Taexalia

wild.life

Dreaming the Quickening

I really am done with this cold now. It took me ages to get to sleep last night because of the tickling cough that is the new addition to this bug. It's a beautiful day out there and I just feel like tying a duvet around me and putting up blackout curtains. I have loads of things to do and I can't even be bothered making a cup of coffee...

In my dream I was walking in a forest and I came upon what appeared to be a croft nestled in a clearing. It was run down and no-one lived there, but the small field system was still evident - although the drystane dykes were crumbling in places. I sat under a huge tree that spoke in a deep male voice and when I looked at the bark there were many faces telling many stories. The tree told me to sit quietly and rest.

I looked down into the fields and some red deer appeared, a group of pregnant hinds. They were spread out across the field grazing, unaware that I was watching close by. A magnificent stag appeared, looked right at me, and nudged them all back into the forest. Then a cat appeared on the wall above me and I realised it was a Scottish Wildcat and I have never seen a wild one. I was very excited but had to remain still. It slipped down into the grass and slunk down the hill with its belly close to the ground.

At the bottom of the hill, in the shorter grass, I saw a hare running and it leaped into the air. Another hare ran towards it and they began to box and tussle. I was overwhelmed with the joy of seeing all these creatures, of being a secret guest of the land and of being connected with the Quickening of Spring.