Sheilaclapkin's Blog;

Lovely Anchorage is an artful city with flowers blooming all across the cemented, building laden downtown center. We enjoyed an outside concert bundled in our jackets and scarves, while the natives sat in flip-flops and short sleeves. Right away they wanted to know where we were from…they wanted to know how we liked Alaska? The conversation was lively and we told them we like Alaska.

Remember Alaskan’s have to make the best of months May through September when the tourists come, use these months to fix and create roads, to do construction or build homes, plant food, flowers, take care of any outside maintenance and just enjoy the summer weather.  After we left the concert we marveled at a beautiful bed of flowers and ornamental cabbage. Enjoying the same bed of flowers including snapdragons was a little family.  I asked if I might teach the boys how to snap the dragons. Parents gave consent and wanted to know also.  I showed the little boys how to pinch the mouths of the dragon’s open without hurting the flower, noting that each mouth was different. The family squealed played with the snapdragons. The mother said, “Now, I know why they call them snapdragons.”  I could hear their joy as we continued our city walk.

We found out that the city of Anchorage passed a law that states 1% of the outsides of their buildings had to contain art. That 1 % percentage can be achieved by merely painting a line somewhere on the façade of each building. As we walked and with this 1% knowledge of art additions we did come to recognize attempts to add the concept of art to their buildings and appreciated it as we toured. We noticed paint attempts along with windows in patterns, rough and smooth glazed rock interchanged making a woven pattern, baskets and baskets of flowers hung from lamp posts and potted plants popped up in nooks and crannies up and down the streets of the downtown area. Bravo, Anchorage and more cities should follow suit, plus my attitude would be to up the percentage of art added.

Here in Anchorage is where I change animal spirits. Remember we asked the family in the beginning of the trip to choose an animal spirit.  Did you go along with us and choose one?   I chose to be the hawk and I have received many images and spiritual growth in the body of the hawk. Many of the characteristics tagged for this animal were used and taught their lessons to me.  There is no winning or loosing; there is limited height, there for most of the time invisibility was useful, not clear enough for my use. The clarity of vision was enjoyed and used, as was the ability for sharp focusing.  Several hawk visitations were mild and informative. The hawks I heard crying in our own backyard, I hope you are now healed.

A lovely lady suggested in a comment on one of my blogs that I adopt the spirit of a humming bird. I studied its many sweet attributes and workable concepts, but they are not for me, yet.

With the help of a gorgeous walk in downtown Anchorage, the Raven appeared to me. I was assured that I would be accepted without fear, and would comfortably have the ability to tear down and rebuild what was necessary: a renewal of sorts. There is certain courage in self-reflection, but I ‘ll tell you being in the sheer beauty of nature is automatically self-reflective.  I can’t tell you what else it is unless you view it without human interference. If not for solitude, reflection and glory to a higher power, than what?

Here in Anchorage and in the Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich Park stands the Raven sculpture by their son Roy A Peratroich Jr. It motivated me to take the spirit of the Raven and study its challenges.

Another view of the sculpture:

Becoming a Raven spirit requires a change in consciousness. Now that is work.   Many of you have been going along with the adopting of an animal spirit and I enjoy your newfound delight and gratification. Thank you for the trust as well. Keep sharing.

My new Raven spirit in its renewal state has the ability to find light in the darkness, honor the ancients, and has an opportunity to achieve divination and eloquence. Work slowly with your animal spirit, one level at a time.  If you have picked the right spirit you have a job for a long time in understanding its depth. Share,