Mountain Meditation: The gift of animal sightings, sounds

Editor’s note: This is part 6 of a series by Margeurite Jill Dye. 

Two days before my surgery, I was aware of more chirping in our yard. Birds have been scarcer than usual lately so I searched trees and shrubs for the source of the chirps. Then I remembered that groundhogs chirp, also grunt, whistle, chatter and shriek depending on their situation and mood. 

When the sun popped out that afternoon, sure enough, our groundhog reappeared. Since the coyote and fox had come, we’d feared our friend was gone for good… but he seemed a little larger and his coat more reddish-brown and we hadn’t before noticed his black tail and muzzle. And so we wondered, is this his big brother? 

Groundhog symbolizes honoring personal boundaries and tapping into the higher self.

An owl had called out a few nights before—another first in our backyard. He returned two more nights on the eve of my surgery… which I took as a good omen sign since owl represents intuition, wisdom, power and protection.

The operation lasted over 3 hours. I was awake and alert but felt nothing. I wasn’t afraid, just grateful my surgeon can improve my Blepharospasm condition.

Duane drove us home from UVM. I was awakened at 4 a.m. by a very loud series of howls, yips and yelps. 

“Wake up Duane! It’s coyotes with their pups!” I said.

What an exciting sign from nature—a coyote serenade close to home whose spiritual significance is to adapt, transform, heed your instincts and seek balance within.

These animal sightings and sounds are blessings of which I’ll never tire. I appreciate them more than ever before. My hearing’s more acute and attuned to creatures’ sounds and I no longer take my sight for granted.

The vision problems I’ve experienced for four years likely stem from a fall, whiplash and concussion. (Sit down when you put your leggings on!) I slammed the back of my head and neck on the bed frame and floor. It injured my brain’s basal ganglia which controls eye muscles, voluntary movement and cognitive function, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

I am functionally blind at times due to Blepharospasm, a focal dystonia. It involuntarily closes my eyelids and frequent Botox (neurotoxin) injections are the only treatment. Botox was invented to help this condition but the surgery can help improve the condition. I’m counting on it to get my life back so I can read books, paint and drive once again.

I’ve enjoyed sharing animal sightings and signs through Mountain Meditation but am ready explore new themes that are of interest to you. Perhaps healing chakras, the Chinese five elements, or something else you would like? Please let me know in a comment below or at jilldyestudio1@gmail.com. Thank you.

Marguerite Jill Dye is an artist and writer who divides her time between Vermont and Florida.