Bear's Den "Spiritual War"

Today, I stood outside and watched oodles of Canada geese lift off from the lake in front of the cabin. They circled for many minutes and others joined them in orbit, much the same as B-17 bombers did before flying across the English Channel to attack the enemy in WWII. As I observed the waves take flight and join formation, I accepted that the Long Moon is almost here. I know that when the nee-ake (goose) leaves, then winter´s breath will soon be felt – it is an iron-clad sign. And just as the WWII bombers symbolized physical war… so it is… that the signs I see today… equal a different kind of mortal conflict. This conflict is one that, while hushed… is nonetheless present and very hotly raging. It is... Spiritual War.

As with every year, the geese were in the hundreds. They almost turned the sky black with their numbers. Their chorus of honking was, possibly, very reminiscent of the drone of latter-day bomber engines, too. Beginning in the Paw Paw Moon, the birds begin filling the lake in eventual readiness to head south. And once they leave, en mass, then the average two-legged can take this as a dedicated sign that the onset of winter has truly arrived. As I watched the birds above, though, I pondered other things… other signs. This is because signs are as important for two-legged´s… as the air we breathe, the food we take or the dirt we tread – they just are.

Now Indians are big on signs and this is truth. But all people are sent signs – no matter what the color, place or time – it is a supremely ´divine´ gift given all of us. In this shipping process, the Creator is the mailman. Whether or not a two-legged acknowledges and accepts delivery, well… that´s up to them. Christians call this ´Free Will´ and, in most ways, so do most traditional American Indians. But, as with all dispatches that have been sent… these may indeed be vital. So, it behooves the two-legged that receives such a post… to heed it – it really, really does.

I began seeing disturbing signs two years ago this month. I, like many folks, receiving such correspondence, paid the mail no mind. I was busy and couldn´t be bothered with such ´hard to figure´ trivial stuff such as "signs", eh. I blew the messages off, even though… in the back of my mind… there was an inkling of severe importance attached to these communiqués. But man… it wasn´t right to disregard them. Yep, I could feel the inkling of it. And if signs are sent to all humans, then this ´inkling´… is equally common to almost all of the Earth Mother´s creatures, too.

The inkling I refer to is also of the Great Mystery´s design. The Great Good Spirit has instilled this "knowing" into all animals capable of feeling the essence of emotion. And, if the creature – two or four-legged – isn´t ´tech´ed in the head´ and abnormal of reason, then it will hear this ´little voice´ regardless of whether or not they act upon it. In my opinion, mankind has just barely... a smidgeon more intellect than the four-legged´s. Thus, we may fathom more, than say… a deer or chipmunk. But, just the same, the inkling is a built-in nuance or, "tell"; and it does exist. Uh-huh, and here´s an example. Almost every spooky or Sci-Fi movie has a dog in it, somewhere, that plays to what I mean. Even though nothing can be smelled or seen… the animal in the movie… ´senses´… that something about the thing in question… isn´t right – it´s to either be stayed away from, or… dealt with – immediately. The little doggy knows this... even if nobody else does. That, folks, is… the inkling I speak of. Yep, and if you ain´t nuts – then you get ´em – the same as me and the same as everyone does – to my figuring.

So it is, then, that I believe that we´re all given this ´innate notion´ of right and wrong. And the signs sent by the Creator are there for each two-legged to see. It is up to each of us to act on them – to heed the signs that He has sent. For me, if the bombers of WWII symbolized physical war, then the signs I see nowadays… do absolutely and positively… symbolize warfare of a deeply spiritual kind. Thus, since last year, when I readied my sacred weapons for battle and committed to heeding the signs, I have seen a firefight or two. But the great evil one and his minions know… that I have held my shield close and lance at the ready. They are painfully aware that I´ve kept an edge to my blade and kept the tether free from my arrow quiver. This, in turn, has thwarted the lousy miscreants´ desires. Yeah, I have bled these evil spirits in skirmishes, and for a Kispoko Shawnee… this is exquisite! But, even so, the war grows stronger – not weaker – and I see this, clearly... as well.

I know, and you should, too… that any victory I´ve savored in these battles has been solely because I paid heed to the inkling and the signs sent me. The Creator has allowed me victories because I have done what is right and heeded the meanings and warnings that He has sent me. So, if you see them – you should do the same. And, if you don´t glimpse anything… then I´d sure study on that inkling… were I you. Um-hmm, because those signs I see today… equal a different kind of mortal conflict. This conflict is one that, while hushed… is nonetheless present and very hotly raging. It is... Spiritual War.