Recognising Allies

my thanks to artist Mandy Hague for this montage http://mandyart.blogspot.co.nz/

Those who follow the old ways become used to seeing in the natural world a close and mutually supportive interaction between all life. This practise requires only present awareness and a still mind to be receptive to their non-verbal communication.
I enjoy a particular connection to creatures of air and sea. Over time I have learned to pay attention to the activity of these Third Kingdom lives, as they relate to our own.

Lately a harrier hawk has been frequently appearing over my house. We live near parks and the shoreline now, but, even so, these birds are not common in an urban setting.
As an Ally there could be none better: the oldest of creatures, according to the traditions, the hawk calls up clear sight and far distant memory. He is also a bird of warning omens, suggesting decisiveness will be needed to support a developing undertaking.
Finally the hawk is the local representative of the eagle totem- bird of my soul friend. In this guise he connects us in space and time- conferring both strength and clarity - a welcome visitor.

More "Drawing from Life" - here is the end of Chapter 15

Rhona was aware that Paul was in an unenviable position, caught between his partner and a good friend, so she was careful to keep things bright and positive at work. She made no mention of Charlie. In the end Paul raised the subject himself as she was leaving, remarking that he supposed the regular walks had come to an end. She spent some time in reassuring him, emphasizing that it was between her and Charlie and need not involve him. 

Paul did look uncomfortable when he explained involved he was already. “I think he is one very scared person right now. He told me the other night he knew you had metal but he never expected to see you use it on him.”
Rhona was standing at the door, shifting a chic new leather bag from one hand to the other. After listening patiently she finally stated “I have to make my own way as a healthy adult Paul. Part of that is making my own decisions- flakey or otherwise. When Charlie is ready to let me be me, then we can walk together again, but not before.” She kissed his cheek “I’m going away for a long weekend with the netball team. I’ll ring him again when I get back. I’m sure we can work it through.”
He smiled and then looked stricken. “Hang on did you say you’re going away? I completely forgot. Philip rang here this morning looking for you- something about seeing you on Saturday.”
Rhona was puzzled and thought: that’s odd. He’s knows I can’t help on Saturdays.

It was even more peculiar when she spoke to Philip later. He didn’t want her to work. He wanted to see her about something else entirely-to talk to her privately, or so he said.
It was an effort not to sound impatient as she tried to coax it out of him on the phone. At last he confessed “Well the thing is I figured out that my client Grace Fielding is your aunt.”
“So?” Rhona had been expecting that eventuality.
“So I’m going to ask her to do a retrospective at my gallery.”
Rhona was genuinely delighted. “But what’s the big mystery? Where do I come in?”
There was a somewhat lengthy pause before he asked her to consider sharing the display space.
“Oh.” Rhona sat down in a dining chair with a plop. “Um- I can’t. I’m not ready.”
She could hear Philip sighing dramatically. “You see why I wanted to talk to you in person. How can I discuss this over the phone? It’s not tomorrow, more like September/October if it goes ahead. Now I shall have to listen to one of your little monologues of self doubt I suppose.”
She held her breath a moment before saying crisply “That is one of the very few times you have ever been rude to me Mr Kerby.”
She could tell he was trying not to laugh at her. “Just go off and think about it. Let me know when you get back if you like. Where are you taking your flock of netballers anyway?”
When she told him it was Waiheke and that she would be staying with Grace he replied commented how interesting that would be. She decided he was being sarcastic, or just plain silly, when he promised not to breathe a word of it to anyone.

Rhona was too preoccupied by the prospect of exhibiting to pay much attention to that part of their conversation. Philip, however, was true to his word. He had Bill staying with him overnight and when they met up at the Exchange for a beer he was careful to make no mention of Rhona at all.