frogsnotpigeons

In a small clearing, the Witch can see the tops of the trees glisten in the moon light. The night air is cold but there is a dryness tonight that is welcoming with a clear night sky alight with the stars. The Witch dressed in her long cape her arms part raised and palms facing towards the Moon. Her hair is blowing gently in the breeze. The Pigeon and the Frog take their respective places at the feet of the Witch. Like guard dogs but without the bite.

At the right moment, just as the Moon nears high point in the sky, the Witch commences her ceremony to the Moon Goddess. As she begins a rhythmic chant there is a strange quietness across the forest – even the owls have fallen silent. No other sound can be heard above the chanting of the Witch. ‘Mistress of the night and of all magics; who rides the clouds in blackened skies, I pray by the Moon, I pray by the Moon, take me to the sky’.

The Pigeon and the Frog hold guard to their master as her mind journeys to other places across the sky to ensure that no one dares approach too close to the Witch in her travel state.

In her mind’s eye, the Witch has arrived at a seashore and is standing looking out to a winter sea with breaking waves on a rocky shore line. She feels the cold of the sea water as each wave rolls up the beach and surrounds her exposed feet. Never daring to expect anything during these magical journeys, she notices the approaching figure moving along the beach towards her. She can’t help but to turn her attention to focus on the approaching figure loosely clothed in dark against the winter chill and cutting sea salt spray.

In the distance a loud roll of thunder momentarily distracts attention as it rolls across the sea and eventually disappears. Turning back, the Witch is for a moment startled by the closeness of the stranger, close enough so that she can feel his breath on her cheek. He lifts his head slowly to show his dark piercing eyes peering from under the hood of his cloak and speaks soft to her ear. ‘Ask your question Witch’.

Holding her gaze to the roll of the waves, and after a brief pause, she responds. ‘I had a dream that time was running dry like the sands in an hour glass. I saw life as a shooting star falling from the sky. In the morning, I woke so frightened to a bright dawn realizing all that I have already missed and the loved ones I have let go. Why are we not wise enough to give all that we are?’

Your Pride tells you it’s not possible. Your Experience tells you it’s too risky. Reason tells you its pointless. If you love someone, you should let them know.

Listen to the whisper of your heart. It is telling you to give it a try. Try.

Dance with Friends.

Over the last few days, the Pigeon is out of sorts and finding it hard to do anything. The Pigeon feels its heart heavy and doesn’t know why.

To the annoyance of others, the Pigeon walks around the home pecking away at the legs of chairs out of boredom. Through a window, he can see outside and imagines the sun warming away the recent rain fall. Not feeling like going out, the Pigeon decides to perch down against the ground and just, well, ‘Coo, Coo, Coo’

Disturbed by the Pigeon noise, the Frog jumps into sight. ‘What’s the matter with you Pigeon?’ he cries out. The Pigeon doesn’t answer and just scratch’s away at the stone floor. ‘Heard your not happy?’ continued the small frog, tone softening.

‘I just don’t feel like doing much’ the Pigeon eventually responds. ‘I’m this way for a few days and don’t know why’ he coo’d.

The Frog stroked his chin and thought for a few seconds. ‘Did the dream weavers visit you recently that disturbed your sleep?’ he asked. ‘No, I have not remembered my night journeys for some time now’ responded the Pigeon in a dull flat tone. ‘Frog, I know your only trying to help but I think I am beyond help today’. The Pigeon sniffed out loudly to himself. The Frog didn’t know what to do and sat on his back legs for a minute pondering what to do next. The Frog thought to himself ‘I need to get this Pigeon off it’s back side and moving. After all, the happiest creatures are the ones that move about the most – maybe that’s why they are happy’.

