52 Weeks #51

My second last painting in this 52 WEEKS PROJECT is a pileated woodpecker (thank you Rose-Marie).  When we spent a season in a farmhouse in Saskatchewan we had a woodpecker who visited us bright and early every morning, beating out staccato messages on the metal down spout outside our bedroom window.  Believe me, there were days I wasn't so happy to see him, but one morning as my daughters and I were eating breakfast he flew into the kitchen window.  I saw him lying on the ground and felt very sad for him so I put on a new pair of oven mitts which I had received for a gift and went out to check on him (I was always told not to touch a wild animal for my protection against possible germs and for his against the scent of human skin).  He was lying there breathing very quickly so I lifted him, spoke softly to him and placed him out of harm's way.  Slowly he regained his wits and so I went inside to watch over him and eventually he flew away.  And, the next morning he was back at our down spout.  I was never so happy to be awakened at dawn.

As a totem animal, woodpecker is an attention grabber and reminds us to pay attention to our body's needs.  He reminds us to pay attention, to be aware.  Even a dead tree is an opportunity for food and shelter, is there an idea or project you need to revive?    As a communicator, he also reminds us to remain mindful of not only our body but our words.  Consider opportunities and trust your own intuition.