A few years ago, I was coming home late in the evening and spotted a small fox on the side of the road, clearly injured.
I called every wildlife vet I could find, and no one could help.
The little fox died while I was calling.
It’s not too much to say I was heartbroken.
I have always felt a soul connection with foxes, so to see this little one suffer and die was painful on many levels.
I buried her in the woods behind my house next to a glacial boulder.
For the last few days, I’ve seen a fully-grown fox in the neighborhood, usually at dusk. A well-fed, healthy-looking fox trotting with that jaunty gait I so admire.
Today I came home from some errands around noon and this fox was standing next to the Fairy Rock in my backyard. She looked straight into my eyes for a thrilling heartbeat. And then with divine nonchalance she trotted into the woods, past the boulder where I buried the little fox.
I am stunned, teary, and grateful.
Life is very kind to us.
The cycles often take time to circle fully around, but they do.
There is a tender magic afoot in the world.
And broken hearts, in time, do mend.
Photo by Jeremy Hynes on Unsplash
Dear Kate,
I have been following foxes ever since seeing your video, “Old Stories, New Magic,” in which you are wearing a fox-patterned shirt. It reminds me of a wall hanging I have that was given me by a friend, which features a sly fox in the foreground outwitting ahunter in the distance. Then another video of yours popped up, from four years ago, in which you are wearing that same top (which I found out is a dress given to you by a friend!)–Pooetry Celebration with Jumping Fox Design and Kate Chadbourne. This morning, I pulled a card for the day — the card is Earth, and is pictures a fox on it! Then, while eating breakfast I finally opened your New Year’s Resolutions gift (I love this take–resolve to do what brings you joy!), and scrolled all the way through until I saw this blog post. I knew I had to read it.
Life leads us on many paths, if we are open enough to follow them. I am grateful for you in this world: you, who loves Life and Nature; you, who reads the chapter books she used to love (I have a few of those kinds of books that I return to as well!); you, who encourages all of us to follow our creative selves.
My winged friend,
I love those paths, and I love that you follow them! It’s exciting when life gives us a treasure map and sends us off on adventures.
I think foxes and crows are cousins of a sort – both smart and agile, both possessed of a sense of humor and good instincts.
We live in a magical world, don’t we?
You are inspiring, and I’m grateful for you, too.