🎶Reaching out to touch a stranger, Electric eyes are everywhere...🎶
I've had some interesting moments of serendipity lately, moments when conversations matched up between me and people who don't even know one another, yet they both (or each, when it's several) ask about or bring up the same subject with me at the same time. A song comes on that relates, or an article pops up on my news feed online or through one of the online mediums I utilize that relates to the discussion I'm either just starting or in the midst of in an entirely different platform or app. And I can often walk out the door and see or hear things relating to such discussions too, though there are nay-sayers of such happenstance who talk of Synchronicities (acausal connections rather than mere happenstance of inter-related events or subjects) being the more probable occurrences. Perhaps.
It had me thinking a lot about my Golden Angel, as well as a number of other friends who have shared such moments. And as I sat there considering those things discussed and details relayed between us, and then it happened again. I got onto a subject of spiritual transformation and learning empathetic connection through the esoteric practice of projection, or looking into the hearts, minds and through the lives, eyes and actions of other lifeforms that we are interconnected with. An example would be Peter Gabriel's song of Salsbury Hill, where he mentions projecting with the eagle rising into the air to feel that and see what the eagle sees. And as I brought up one of my own teachers in such activities, a Cheyanne Medicine Man named Running Elk, a particular song came up, which was the favorite of an old friend of Wei's of the Keen Suns who was half Cheyanne himself (his mother was Running Elk's cousin, actually) who had been a nurse in Vietnam and come back with a pleasant, gentle man as her husband. Their son, Joun (pronounced Jh-oon, like the month only with the J sounding softer with a breathy quality to it), was the one contacting me to discuss - of all things - something his relation had said many years ago that had him thinking about spirit kinship and travel with the animal one needs to learn from.
Joun was one of our true bad boys, he'd been to juvie for assault both bare-handed and with deadly weapons, to officers, convicts and felons, community members and even a couple of military officers who wanted to be threatening and overbearing toward his mother after his father began to show serious signs of illness from his cancer treatments. But through it all, he remained a loving son to his parents and a fantastic, loyal and protective friend to Wei and the rest of us.
Joun was not one who spoke much of his beliefs, but his mother loved her heritage, and his Taoist father found it fascinating to learn of. When he and Joy would discuss their similar beliefs and the Taoist philosophies, he would occasionally bring up something from his mother's cultural beliefs and mentioning the Great Spirit or spirits of trees, rocks, rivers, animals, et. al. would pique my own interest, so I would soon be immersed in the conversation too. Wei always found it intriguing, and Vighn would find some wisdom deep-seated in his spirit that had to be let out, too. A.J. sometimes joined in, offering some of the Slovik animistic take on things, which was reminiscent of the Keltoi that my great-grandmother had taught me when I was still just learning to walk until she passed just after my 5th birthday, so we had some lively chats back and forth.
Joun quit smoking about 5 years ago, now, but still uses sacred ceremonial tobacco from time to time. He's said he will bring me some tomorrow, so I can use it in my own rituals that it is commonly included in by the indigenous people of the region. He also has a bit of extra elf and a couple of ducks for me, too. Like me, he loves strong coffee too, so I have no doubt we'll be comparing notes on robust brews. And I will be ensuring he gets a couple of pounds from the local roaster.
There were times in those years long ago that Aha Tae would give a chuckle to hear us, as we were sparring with bare hands or weapons; and discussing the various beliefs and harmony of elements working through and around us, too, her eyes dancing with that deep joy of spirit that my endearing little sister displays in her equally coal-dark eyes today. Joun saying he wished to speak with me more about it in person had Joy eager to join us for such a discussion, and that got us both laughing. As he'll be arriving well after dark tonight, and staying at Tua's family's home while visiting, we plan to get together for morning coffee, before the Tai Chi session that remains a weekly occurrence for our group and other members of the community. And we may be able to get in a round of frisbee golf, if the weather isn't too rough. Though it was only the very early springtime of this year we last met up, all three of us are now looking forward to that shared time, eagerly.
🎶If they say why? Why?
Tell them that it's human nature
Why? Why does he do me that way?🎶
Back when we were young, he was powerfully strong for his age and size, a true warrior from a people who were known to be both loving and highly spirited fighters when protecting their own and the land they love. All of us knew that Joun had our backs, because he considered us part of his tribe even if his mother's people did not. But he had a soft spot for me and my three constant companions of youth: A.J, Joy and Vighn, and even when Wei and Geon would give us a hard time or chastise us, he never did. He was quiet, kind and patient - like my uncle Frank had learned to be - learning that from Hoai and Old Reed. Joun lives a nearly a full day's drive in distance from here, but it's nice to be able to see him now and then, because it sets my soul at ease and gives me someone who helps me feel like I'm safe and heard like my big brother Wei had me feeling after I had lived at Aha's home for a while. And in this unfriendly place where so much pain and frustration still surround me that is something I desperately need.
🎶I like livin' this way
I like lovin' this way🎶