I am originally from NYC. Queens to be exact. The only chickens I ever saw were all wrapped up in plastic or on a plate. For some reason I’ve always had a fascination with chicken. My relationship with chickens began almost as soon as I moved to Hawaii. When I first moved here I lived in Waikiki, one of the densest most populated areas of the islands. My first landlady was a character, she was in her 80s and was born someplace in the South. One day she brought over 12 chickens and told me if I fed them I could have their eggs.
At that point I didn’t have enough money to buy food and had been asking for assistance from the universe. I never thought it would show up in the form of fresh eggs. Many years later I moved into a place that had wild chickens. I started to feed them and they started bringing around their baby chicks. That was almost 10 years ago and I still have one of the baby chicks I rescued. Her name is Dale and I brought her over on the plane with me when I moved to the Big Island.
I now have a flock of free range chickens that lay blue eggs and help control the centipedes and coqui frogs. I’m amazed at how smart chickens can be, how observant and patient. Their chicken coop sits on a rise and is made out of guava trees and chicken wire. It is the first place the sun hits on my property. I often watch the sun rise as I feed them. The combination of the morning light and the coo-coo noises they make fills me with a deep sense of peace and the realization that we really are all one.
I watch them mindfully graze, interact with one another, scratch and look for worms. Whenever I teach a tele-class they gather around the window and watch me. I have one miracle chicken called on Anna. She was sick as a baby chick so we took her to the vet’s. She actually died when the attendant held her too tight. The vet did mouth to beak resuscitation, gently pumped on her little chest and brought her back to life. She still likes to be picked up and held. She stands in front of me, looking at me by moving her head from side to side with such intensity I often wonder what she’s thinking.
So what have my chickens taught me? By being around them, observing them, caring for them, gathering their eggs I have learned so much about myself and the nature of reality. You might say it has been a very Zen experience.
I’ve learned:
To relax and be in the moment
Enjoy the feeling of the sun on your face – (the chickens often sun themselves)
Quietly enjoy the gifts provided so generously by the universe
Each blade of grass is different and when I take the time to notice I am in the moment
Being, just being is what brings the greatest joy
Food is best savored in the moment when you are hungry
Celebrate my accomplishments with joy – (when one chicken lays an egg she will chant to let her sisters know what she has done and sometimes the whole flock joins in her celebration)
Pay attention to details and enjoy walking in the rain
Laugh and enjoy the moment (they love to cackle)
Live fully, as if each day is your last
The earth is a gracious hostess
Take time to observe nature, it can teach you a lot. I know the grounding affect of caring for a flock of chickens has given me so many gifts – many of them beyond the realm of words. Take the time to go out and watch the sunrise or the stars, walk in the rain, watch children at play or simply take time to breathe deeply. Life is to short not to enjoy every moment of it.
With love and aloha,
Susan
“This stuff seems like brainwashing,” said the student.
“Your brain needs washing,” replied the teacher.
http://www.susangregg.com/meditation/meditation1.htm