Nelly & Dixie
Each year over the Fourth of July holiday, our family vacations (kids and all four dogs along for the ride!) at my husband’s family camp on Fern Lake, Vermont. This year we arrived heavy hearted – only a day earlier we lost Dixie, a little pug/chihuahua mix, to congestive heart failure at the age of 12. After unpacking, I took Nelly (a mini-dachshund) for a walk down the dirt road that leads to the camp, then off on a side-trail which takes you to a secluded area of the lake. Close by, I found a rock roughly twice the size of my fist and carried it to a boulder where I could sit comfortably with it and watch the lake – and keep an eye on Nelly, too.
In the manner of the Lakota, I asked the rock to tell me a story. I immediately saw within the outline of a small dog. My eyes filled and, blinking away tears, I gave the rock a quarter-turn and looked again. Before I could focus, however, I noticed a small brilliant turquoise-colored dragonfly, which settled close by. Occaisionally I paused to gaze out onto the lake or check on Nelly – but no matter where I looked, dragonfly moved so as to to remain in my line of sight.
Turning my attention back to the rock, I saw Crane – one of my personal animal totems. Giving another quarter-turn, I saw the outline of an antelope. Finally, giving the rock one last turn I saw the outline of Mother Bear – a totem I both respect and fear. Mother Bear is the spirit of Goddess Kali-Ma, a protective mother who can be driven to a murderous rage … but only if one of her young are threatened.
I translated the Stone’s story as follows: It began by acknowledging my deep sadness at the loss of my dear little dog. Crane came to bring peace, stability and harmony. Crane feathers are used by Native Americans in healing cermonies to take away negative energy and anger, and bring peace and harmony to a situation. Antelope is a messenger and warns of human behavior. Due to the proximity of Mother Bear, I realized that no matter how sad I was feeling, I needed to remain vigilant in overseeing my children, especially the five year old around the lake. Warning heard – message heeded.
And what about dragonfly – what lessons does he teach? The power of Dragonfly lies in its ability to see around things by looking from different angles. Using its ability to transform colors and lights by reflecting and refracting them, Dragonfly shows us that life, like light, can bend, shift, and adapt in various ways, making life’s appearance never be what it appears to be. Dragonfly’s magic shows us to see through life’s illusions and find our true vision. It calls us to transform within our lives and reminds us to feel deeply so we will have the compassion necessary to help ourselves and others.
I said goodbye to Dragonfly, carefully put the rock back exactly where I had found it, called to Nelly and returned to the camp – less sad, and a little wiser than before. I honor this experience – and Dragonfly – through writing and sharing this memory with you, gentle reader. So many have asked me about divination and expressed their frustration with trying to “read” tarot or runes. Why not take a walk in the woods or on the beach – or just visit your own back yard – and try to do a little stone storytelling yourself?
Goddess Blessings, Laura
