When I was a child of about 8 years of age, my family were visiting a great aunt in Wawa, a small town in Northern Ontario.
It was winter and always being curious I went for a walk deep into the forests. The snow was crisp, white and warm. In some places I recall the snow coming up to my shoulders as I was not equipped with
snowshoes and I was very small.
I was lost but did not feel fear. I had spent a day wandering, smelling the air, eating the snow and soon enough became tired. The snow gradually turned from a crisp white to a dream worldly blue, pale and forgiving. I do not recall being fearful just tired.
I noticed a crevice in a rock I thought I could find shelter in as I was by then feeling cold. I crawled in. Inside asleep were a mother black bear and three cubs. They were breathing slowly and expelling mists of air and moisture that rose to a small opening in the roof of the den. Compared to outside in the elements the den was warm. I crawled a little further into the den. The mother then opened her eyes - she looked upon me and seemingly gave me permission to stay. She closed her eyes. I shared their body heat and fell asleep. I awoke as the sun was rising by voices calling out my name. I left the cave with “mother” watching and proceeded to follow the yells with my own calling out.
I was hungry.
And so...my native mystical spiritual journey began.
J. Spencer Rowe