I am excited to share this next story, which includes experiences from a prior interview and meeting with the popular modern explorer Mateo Arguello.
It was evident from the beginning that he is passionate about investigating, researching, and exploring, whether it’s through his expeditions in the mountains or encounters with paranormal phenomena and cryptids.
In particular, I want to focus on a hike he and his friend Austin took on the south side of Pikes Peak, located outside Colorado Springs, Colorado.
So, I thought it would be fun to share their experiences with you…
~Diane Olsen
“My friend, Austin, and I had spent all day hiking and exploring the south side of Pikes Peak. He relied on me to navigate us safely back to the Jeep since it was getting dark. Normally, it was easy for me to remember reference points, even by moonlight.
However, this night was pitch dark and there was no moon. We were over 12,000 feet up the mountain, 500 feet above timberline. As darkness enfolded us the entire landscape became formless. I realized I couldn’t make out anything – even with my headlamp fully illumined.”
It was like looking into the void of space. Nothing reflected in the distance. At that moment; I was unable to tell where I was. For the first time, I understood how people could get lost and die on a cold night like this, high above the trees in what seemed like endless emptiness, a black abyss that absorbed all light.
I was chilled with fear not only for me but for Austin who came with me on these crazy escapades because he trusted my judgment and experience.
In the inky darkness, the valleys were gone, indiscernible. My headlamp only illuminated sixty feet before evaporating. I pushed fear to the side and brought my confidence back to the surface. There was no point in being scared. I needed to guess which valley to hike down. No easy feat.
Unfortunately, from our naked mountaintop vantage, we were looking for one specific dip a few inches or feet deep; the genesis of a swale that would later become a valley rushing downslope into streams that carved out a specific canyon.
Even worse, entirely separate valleys might begin only a few feet from one another, which was very confusing. With as much confidence as I could muster, I let Austin know that we would have to pick one, and hope it would lead us back to the vehicle. He seemed to take it well since I showed no fear or doubt.
It was hard to gauge distances in the dark. For what seemed like two endless black miles we pushed our way past the timberline, into the forest along the valley we thought we had used on the way up. When we ran into the road we traveled with more confidence and improved morale. Our headlamps focused on the flat surface, giving us the illusion that we could see.
The world didn’t seem so vacant – until we ran into a newly installed cattle guard then it became clear that even though we had a path to follow, we had chosen the wrong valley and were hours farther than ever from home. Our morale dropped to nothing. We were cold, hungry, and sleepy. It was edging close to midnight. There was no choice but to keep going.
A few hours passed when a strange sensation overcame me. The way I’d feel when I was in a kill zone in Afghanistan. You knew you were vulnerable; something was watching! This feeling lingered for about a mile until we finally pushed out of the trees near a reservoir. I shook off the dread, perhaps it had been my imagination.
All we could see were these massive outlines and large reflective eyes looking back at us from just outside the reach of our lights. Simultaneously, they started peeking their heads out from behind the giant bush. When we would shine the light to focus on one head, it would quickly hide behind the bush and the other two would jut their heads out like ‘Whack-a-Mole.’ If that wasn’t enough, the one directly behind the tree was peeking above a bush that had to be over eight feet tall.
I couldn’t comprehend how fast and fluid this bear must be to look over the bush, and then duck its head. I’d always seen bears struggling to balance while standing, slowly rising, then falling to get off two feet. This bear was faster and more agile than I was! As soon as the light was directed at it, it shot down – just to shoot up as soon as we shined the light at the new head popping out on the side.
Austin suggested we should take out our firearms for protection. Recognizing he was afraid, I agreed it was probably the best course of action. Yet, I did not get any threatening indication from them, so I wasn’t scared.
As soon as I drew out my 1911 WWII .45, the three giant bears galloped away from us on all fours so fast that they were out of sight within seconds. Unfortunately, that was of no benefit to us, since the “bears” went into the trees on the path we were planning to take, making it impossible for us to keep an eye on them. We stood there, unsure what to do because we felt uneasy moving in that direction.
