I write this sitting cozy in the cabin with the rain and wind pounding as the ocean churns outside, In a misty gray haze you can still see the light on this Solstice Day. It’s nearly 2:30 P.M., the sun will be setting soon, but not before I go for a stormy swim. I’ve committed to daily ocean submersion for some time, more on that later. Before the memories slip away, I’m eager to write about the most magical day in Tutka Bay, yesterday.
We woke as the complete darkness faded out, around 8:45 A.M. From the bed you could see the water was calm, with a foggy haze present. The morning was particularly intentionally grounding for me as I was preparing for a distance reiki session with a past client and dear friend. The energy of the day was powerful, and beautiful. It’s difficult to put into words, but I’ll try.
The December air warmly kissed my face as I walk down the hill from the cabin, towards the beach to the trail to the point where we can make phone calls. The snowless coastline was loosely cloaked in gracefully woven breathless clouds. These traveled up to gently hug not only the spruce forests, but the jagged mountain peaks as well. The only sound in the still air were the bald eagles talking, squeaking back and forth about only the imaginable. One came swooping over, flying over the beach towards the mossy forest path I would soon be walking. As I climb the small hill to the trail, I hear the seals longingly growling on a rock haul out they frequent near the cabin. I look down to check over the first exposed cliff to see if I could see any seals sleeping near the rocks. They are often there, but not today. I continue on into the mossy forest, amazed at the vibrant green in this dark land during winter. I make it to the point where we get 1 bar of service, enough to make a phone call and occasionally send a text or a small download, and see two otters playing and splashing about, again, growling often. The weather is still in Tutka Bay this morning, but the animals are alive, awake, and communicative.
The reiki session itself was powerful and beautiful, magnified by the natural healing vibrations of the ocean and coastal life forms. As I was concluding the session while on the phone at the point, a mature bald eagle soared right under where I was sitting. The ocean is about 40-60 feet below depending on the tides. It’s a moss covered rocky cliff under the forest canopy. The cormorants winter at the cliff below and often can be heard clucking and cooing, especially near sunset. I have not yet seen an eagle so close here, before. It felt magical and harmonious. It then came to my delightful surprise that a few minutes later an immature bald eagle came and soared right above where I was sitting on the cliff. Then, two more mature bald eagles began flight straight in our direction from across the channel. No wind. No rain. No movement, only the sounds of the wildlife around.
The day was so exceedingly beautiful I soon found myself on an inflatable paddle board cruising laxly around the nearby island. It was mesmerizing to see the quantity of seals piled onto “Seal Rock”. Their sausage shaped silhouettes are shiny in the soft light shining through holes in the clouds above. As I rhythmically paddle I can see them cautiously watching, with each stroke an anticipation of retreat. Some of them do blubber their way into the water, with their round, glassy eyes and shiny bald heads exposed just above the surface, looking my way with continued caution and curiosity. Four of them follow behind me, for the entire journey around the island.
The tide is rising from low, and the blue green water is crystal clear to depths of around 50 feet. This is unusual for the season and the conditions. The cooler temperatures keep down the algae growth that can cloud the waters in warmer temperatures. It sure does feel warm today though, as I paddle without gloves and in a typical fall clothing attire.
I find my attention being pulled to the ocean floor, difficult to take my gaze away. It feels mysterious and rare to get to capture such glimpses into the watery darkness. Sunstars of varying shades, with more legs than I can count on my paddle above. Star fish sprawled onto the rocky bottom, in all shades and sizes. The jelly fish, clear and striped varieties, gracefully and purposelessly lobbing around the ocean waters. Watching them closely is similar to watching the movements of figure skating, delicate and enchanting.
As I turn the corner around the island to face west, back towards the cabin, I see hundreds of golden eye. These beautiful sea ducks are very cagey and will take flight as soon as they notice me. It’s interesting on a paddle board, sometimes you can get closer to them than if on the beach. One group of them catch a glimpse, and take immediate flight, whistling rhythmically with each bat of their wings. As I come around the island a little more, I become visible to the others as they mass exit at once. Watching so many ducks fly into the misty mountainous coastline from the stillness of the ocean felt like an intense submersion into the wild. I was dropped deep into the detailed experiences of the simplicity of nature, raw and unpredictable. The calmness of the day had allowed a deep mediative state while paddle boarding along. Then, I noticed the wind as I turned back to head back towards the cabin. It was subtle, but in the quiet magic of the day, felt interrogating and disruptive. The shoreline became less dynamic and more dramatic with the cliffs edges dropping deeply into the ocean floor. Leaving behind two resting seals near the rocky beach, the four others continued to follow along.
Deep in my relaxing, balanced state of paddling I hear a big splash. It sounds close behind me. I turn around only to see the residual ripples of what I assumed was one of the seals being playful. This was somewhat common behavior for them, and sometimes they would fright themselves in their curious pursuit. I continue on, and before I can drop back into my relaxing state there is another splash, this time it sounds bigger and feels closer. I turn around to see what is so loud and close to me, again to only see the ripples of movement. The water is deep here, so I can’t see below me. I paddle on, wondering if maybe it’s an uncharacteristically protective male seal since I was coming back around to “Seal Rock”, where there were mommas and babies. Just as I had settled into the inquisition of that thought, I hear something behind me and turn around to see 6 seemingly large sea lions (much larger than the seals, but they were adolescent females it turns out, so much smaller than the male sea lions), posturing at me, lifting their heads, necks, and upper torso out of the ocean in unison. Their eyes are huge and full of dramatic depth and are looking straight at me, unlike the seals who look, and look away. They are so close I can see their whiskers and eye lashes, and the wrinkles on their face are so pronounced. For as much observation as I allowed, I also responded “Jesus, I’m sorry” and paddled feverishly away, wondering if they were going to act territorial. In reflection later this is a common statement I make when undesirably running into animals in the wild. These sea lions were so close to me. As I paddled, I could hear them behind me, swimming and splashing. I could also hear the chainsaw in the distance at the cabin, so knew if I ended up in the water with these wild beasts it would be only me and them. Once I get closer to “Seal Rock” and the cabin beach seems within reasonable swim range, I relax a little into my own curiosity and excitement that behind me follows a pack of sea lions. We are now near Seal Rock and there are about two dozen seals around, as well. The water is getting clear again as I get closer to the rocky cliffs. I turn my paddle board around back towards the direction of the sea lions. I stand, and I observe the beautiful nature around, wondering where they have gone. Then directly below me, I see them. All 6 of these magnificent beings are swimming under me in synchronized fashion, circling around and passing by. I was simultaneously mesmerized and terrified. These girls could really mess with me if they wanted to get crazy.
They didn’t though. They felt it. The playful, childlike energy of the day. The healing, beautiful stillness that was being transmitted through all of the divine portals. The gifts of the Heavens can be found on earth. Anywhere, anytime, although not always (thankfully!?) As intense as our experiences living in the Alaskan coastal wild, we can receive and connect, anytime, anywhere.
If you’re stuck in traffic, or an elevator, or stressed about a project at work, take a moment, place yourself in a comfortable space floating above the ocean, watching the enchanting sea life live and swim below you, safe, held, breathing in and receiving, the energy of tranquility, and restorative wild love.