When members of my home town’s community Facebook page started posting photos of moose in their backyards and on local roads, my son George and I took the woods to see if we could find a moose of our own. George’s intent was to find freshly shed moose antlers. Since I was working on a moose painting, my hope was to get near enough to photograph the moose in its natural element and experience its energy up close and personal.
If you haven’t been trekking through the woods in the wintertime, it’s magical. The inner sanctum of the woods is hushed. The only sounds you’ll hear are nature made: the creaking of frozen trees as they sway on a breeze, the chickadee-dee-dee of Chickadees, and our feet softly crunching on dead leaves and frozen ground. Late winter is one of my favorite times in the woods because there are no bugs (no black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, or ticks) and many low water marshy areas areas are frozen over, so we can truly tread where the moose do.
On our treks we found proof that we were following in footsteps of one or more moose. Who knew I’d get so excited over finding moose scat (the polite name for moose poop)!! The more scat we found, the better I got at identifying whether it was old or relatively fresh. Fresh scat elicited more excitement as it meant a moose walked through relatively recently and it might be nearby!
We even found what appears to be a moose hoof print (left), in addition to a turkey foot print (right):
There was one marshy area were I could sense the energy and personality of a moose. The intuitive impressions I received from the moose came to me in flashes of images, emotions, and physical sensations (clairvoyance, clairempathy, and clairsentience respectively). In my mind’s eye, I was given an impression of the large diameter of territory this moose called home. Feelings came to me that felt similar to affection for the area, appreciation, and peacefulness. Through my physical body I felt not just grounding but absolute belonging. This was Home with a capital “H”. And this moose loved and appreciated its home.
The moose also felt quite at ease navigating this terrain. It felt safe and I got a sense of it knowing it blended with the environment. This “blending-in” amazed me because the presence of the moose I was sensing was huge compared to my 5’3″ frame. Ample skinny trees dotted the marsh with almost as many fallen trees and branches sticking out everywhere. It amazed me that this huge creature felt it blended in and was immensely at ease moving through here when I felt like a little bull in a china shop, tripping over roots and getting stuck on branches. It’s ability to stand among trees and blend in is quite incredible. The average bull moose weighs 840 to 1,500 pounds and stands up to six feet tall at the shoulders. It takes up some serious space!
Although we never did encounter a moose, I consider finding ample evidence of moose a success —plus it allowed me to connect more deeply with moose energy. Back in my studio as I painted the moose, it felt like a new friend was emerging from the canvas. I felt a gentle, encouraging presence. And when I painted the eyes, My moose from the marsh was looking back at me! Some could say this is entirely fanciful. While I have no proof, the joy, connection and appreciation I felt as painted was real.
Here’s a photo of me and my recently completed friend brought to life on canvas:
When I completed the painting, I tuned into the Moose and asked Spirit for a message. I was transported back to my time in the marsh and the sense of deep appreciation I felt there:
“Appreciation is the essence that amplifies abundance. Appreciation for the bounty of twigs, bark and roots to munch on in the marsh, a protective forest to amble through, a colorful field of Lupine to rest in, and an expansive blue sky that lights the way. Everywhere Moose looks, there is something to appreciate. And when more abundance arises, it honors nature’s bounty with full enjoyment and appreciation. This in turn creates more and more experiences to appreciate.”
Appreciation Fuels the Cycle of Abundance
Appreciation is the way we thank Nature and Spirit for the gifts we receive. It’s the way we keep the cycle of abundance going. The Universe gives, we receive and appreciate. Give, Receive, Appreciate, Give, Receive, Appreciate. Appreciation creates a cycle of energy that attracts more to be appreciated. Moose doesn’t feel compelled to give back or do anything to earn these gifts. It eats, sleeps and moves through the world while the Universal Spirit abundantly provides for a treasured aspect of Itself via the law of attraction.
I am being guided to remember that I too an a beloved aspect of the Universe and that I am and will be provided for. Too often I’m rushing through life, not pausing to truly appreciate the moment or my blessings. I must slow down, be mindful, and appreciate the gifts that are currently present – a smile and hug from my grown son, my Mom treating me to an ice coffee, a friend inviting me to dinner, good books to read, my beloved fur-friends, Charlie and Sienna, curled up nearby, and money in my wallet.
Ruminating too much on troubles or being too impatient for the next “thing” or experience that I want, doesn’t serve me. When I feel worried or discouraged, I must remember to notice what I feel and fully feel it for a few minutes … and then turn my attention to small things I can appreciate right here, right now. The energy of appreciation is a magnet. The more time that I am in the energy and feeling state of appreciation, the more likely I am to draw new similar-feeling experiences to appreciate.
Less struggle, more appreciation, and ultimately more abundance.
Moose taught me that.
Heaps of love,
PS: Check out my brand new Fields of Abundance Moose painting, and if you know of anyone who might like to own it, please pass it on.