The Mask

The Mask

by Linda Heron Wind, Ph.D.

The hawk circled over the field, its white wings spread wide and gleaming in the sunlight. Down below, among the waving grasses, lay a woman dreaming. She looked down at the Earth from above, as if she were floating on powerful wings. She could feel her feathers ruffle around her eyes and on her breast. She saw the smallest details of the grass moving and the figure of a woman sleeping in the meadow. She soared up and over the trees with a new sense of freedom and came to rest on a branch near the top of a very tall tree. Her now quiet body did not change the clarity of her vision. No detail escaped her notice, yet she felt no need to comment on the activity of the mice, the squirrel's antics in a nearby tree, or the crows that had gathered to announce her presence.

The woman stirred and sat up opening her eyes, somewhat surprised to find herself sitting among the grasses. She then realized that when she closed her eyes, the view from the top of the tree was still there. Opening her eyes again she began searching the treetops around her until she saw the white hawk sitting motionless. "Ah," she said softly to herself, "there you are!" She laid back down, silently calling in her mind as the hawk launched itself and began circling lower and lower over her.

It landed gently beside her and in her mind she could hear it say, "Keep your eyes closed and listen closely."

She resisted the temptation to open her earthly eyes to see the hawk up close and to reach out to touch those brilliant white feathers. Breathing slowly and deeply to quiet her mind, she listened.

"You have mastered the stillness and now can receive the gift of true sight. This is my gift to you, for as your ally, I represent the ability to see from the place of light unclouded with darkness. Pure light has no pattern - only the darkness creates patterns you see as shadow. The new way releases the dense structure that creates shadow. With this mask I am placing on your face you will see only the structure of the new world. Since new structure is made of light, it will cast no shadow. Light is its essence and that is what it radiates."

The woman could feel the tickle of feathers around her face, but no weight, as the mask molded to her skin. Her mind had a million questions rising to the surface, and with one deep breath, she silenced them.

"With this mask your way of seeing the world has been altered permanently. It signals a new time and the ability to bring in the new way. Do not ask questions - just be still. All will unfold according to divine plan," and with that said, there was a breeze created by strong wings lifting off into the air.

The woman waited a few moments before opening her eyes. She took another deep breath, stilling her mind once more. When she looked, it seemed as before. Everything appeared the same as it did before her encounter with the hawk. Then she noticed it. It was very subtle but, yes, it was different. No shadows existed anywhere, even though the sun was still shining brightly! She jumped up and looked behind her - light, nothing but light. She touched her face to see if she was still dreaming and it felt the same, but there was a strange sense of feathers around her eyes, feathers she could not feel with her hands.

She took another deep breath to still her mind. Ah, yes, stillness. And then she heard the familiar screech of the hawk. Was it circling above….or within?

White feather in hair
I see clearly what is real
All is accepted

I look through her eyes
Seeing visions of new ways
White Hawk sees clearly

If you have comments on these articles or ideas for future topics, call Linda Heron Wind at (585) 924-5620 or send e-mail to LHWind@aol.com.

Page last modified February 19, 2005 by RMC