I’ve
spent the past week or so taking care of baby ducks – it has been both an eye
opener and a challenge. Trying to perceive their needs, to tune in with them
and to keep pace with their growth is really something else….
Sort
of other-worldly in fact.
Today
in particular I have been sensing these other dimensions quite a bit and not
only around the ducks. There is an aura around some animals that isn’t quite
earth bound – yet it is very grounded in some other ways.
It’s
as if there are animals who are here on the planet to do great things. Just in
the same way some humans have missions, purposes and destinies that will take
them on amazing journeys throughout their lives.
But….back
to these little ducks. Each one as they hatched were quite different in the way
they took to getting their feet on the ground so to speak. The first one was
moving around immediately and was very lively whereas the second and third ones
were very laid back and took awhile to adjust.
The
second duckling also had splayed legs as if his hips were out of joint, which
sometimes happens in fowl. In nature they often don’t make it and in a
commercial barnyard they are culled. Yet, this is a simple thing to mend….
In
fact, after checking around we decided to use sticking plasters with cotton
padding as a sort of splint to keep his legs together at the normal width for a
few hours - to see if this would help support him better.
It
worked and he got the bandages off himself once he was able to walk around
normally (have I mentioned yet that I am in complete awe of nature?).
Then
there is the last little one of this particular clutch of eggs….he/she doesn’t
even look like the rest, doesn’t sound like them and of course is doing
everything his own way (and on his own time! LOL). This one we’ve had to remind
to eat/drink as well as to protect him from the bigger ones.
So…..what’s this got to do with anything you
might be thinking? Well, I should back up here. I ended up with these 4 eggs
because I took them away from my mother duck after some had hatched and been
killed by the other birds.
Barnyard
life can be cruel for the youngest ones – especially anyone without the
protection of a strong group. The geese have their babies and do just fine
because the gander steps in and protects everyone, even sitting on the nest
when needed.
Ducks
tend to be a little different. So, I put these eggs in an incubator for what we
guessed was the remaining time until hatching and we hoped for the best. But,
just hoping was only half the story – I did my research and proceeded to do
everything in my power to ensure these eggs hatched out.
And
they did. Now – in phase 2, I am doing everything in my power to ensure these
little ducklings survive (so far, so good) including sitting with them, talking
to them, walking with them, making their food and bringing them things I think
they might like (such as grass, bugs and worms….Yumm!).
The
story only gets really interesting when I mention that the entire family take
it in turns to care for these animals. Including setting the alarm clock every
2 hours during the nights they were hatching (the incubator can dry out
quickly) to keep them hydrated.
In
lots of ways I thought that all the fasting I have done over these years taught
me discipline, commitment and fostered a fierce level of determination. But,
right now I am seeing these (spiritual lessons) and more taken to a whole new
level.
Learning
to care for these baby ducks, allowing them to communicate their needs to me as
well as trusting in the incredible power of life has seen me let other things
(what’s really important anymore?) take a back seat.
The
will to survive….The power of life…..This force is inside of each of us and it
is like nothing else in the Universe. It is worth protecting.
April
 |
| 1st baby duck hatching from it's shell |
