The theme of the Fall 2011 issue of Parabola is “seeing”  and  in this issue are stories and reflections from many perspectives including those of a neuro- opthalmologist/musician, an Alexander teacher, an MD yoga therapist,  poets, artists, and spiritual teachers from many wisdom traditions including Christianity and Buddhism. One story in particular stood out for me. It was related by artist Jane Rosen in a conversation with Richard Whittaker.

“One day I heard the dogs barking in the living room…I walked [in] … and there was the raven underneath the chair at the dining room table. I looked at this big raven with huge claws and this huge Roman beak. The raven somehow had walked into the house  before we had become friends and had gotten stuck underneath the chair. I believe it was a mom and she was coming in looking for food.

I looked at the raven and the raven looked at me. She had these beautiful eyes and she blinked at me. It was clear she said to me, ‘I’m stuck. I don’t know how I got under this chair. I can’t get out, and you’ve got two pretty big dogs. I’m in a situation here.’

So I looked at the raven and said, ‘ Okay. Here’s the deal. You’re big. You have sharp claws and this beak. You could hurt me. I’m going to pet your back and if you don’t try to peck me or claw me, I will get you out from under the chair. If you try to peck me or claw me, you’re on your own.’

She looked at me, cocking her head like she was thinking about it. It wasn’t like she understood my words or I understood hers. There was something in my tone that was explaining to her that I was about to make a move. So I pet the back of the raven and not only does she not claw me,  she pulls her claws into her belly and tucks her beak into her chest. I pick her up and I hold her like this [cradled in her arms] and she is perfectly still. I put her out on the picnic table, figuring she would make a beeline out of there. She turned around, she looked at me, and she nodded.”

For me, this story points to what can happen when we see and allow ourselves to be seen in an open way, when we communicate from a place that, while acknowledging our differences, moves to a place of deeper connection and allows something new to unfold.