Shreve in Wyoming was accusing of pimping out her coyote "charlie" by selling calenders and such. I ordered a calendar and in the process reminded Shreve that the Nez Perce coyote stories would have had coyote being the pimp! She wrote me back with this:
Hi Sue,
Laughing about the coyote pimp observation - so true!!!And yes, totally fine and easy if you'd like to send a check - just make it obvious what you'd like and where you'd like it sent, as my brain is NOT to be trusted these days! Based on your history and experience with coyotes, what do you think it means that they are becoming such a stronger and more obvious presence among humans these days - even in cities and suburbs. What are they bringing us? What are they saying? I understand the logical, physical reasons causing it (people can't stop building 5000 square foot homes and stripmalls!) but the possible metaphysical meaning entertwined with that is something I am pondering a lot recently and would love to hear your perspective or ideas.......
This was so much fun, because it's been a long time since I had a conversation with someone who thought of coyotes as anything other than ... well.... coyotes...
My answer to Shreve was fun, because it made me ponder and made me remember.
First thought, that we humans will need to keep our sense of humor in order to survive in the midst of the strip malls and mcmansions. We will have to learn to survive and to adapt, to change our ways if need be in order to continue to survive, even thrive in the changing environment. Coyote most of all teaches me about surviving and thriving and adapting, and about having fun in the process, so I would imagine those themes might be relevant to humans on a larger scale. I have read that coyotes are even learning to hunt in packs like wolves in some places, behavior that I'm sure you know isn't natural to them. Coyote also reminds me that there is magic in the world, something that I can forget in the midst of the everydayness of living, working, all that ordinary stuff. Maybe Coyote is coming into our midst more to try to remind us about that magic. Shreve, I can't tell you how it feels to have someone actually ask a question like you asked. I have been away from magic too long. I'm a soil scientist, on the verge of retirement after 32 years mapping soils in the mountains and canyons of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and now California. Coyote has visited me often, physically, and metaphysically, if I pay attention. You remind me to pay attention.
Hi Sue,
Laughing about the coyote pimp observation - so true!!!And yes, totally fine and easy if you'd like to send a check - just make it obvious what you'd like and where you'd like it sent, as my brain is NOT to be trusted these days! Based on your history and experience with coyotes, what do you think it means that they are becoming such a stronger and more obvious presence among humans these days - even in cities and suburbs. What are they bringing us? What are they saying? I understand the logical, physical reasons causing it (people can't stop building 5000 square foot homes and stripmalls!) but the possible metaphysical meaning entertwined with that is something I am pondering a lot recently and would love to hear your perspective or ideas.......
This was so much fun, because it's been a long time since I had a conversation with someone who thought of coyotes as anything other than ... well.... coyotes...
My answer to Shreve was fun, because it made me ponder and made me remember.
First thought, that we humans will need to keep our sense of humor in order to survive in the midst of the strip malls and mcmansions. We will have to learn to survive and to adapt, to change our ways if need be in order to continue to survive, even thrive in the changing environment. Coyote most of all teaches me about surviving and thriving and adapting, and about having fun in the process, so I would imagine those themes might be relevant to humans on a larger scale. I have read that coyotes are even learning to hunt in packs like wolves in some places, behavior that I'm sure you know isn't natural to them. Coyote also reminds me that there is magic in the world, something that I can forget in the midst of the everydayness of living, working, all that ordinary stuff. Maybe Coyote is coming into our midst more to try to remind us about that magic. Shreve, I can't tell you how it feels to have someone actually ask a question like you asked. I have been away from magic too long. I'm a soil scientist, on the verge of retirement after 32 years mapping soils in the mountains and canyons of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and now California. Coyote has visited me often, physically, and metaphysically, if I pay attention. You remind me to pay attention.
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