she peered up at me, from beside my own heart’s flame, treading softly brought me home, no longer the same
Treading softly between the trees, i’ve been chasing mountain lions. Dreamworld ones, that is. Once, i had dreamt of a mountain lion coming to me in a redwood forest. Downed redwoods and machine-tracked mud surrounded me, sounds of destruction dominating the tranquil song of the lush wetness that once was.
i was in a tent made of only mesh. In the distance, there She was. She walked to me playfully, arching her back and reaching out to me. Again, she did this until our hands almost touched, but not quite for i was still in my tent. i awoke after that.
When this dream came, there were many transitions happening in my life. i had quit what i thought was a dream job, desperately searched for another in the time of COVID landing at a coffee shop, and had decided to end my marriage.
In a state of deep contemplation on this dream, i heard what Mountain Lion wanted to say to me. Here is what she said.
i am Mountain Lion
i am here between the trees
breathing, watching
even though you do not see me, here i am
silent and fierce
containing poise and power in my golden body
i have been waiting for you to see me
but you have been distracted with your own survival
did you not know
i have so much wisdom about survival?
you need to pick with intention and care
where you choose to expend all that pent-up fierce energy
i do not prey on everything
but only what will give me energy
and what i have energy enough to pursue
just pause and breathe
existing between the trees
watching and resting
discerning and narrowing in on what will bring you
all the energy and sustenance
you need to survive
when you are ready to stop cutting down those trees
in your longing to see the end of a dream
come play with me
you will find you will do more than survive
you will thrive
And so tread softly between the trees, i did. Mountain Lion was elusive, staying hidden hoping no more trees would be cut down in my attempts to merely survive. She knew, eventually, i would find her, on the way learning that treading softly between the trees was what i was meant to do.
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