ganesha, lord of beginnings

any god that looks like an elephant, attends to your root chakra and kicks obstacles to the curb, is ok by me.

walking the lake again, just now. chanting "om gum ganapataye namaha."  round and round. would i see the squirrel again?  no, this time a pretty pigeon. a man is crouched low following her, so i stop to ask.

"this is a homing pigeon. i'm trying to catch her and throw her into the air, so she'll find her way home." hmm. so this little pigeon and man dance now has my full attention.  i would have thought it some strange courtship display of pursuit and avoidance, if not for the obvious incompatibilities that their conjugal union might present.

"what can i do to help?'  i ask.  as i get closer, i can see the bands on her legs.  "why do you have to throw her into the air? can't she fly on her own?" and just then, she takes off low to the ground, presenting lovely tan and white tail feathers, but lands again, not very far away.  another man walks by: "same bird was here yesterday." not living up to her alias then, not heading home soon.  was she lost?  dropped off blindfolded by a bored caretaker?  or maybe she's going against the grain, intrigued by wild relatives, a new roost.

"she'll find her way soon, unless a hawk gets her".  this last pronouncement has me happy that a drooling dog straining on his leash, flushes her out of the bush and high into a tall sycamore.  i  was cheering for her as i continued on.  round and round.