Spirit Walks

Almost every day I take a walk in the morning, in nature, with Ranger's spirit. Although he's not with me physically, I find this morning time to be a time of connection between his spirit, myself and nature. Sometimes I feel him deeply on the spirit walk, other times I feel just the very silent space of nature. I started these morning walks right after he died. The area I lived in at that time was pure forest. So the walk would have views of trees, large stones with moss, deer and occasionally a bear. The vista on the walk has changed since I moved, now our spirit walk consists of a view of the Adirondack, Green and Catskill mountains, and the old Air Force radar station at the top of the hill.

There are other spirit walks that I take with Ranger. Sometimes I'll go to the park where we used to visit all the time in the town we used to live in. As I walk through the pines in this park, I will sometimes talk to him, or point out a dog walking towards us on the path. Most of the times I'm just very still on the walk, my mind completely in the present moment - hearing the bubbling stream, the springs geysering forth, children's laughter, raven's in the treetops, and the whoosh of wind through the very tall pines. Sometimes I visit the lake where we used to canoe or walk on top of the ice - in these visits I'm very still, listening to the lake and the wind as I walk along its edges.

I'd like to walk with Ranger in spirit at Angel's Rest in Utah one day. And when my horses are ready to trail ride with us in the Spring, he will be coming along on those walks too.

These walks are a meditation, a prayer, a ritual, a tribute and continued conversation. On the walks, I'll talk with Ranger, sometimes receive images from him, and open myself to receive the stillness and peace of our continued communion.