“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” ~ Old Saying
My life is so strange sometimes, so very surreal, that I struggle to make sense of it. In fact, often it seems that the more I know, the less I understand.
Like yesterday…
The night before, an owl had flown into a window glass on our back veranda, stunning himself, and then settling on top of my gumboots in a daze. Our little farm seems to be quite a magnet for owls. The noise startled me, and I went outside to investigate. I sat quietly beside the stunned but uninjured bird, and eventually he flew off again into the thin moonlight. My dreams that night were crazy fragments of brilliant colours and startling images that were so clear in the dreaming, but that I could make little sense of once I awoke. All I knew was that I felt like I had been on a long journey.
Yesterday, after my morning meditation I made some tea, and then wandered out the back door just on dawn. A different owl was sitting on my clothesline. This one was a Powerful Owl. I stood not far from her at all, and she watched me with her hawk-like gaze. We have a nesting pair on our farm, and they often sit in the trees outside our little cottage at night, feasting on the insects, bats and possums.
I said hello, and was having a little chat, when up behind us, a man walked past, carrying a galvanised milking bucket.
The man is not a real man. I don’t know quite how to describe him. I call him the Orchard Man, and I have seen him several times since I have lived here. I mostly see him in the orchard, where he looks like he is busy tending the fruit trees. Yesterday morning was the closest he has been to me. He strolled past, about twenty feet away, down towards where the old dairy used to stand. As he walked by the owl took flight and followed him. He looks not quite solid, if there can be such a thing. Like the grainy picture on an old colour television. He pops in and out of my vision at random. He doesn’t feel like a dead person. (Trust me, dead people have a certain energy about them.) So, really, for now I have no idea.
Late yesterday afternoon I sat on a garden bench looking up towards my orchard, sipping on another mug of tea. I saw him again, the Orchard Man. He was in the distance this time, pushing a red wheelbarrow.
Not long after, the Owl came back and sat in the tree above me. I could feel the weight of something important unfolding around me, but I couldn’t grasp it.
This morning, as I write this, the Orchard Man is just standing amid the rows of orange trees, and I feel for the first time as if he is looking right at me.
So, not knowing what it all means, not knowing what I am supposed to be seeing or learning from all of this, I shall just sit with it. In silence, perhaps, I can build a bridge that leads me to understanding.
Me, the Owl, and the Orchard Man…
“The silence between us talks itself.”
~ Qaisar Iqbal Janjua
Hmmm. Dimensional overlap?
I ♥ owls. They have always been a favourite of my mother, as well. =0)
Veggiewitch ♥
Hi Nicole….I got to your blog via Crowing Crone and so glad I did. I went straight for the post about the owl as I too, have such an affinity for owls. They just send me into a state of giddiness combined with reverence. As I was reading it, I got goosebumps as I’ve had a similar experience with an owl and just had to post it for you. Unfortunately, I don’t have the gift of seeing people or visual images as you do but do sense and feel energies quite intensely. I’m just delighted that I happened upon your blog and just subscribed….Nice to meet you!
http://rescuinglittlel.wordpress.com/inspiration-and-healing-2/
Lovely to meet you too. Thanks so much for joining us ♥ xx
Perhaps the Orchard Man is waiting for you to ask him what he’s come to share with you.
How very curious. When you first saw the Orchard Man did you try to speak to him? Can anyone else see him?
I love owls!! How lucky you are to have them near you!!
Nicole this is fascinating. I feel like it’s a story I know the ending to but it’s just out of reach. Looking forward to finding out some more. Bless <3
Reminded me immediately of Stan Parker in Patrick White’s Tree of Man. I like to think of Patrick White’s tales as the ‘dreaming’ or the ‘lyrics’ for a certain time in our Australian journey.
So fascinating,i’m intrigued!
This is so fascinating.
Good morning Nicole,
You do live an awesome life there! I felt so peaceful reading this post, as if it felt familiar…I await your revelation on the matter with bated breath!
I’m sure you’ll have another enjoyable day.
With love,
Richie Rich x
I too felt quite a significant sudden roll, or perhaps even jolt of tingles go through me when i read this – different to the usual gentle tingles of confirmation that usually occur. I don’t know what that different response means yet, so yes please keep us updated, as I’d also like to learn more.
As i write this, our owl has just started hooting! I don’t know what type of owl it is yet, I’ve yet to see him, just hear his lovely hooting. Maybe I’ll ask for him to come for a closer visit sometime 🙂 xo
Wow, while I didn’t burst into tears, I actually felt quite peaceful reading about the Orchard Man and the owls. Can’t wait to hear more about them and I wish that I could see owls at my place however sadly they don’t seem to venture into my little part of suburbia. Love to you.
Wow! I have my own “insight” on this, but looking forward to hearing your experience as it unfolds>
Hmmmm, a man leading us up the garden path? Nothing unusual here I say. 😘
Hi Nicole
Loved this post. It seems very old worldly to me I wouldn’t have been surprised if you said there was a maid milking a cow too. A maid with those long dresses, aprons and a cloth covering on her head from the yesteryears.
I know that sounds a bit weird but that vision was very strong for me.
Much love to you
Annette
I had an unexpected reaction to reading about the most recent (I don’t wan’t to say “last” because I how he continues to come) appearance of The Orchard Man: I burst into convulsive tears.
I also have no idea what he might mean, but apparently he has some significance for me too. Please keep me updated! Thanks xxx
Scarlett, I promise I will! There is such a significance to his appearances, and to the Owls. I hope I will be able to share more with you. I feel like whatever it is I am supposed to know is getting slowly closer.
Much, much love to you ♥ xx