Unexpected delight! To witness ‘free flight’ of four Harris’ Hawks, so close one can see each feather of the finger-like tail, the white markings, elegant and alert heads, as they swoop in low-flying glides only inches sometimes above the heads of amazed humans watching in wonder and joy. Gasps of amazement abound--exclamations softly voiced reflecting awe at the miracle of flight--the grace and dancing magnificence carried upon currents unseen. A family unit, all joining together, participating--rare among raptors as is the low-flying hunting patterns. Perched on a Saguaro in the cactus forest, a sharp gaze watches, alert fo the slightest movement on desert floor. Pounce! Swoop! Lifting up with prey. Then all four hawks upon the limbs of a small tree divested of leaves in its death providing a natural family perch. Imagine them existing on their own in the wild, interconnecting for the survival of all, these four provide a magical glimpse into their world of sky and air.

Maybe the desire to escape the present is part of our fascination in watching birds fly so free upon the winds of change--fully present--soaring. There is a unique envy, this fascination we feel with birds that we don’t experience with other creatures.After all, I can walk as other mammals, I can even swim in the oceans, lakes and rivers without artifice. But I cannot fly without cumbersome equipment and assistance. We are grounded beings. we can experience a natural buoyancy in the ocean. But we can only soar in our conscious awareness and imagination--that is where we humans are able to enjoy ‘free flight.’

~ written in my usual ‘stream of consciousness’ style

This place is a living history museum absolutely vibrating with the essence of the desert. It is a place that I can see myself returning to over and over again to more slowly walk the meandering paths that share so many of the desert treasures.

This day, Wednesday, January 4th, was very much one of space, sky and air experiences. It began at 5am watching a meteor shower, and continued its expression of Vata (an Ayurvedic term) with watching the hawks in flight. Even the drive to and from the AZ-Sonora Desert Museum--windows down to feel the wind as cooling and refreshing in warm 70s temperatures with bright sunlight and no clouds--was dry, clear and uplifting with its movement. A day where it seemed like gravity wasn’t quite so heavy as usual...