I commented to Austin how unusual it was to see three adult bears together, and how strange their movements were. The behaviors we saw didn’t make sense. They were not the behaviors of bears. I couldn’t understand how they maneuvered with such agility, and how they instantly knew we had drawn our pistols and fled the scene in haste. I might have understood a fear of rifles but not pistols.
Austin didn’t have much to say since there was much to contemplate. As for me, I was highly suspicious of what we had seen and couldn’t get it out of my head. The way they moved, the interest they showed in us, the way they had been following us from up the timbered slope. If I hadn’t looked to my right, they would have just moved across the flat to that bush, and neither of us would have been the wiser.
We probably waited about twenty minutes before deciding to press forward. Still perplexed and unsure if we were safe, we continued with our lights on and our handguns drawn for about a mile and a half until we ran into a forest service road. We felt safe enough to put the weapons away, but our heads were still on swivels looking for any eye-shine that might indicate these things were still following us.
It took another couple of hours to reach the Jeep and another two hours to get home. By the time this adventure was over it was close to daybreak at 5 A.M . . .
Mateo Argüello
********
If you enjoyed this short story, I invite you to read “the rest of the story” in my novel series, “Rising Wind,” Book 5 “Rock My Soul.” This book is filled with action, adventure, and mystery, celebrating Native American culture while exploring diverse cultures worldwide.
After the fight with brutal cave hyenas that had attacked Secora and Gideon in the remote, rugged mountains of Armenia; the age-old thunderbird, Wakinyan Tanka, rose aloft with a second bird that flashed white chest feathers. Together, they landed on the ridgetop thirty yards above the humans... By Diane Olsen Author.
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Ignoring the lightning and thunder crashing around them, Gideon and Secora clambered over the ragged incline to be near the old bird. When they arrived at the divot between two rocky outcrops, they found the ancient one huddled with one wing partially outstretched for balance, the other folded beneath her. Weak and broken, her beak sagged open.
Their guide, Kheridan, tentatively approached and squatted near Secora, but Seamus, who disliked birds, called out from below, “I’m good here.”
The second bird perched on a higher boulder, anxiously raising her magnificent crest of red, black, and white quills; and alternating her weight from foot to foot. Twisting her head in various positions, she observed the humans with those piercing eyes. Besides the blaze of white feathers on her chest, she had white speckles on her wings.
Even though her body, not counting the enormous tail, was over six feet long, Wakinyan looked weak and broken. Lightening cracked the sky open and rain blew in sheets soaking everything. Wakinyan Tanka’s head drooped, beak resting on the ground and breathing through her mouth.
Secora gave into her tears but heard a sound behind her. As she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed that despite his fear, Seamus had joined them. A thought came to Gideon, oddly Secora felt it too. He said to the others, “The old one’s day of quiet is here. She wants us to bond with this daughter.”
One last time Wakinyan Tanka raised her glorious crest and turned her red-gold eye seated in blue-tinted skin toward Gideon and Secora. As she lifted her grizzly bear-sized head, they noticed blood oozing from her leg and chest feathers. Without speaking, they removed their coats and spread them over the old bird, hoping to give her the feeling of being a protected nestling. The two other men followed suit, then shivered beside the noble creature, in awe of the event.
It wasn’t long before the downpour moved off to the south and the imminent threat of lightning passed. So too, had Wakinyan Tanka. Gideon, his head pressed on top of his mentor’s crest, was sobbing openly. Seamus captured some of the epic situations on video.
Suddenly, they felt Kheridan hands on their shoulders. “Let’s think about this another time. We are a long way from safety, and I’m sure those giant cave hyenas weren’t the only dangers in this area.”
The young bird that would from now on be referred to as, “White Feather,” spread her wings and rose quietly, circling the currents until she was barely visible, and following the pattern of her mother, two piercing shrieks signaled her departure.
The storm moved on, and the petrichor fragrance of the grateful earth was redolent and calming. . .
If you enjoyed this short story, I invite you to read “the rest of the story” in my novel series, “Rising Wind,” Book Four: “Like Feathers to a Wing.” This book is filled with action, adventure, and mystery, celebrating Native American culture while exploring diverse cultures worldwide. It would make a fantastic holiday gift for the avid readers on your Christmas list and may be purchased from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01LWDB4K7/allbooks
Tarkio hollered from outside. “I think I see something out there – in the meadow.”
