Why am I so taken with the voice of the Native American flute? The music speaks to me. It's good medicine. Why did I so badly want to go to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area to see the bison herd? I suspect it's not the animals alone, but their relationship to Indian history and life today. I did not go to a zoo. I went to the prairie; expansive and free. What an immersive possibility this offered. I brought two of my flutes hoping to play in that setting. I was able to only for a short while. The cold ambient air blended with my warm breath to quickly condense and "wet out" the flutes, as they say. A few notes, however, sounded appropriately transcendent which fulfilled my longing for just such an experience. As I looked across the landscape I felt a connection to the earth and the descendants who lived there even 12,000 years ago.
I wanted to be alone in this special setting, in company with the bison herd which I was able to see at a distance, and play my flute. Being cold and breezy, alone I was. How does one understand a longing like this? Maybe I won't try to understand, if that's possible? Am I simply able to receive and accept what I recognize as something important in my life? The flute has been my companion on this journey. I won't travel too quickly, but slowly. The flute seems to be saying: "travel slowly and walk gently. Play gently and allow the rhythm of your heart to find its voice in my music." That would be good. Miigwech.