The Frog rolled up its tongue and with a quick flick unleashes it towards the bird’s sleepy head smacking him just above his eyeball. The Pigeon immediately responds with a flap of both wings – ‘What did you do that for?’ he shouts back to the Frog. ‘I did that to get you moving off your sad spot. Let’s go’ cries the Frog and catching a hold of the Pigeon’s wing drags the Pigeon out into the garden. A few feathers less, the Pigeon is flapping wildly in the garden, ‘I don’t want to go out’ he protests. Next, the bird flops to the garden floor. ‘Leave me’ he sighs. After a few minutes silence, the bird feels soft hands cup his body and elevate him from the floor. As he opens his red eye, he sees the face of the Witch come closer. ‘Sometimes we are busy with our own life to notice what is happening around us, but when our friends’ heart is heavy, we feel it in our own hearts. It’s like your dark cloud casts a shadow over all your friends’.

Overhead a loud noise nears, and a flock of pigeons circles the Witch. Like a halo of birds around her moving with speed and a deafening sound of flapping and cooing. The Pigeon flaps his wings and joins them in their dance.

We don’t always know why we feel sad, but there is always a way to find your smile. Sometimes, you just need to dance around for a while and your smile will find you.

Standing Ground.

‘Speak Witch, what is the connection you have with this poop-machine Pigeon?’ asks Togram the Viking Woman. ’It does nothing except eat and poop she snarls through her broken teeth smile.

The Witch nods her head and after a short reflection tells the story of a chance meeting years ago. ‘I grew up in a small village not far from here’ she starts. ‘When I was young, the other kids said that I was different from them. I don’t know why, perhaps my long straw like hair or my simple black dress style. Or, maybe it was just that I loved nature and brushing my teeth daily’.

The Witch went on to describe how she felt isolated and spent time on her own walking in the forest. She would fill her mind with question’s like why the moon traversed the sky or marvel at how birds fly. The Witch recalled how this curiosity and her connection to Mother Nature and the Moon Goddess kept her occupied and stopped her thinking about those who didn’t accept her.

She remembered when the village kids got bored and decided to pick on the her, pulling her hair and name calling. Maybe they were afraid of difference, or jealous of people who didn’t blame others. At the start, the Witch tried to plead with the ringleaders to leave her alone, but this seemed to have the opposite effect and encourage them more. One day, a group started calling the Witch cruel names and pulled her hair so hard that she broke away and ran from them as fast as possible so they would not see her tears. ’I ran into the dark forest where I knew they would not follow. I ran so hard that my heart pounded in my chest. I eventually stopped at a small clearance in the middle of the forest. There I came across the red-eye pigeon perched on a branch staring down at me. ‘Leave me alone crazy bird!’ she screamed at the Pigeon. ‘Stop staring at me and just leave me be – you are just as bad as the others.’ However, the Pigeon just kept staring and spoke softly. ‘Dear one, we are nothing like the others in your village. All we want is to be left in peace and live in harmony with Mother Nature. It is you who have come into our home and frightened our young.’

The Witch remembered thinking out loud to herself, ‘I certainly didn’t mean to frighten the young Pigeons, but these are just Pigeons who have no value and serve no real purpose as far as I can see’.

The Pigeon shook its head: ‘For a Witch so gifted, you’re not so clever when you are the target of other’s ignorance’. With that, the Pigeon took to flight and left the Witch standing alone in the clearing.

From that that day forward, the Witch chose to stand her ground in the face of ignorance and name calling. To stand up for the weaker and embrace difference. Her new confidence scared some away, but others learned to respect the Witch for who she is.

Some people will talk behind your back. Don’t worry about it, they are behind you for a reason.

The Voice Within.

That night, the Witch could not sleep and tossed and turned with thoughts running through her head until she had disturbed even the Pigeon. Outside, the sky is lit up with the splendid light of a full moon and stars that look like a thousand eyes blinking back. The Witch throws on her cape and resting the Pigeon on her shoulder walks out into the night light.

After a short time, the Witch and her Pigeon come to the waters edge where she sees an old man crouched down staring at his reflection in the stillness of the water highlighted by the moon light. Without turning around, the old man welcomes the Witch and her Pigeon as though sensing their presence. ‘You are welcome to this place’ he speaks in a deep tone.

