After you have rested some you realize it is time to move on. As you look around you see that you were almost to the edge of the bog, a fact that had not registered before. Only a short way to go and you’ll be on solid ground again.

You are tempted to run the last few steps but the voices in your mind all yell a resounding No! and you slow and stop and then take a short careful step, and then another, and in very little time you have reached the foot of the mountain.

ß-how are you feeling about your success?-à

Looking around you see there are several paths going up the hill. Once again you’re faced with a decision. This should be a fairly easy one. Some of the trails are way too small for humans, others go through underbrush you could barely get through, though deer can. Only 2 seem to be used by other people like yourself.

In looking at the two you see that one is a good trail. It’s got the proper switchbacks and it’s clearly been maintained by people who know how to maintain a mountain trail. The other one isn’t so swell. It has long, steep runs and is barely wide enough for you in places, and it’s very steep in others. This is more of a deer trail.

But you’re still not too sure which one to take, though one looks clearly better than the other. While you’re resting on a fallen tree trunk thinking, you hear the screech of a hawk, and looking up you see the hawk circling not all that high above you. Once it sees you’re watching it it lets out a series of calls. At first you’re not sure what they mean. But as you listen you get a faint message.

ß---what is the hawk saying to you?--à

{Note – do not read these bracketed words to those following the second method – “The hawk is telling you to rise above it. Above the petty trials you may encounter on the rougher trail.} As you think about what it means you glance at the two trails. Yes, one is nice and clean and well-maintained. And the other is kinda grubby but it has a certain fascination to you. You spend some time in contemplation after the hawk flies away, having delivered its message.

And then you pick the trashy looking trail. Rising above your expectations of what the proper trail should look like and once again trusting your intuitions. It’s a pretty steep run up the hill. You really have to focus on your breathing to keep yourself from huffing and puffing too much.

And you almost continually have to push chaparral out of your way and duck under tree branches. This is not a comfortable trail and you’re wondering why you came this way.

Then, all of a sudden, you break free from a tangle of shrubbery and there’s this View. A view like you’ve never seen before. It’s amazing. You can even see the crowds of folks on the wide road way down below. It sure does feel different to you from up here.

And besides that you’re shocked again. You’re way up on the mountain. That trail was pretty steep, but still you are amazed at yourself that you could hike so far so fast. You’re getting stronger as you hike and as you continue to develop your breathing skills. You’re almost there.

ß--how are you feeling about your competency right now?-à

After you take a break and drink some more water and eat a little trail mix you decide it’s time to keep going. And the trail turns away from the view and back into the mountain and you’re noticing how, when you didn’t know which way to go at the bottom you listened to the hawk – representative of the wild things - and got the right message.

Then just when you’re ready to give up on the hike the mountain showed you a view of where you were and that kicked you back into action. Both of these choices were partnerships between you and the natural world. Both required you to rely on your intuition to make it.. Intuition you haven’t always trusted. And even with these experiences you’re still not sure.

ß---do you trust your intuition now?--à

After all, you’re back struggling along on the deer trail. It’s hot and muggy and you’re sweating and uncomfortable. And you wonder again why you’re here.

And just as you think that, you see some movement up the hill. You look to try to see what it was, but its hidden in the chaparral again. So you get yourself up and head on up the trail. Only the trail all of a sudden starts going downhill!

What? You’re amazed – is this some kind of cosmic joke?! You’ve hiked all this way, you’ve been trusting yourself, learning to breathe right, listening to your intuition and things are gonna fall apart Now??!! And then you remember this is common with deer trails, to go up and down following the lines of energy in the earth. And you calm down.

There’s another flash of color up the mountain aways. And this time you see what it is. It’s a coyote, looking back at you. Just staring. And you’re suddenly afraid. What the heck have you gotten yourself into? Deers are nice, hawks won’t hurt you, but this is a coyote!

You realize you’re not breathing and you take a deep breath to try to calm the rising panic in your chest. This is the 3rd time this panic has tried to get you and you’re afraid it’s gonna succeed this time.

But then, with a final glance at you, the coyote heads on up the hill, following a trail so faint you can hardly see it. Am I crazy you think? Am I really gonna follow a wild animal??! And then you remembet that the coyote is a trickster. Who knows what is awaiting you?

And it looks like you’re gonna follow, because you get up and very slowly look around for a weapon. You’re not gonna go without something. You know you may need protection so you find something. You’re taking care of yourself. You find a good sized branch below a tree, one not too big but big enough, you hope. And with the biggest leap of faith, and the biggest trust in your own intuition, you head on up after the coyote.

ß--what are you feeling as you make this decision?-à

You don’t see it for awhile but you see the trail. It’s not so bad really. Clearer than the last one even. Then you round a bend and the coyote is about 50 yards above you. You hold your stick, but you don’t raise it. So far the coyote is being OK. You don’t want to provoke a confrontation. It stares at you for a minute, then heads on further up the hill.

You’re starting to feel a lot more comfortable now. You get little glimpses through the shrubbery now and then and you see some tremendous views. But you keep going, breathing smoothly and carefully – not pushing yourself too hard, but hard enough to make it. You’re almost to the treeline but the coyote has been using trees and brush to hide behind.

And one more time, the third now, it appears way up above you. And when you see it this time you know it’s the top. You start to run, but your lungs stop you in your tracks. This is not a place to run.

You know this. You know that when you’re just getting somewhere you don’t wreck it by being over zealous.

ß-is this a pattern in your life – to get “too excited” and overstep your boundaries? Or do you do the opposite and clamp down on your zeal for life?-à

So you keep on with the walk that’s gotten you here and you finally make it up to where the coyote was. And you stop in total wonder. For all around you are mountains and valleys, towns and roads. Even a railroad track with a train. You hear it’s horn. And right on top there’s the perfect stone to sit on.

And you do sit cause you’re real tired by now. But you feel so complete. Using your own skills, listening to the animal world, the flying ones and the earth itself, and especially trusting your own intuition and facing your fears, you’ve made it to the top of the mountain, and from there you can see everything you need to see.

Things you see transform into the components of your life - people, places, work, playtime and all the rest of the pieces and your insights are running overtime. Thoughts are coming so fast you have to make a big mental effort to slow down.

So you just sit there for awhile enjoying your accomplishment. There’ll be time for analyzing this later. Right now you need to give credit to all the parts of yourself – your mind, your body, and your spirit – all working together to help you accomplish your goal. You made it!

ß--- How do you feel now!--à