A Soul Pause
Barnacle Geese ~ photo by Susan Izard
Dear Soul Friends,
On most days, regardless of the weather, my husband and I take an hour long walk in a National Park near our new home with our little dachshund Ollie. A meandering path wanders through meadows, wetlands, small stands of woodland, and farmland. Over the past few months we have watched the seasons change, crops grow, flowers bloom, and trees turn to brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Now we are entering a new season of barren trees inviting us to settle into “stick season,” a New Englander’s nickname for winter.
The other day migrating geese began to fill the sky with flocks in “V” formations calling each other loudly. As we passed a harvested cornfield, we noticed hundreds of geese had landed and were pecking away at the remnants of corn. Hidden behind a hedgerow lining our path were three birders with massive telephoto lens cameras pointed at the geese. Confused by their focus on a bird we find annoying because of the mess it creates, we wondered why there was so much interest. Then, on the following day, we passed an even larger group of birders carrying massive cameras and clicking away at the gaggle of hungry geese.
Walking on toward a parking lot at the start of the path, we were surprised to see three more birders were rushing toward us. One woman, staring at a map on her phone and clearly frustrated by the lack of cellphone reception, gave us reason to stop and asked if she was looking for the geese. Glancing up at me with sparkling eyes, she nodded affirmatively. I pointed behind us and told her the field was just down the path and asked why there was so much interest in photographing geese. Looking longingly at the path in front of her and starting to walk at a fast clip, she turned to us and said, “It’s Barnacle Geese. They’re very rare in this part of the world.”
Barnacle geese have brilliant white faces, black heads and upper breasts. Their bellies are white. Primarily from Greenland, the Baltic, the North Sea, and Iceland, Barnacle geese every now and then venture down to our marshlands joining flocks of Canadian and Cackling geese for the winter. It was thrilling to learn that the marshlands nearby were an occasional stopping point for these rare black and white geese.
The next day as I set out with my iPhone to see if I could capture a few flying geese, I realized that once again I’d let my opinion get in the way of being open and receptive to the interesting diversity of our creation. Maybe geese make a mess but could I be delighted by witnessing this migration? Could I wonder at the habitat just down the street that allows for nature to thrive? Could I let go of my narrow view of geese and consider their unique and beautiful qualities? Once again, it was time to slow down, turn inward, and listen to my soul’s wisdom. It was time to open my mind to new possibilities.
Author and wisdom teacher Wayne Dyer wrote,
All the abundance you want is already here.
You just have to tune in.
As you journey through your week, may you be blessed by the joy of new possibilities and the gift of awakening, and may you always know that you are encircled and surrounded by Holy Light and Love.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
If you have wondered about the larger story behind these letters,
you can read more about Soul Conversations here.
