I live in the countryside here in the Sacred Valley of Peru and it is one of my regular activities to go for a walk across the fields with my little nearly three year old boy. He is just as connected to animals as I am and therefore loves interacting with animals (and plants as well). For a few weeks we had the honour of being able to enjoy the presence of three little piglets and their mum in a nearby field. We sometimes spent an hour watching their playful activities, their connection with their mum, the funny sounds they made and the constant happy tail wiggling.
A couple of weeks ago we noticed that two of the piglets were gone, I assume they had been sold. ACCEPTANCE. So, we enjoyed mum and one piglet, that became more curious and playful every time.
A couple of days ago we went once again for a walk to enjoy mum and baby, but upon arrival the little one was alone and no mum in close view. My little boy was wondering, searching and asking, where mum had gone. My stomach tightened and walking a few meters further we saw the puddle of blood and in the backyard a dead pig mum in a wheelbarrow. My body tightened, eyes became wet and my stomach hurt. I decided to carry on the walk I took some deep breaths and sat down. What came over me was gratitude. GRATITUDE to life, the feeling of surrendering to what is life and death. THIS IS the circle of life, as challenging as it looks and feels. I feel gratitude to living so close to LIFE, to nature and humble native families here where I live, because every one of these powerful encounters with mother nature and our interaction as humans with her, makes me feel more connected to life and the circles of life.
The pig mum was in peace. I felt here peace, I felt her presence and her surrender to what is. She was ok with it and my breath took me to that same state, that everything was ok. I gave thanks to her, to her life as a sister of mine and as a mother and to the many beautiful moments that we had shared together.
Life is so tremendously powerful.
PS: Thank you, dear Cleo that you asked and pushed me to start sharing my animal encounters again. Yes, I will start writing again.