The Spirit Ride

The Spirit Ride

He sits down with a log against his back. A fire is burning as the sun sets down just beyond the mountains. He takes a deep breath and begins. Slowly he breathes in and out creating a sense of peace before he starts. He had a meeting this afternoon with a lost soul. He needs to make this journey if he can so he can connect with someone on the other side.
He closes his eyes. Sitting here he breathes in the smoke. The herbs that had been tossed create a way to drift beyond this realm. He needs to find the child if he can. There was something about the story he heard. His desire builds the bridge he has need of. His mind travels as his body slumps against the log. The spirit realm is just a step over to the other side if you have the gift.
Once he is there he needs to find the child. According to the mom’s description she is about eight years old. Her hair should be about mid way down her back in curls. The image he saw was taken when the child was a toddler. Her mother’s belief was the child aged as if she would have lived. Time tends to travel different here but as long as you believe anything can be how you want.
He travels in the image of a man although he is actually just a spirit. He starts walking through the gardens looking for the child. He finds her at the edge of the orchard. He walks slowly up to her in an effort not to scare the child. His eyes take notice of what surrounds her. He is looking for the guardian of the child. Not everyone ages here when they die. Her guardian is a grandmother like figure someone who watches over her but still has the capability to spoil her like any grandmother would.
He smiles when he catches her guardian’s eye. He must reassure them both that he is not here to harm. Grandmother nods to the shaman. She slides back into the shadows allowing him a chance to approach the child. The sweet child is building a bouquet of flowers creating something to share. What a way to spend the day under a blue sky where the clouds are drifting by!
His dress is everyday casual not at all like the tradition dress of the Native Americans. Most buckskin outfits are used in old West movies and traditional powwow circles. He is just as comfortable in a pair of well-washed jeans and T-shirt. As he gets closer the shaman speaks softly.
“Hello little one,” he almost whispers.
“Hello,” she looks up realising someone else is close.
“You look very familiar. Is your name Anna?” The shaman tips his head, as he looks a little closer to the child. She has long hair with just a hint of curls framing her face. She turns her head to look at her Grams and he spies the long curls cascading down her back. Her smile looks very similar to the lost lady who visited this afternoon.
The child nods sweetly. Her mind puzzling whom this man is and how did he know her name! She thinks that she has seen him around before not that she has talked to him though.
“I saw your mother.” The child’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree. “She told me that you are so special. You are still alive for her even though you are in the spirit world. I was thinking what does a special child, well rather a special spirit deserve!” The shaman’s eyes twinkle with laughter. He has a special gift planned in his mind.
“With Grams permission I thought I might take you for a ride.”
The little girl tosses her head around looking for her Grams. Where has Grams gone now? Anna stands up and rushes to the edge of the trees where she finally had spied her with her eyes pleading for the permission. Grams look over the girl’s shoulder and nods to the shaman. Anna squeals and bounces up and down. Before she turns to the man she hugs her Grams tight. Her excitement is hard to contain. She walks toward the shaman. All of a sudden it hits her, what type of ride is he talking about.
“Um what type of ride are you talking about? I am a spirit and so are you!”
“Well I was thinking that I could take the form of one of my spirit guides. The only thing is that your curls would be flying all over the place. If you allow me a moment your hair can be braided then nothing will block your vision.”
Anna giggles. Very few people ever think about her hair flying in her face yet he not only thought about it but also is willing to do something about it. It always gets in her eyes when she is running around with the other children. Not to mention when she is out playing with the animals.
“What type of animals are your guides?” Anna’s interest has perked. She has always wanted to fly. Maybe he could…
A soft chuckle slips out. There are several animals he could be. He tips his head and motions for Anna to turn. He separates her hair into two sections. The right side he tosses over her shoulder but before he starts to braid…
“Well my favourite guide is a wolf. He is a mischievous one. He seems to like chasing off the others so I will pay attention to him. But then again he can’t chase away the eagle. She just cruises out of his reach up into a tree. Or even better when she drops down and sneak attacks him from the branches.”
Anna turns her head as the shaman ties the first braid with a leather thong. Her eyes are as wide as saucers.
“So you like both animals do you? Well if we have time maybe you could ride both. Only thing is I still have one more braid to do. Turn your head please!” Shaman waits semi-patiently for Anna to comply. Reluctantly Anna turns her head. She starts to fidget anxiously. She can barely stay still long enough for the second braid to be completed. She has no clue what animal the shaman will be but she would love a chance to ride a wolf.
Her other braid drops down to rest on her back. Anna turns her head but is surprised to see a silver wolf waiting for her. She looks around to see where the shaman is when a paw brushes her leg drawing her attention to the wolf. He is larger then normal but she thinks that he is just the right size for her.
The child knowing better lowers her hand to the wolf allowing him to scent her before approaching his back. He tosses his head over his shoulder and turns. Anna doesn’t have to be told twice. She slips her leg over the wolf and gets a firm seating before wrapping her arms around his neck. Only once the wolf is sure the child won’t fall does he take off on the nearest deer trail! It allows Anna enough room and she can still watch the forest till it fades as it nears the cliffs above the ravine. The ravine edges the river that winds its way through the valley.
The forest echoes with the sound of wolf’s howls as they get closer to the ravine. The ride has been breath taking, feeling the branches brush by as well as the taller grass tickle her feet. The wolf howls back to the others. They must be warning him the ravine is closer then he is aware. Anna is getting nervous. The shaman wolf seems to be ignoring the other wolfs. He is headed straight for the ravine.
Anna doesn’t know if she should let go and fall to the ground or trust the shaman will turn before the ground falls way! The trees stop a few steps from the edge. Anna has just decided to let go when the wolf shaman bounds mid step into a jump. Oh no!
The wolf changes shape instantly into an eagle catching the updraft and soaring into the clouds. Anna squeals as the pure joy of flight consumes her. She never thought that she would fly upon an eagle. The shaman follows the ravine as it twists and turns it’s way back toward the gardens. This bird’s eye view allows Anna to see the full forest and valley. Something very few are allowed. She looks around to see where her friends meet to play with the baby bunnies. Then she spies where the maze is and remembers playing hide and go seek there the other day with Penelope. As the eagle slows his flight, Anna sees the garden approaching. She hides her face in the eagle’s neck. She doesn’t want the ride to end just yet. As the eagle slows down, she pulls up just briefly for just a moment. The eagle turns back into the shaman. He holds the young child and lands walking into the garden.
“Did you enjoy your ride sweet Anna?” The shaman breathes a little heavier from all that exercise.
“It was amazing sir. Something I never expected ever.” Anna hugs the shaman as a reward for her rides.
The shaman turns his head to see the Grandmother sitting on a bench waiting patiently. He nods to her before he turns back to the child.
“It is time for me to head back. But I will come again another time if you like!”
Anna nods with her head still full of the excitement of the rides. She rushes to her Grams to share the joy of the afternoon.
The shaman walks off slowly and in a blink of an eye returns to his body. He breathes deeply. It has been a while since he has been on that long a spirit walk. He takes a moment to center himself stretching out the kinks before he tries standing. Now he must track down the lady and share the joy of her child. He hopes it will provide the closure needed for her. Maybe the lady will attempt her own spirit walk and see her child for herself.