Secora and Gideon hustled over. The boy, one of Secora’s grad students, was shading his eyes with his hand. Following his gaze, they noticed a sow bear with cubs was gnawing on a cow carcass.
Tarkio asked, “Maybe that’s what has been bothering Bill’s family’s livestock?” Secora was hesitant. “Could be, I suppose. But we have to remember Bill is one of my paleontology students. Hopefully, he would know if they were seeing a bear with cubs.”
Suddenly, a large dark blur raced from the woods into the field and swatted the sow’s head, flipping her entire body and efficiently breaking her neck. She lay still where she fell. Gideon drew up the rifle and prepared to shoot.
Secora grabbed his arm, distracting him. “What if there are two of those things? We need to get away from here right now. My path has crossed with dangerous beasts before. The outcome of such interactions is murky. Not everyone who meets these creatures makes it out alive. Survival – that’s a bonus.”
Secora woke early the next morning at the farm where her student Bill and his family had been harassed by a deadly beast. She heard her grad student and office mate, Tarkio, creep over awake, and excited. She rose and they exited the house to sit on the patio quietly listening to a late cricket and a few frogs while Secora combed her hair.
“In a parental sense, I’m very much against you staying here without us while we look for that carcass over at Sam’s place today. “Secora, I am old enough to make my own decisions, and besides, I will be with two well-armed game wardens.”
Gideon joined his wife and Tarkio, rubbing both eyes with his knuckles. “Secora, you should give him your sat phone. Tarkio, my number is programmed into it. Call me if there’s the slightest problem.” He sat on the step and stretched. “We’ll be looking for the carcass of the beast that was shot on the neighbor’s property.” He yawned and blinked, waiting for Tarkio to nod.
Soon they noticed Bill’s mother, Elena, at the door, inviting them in for scrambled eggs and sausage, home fries, and biscuits. They followed her in as the delightful aromas lured them to the dining room. They dug into a wonderful breakfast that, for a moment, allayed Secora’s concerns that this was likely to be an ominous day.
When the dishes were dried and put away, Secora wandered through the dining and living rooms, fascinated by lovely photos that had been blown up and hung as wall art. There was a series of deciduous tree panels showing close-ups of leaves in the full range of fall colors, which any child would wish to capture in her hand as she walked down an autumn street. The collage of purple, maroon, several shades of reds and orange, green, gold, and yellow hues made her smile.
Next, she noticed some evening horizon shots of black rocks against a layered blue-purple sky, featuring stars and a meteor. In the hall, on the way to the restroom, she stopped at a black and white photo that captured a team of Belgian horses plowing a field, and inside the bathroom, she found a dramatic photo of white bear grass plumes shooting up from a super-steep green slope, surrounded by clouded mountains that took her breath away. She asked Bill, “Are these your handiwork?” “Yes,” he answered shyly.
They heard a knock at the door, and Elena ushered the game wardens inside. Introductions were brief, as the wardens shook hands with the family. Gideon and Secora hugged Tarkio, who by then felt like he was part of their family. The senior warden, James, smirked, and said, “Don’t worry ma’am, we handle wolves and bears for breakfast.” “I’m not worried about them. I’m afraid this is something far more dangerous.” “Like Bigfoot.” They both laughed. “More like a tiger. It may hunt you. Just be careful.”
Both James and Frank, the other warden, chuckled again. Perhaps there was a slight edge to the laughter this time. Tarkio said goodbye and followed them out the door, promising he’d give them a blow-by-blow account of the excursion. Secora sighed from her heart but smiled weakly. It was time to let the crew move out. When they left, Secora hollered after Bill, “You have bear spray on you, right?” “Yes, mom. Two cans.”
Gideon added, “Okay, use the Satfon to keep in touch, Tarkio. Secora and I will be only a few miles away.” A few yards down the lane, Gideon turned their vehicle around and then stopped. “Was there something, just there… at the edge of the woods?” Secora rolled her eyes. “Oh, I imagine there was.” He sighed. “I hate to leave. Didn’t you say that thing probably wouldn’t be back? I don’t feel so sure about it now.”
