Sleeping Beauty

Midweek, walking on the sand close to the water down to the estuary. High tide, and very few people are here to enjoy a sunny blue skies day. All winter the beach has been changed and re- sculpted by violent storms and enormous King tides. The stretch from water line to the dunes is very diminished. Magnificent Ocean is a great teacher (and reminder) about constant change, like Breath. Feeling contentedly small and insignificant, I surrender to what is, just as when gazing at the starred night sky. Waves washing ashore, sand pipers busily scurrying up and down, dancing with the swelling and receding water, excitedly peeping in small flocks. A gentle symphony of sounds. The bigger curlews with their long-curved beaks standing still at times, on one leg, in suspended expectation. The soles of my feet eagerly sinking into the wet sand, with each transfer of weight another foot being massaged, rolling in, peeling off. Being washed in cold saltwater – dialoguing and communing with each step, each breath, singing. At the estuary I walk around the bend, curious how it will look. I am all alone with the elements, heavenly.

 

Big sculptured pieces of drift wood, and then a sea elephant (or elephant seal), who from afar appears like another big log. Motionless. All alone. Approaching, I realize he is dead. Feeling propelled to take a still, I respectfully inch my way forward. Suddenly a big huff, fine mist of sand disperses from the snout of the giant. Extremely startled, I jump back, and hear myself saying out loud: “Sorry!” He does not open his eyes, is not mad, just gently snorts a couple more times waking slowly from his dreams. Sea elephants’ dreams are big. As if invited I stay, watching as he stretches his neck and head up in the air, yawning gracefully. Then lying down in the same position, casually flipping more sand onto his body. This creature is so intertwined with the beach, the sand. Out of the water, he is having a deep rest, deep as the ocean. His restful oceanic aliveness has by now infiltrated my own body and soul. What an unexpected gift: Sea Elephant being kindly generous with my presence. Giving me a private lesson in how to be. I bow, and walk on….

 

Sea elephant – a true sleeping beauty – a loner,

surprising me, NOT with his deadness, but with his Aliveness!

 

PS: Getting close to our living & thriving northern elephant seals is forbidden and not advised. They are protected. We humans are to respect their privacy, not disturbing and threatening the animals. And I always follow this rule. In this case, the lonely sea elephant was not with his colony, he needed a break :) after all they are now in breeding season when they are fasting and losing a lot of body weight. Mistaking him for dead – read here about another encounter i had last year – the giant could sense my quiet slow approach, I was alone and no threat. Just across the estuary on Drake’s Beach, colonies of sea elephants “haul-out” each year. In spring that area is closed off for visitors to protect the pups, but you can get a view from afar, and talk to rangers and park staff.

 

https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_elephantseals.htm

 

https://karinalandriver.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-new-year-what-needs-to-be-learned.html