The Witch responds softly ‘My inner voice kept me awake, we could not sleep so decided to follow the light of the stars to come to this place. We are meaning you no disturbance and will go back to our place shortly’.

‘No worries Witch, the Moon Goddess brought you to this place that we are here together at this time. These are the moments when we choose one path over another. Do you remember Witch when you faced life changing challenges in your past?’

‘Yes, I remember them’ responds the Witch softly.

‘Well’ speaks the old man, ‘not everyone takes these challenges or faces up to the decisions we have to face in life. Some listen to their inner voice that grows arms and legs, and claws that hold our thoughts tightly. The voice flexes its claws just enough so that we can still see our dreams yet choke our souls to make us believe they are out of reach. This voice only speaks because we allow it and we feed and keep it alive inside’.

‘Yes, I hear this inner voice that tells me what I can and can’t do’ responds the Witch listening intently.

The old man continues. ‘Do not worry Witch. The voice does not haunt you alone. The strongest warrior, the wisest, the kindest, the bravest, all take visitation from this inner voice. The story is always different for each of us. But it can be defeated’.

Question every fear that rises inside you – check for truths and eventually you will see a pattern. You will find that negative thoughts are just thoughts that can be dismissed by choice. You will find that new situations may be wonderful and full of opportunity.

We only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Catch a Dream

Stories are very special and older than science and even FrogSnap. In the past, it was the telling of stories that helped to pass on life lessons and help others to be the best they can. However, stories are just one of three aspects in life that connect the past, the present and the future. ‘Besides stories, what are the other two aspects that connect across the past, the present and the future?’ wondered the Witch out loud.

‘Dreams’ answered the Pigeon almost indignantly as though stating the obvious.

‘And Imagination’ croaked in the Frog Robert.

‘It is your dreams’ the Pigeon explains ‘that connects a time in your past to a point in the future that has not yet happened. Everyone experiences dreams of a time in the past when we were hurt or upset or scared. Usually, when we are most frightened and in trouble in the dream, like falling or when we are surrounded by shadows that creates a sense of fear, we awake startled, sweaty, even crying out in the night. But if we could stay in our dream and not wake, we may find that dreams can also provide answers to questions that we ask. Sometime, people awake from dreams feeling refreshed and a new sense of purpose with an answer to a question that may have troubled them recently’.

The Frog interrupts. ‘Dreams can also warn us about what is about to happen in your life, who you might meet and how you might react to them. Sometimes we dream about someone we love or care about and then find yourself bumping into them soon afterwards – these are the dreams I love the best’ croaks the frog.

‘What about day dreams?’ asks the Witch thinking of the times when she sat staring out through the window at the movement of trees in the wind or gazing up at the stars on a bright night sky.

The Pigeon continued. ‘They are the same Witch, they bring us to places we need to go, or they help to remind us of people we have forgotten. At its simplest, day dreams are an escape from the troubles of the day and can help us to see what is truly important in our lives’.

‘Imagination is like awake dreaming and is magic when experienced with awareness. Think about a child’s expression as their eyes follow a butterfly, or a cloud or a cat chase its own shadow. Or a time when you appreciated beauty in art or nature or music or felt the warmth of connection holding the hand of someone you care about. That is real magic, that’s the moment you can feel magic. It’s when you call someone, and they cannot hear because they are lost in the beauty of their imagination’.

Always believe in yourself. Your dreams can come true and it is in your dreams that you see the truth of who you are meant to be. The Witch was beginning to understand more clearly. ‘But how will I know if I am living the best life I can?’ she asks.

‘There are two things to remember. Firstly, in life you make choices that allow your greatest dreams to come true. And secondly, we are happiest in life when we follow the path that is closest to our imagination,’ beamed the Pigeon.

The Girl in the stone house.

Entering the small doorway into the stone house, the Witch feels the cold of the house and a strange sensation as though the walls are vibrating. Sitting in the centre of the small space is a young woman. The space is so small that both women can barely fit in the room. The thick stone walls feel like they are closing in every day, but they afford protection and keep those inside safe from the outside. The Witch feels it difficult to breath in the small space and the coldness can be felt on the skin.