While the Fish and Game vehicle was heading across the meadow toward the forest fence line Secora said, “I understand. But being with them probably won’t change the outcome. This way, we can be available to help if we’re needed.” As they left, they noticed that Bill and his family were already in their pickup, crawling down the two-track road toward town.
* * * * *
When Tarkio and the wardens climbed over the old wooden fence everything seemed normal enough. Birds were singing and Tarkio noticed a purple butterfly flapping erratically past their faces. The wardens walked ahead at a good pace, occasionally bending over to look at imprints in the pine needles. Frank commented, “Looks like a grizzly paw print.” If it weren’t for the remnants of the cow carcass that had been dragged out of the meadow and over or through the rail fence, they would have found very little else.
At one point, Tarkio collected a sample of two-inch dark fur caught in tree bark. He wondered about where this thing had been taking the carcass. Did it have a den? Could it be a female with cubs? What kind of den would such a creature have? Den choices in the open pine forest were, of course, limited. He thought about coyotes, then bears. They go underground, but that doesn’t mean this girl would. Pumas and other big cats might den up in the rocks.
The men he was with had almost twenty years on him. They were puffing and took a break in a thick patch of conifers. The surrounding air turned chilly. Tarkio thought it strange that he could see his breath as he sat on a rock. He pushed his hands into his pockets and pressed his elbows toward his ribs to conserve heat. That wasn’t enough, so he pulled his coat tightly around him.
The part of the forest they were passing through had become so thick and dark, that the penetration of sunlight was limited. Finally, he said, “Guys, I’m feeling eerie, and cold all of a sudden.” James agreed, “Yeah, me too. Frank, maybe we should call it a day.” Frank smiled. “I have a 30.06 that says you guys are making a mountain out of a molehill.”
Tarkio continued, “Listen, this beast could easily be a female with cubs. Why else would she be dragging that cow around?” “We don’t want to be around a hungry sow with cubs, do we Frank?” “Okay, James. What say we take the rest of the day to explore closer to the ranch area?” James slowly rose up, unholstering his pistol. Relieved, he whispered, “Yeah that sounds sensible.”
At that moment Tarkio felt an utter dread. Had he seen eyes flashing between twigs? James whispered in a harsh whisper, “Frank, get up and walk behind us with your rifle ready. We are going to need eyes in the backs of our heads.” “What are you talking about?” James whispered, “We’re being hunted.”
“Why are you whispering – talking is better with bears.” They moved out towards what they felt would be the direction of the vehicle and the ranch. An unfamiliar snarl snagged their immediate attention. Tarkio popped the cap on the bear spray. Then he remembered the GPS on Secora’s Satfon.
As a precaution he dialed Gideon. “We’re in a pickle here and heading back toward the vehicle at the ranch.” “Keep sharp.” “I have the bear mace.”“Maybe you should spray a little of it around you and on your pant legs and boots. Hold your breath.” “Good idea. If it doesn’t like the smell, maybe it will back off long enough for us to make it.” “Hope so.”
Tarkio could hear Gideon tell Secora to grab her coat and head for the car. He heard her answer that she was dialing 911 on her cell. The young man sprayed the pant legs and boots of his companions. When he finished and could speak, he said, “Okay, I think we are safe to breathe.” Frank’s bravado had fled and he was noticeably shaken as they went forward. “I’ve listened to YouTube Bigfoot stories for years. This feeling of being watched, and everything going too quiet could apply to this thing as well.
Even the air is still – breathless.”
Another snarl came from their right. It was all Tarkio could do, to keep from running full out like a crazy man. Frank asked, “Don’t they have stories of wolf men or some other large wolf creature that can stand on its hind legs and be seven to twelve feet tall?” James said, “You don’t think this thing can be that big.” “I don’t want to, but the lady was right.
How many animals can drag off a cow carcass rather than eat it where it falls?” “Frank, get a grip. This is the last time we’ll take a civilian into the field.” “Okay James, maybe so. But would you still be out here if you were alone?” James’s breathing became a little ragged as he began to jog. “Hell no!” Tarkio was nervous. “Now, there’s something off to our left, too!” “Whoa, what is that stink?” “James, I think I shit my pants.” “Me too.”
