The Grandfathers

​Some of the strongest feelings come to me when I am alone in the woods.

In those quiet places, I sometimes feel the presence of the grandfathers — the ancestors. Not as beings who can help me or speak to me, but simply as a quiet presence. I know this feeling rises from within my own mind, yet it feels important to acknowledge them.

When I feel this way, I’m often reminded of Tom Brown Jr. and his teacher, Grandfather, who would simply say “feed the birds” when he wanted him to be still and aware.

I burn sage and speak to them, not because I believe they can hear me, but because it feels right to show respect for those who walked here long before me. I don’t care for labels like “pagan.” What I feel doesn’t need a name. It simply is.