From the outside, nobody can see the young woman; a lot of the Villagers did not even know she still lived in the stone house. Others who did, said that nobody could help the young woman, only the woman could help herself and then only if she chose to.

The woman explained to the Witch how she could still remember laying the first brick of the stone house many months ago. The clay was made from her own sadness held together with tears. She could remember making the first bricks from her emotions after she sat holding her grandfather’s hand as he left his body behind for a better place.

There was a brick to represent the loss of her friend who had moved away and another brick for the passing of her dog who had died after many years of companionship. There was also a brick for the sorrow of a failed relationship and a sense of being alone. And yet another for the imagined hardships of others and the worry of events in the future not yet happened. She had cried so many tears.

For every upset in the woman’s life, there was a brick added to the stone walls that now towered tall. The woman explained that after many months, she had become isolated inside the stone walls. She now felt she had no friends left and the stone walls kept new friends away. The vibration of the walls felt by the Witch on entering the house, was the woman’s heart that was built into these walls in her sadness, now dulled, as past sorrows and regrets close in to be almost suffocating.

As the woman looks into the eyes of the Witch, she feels the tightness of her hand in hers and slowly, slowly, she feels the walls created of pain, fear and tears start to retreat. She begins to realize that past sorrows and mistakes are time points that we can choose to hold on to or choose to let go.

Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy today before you run out of time and your self-built walls contain you.

The Witch’s Folly.

Haloween Night, our Witch is at the annual get together of the coven. It’s a closed affair with only Witches and the odd drop in present. Something like a lady’s night out for the local woman’s group without the handbags and makeup. As the circle is made, east to west and north to south, each of the Witches holding hands to close the circle, looking skywards, each fall to a trance. The only sound is the crackle of the fire burning in the grate and the unison sound of heartbeats beating as one. Thum Thum… Thum Thum… Thum Thum… Can you hear ?

Let the nights journey commence.

Our Witch sees now only from her minds eye as she lights up the Halloween sky. The now familiar whistle sound beckoning her deeper into the night. The lantern lights the way in her mind like a tunnel to a place reached only by a few. Her thoughts become still, and time has stopped. The only connection to the outside, a small movement occasionally from the Pigeon nestled in her cloak pocket. Silence envelops our mind travelling duo.

Eventually, the pair arrive at an open space with a large tree surrounded by sweet grass. Her vision is filled with the sight of tree limbs out stretched from one end of the horizon to the other. The lanterns light is soft now, fading, as the Witch rests from her journey among the ferns and the grass. Tired to her bones, she wraps the cloak tighter to her body, with Pigeon close to her breast for comfort.

A rustling sound behind her startles and she turns quickly. A large Stag with antlers raised high stands square, breathing mist from its black nose. Holding the staff tightly in one hand she recognizes the Stag as the Horned Hunter and duly bows her head to the magnificent creature. Even the Pigeon is held to silence at the sight of the magnificent creature before them.

“What is your intention here this night”? booms the Stag. The Witch lifts her gaze from the ground to look directly to the Stag. “We are here to ask of you Horned Hunter” she responds in a soft but confident tone.

“Speak now Witch” booms the stag.

“I have spent so much time with my only companion this Pigeon, tell me where will I find happiness that I can lift this veil of sadness that I have worn for too long now”? Instinctively, dropping her gaze to the ground. The Stag acknowledges her benediction and shakes his powerful shoulders from side to side. The Witch drops the staff from her grasp to place both her hands firmly on the soft ground as though seeking balance or to feel the surety of the ground beneath her. Motionless, she feels a deep rousing inside her. Her shoulders softened, relaxed and her breathing shallow. The Witch feels a deep peacefulness envelop her.

After minutes that feels like hours, the Witch opens her eyes and finds that the Stag is no longer present and instead a tall man with hooded cape to cover his face. “The happiness you seek is already within you” he speaks.

Of course, we are frogsnotpigeons. Join us.