The snarl changed to a guttural growl down to their right. Then a deep roar with a subsonic tone erupted from the hillside to their left. Tarkio’s head whiplashed from one side to the other. Gideon said to Tarkio, “I’ve noted your location. You are only two and a half miles in a direct line from the ranch. We’ll be there soon.” “That’s good.” He relayed the information to the others. Then suddenly Tarkio was hit from behind. As he fell, he heard both the pistol and the rifle fire.
****
Tarkio felt groggy. His sleep had been disturbed. Now he felt like he was being dragged off his bed, and there were the muffled noises. No, they must be voices around him. He didn’t want to open his eyes. He was afraid to open them. Instead, he called, “Frank?” Then after a pause, “James?” There might have been a groan.
Tarkio was still lying on his back, and couldn’t open his eyes. Without warning he was picked up and carried off – not by puncturing jaws he was relieved to discover, but like a potato sack. The air reeked. He was uncomfortable bouncing along. Darkness overtook his agitation.
****
“Hurry, they’re under attack,” Gideon yelled as he joined Secora in the vehicle. Secora hit the gas. Sam’s ranch was ten minutes from the meadow. “I hope the sheriff is closer and arrives before we get there.” As if by magic they heard a siren crescendo. Secora saw the lights and pulled over for the cruiser to pass. Gideon told her that he’d heard a roar on the phone and a scream for “Help.”
Then three shots were fired before the Satfon went quiet.
Moments later, the university van pulled up to the forest fence but Secora and Gideon couldn’t see any people – just the vehicles, the cruiser with its lights still on and doors left wide open. Secora sniffed the air. “I smell a faint pungent odor.” “Me too.” Gideon passed through the gate, his rifle at the ready. There were no other sounds. “Everything is too quiet.” They followed the path of bent grasses when they could. Occasionally, there was a partial heel indent.
Gideon stopped to look at the sat phone’s GPS. “We seem to be heading in the right direction. We’re about a mile out from where the phone landed, and I last heard Tarkio with the game wardens.” There was no mistaking the warning they heard off to their left. “Almost sounds like a bear,” noted Secora, as she whirled to face that direction. Gideon stopped with her. Then they crept toward the noise, all their senses alert.
“Honey, I’m seeing drops of wet blood on the grass. I’m going to collect a sample for DNA testing.” She took off her backpack and put on a pair of gloves to swab a sample, while Gideon hollered, “Tarkio. Tarkio, where are you.” There was no response for a second, and then they heard a call from the direction of the game wardens’ path. Gideon jogged toward the noise while Secora noted where and when she had collected the sample and followed after him.
Suddenly, someone was shouting from behind her. She turned again and squinted back toward the fence. It was Bill, running full out toward her and yelling, “I heard the sirens and knew there was trouble. I took the pickup and came back as quickly as I could.” Puffing anxiously, he demanded, “What… what happened?” He puffed again. “Is anyone hurt?” “Gideon is up ahead. Let’s catch up and see. Be aware, Bill, I think there’s a large animal off to our left. It growled a warning for us to stay away.”
“G-r-e-a-t, no problem. I don’t have a weapon.” “Me neither.” Secora smelled the dry pine needles as they crunched their way through the brush. It was about three minutes before they could see Gideon through the shrubs. He was standing near a clump of trees with the deputies. Secora couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she took a careful 360-degree look around before approaching them. Bill looked terrified. “What’s that horrible smell?”
Secora shook her head but said nothing. The deputies looked them over and asked them to identify themselves. They showed their IDs and Gideon vouched for both of them while handing Secora her Satfon. Secora bent down to examine the evidence. Bill pinched his nose and said, “That’s a crazy amount of excrement.”
One deputy asked, “How many men did you say were here?” Gideon replied, “Three. Two game wardens and a paleontologist from the university.” “And at least one Bigfoot.” Secora looked up when no one made a comment. “I think the excrement was a weapon to deter the animal which originally attacked the men.” “Okay, ma’am, do you understand how ridiculous that sounds?” “I do. You got something better?” Bill said, “That would explain some of this… but where are the guys?”
