Song of the Soul

She sits on the rocks above the river. Jet boats and water skiers dance across the current. The hot desert sun slowly roasts the back of her neck. Mosquito dive bombers attack her ankles and bare arms leaving small craters in her skin.

None of these worldly distractions can bring her back from her spiritual quest.

She has spent years searching the highways and byways of many lands for answers to questions she has yet to pose. From the mountains of Tibet to the Ganges river in India. From St. Peter's in Rome to the mosques and temples of the Middle East. From Stonehenge in the land of the Celts to Machu Pichu in the Americas. Each holy shrine she visited seemed to have a small piece of the puzzle. It was as if some ancient race of giants had upended a box of spiritual clues and scattered them to the wind. Lately, however it seemed like the more pieces she collected the more difficult the puzzle had become.

Her journey had at last come full circle and she had returned to her own beginnings. She had always found solace here beside the mighty Colorado. Her first baby steps of her spiritual life had taken place not to far from where she now sat. When a Shaman from a local indian tribe found her meditating beside the river, he had taken her under his wing and planted the seeds that had led to her quest.

His most precious gift had come forth when he taught her how to silence her mind and body and allow the song of her soul to be heard. In doing so she had not only improved her listening skills but had begun the first steps on the long road of meditation. Over the years as her ability to meditate improved the oung of her soul had becomer clearer.

So here she sat attuned to the universe her only desire one of spiritual truth.

In the suns embrace she grew relaxed and in the caress of the river's song she felt cleansed. Her mind withdrew from the here and now and at long last she released her soul to dance with the winds.

Soaring above the clouds she spotted Brother Eagle. She explained to him the purpose of her journey and she asked him if he knew how to recreate the puzzle. He appeared to have an answer but before he could share it he spotted dinner and set off in pursuit of an unsuspecting field mouse.

On the horizon she spotted Brother Wolf and she joined him on the ground. She explained to him the purpose of her journey and asked him if he knew the puzzles solultion. However just as he was about to answer the moon began to rise and he had to join the pack for a group howl.

Soaring again in the twilight sky she spotted Sister Owl just awakening from her days sleep. She explained to her the purspose of her quest and asked if she knew the origin of the puzzle. Sister Owl was sympathetic to her plight but the cries of her hungry owlettes prevented her from providing assistance.

Below her she spotted Sister Coyote pause at the riverbank for a drink of water. She explained to her the quest she had undertook and asked if she had any insight she could share concerning her spiritual puzzle. Sister Coyote though wise appeared to be uninterested in her plight and soon left her behind in her chase of a nocturnal rabbit.

Taking flight she became aware of a glow coming from the cliffside of a nearby mountain. She followed the light and soon found her self in the presence of her friend the shaman. For a moment she paused unsure of her next move. She had received the news on her journey that the shaman had passed away but here he was. Setting aside her fear she joined her friend on the cliff face.

Before she could begin the shaman smiled at her with his wise old eyes glowing and began to speak.

My daughter for one who has put before herself such a great task, you are much to impatient. The spiritual unity of this planet was broken while the earth was still young. You have accomplished much by finding the roots of the various religions. However your quest has just begun. In order to reassemble the pieces one must have the help of many enlightened souls. This is a task you cannot complete on your own. Before you can recreate what once was one must assist other in relearning their own soul songs. When the time is right your sould will guide you to me once again and I will aide you in the first steps of spiritual recreation. Go with love my daughter.

She came back to herself on the rock beside the river. The evening sky was filled with a billion stars and the moon was smiling down at her. For a moment she contemplated giving up her quest and just laying beneath the stars for an eternity and a half. But soon enough she returned her backpack to her shoulders and continued her journey.