A few months ago I did something I’ve never done before.  I ate my lunch without simultaneously reading or working; instead I ate on my screened porch and listened to the wind.  Then I sat and listened some more.

It was a very strong wind; there were no other sounds to be heard over it.  The birds that are usually so vocal during the day were relatively silent, perhaps holding onto tree branches for dear life.

One of the main forms of meditation practiced by indigenous people around the world is observation of nature: watching, listening, feeling.  It opens new doors of communication with the natural world.  I don’t do enough of that, but that day I did.

In The Wind Is My Mother, Bear Heart talks about the Giveaway tradition, which started at funeral services.  The family would hold a feast and a giveaway to express thanks to the guests for helping to put away their loved one with dignity. Perhaps they would give away blankets or shawls.