“We’ve called dispatch for a search team and dogs. Until then, they are officially missing. There have already been several disappearances in this county and across into Canada this spring.” The other deputy said, “That’s none of their business.” Secora took a step toward him. “Well, it kinda is. The university expects Tarkio to teach classes on Monday, and I’ll need to call his wife and son. Surely the game wardens also have families.”
Bill advised, “I think Secora and Gideon should go on ahead while we wait for the search team.” Gideon sensed a hesitation with the deputies, so he pushed a bit further. “It would be like having a tracker go in before the search teams.” “We can’t let you do that. You could ruin the trace evidence.” Three knocks rang out as if someone was sending a signal by whacking a tree with a chunk of wood.
Secora said, “One or more of them might be alive. In that direction. We could check it out without messing up the evidence. You can direct the search from here.” Bill said, “By the way, your dogs might want to check out the blood drops on the grass about a mile back and to the south.” A deputy said, “That’s probably from the cow carcass.” Secora asked, “Do dead cows snarl? I heard a warning growl off to my left at that position, and the blood was wet.”
The deputies made faces registering disgust and possibly a little fear. One said to Gideon, “Hey, use your Satfon and keep us updated.” Then the two of them headed back toward the farm. Secora asked Bill to photograph the attack site, while she and Gideon took samples of excrement and blood, marking their positions at the scene. She pointed out deep claw marks on a nearby tree to Bill, who photographed them, while Secora took a swab from the fresh scratches.
They headed uphill toward the west-northwest, toward the knocks. The trail was fairly easy to follow as there were occasional deep impressions of a large human foot, along with bent-down grass and other signs. It became clear there was more than one creature passing through. Gideon sniffed the lingering pungent odors in the air. Secora wasn’t the only one who noticed. They stopped to listen. Things were perfectly silent until Bill snapped a photo of a rare Indian Pipe orchid. She smiled and said, “Send me a copy of that, will you?”
Another set of three knocks came from several miles away. However, they continued to follow the tracks and the scent. When they arrived at the base of a hill to the north, Secora thought she could smell blood. “Wait. Just a moment.” She closed her eyes and tried to use telepathy to let everyone know these three humans meant no harm. Please let us help our friends and any who live. There was a single knock above their position.
They arrived at the biggest tree in the area and found two bodies surrounded by a circle of urine and feces. Gideon explained,” To ward off dangerous intruders,” He bent down and checked for signs of life. One warden and Tarkio were alive but unconscious. “No sign of the third man. I should call the deputies to bring medics.
Secora, why don’t you two leave offerings and a prayer up a hundred yards or so.” She took a PB&J and a baggie of dried apricots out of her backpack and gave them to Bill. Gideon handed over a sandwich and raisins from his lunch, and they left. The Lakota dialed the number they had been given, then spoke with the deputies, He heard Secora and Tarkio climbing over rocks and fallen trees above, with their gifts and their gratitude.
It took the rescue crew a half-hour to arrive. By then the warden, James, had regained consciousness on site. He had nothing to say about what happened. Gideon and Secora found out later that Tarkio roused on the way to the hospital. The search dog found the third man partially devoured. Frank lay with his head knocked away from his body in the area where Secora had heard the growl.
Nothing further was noted about the attack or any of the unseen creatures in the official record. . .
*******
If you enjoyed reading this short story from my novel “Like Feathers of a Wing” in the ‘Rising Wind’ series, all my novels are available now from Amazon in Kindles and Paperback formats to read the full stories…
Celebrating National Kayak Day In honor of Native American Heritage Month.
Today we celebrate ‘National Kayak Day’ and the history of the kayak, a narrow watercraft originally created by Arctic tribes 5,000 years ago,and the role it played in their everyday lives.
(Let’s learn morecourtesy of Google Doodle& (Image courtesy of NOAA Fisheries)
These small and narrow watercraft were created thousands of years ago for hunting, fishing, and transportation. Kayaking has since evolved into a widely popular recreational activity and competitive sport.
Native American communities in arctic regions are to thank for these paddle-powered boats. Kayaks were originally invented by Northern tribes including Inuit, Aleut, Inupiat, and Yup’ik, and made with animal skins, bones, and driftwood to help traverse cold waters. These boats offered hunters the stealth and mobility to successfully catch fish, seals, whales, and more in even the most treacherous waters.
