thank you for your very kind words. I struggled with anxiety so badly today, so I don’t feel like I’m a shining example of anything but having too much adrenaline right now. Your words lift me. 🤍

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I L🤍E you!

Learning. Together. Yes. Let’s. (I have insights. I’ll share. I have ideas. I’ll ask. I have lessons to learn. Teach me, pretty please.)

I mean c’mon. Lifting. Supporting. Cheerleading!!! (*straddle jump* ... “I’ve got Spirit how ‘bout you”)

If I may cast a public penny down the wishing well

.

.

.

Me. You. Fireside. Drawing Medicine Cards. (Sowing)

The dreamy incarnation more than fulfills the Soul. Yet when paired with a Chemically-Coupled natural adrenaline rapid rush that floods the Spirit + fuels the drive? Well that chemical combination is just too juicy to resist. (*sets a kettle to boil over the fire, lays out a tea set, and pulls up a chair, Medicine Cards on the table, book tucked beneath her arm *)

My best advice. Hang on to your hats. Pay attention. And enjoy the ride.

She’s gonna be a Wild One.

Most notably.

Worth it.

(You’ll wanna write home about it. Or not. Share your perspective in the comments. :) )

Thank you for your indulgence.

xo-

E

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Allison maybe one day you’ll consider a weekend of learning we might all participate in. Perhaps selecting a hotel with a meeting room? In Nashville.

Of course there would be a fee for your instruction and the hotel expenses. It would so nice to meet some community members. Lots of good folks in this group with things to share and learn from. Just a thought

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I haven’t cried in a long time Allison. Thank you for sharing all of these words today, & your podcast, the other relevant podcast and resources. Even the cat song took me to a whole different place. You have the most special way of just knowing... I am grateful to you & for you. And all that you share.

Beautiful scenery, I bet there is a stone shaped like a heart down at the rivers edge. ❤️

xoxo 🐻

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Thank you Gay. I love your words, too. So many beautiful supportive souls here at The Autotelic. Mostly I simply love the universal healing vibes of this community. Honored to be sharing this sacred space and civil discourse. Have a lovely week!

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That makes my entire day, Erinn. Y’all are so supportive to me and each other. It’s lovely to see.

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It is the best community! Thank you Erinn

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Thank you, Gay. I’m so happy my work brings uplift to folks — thank you for telling me that it matters.

I’ll go look for that stone 🤍

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It matters. You matter. Lots ❤️

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I have sung "Sometimes I'm alone, sometimes I'm not, sometimes I'm alone, hello?" out loud over and over and over and over to the point if I even start to sing it now, my dogs will tackle me in order to make me stop! That is how much they hate that song. Unfortunately for them, it is ingrained into my brain, and I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

I too used to like Marianne Williamson quotes and "wisdom" until she ran for President (I mean come on) and lately some pretty awful behavior from her has been reported. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/16/marianne-williamson-former-staffers-abuse - if you'd like to take a look. I fear she's another Joel Osteen type who does not practice what she professes.

Enjoy Colorado, and thank you for sharing your scary yet magical experience seeing a bear. Glad you had those pans. ha ha

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It’s hysterical. The cat is so funny by itself, but when the slow jam begins and the cats voice gets tuned it’s beyond. And it really does remind me of co-writing and being in the studio. It’s not that far off from reality, y’all.

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Be safe. Enjoy your trip. I/we love you.❤️

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Thank you, Kenny.

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God bless you a thousand times for introducing me to that cat video.

"Hello?"

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You’re so welcome.

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I'm glad you're both safe. Am I crazy (don't answer that please) or did Shelby also have a Bear encounter in the not so distant past and call you on the phone about it? I also remember your Father being mentioned in reference to a Bear sighting? The same one? Am I losing it. AM?

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Maybe your Father came to you in a dream in another form AND Shelby still had a separate Bear Encounter?

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I think you may be thinking about a deer encounter. She gets those from time to time. She has not encountered a bear.

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Then there was something about your Father and that Deer...for Shelby. I'm closing in on it, slowly, with this tired old brain. Am I wrong, AM?

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❤️... “Really listen to your heart instead of the 101 voices..” I’ve been working on being heart centered, this speaks to me.

Heart centered listening.

Medicine cards have not seen those in sometime. Once had that deck. Nice to see.

Love the prayer.

❤️&☮️

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The medicine cards are so interesting and give me a lot to think about. I pull tarot as well — I like it all.

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These Sunday lists are a favorite ritual for me and I vow to do my own.

Yours have inspired beyond measure.

I bought a bear fetish from a Zuni woman on a remote highway shoulder in Utah 20 years ago. It hangs from my rear view mirror ( on its second car now) along with an etched silver guitar pick gifted to me by some troubadours I gave a floor to sleep on. Both of these are symbols of good energy and healing.

I have no doubt your bear sighting yesterday was meant to be.

Now I need to watch the cat video ;)

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Judy — I was thinking I need something of a bear to add to my altar. I will look for something while I’m here. Last year while I was here, I found my copper ball, which I hold all the time for strength and grounding. Yes, go watch that video. You won’t regret it.

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