Well, bear magick and medicine was at it again. Just two days ago, four beautiful black bear showed up on my path, along with the abundant Kokanee salmon, during what was a short, but ever potent and rich experience. The last time bear had visited was near the end of Winter, when they were coming out of hibernation a bit early and now to see them preparing and fattening up for Winter, is definitely another full circle experience. Not to mention the timing for me/us that is also full circle, marking the ending and beginning of things. Paired together with the symbolism of salmon, I’m feeling the depth of these animal spirit guides’ reflections anchoring alongside the mirroring journey of my life.

It was a gorgeous late afternoon where we’d planned to meet up with our friends Bean and Happy at Taylor Creek, before heading to a dual purpose dinner party (welcoming our friends/guests Paul Shapiro, vice president of policy for The Humane Society of the United States and his girlfriend Toni Okamoto, founder of Plant Based on a Budget and author of The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook to town and a going away party for Bean and Happy – boo!), so they could see the salmon before leaving Tahoe yesterday morning on their next adventure. It ended up being the perfect send-off for them, as well as the perfect celebration for us.

Our friends had arrived their well before us and were checking out all of the salmon, after doing the short Rainbow Trail there. Dave and I arrived about a 30-45 minutes after them and made our way down the trail too – my second short Nature walk in the last few days without crutches since having my boot, as the previous day my parents had visited to take me to lunch, followed by a walk along Zephyr Cove.

Everyone that passed me along the trail kept saying, “oh you’re so brave and hard-core,” to which I would just giggle not thinking I was doing anything extraordinary except getting out in nature, which seems natural to me!

I got lucky that because my boot slows me down, I came into the clearing just as mom and two cubs had also just arrived. Dave had gone ahead to find our friends and unfortunately missed them. I had just enough time to watch them stand up and look at me, then scurry off behind mom in the trees.

If you look closely in this photo you will see the two cubs at middle, center looking at me from the other side of the creek’s bank.

And here’s mom and mom and a cub to the left in the trees.

I was then joined by Bean, who so sweetly had come after me to see how I was getting along in case I needed help, but sadly the mom and cubs were gone, so we moved on ahead and joined Dave and Happy, checking out the salmon. As we continued further a solo black bear appeared and we spent quite some time watching him fish for salmon.

I was so happy another one showed up, as I had hoped Bean and Happy would get to see a bear before they left, and so they did! Perfect! And wonderful energy with it all for them, as they are branching out into new directions to explore.

All of this took place only several yards away, as we watched from the bridges and platforms, which made it even more special to view them so close in their natural setting.

This guy turned to me and asked, “can you run?” as he looked at my boot. I said, “no.” He replied, “then we’re safe” and laughed. LOL!

Well, I never felt threatened anyway, but did get a giggle out of that. Of course Happy turned to me and said, “I wouldn’t leave you behind if that happened.” Aw!!

Anyway, they were beautiful cinnamon coated bears and truly magnificent to watch. But so were the salmon. Just tons of them, as well as large crawfish, beautiful ducks, and gorgeous Autumn landscapes and lighting that truly made everything magickal.

These are some photos that Bean took with her better camera of the stunning salmon.

I marveled at the symbolism of it all and how perfectly reflective it was for me, once again.

Salmon symbolize returning home to regenerate, overcoming obstacles, end of a cycle and a new start, drive despite challenges to return to their origins (home), creativity, growth, maturity, abundance, enthusiasm, remaining in harmony with Nature’s rhythms rather than fighting them (flowing with the currents beneath the surface), not being deterred by seeming impossible odds, having a strong drive to reproduce in order to feel peace (however this is not just about children, but about anything creative – this runs the gamut from artful masterpieces to the next great novel, one source says), having very strong desires/passions and ability to tirelessly manifest them, enjoying life and sharing those richness with others (Native Americans see them as symbols of wealth, abundance, and providence), and remaining innocent, childlike, light-hearted, and open always. Salmon have shown up now a few times since our Magick Bus RV adventure, which has been a beautiful reflection each time and timely now once again.

Bears symbolize fearless ancient medicine, empowered Sacred Feminine energy and that Divine Mother embodiment, strength, transformative energy, and courage we have within to call upon in order to take action without fear, while remaining grounded and in rhythm with Earth and Nature’s cycles. They remind us of observing ourselves in every moment and self-reflecting, knowing the timing on things and aligning with the “when” and “where” to unfold divinely, teaching us laws of respect and boundaries and strengthening and voicing our own, as well as honoring those around us, and reflecting natural leader abilities within that invite relaxing into and bringing forth in innocent, creatively passionate ways that share the vitality of our own unique self-expression. Bears have been very potent for me also since the Magick Bus, and become near and dear. The last time they showed up, as mentioned, was linked with coming out of hibernation for me with creative rebirthing, which was exactly what happened on every level of my life and what Dave and I have been creating this year, as well as what I have (especially with my book). However, now I’m seeing the bears in this heightened state of nourishing and fattening up for the Winter, which feels perfect to both my book and personal life situations being nurtured, where there will be a turning within to the home and finalizing my book with editing and preparations to take it to the next step during Autumn and Winter.