Image Below Credit: Smithsonian Institution
The best weapons to use in a kayak were darts and harpoons. Bows were easily damaged when wet and were best left for hunting on land. Many harpoons included a throwing stick that increased the range and force. At the end of the line was often an inflated bladder that kept the line afloat and tired the targeted animal.
It’s only fitting that theword kayak means “hunter’s boat” in Inuit.
Qajaq, the etymological form of the word, stems from one of the 14 dialects of the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan family of languages. Each Qajaqwas customized and hand-built by the hunter to account for their own size and weight and thought of as an extension of the self rather than just a tool.
Kayaking has since evolved into a sport and recreational hobby that welcomes all who enjoy time out on the water. From leisurely rides across still lakes to competitions over treacherous white waters, kayaking is now worldwide. We have the Northern tribes to thank for this sporting advancement.
(Below is an Inuit family in front of a ‘Tupiq; (a tent made of animal skins and used in the warmer months) at Pond Inlet in 1906 before Canada drove them out.)
I hope you have enjoyed reading about artic native history of the kayak and the native people. In my next post soon, I’ll be sharing a new captivating short story.
Welcome, everyone, to my new official author website and writing corner of the world!
I am happy and excited to announce I am back to blogging and eager to delight my readers in new ways. After taking a break from publishing books, I have been writing actively and sharing some of my fascinating and popular shard stories, poems, short stories, and other book titles published and unpublished.
My purpose is to engage with you and all who visit on a personal level while sharing captivating tales filled with mystery, thrilling suspense, and action. I aim to take you on global cultural adventures!
I look forward to sharing these stories and experiences with you and everyone who visits. I am proud of the books I have written and published thus far and have enjoyed hearing readers’ feedback through the years with exceptional book reviews for all my books they graciously took the time to read.
As autumn is in full swing and with Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaching, I wanted to remind you that all of my books would make fantastic gifts for the avid readers on your holiday shopping list! With a wide selection to choose from, you can stack a few together, gift-wrapped, and place them under the Christmas tree.
They are sure to delight anyone who enjoys gripping mystery and global action adventure reads.
Make sure to visit my books page here on my website and learn about all my award-winning books or you may visit my Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01LWDB4K7/allbooks for purchasing and read the book reviews and the editorial media reviews too!
As I begin this new chapter of writing and sharing my stories, don’t be shy to leave me your thoughts or feedback in the “comment” section of each new post. I thank you for stopping by and visiting my literary corner of the world avid readers! 📚✍🏻🥳
I wanted to start by saying I had a busy past summer with many projects and the writing of my second book. I thank all who have come to visit and take time to read what is my joy and passion. I also can not believe it has been one-year ago I started my blog to share with you about my writing, my book, and just life! I hope to be more active blogging this coming new year and I figured I need more practice. Lol.
Here is a new post I hope you enjoy reading and as always, I look forward to your thoughts and comments.
Diane
Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com one year ago.
Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.
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Developing the Sacred Virtue of Determination
Dedication
Whether we’re trying to complete a boring job, fighting the evil of an addiction or a mean bully, or siding with a group of misfits who are saving the planet from aliens breaching from another dimension; the struggle to focus our abilities and stay in the fight is a real challenge.
We must dedicate ourselves to the problem. In that moment, we believe we’ll be successful in overcoming the antagonistic force or forces.
Distraction
Later, we may wake up in a state of forgetfulness. Maybe, we don’t feel up to snuff. The goal just doesn’t feel as important as it did yesterday. Possibly we are beset by disillusionment, depression, maybe fear, or even pain.
If we are lucky, something inside us screams against the lethargy “No! I’ve got to do this no matter how I feel, whatever the cost or discomfort.”
Rededication
We have become willing to sacrifice our comfort and our fears. We might even become altruistic. Success is in the mindset even if in the most extreme cases, like a battlefield, obliteration is a likely result.
We didn’t give up, or defeat ourselves. We fought our way through to whatever end we chose to achieve, despite the cost.
