Pilgrim Walk - Clear Jewel

During today's pilgrim walk I was gifted a clear-jeweled talisman/amulet. I was walking alone on a prairie path with sparse young trees lining the way. I was chanting Amitabha Buddha and experiencing a dark descent into mind when I happened to look to my right and two feet away, eye-level, was a golden ribbon tied to a thin tree branch. Hanging from the ribbon was a clear jewel, preceded by smaller jewels. Was it a necklace or bracelet or something else? Unsure even now, as I carried it home snug in my left palm. When I saw the bright golden color I stopped walking and turned to face it. It was very close and perfectly placed so I guessed it was a gift, to whom I do not know. 

I decided to accept the gift if the jewel were easily removed from the tree. If I sensed the jewel was not meant to be removed I would let it be. I gave a soft short tug to the ribbon and it easily unraveled revealing one more knot, so I gave another tug and the knot loosened, allowing the ribbon to surprisingly slide off the branch and fall into the palm of my left hand. My mood, which prior was dark and gloomy, had now shifted brighter. 

As I walked along the path, jewel in hand, the Seven Crows arrived and when I looked up into the tree in which they perched there appeared a black bird on every branch. I had an impression the jewel was an extension of the Wish-fulfilling Jewel Tree and the gift was access to its wisdom leaves. I am unsure how to use the Jewel so for now I plan to carry it with me on pilgrim walks.

Shining One

The day began with the Seven Crows calling to me from high in the trees, they were so distant that they appeared small and ghost-like from where I stood. I offered the day's pilgrim walk and thanked them for their protection.

I passed the pilgrim walk home base twice today. On the return there was a break in the clouds and the statue of the saint became a Shining One and as I stood before its presence a warm radiance bathed my tired flesh. I was seeing things so distinct and clear that I was reminded of visiting Chicago as a child and the scene outside the car window was so colorful and sharp that a great excitement overcame me and the image was burned into memory. 

During the afternoon walk my body was more relaxed than usual and this allowed me to smile easily.  The air was mild and sometimes the sun could be seen. At the music shell in Millennium Park I attracted children as if they were moths racing to a flame.

The Seven Crows

During today's morning pilgrim walk I was going to my friend's home and was on the usual route and as I passed out of the AIC campus and into Grant Park I crossed paths with the Seven Crows. I heard them and looked up and they were above me in the trees. I had been thinking about the Seven Crows earlier in the morning and so was startled to see them materialize. As I walked through the tree grove the Crows followed close and to make sure I remained aware of their presence they continually called loudly while flying from tree to tree to stay within close range of me. When I reached the end of the grove I was going to turn west leading into the downtown streets but the crows spoke so strongly that I turned to them and wondered what they wanted. It occurred to me they were perhaps trying to not only delay the progress of my walk but also to alter its direction, so instead of going west I turned north and walked back into the tree grove where the crows became more excited and followed me into the lane. One of them dropped down out of the trees and I heard his rushing flight as he clipped my shadow. I stood still then and looked up and after thanking them for their protection I offered the day's walk to them. 

As I left the tree grove one block north of my usual route I had the strong impression that the Seven Crows had deliberately altered the course of my day's path and I wondered to what end. Death's presence felt close by as I walked west through the downtown streets under a blanket of cold gray sky. My emotions altered between trepidation and bold stupidity. All I could do was walk and smile, smile and walk. I was relieved when I reached my destination and thanked the Seven Crows again for guiding me safely through the morning walk.