I was out walking today when I remembered a visit I had from a raccon many years ago.

I had been walking down the street at night, talking with a friend, when I felt a sound behind me. I turned and saw a raccon watching me. I looked at him and he at me and I said

"I see you friend"

The raccoon went back on it’s way. At the time that had been a lesson of sorts. So while walking and remembering this my memory shifted into waking dream and this time the Raccoon spoke.

"Cougar has the answer you seek."

The dream raccoon faded from my mind and the impression of snow filled my dreaming. There were tracks on the ground and cougar spoke in my ear.

"When we hunt, brother, we follow the scent and tracks. When we find our prey we strike quickly. Do we then search for more tracks?"

"No," I said. "We eat or bring food to our children."

"Yes," spoke cougar. "We eat or feed our cubs. We return to the hunt only when we are again hungry. This is a problem for many this day. They track the scent of the old ways seeking their prey the medicine. But when they find the medicine rather than taking it into their bellys they continue looking for tracks to more medicine. This also is a lesson for those who seek the traditions of the tribes. They hunt the knowing of a tribe like they hunt this rabbit. Then they immediately set to chase that snake and then that squirrel but the whole time their belly is empty. They must learn that when hunting the knowing of the tribes to hunt one tribe to learn it’s knowing and take it into your belly. The prey becames one with the predator. The essence of the tribe becomes part of the hunter and the hunter changes that essence to suit the now and to suit his nature. Then when the hunter hungers he again seeks new knowing. What has this taught you brother?"

"That," I paused, thinking. "That when we learn something new we must incorporate it into our lives, make it part of us and make it ours. Only then do we know it. We should meditate on everything we learn as we learn it."

"There is more there than that you will realize in time. If one man learns all about one tribe the tribe lives through him for all his days but then dies with him. If one man seeks to know all of all tribes he will fail and all he has learned will die with him. But if all men learn the essence of the tribes and if many men learn of each tribe then the tribes live forever. But the knowing of this tribes is not a dead thing. When we take the essence in our belly it comes alive through us. It changes us and we change it. Learn of the tribes but do not expect to learn all. Let the lessons of the old ways become part of you. But do not try to live just as they did in the old days. Find new ways that honour the old and prepare for the future.

I do not hunt the rabbit to become a rabbit.

I hunt the rabbit to become a stronger cougar."

                                                -Witan