Page 121 - Dark Matter:Women Witnessing Issue2

to me. Our eyes met. He chirped, his tail swished behind him—his whole body pulsed with urgent

communication.

And I understood. I was again being thanked for my small act of burial that morning. But this perhaps

was something more. It was generosity. A completely generous acknowledgement of my broken heart

on their behalf.

The young squirrel looked at me, chirping loudly.

You’re welcome, I said. Now he chirped again, his tail swished, and again, the urgent look.

I smiled. You’re welcome, I said again. Again and again I said, You’re welcome, as he continued to stare

at me and chirp. Nine times through, this sweet and urgent currency was exchanged.

I bowed at the generosity of his offering. Namaste, I said, speaking aloud the ancient Hindu greeting, I

greet the god in thee. At that he ran further up the tree, turned and looked one last time. And scurried

out of sight.

In that moment I looked around the forest, stunned. Around me, the pines, sequoias and white firs had

witnessed the entire unfolding between myself and the squirrel. They were glad. It was apparent and

plain. I turned around in a circle and exchanged something, I cannot say what, with each tree. It was a

living embrace.

If you can talk to squirrels and speak to trees, it seems to me you are saved. In that moment, my heart

was redeemed. What I had done wrong could be made right. What I had forgotten could be

remembered. What I had lost I could learn again.

Within me and all around, I knew: not only the forest but also an essential energy of nature existed

within an ongoing flow of gratitude and generosity. That is why the earth has evolved such beauty. The

trees are generous and provide shelter and food to all the creatures around them. (And they are

beautiful.) The animals live in interdependent kinship with the trees, expressing gratitude. (And they

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