I walk down to the Grove of the Fallen Giants. It is early evening. The moon is full. I sit down in front of a relatively young redwood tree. My spine is fully supported. I send out roots from my first chakra. Roots run all the way down through the duff, through the Felton Watershed, through the plates, through the underground springs towards the red hot heat of Mother Earth. I begin to breathe deeply and call up the life force into my entire body and soul. I call out to Spirit. I say I need to know what I am being called for.

I rise and traverse the grove taking note of the majestic trees in all the stages of growth and decay. I walk rhythmically, listening for a sound of Spirit. It seems like a long time. I sigh and sit down next to the trunk of one of the fallen giants. I rest my spine and extend my legs out in front of me. I close my eyes and perceive a golden light. I hear paws almost silently trotting through the duff— the faintest rustling.

The sun is down, and the moon has risen. I open my eyes to a pair of glowing gold ones. I hold my breath and do not move. The puma stands directly in front of me glaring into my eyes. I stare back in stark astonishment. Then the puma turns around and settles down by my right side. I place my hand on his back and stroke him gently.

I ask if he knows what I am being called for. He inhales deeply and indicates I am called to become aligned with the best interests of all the sentient beings on and in the land I am responsible for.
I wonder how I do that. He wonders which way we are facing. I respond the North. He nods. He makes it clear animals are losing habitat. They are hungry and thirsty.

While I am contemplating the plight of these beings, a gorgeous coyote arrives, stands in front of me, stares, and sits on my left side. I indicate that I would like to know her answer to the same question I have asked the puma. She answers that I am being called not only to listen compassionately to the plight of the animals but to raise my voice in song. I tone.

The trunk begins to vibrate. I sense my instructions from the land: Align, sing, vibrate.