Is It Karma?

I held a Bald Eagle. He nearly bit the supervisor, but by the time I reached over to take him, he lay back against my chest, calmly lying against me. He never even attempted to flex his legs or feet. I thought that was odd that he didn't struggle with my inexperience, for he must have known it. When I let him go in a larger cage, Flight A/B, I followed the instruction that I was given, and he slowly flew off, low to the ground. I admired him(yes, he was a young male) for his gentle, yet strong and silent wingbeats. When he landed on a high perch, it appeared that he viewed me with aged kindness, watching as I walked out the door. When I later returned with a fresh bowl of water, he was on the ground, two feet from me. At that point, I felt that I was in the presence of a gentle soul, on the first leg of a long journey, but not alone. Another similar being, as strong and as wise, youthful yet knowledgeable, walked beside me as an equal. The stride was the same, the eyes just as clear, and the heart also as pure. "Be not afraid, for I am here with you to walk in harmony and in peace. I offer you my hand and my heart free of charge with no strings attached. Be kind to it and keep it safe for it will be with you as long as you are in need and require its strength and safety if you should fall." Yes, a truly remarkable and spiritual experience. I worked the flight cage for six days and saw this bird every day. Every day he would fly from the high perch of the cage where he was housed to meet me. He always landed two feet away from me and looked me in the eye each time. It is a standing rule that one NEVER look a raptor in the eye, as it is a threat. They have been known to attack in such an instance. On the sixth day, just before he was to be released, I was in a bordering room in the flight cage. The eagle saw me through the slats and dropped to the ground right beside the slats bordering the two rooms. When I turned from what I was doing, I saw him looking at me. Our eyes met and I said my silent goodbyes to him, and thanked him for his trust and wisdom. Was I a new person? Without a doubt. This was truly a deep and meaningful spiritual experience. At that point, I had no fear. I was released emotionally and it felt like a great weight had been removed from my shoulders. I had and have nothing to fear, not even looking another raptor in the eye, which has proven true, time and again. The Indians have totems, and I know for certain that the eagle is mine. When I returned home to ME, shortly after this experience, I found two sterling silver eagle charms. Right away, I put one of them on my gold chain that I always wear around my neck. It has stayed there ever since. May you all be at peace and at one with yourselves, and happy birding.