This brings me to my exciting news that reflects all of this.

Yesterday was a big day for us, as we became the official, very happy owners of our new dream home! All culminating the morning after our bear and salmon encounters on a gorgeous day, as you can see here of a quick snap I took on our drive through Gardnerville to handle business. A morning that included five geese, a hawk, and sweet jackalopes (bunny reindeer) that were reflecting the support at every uncanny turn.

I’ll just share briefly that we’ve spent the last year here in Tahoe really deepening into our desires and dreams, working on building foundations and roots to support all of that, and listening to guidance on everything, which included lots of personal projects we accomplished in rapid speed, and big decisions around anchoring versus a plethora of other ideas that hugely shifted trajectories and timelines.

The expansive, nurturing, and inspiring space we’ve been living in, really helped solidify and clarify everything for us, and with our lives taking big turns, so too did we.

With both our little family growing (to include the magickal Astrid now alongside our kitty babies, Boojum and Sweet Pea), and the dreams we’ve had feeling the need to blossom and not wait anymore on, as well as being met with everything we explored and discovered here about ourselves that Lake Tahoe has, and more so now reflects for us, we felt a new and mirroring home space was calling that would nurture and nourish all of this.

And through countless magickal and synchronous unfoldings (way too much to share), everything aligned us with the perfect home base for all of this.

Our lake view condo will be taken over by a blossoming and amazing, young couple here shortly, as we prepare for our move to our new home on USFS land (United States Forest Service), where we will officially live in the enchanted forest full of Faeries and animals galore! Much magick awaits and will be created, as so many plans are in the works for this space.

To say I’m excited is an understatement, and although we have a very busy 4 months or so ahead of us before we’re fully settled, it is all SO worth it. A dream come true and perfect timing and unfolding in every way.

So yes, I’m feeling that “return to home to regenerate” and ultimately to my origins (both as a Cosmic AND Earth being, but also to Tahoe where everything started for us and where I received message to be long ago – and followed – without ever having been here or knowing what it was like), as well as an ending and beginning that salmon medicine brings, not to mention a definite surge in creativity, growth, harmony, and maturity in our lives all coming from creating things that would seem impossible (something that will continue being a theme for sure). For everything coming, I definitely feel that a strong foundation now is necessary. Whereas before, the need to move energy literally had to take hold in full embodiment of everything in our lives to create the huge momentum and leaps needed. Now things can settle in one regard, as the tree and its roots that will be the supportive foundation for all of the branches I/we will be growing.

And definitely, we’ve/I’ve been listening to those inner rhythms in flow with Nature, to align with everything and knowing just when to make moves and wait patiently, and are setting up our creative cocoons and hibernation caves (home) with everything nurturing and nourishing to our souls so we can continue in the cycle of rebirthing and recreating over and over with all that is in motion in our creative lives, like bear so beautifully shares with her medicine. Those two cubs that stood up and looked right at me, felt so reflective of my deep childlike innocence really coming forth now more than ever, and the playful vitality I feel to create, simply because it is peace for me to do so.

And speaking of childlike innocence, yesterday evening I showed up at an event sporting my bunny dress and magickal crowned rabbit necklace to represent the rabbits I love and adore.

Last night we had the opportunity to attend the sold out TedX event in South Lake Tahoe at Lake Tahoe Community College. Last year’s sold out inaugural event of 100, more than doubled to 250 this year with an incredible lineup of locally-known and world-renowned speakers from here and around the country. The event had food and drinks available during the reception and intermission including vegan wraps! and an after party at The Loft.

Our friend Paul Shapiro (mentioned above) was one of them who took the stage discussing the revolutionary “Clean Meat” – also the inspired topic of his forthcoming book.

There were many amazing speakers sharing their insights – all leaders in their own fields. You can check out the visionaries here:

Tedx South Lake Tahoe Lineup

My favorite speaker was photographer, director and Zephyr Cove resident Dewitt Jones who has photographed stories around the world for 20 years with National Geographic, published nine books, and directed two Academy Award-nominated documentaries. He moved me to tears, being a man of my own heart, with his talk that got him the only standing ovation. He so beautifully expressed the perspective of my own life and I felt the deep love in that reflection and mirroring, once again experiencing that full circle and collective connection. 

Dewitt’s talk explored a mindset that he learned while working for National Geographic, and being out in nature, of celebrating what’s right with the world and not just focusing on what’s wrong with life, although not denying or ignoring any aspect of it, but rather seeing from a different perspective and the wholeness inherent in it all.

I was compelled to thank him after and he gifted me one of his bracelets. 

It’s that message I want to leave you with, which is one of the foundations of my own life.

Celebrate What’s Right With the World and your life will be enriched.