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Illia Heart

Salt Spring Island-1986

~ Salt Spring Island 1986

Mount Tuam looking so inviting, drawing me closer each day from my little Ruckle tent. Up I go to discover her. The weather is fine, high 80’s…up the logging road….and then..off into the trees i tred. The terrain so exciting, chasms at every turn. Up, down and around until its getting a little cool…oh the sun…it’s going down. The road eludes me, and i realize I’m spending the night. Finding a clearing I gather a little wood and build a fire before the dark encroaches. Suddenly cold, in short sleeve I huddle ever closer to the fire. The wood soon burns down, and I realize I must find more. Sliding my feet slowly outward yard and beach =walkers hook 014from the fire, I eventually hit something with my foot. I reach down to discover a large piece of wood. I pick it up, quickly realizing its very light, yet move steadily toward the fire none the less. Soon I feel crawlers coming up my arms , but am so cold do not release the wood. On to the remaining fire it goes. Brushing off the huge Ants that I had disturbed, quickly turned to remorse when I see the oozing black goo coming up out of the log, burning blue and orange flame. This log burned steadily though out the night. I cried tears of release into the fire, with the realization that I am always cared for…always cared for.  A deep healing. The Mountain Lions circle…upon the first light I close my eyes and ask to find the road, and the vehicle I came up in….in a few short minutes, there it is! Down into my warm sleeping bag where I shake for a couple of days. Then, with pack, back up I go. I spent many nights up on that little Mountain in 1986. To be continued……

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