Mila lay in the tall grasses just as her mom had instructed her to do the first time she told Mila not to follow her. Though Mila was getting used to the long stretches of time on her own in the wilderness, she wished she still wasn’t too little to explore the woods and fields like her extended family did every day.

Soon little Mila you will get to walk the paths your descendants made for you, well-worn trail systems created for your exploration and your safety. It won’t be long until you are beside me dining on beans, corn, and alfalfa.  For now, my precious one, focus on accomplishing three very important things.   Staying hidden, growing your strength, and fine-tuning your instincts.

You have amazing gifts my dear Mila. Long ago before you were born, and before I was, and even your great-great-great grandmother, several generations ago, our kindred human souls walked this Earth and when they asked Great Spirit what us light brown creatures were, Great Spirit replied “they are the keepers of compassion, gentleness, and grace.  Call them deer.”    

Great Spirit will use you to deliver messages. Your natural instincts will tell you to move or appear somewhere. It will be Great Spirit orchestrating an important encounter.  Follow your urges, my beautiful Fawn, and you will fulfill the great purpose that is your destiny.

The little girl knelt by the creek in prayer, asking for the Great Spirit’s help. She had come to the creek for a ceremonial burning, to let go of her attachment to things that had been holding her back from embracing new beginnings. As the things she burned returned to ashes and dust, she sent her prayers up in the air with the smoke that she would be shown how to listen, trust her intuition, and embody gentleness and grace as she flowed forward, like the creek.

Great Spirit, it’s me, Esmerelda.  I let go to let come, releasing that which no longer serves me. My arms open wider to receive. Show me the way, Great Spirit. Send me one of your messengers to guide me. Thank you. I am grateful for your love of me.

Sage joyfully ran past the cabin. Moments ago, Esmerelda had dressed Sage in her collar, which meant one thing. They would be going for a run. Sage LOVED to run. She loved it because it was her innateness to do so. But, most of all, it was because running made Esmerelda happy, too.

The Great Spirit had given Sage the gifts of faithfulness, loyalty, unconditional acceptance, and protection, and called her dog. Sage was given two additional special gifts by the Great Spirit.  One was to teach humans how to greet every moment joyfully.  The second was when Sage was a pup and Great Spirit whispered you will be master in the sense of smell.  You will use your nose to find and point birds and other offspring of Mother Nature.

You will also be given the ability to sense human hearts. Soon you will meet a human, and as soon as she reaches out her palm, you will place your chin into it, look into her eyes, and you will know she is your student for life. Each time you sniff the nose of this human, you will know what she needs to be taught on any given day. Follow your natural instincts, and you will be fulfilling the highest good I am orchestrating.

Sage, this human is on a journey to learn the art of surrender as she grows into the adult I have planned her to be for humanity. She is willful, like you, and she longs to embody nonjudgment, also like you. I want you to be stubborn and I want you to be so focused on your instincts of smell that you tune out this human when she calls to you.

It will take time for her to shift her perception from you not being a listener to seeing you are messaging how to be still, listen, let go, and trust. As you point where your instincts lead you, you will be showing her the way to do the same.

Sage watched as Esmerelda held her burn ceremony at the creek. Sage sniffed Esmerelda’s nose. Sage remembered Great Spirit’s words follow your natural instincts.

At first Mila didn’t understand what had just gently bumped her hip as she lay still in the tall grasses.   She tried to remain motionless, trying to believe she hadn’t been discovered.  Again, Mila felt a bump, slightly pushier than the last. She opened an eye and ever so slightly turned to see a large dark brown living creature smiling at her, its tail rapidly shaking in some kind of gesture that seemed rather out of control to Mila.

Hi, I’m Sage.  Don’t be afraid.  I promise I won’t hurt you.  In a moment you will follow your instincts to get up and run away, which will be exactly what is meant to be. The Great Spirit led me to you today so that we could both be messengers for Esmerelda.

In a few moments Esmerelda will see me standing here but she won’t know what I am focused on.  Once you hear her call “no bird,” which translates to not bumping you with my nose, raise your head so she can see your ears. For several seconds, I am going to pretend not to hear her because today Esmerelda is seeking trust in following her heart, which I will be showing her how to do because I followed mine to you. She is also seeking gentleness and grace, which is what you will be giving her when she sees you.

A few minutes later Great Spirit smiled as Mila ran into the woods, Sage ran to Esmerelda, and Esmerelda looked up into the clouds with a big grin on her face as she said out loud thank you for the answered prayer.