Through
another dimension,
she appears,
glowing,
other-worldly
yellow
lights the side of her face.

A vulture,
part of her somehow,
perches atop
her dark wild and springy
dreadlocks,

Breathing hot air
on the back of my neck,
she soothes my pain.

Mystically attuned
to life and death,
she is magic
and lightness,
reflecting perhaps,
an aspect of me. 

A tendency
to examine,
to want to understand
the dark and difficult of life,
her garment reminds me of
loveliness
made of sheer,
soft layers of color.

Depicting her unique nature was interesting to try to capture. At one point, as I painted the vulture on her head, it shook itself awake and astonishingly alive - shaking me too.

Once, while overlooking a spacious, shallow green valley, I was inexplicably happy to see a kettle (a flying group) of vultures flying in the distance. I called to them, motioning with my arm, “Come! Come!”  Swooping in large, spacious circles, they made their way to me. Maybe they were happy to see me, too, or were thinking, “Who is this strange creature?”  One flew especially near, flapping his large dark wings once, distinctly and strongly, about six feet directly over my head - the energy potent, visceral, exhilarating!

On a four-day Somatic Experiencing (a trauma resolving process) training, I received a session centered on reclaiming my animal nature, a willingness to fight to protect myself, to survive.  Afterwards, I stepped outside onto the second floor balcony for fresh air, a private moment or two.  Out of seemingly nowhere a vulture appeared and vigorously flapped her wings once, strongly and deliberately, closely and directly, over my head.  It felt like a blessing, an affirmation for what had just taken place in my session.

I used to wish, when I died, to have a “sky burial” like in Tibet, where a body is laid out for vultures to eat.  It would certainly be an ecological option.

I honor the vulture’s role in keeping our world clean and appreciate the rich historical and cultural significance of this magnificent raptor.

Interesting note:  A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt.  In flight, they are called a kettle and when dining on a carcass together, the group is called a wake.