Determination
We are given plenty of opportunities to practice and strengthen this virtue for a reason. Early levels of development might include learning to stand and walk, or how to communicate with others (a life-long endeavor). Later, we battle antagonists like boredom, bullies, inept bosses, war, illness, and death.
These challenges can help develop and strengthen our souls. The endgame could be that we dedicate ourselves to God, and to serving His creation. In doing so we achieve the pinnacle of selflessness. Immersion with the Creator. Think of Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, or Swami Prabhavananda.
This is the path of the Apostles in each Age. It is necessary for their sacrifices and determination, to protect and grow the tiny flame brought by the Prophet, in each rebirth of the Single, Ancient Faith of God, for all eternity.
I am rounding out my last two blog posts with post three of this series. I hope you have enjoyed reading and hope you all had a Happy Easter!
All of the Manifestations or Revealers of God’s Word; knew, respected and loved one another, from the Beginning. They were aware of what they and their peers would suffer, and how humanity would mess with the “Word of God”, as we always have.
They knew that the renewal They brought to this world would, eventually fail miserably. The Message would become diffused and ambiguous. Christ acknowledged sadly, we would call ourselves His, but He will know us not.
People would start churches and monasteries etc., that were never meant to exist. Even worse, religion would become an excuse to attack and murder other people, the animal, plants – even the earth…
We have mentioned some examples of how the Great Prophets told us of Others who would come bearing God’s Word to renew the perfection of His religion and clear up the misunderstandings men had created by demeaning the purity of the last Revelation. These Beings also brought social laws from the age in which they lived, a new calendar and many other marvels specific to each of Them. For example, there are remnants of at least nine Great Religions in the world and yes, there are nine calendars currently in use.
But the loving bonds continue between the “Bearers of the Holy Spirit;” the past, present, and future; and with the occupants of this planet, what HE promises and to whom They all serve!
These Great Ones not only told us about the next ones to come, and gave strict warnings to guide humanity not to fall for everyone who made a claim to that station. They also edified the ones Who came before them. And in no uncertain terms offered punishment to all who did not believe in the previous Prophet or several Prophets.
Christ gave an example in John 5, chapters 45 and 46:
45: “Do not think that I shall not accuse you to the Father; there is One who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust.
46: For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; For He wrote about Me.”
Muhammed edifies Christ and Moses.
“…when Muhammad proclaimed His work and mission, His first objection to His own followers was, “Why have you not believed on Jesus Christ? Why have you not accepted the Gospel? Why have you not believed in Moses? Why have you not followed the precepts of the Old Testament? Why have you not understood the prophets of Israel? Why have you not believed in the disciples of Christ? The first duty incumbent upon ye, O Arabians, is to accept and believe in these.
You must consider Moses as a Prophet. You must accept Jesus Christ as the Word of God. You must know the Old and the New Testaments as the Word of God. You must believe in Jesus Christ as the product of the Holy Spirit.
His people answered, ‘O Muḥammad! We will become believers although our fathers and ancestors were not believers, and we are proud of them. Tell us what is going to become of them?’ Muḥammad replied, ‘I declare unto you that they occupy the lowest stratum of hell because they did not believe in Moses and Christ and because they did not accept the Bible, and although they are my own ancestors, yet they are in despair in hell.’ This is an explicit text of the Qur’án; it is not a story or tradition but from the Qur’án itself, which is in the hands of the people. Therefore, it is evident that ignorance and misunderstanding have caused so much warfare and strife between Christians and Muslims. If both should investigate the underlying truth of their religious beliefs, the outcome would be unity and agreement…”
The Promulgation of Universal Peace, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Source: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982…
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Baha’u’llah, the Glory of God, highly and frequently praised the Bab, Mohammad, Christ, Moses, and all other Revealers of God’s Word – back to times beyond human memory. Each of these holy Beings praises the previous Embodiments of the Holy Spirit and foretells the advent of the next One and the One who will come at the end of the Age. This last One would be known as the Fifth Buddha, the Spirit of Truth, the Sayoshyant, or Baha’u’llah – the Glory of the Lord, etc. as anticipated by the different faiths.
There is One God, and one core to His religion – in all ages. We should appreciate this.
Diane Olsen Award Winning Author 