Who Is Himami?

And are the Dragons rising?

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Dear Readers,

I am coming down from a high of the most magnificent January snowstorm. In Ayurveda terms, it was a very Vata storm - cold and dry and light (but minus the wind). It is still Vata Season where I live in the Northeastern US. When late winter arrives, and the air becomes damp and the snow heavy, we will know the transition into Kapha Season has begun.

But I don’t want to talk about Ayurveda today.

In some ways, it was a perfect storm - in the best sense of the words. No heavily laden trees and power lines, so no power outages. There was nowhere I needed to be but here. I know that is a luxury that doesn’t apply to everyone, but hopefully, there were work and school snow days to be had by many.

I am always beyond grateful for the winter angels here who show up faithfully to plow and sand my scary driveway (Willow almost plunged off of it down the embankment several days ago because of the ice!) But, she didn’t, and we’re both ok. :) Ditto, my snow shoveling young man. who showed up while I was writing to you. I even have friends who gently let me know that a storm is coming because I’m so lax about checking the weather. Thus, I was prepared.

Speaking of Willow, this was after just the first day of the storm:

My propane tank is almost empty, and I just hope that when/if he does show up, the driver can get up my (did I already mention scary?) driveway. I have a big stack of wood, so all is well.

I truly cannot complain. I love January. Even moreso when there’s a big snowstorm involved. I put on my new, stylish insulated overalls from the Tractor Store :), strapped on my snowshoes, walked through the woods, and sat in my Nemeton. I could not stop smiling. I wanted everyone to feel that sense of Peace. The only sound in my world was when snow would woosh down from the tallest White Pine trees.

It was a perfect day. And I am savoring each remaining day in this, my favorite month of the year.

No bugs.

I finally figured out how to take photos of snowflakes with my phone (thank you, Amanda!)

I probably should have broken this post into two because I’m just now getting to the point of it. But I couldn’t write without mentioning the Magic of the snowstorm.

So, here I go.

Who is Himami?

Well, I have been asking myself this question for the longest time. You see, several years ago, I was meditating, repeating the mantra I’d used since I began that practice. When, all of a sudden, the word “Himami” shoved my mantra aside and kept repeating in my mind.

“Himami. Himami. Himami.”

It was the weirdest thing ever. This happened over and over every time I meditated.

“Who or what is Himami? I wondered. I researched the word. Nada for Himami. The name Himani popped up, but I wasn’t hearing Himani. I was hearing Himami.

I thought it might be a guide, so I journeyed to ask my spirit friends in the Lower World. I asked Wolf, who always greets me at the entrance, “Are you Himami?” “No, I am not,” he replied. “Who is Himami? I asked. They all shrugged.

Eventually, the word stopped interrupting my meditations, and they went back to normal. But, every now and then, I would think of Himami and what it meant.

A few months ago, I looked out my window one morning and gasped. There, on the side of the mountain range to the south, was a Dragon.

The next day, after the sun had risen and settled in the sky, there he was again. And the next day and the next and the next.

The only time I can’t see him is when the mist is so thick that it shrouds the mountains.

My “rational mind” thought, “Maybe there was some clear-cutting there, and that’s just the shape it’s taken because of the snowfall.” I wonder if he will still be there come spring.

This is what he looks like right now, around noon on this crisp, cold, sunny day:

Don’t ask me how I know he’s a he and not a she. Well, you can ask me! I almost always get an immediate hit when I experience Nature clairvoyance. This time, I wasn’t quite sure, and so I asked my trusty pendulum for help.

Speaking of Nature clairvoyance, I kid you not: several weeks ago, I heard those words while wandering in the woods one day, and gasped when I saw a new face in one of the giant stones. I thought to myself that I’d come up with a new term. :) Until one day, I put it in the search bar on my computer, and this popped up:

Nature clairvoyance refers to the intuitive ability to perceive information from the natural world through visual impressions, symbols, or imagery that are not accessible through ordinary senses. It is a form of clairvoyance, which means “clear seeing,” and involves receiving insights through mental images, flashes of light, colors, or shapes in one’s inner or peripheral vision. These visions may relate to past, present, or future events and often emerge when one is in nature, such as noticing patterns in clouds, tree bark, or rocks that evoke symbolic meanings.

For example, a person might see the shape of a howling wolf in a rock formation and interpret it as a message to stand grounded and speak their truth. Similarly, a sunrise might symbolize new opportunities and the flow of life. This ability is considered a natural extension of human perception and can be developed through practices like meditation, visualization, and connecting with spirit guides. It is not limited to a select few but is an innate potential that can be strengthened with intention and time.

Nature clairvoyance often works in tandem with other intuitive senses, such as clairaudience (clear hearing), where natural sounds like wind or water may carry messages or insights. The experience is deeply personal and relies on trusting one’s intuition and interpreting recurring symbols or images over time. As one’s spiritual awareness grows, so does the clarity and depth of these visions, allowing for greater connection with the wisdom of the natural world.

Apologies for sharing something that is obviously AI-generated and doesn’t even credit whoever or wherever it sourced the information. I am having a really hard time coming to terms with the speed at which AI is taking over. I’ll save that for another day. For now, know that my words are my words, and I plan to keep it that way.

I’m assuming that you’re all seeing the Dragon. If you don’t, that’s ok, too! At some point, after each day seeing him faithfully appear after sunrise, unless it’s foggy, I knew he needed a name. That’s when Himami came flying back into my consciousness.

And so, he is Himami.

Before I write a post, I often pick a card from The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit deck. Big surprise, right?

I shuffled the cards and picked the Dolphin. It’s a beautiful card that shows up for me a lot. I decided to pick another one and ended up getting the Unicorn. Another favorite of mine. I love that Kim Krans included the Unicorn because, of course, I do believe they once existed. Might they still? Scotland evidently believes that they did, or they do, because they are the official national animal.

Two beautiful cards to inspire me to write this post. But, as I was putting the rest of the cards away into the box, I heard the top card say, “Pick me up!” And, lo and behold, there it was: DRAGON!

Dragon

Seeing one's most true self
Balancing the ego

The Dragon sees everything. Its essence has been with us since before our first breath and will be there at our last. It watches us navigate the external world as well as our inner world. When Dragon energy is awakened, we are courageous, visionary, and can easily drop into witness consciousness. It is almost as if we are traveling with a great friend inside of ourselves. When we look into the mirror, deep into our eyes, we may even glimpse the“self” behind the “self,” the one who is watching us. This is the power of the Dragon breathing transformative fire into every cell of our bodies. Witnessing this omnipotent energy, even for a brief moment, helps us surrender and let go. We let the Dragon guide us. We hop on its back for a ride, and as we traverse even the most difficult terrain, the Dragon’s eyes see beauty everywhere. It is said that if a yogi does not see beauty in the world, their Agni is dim. Agni is described as "inner fire" or "sacred intelligence.” May even just the mention of the Dragon stir the embers of intelligence within you.

The Dragon
And the third chakra

The subtle energy of the Dragon lives at the navel center, in the Manipura chakra. Manipura translates to “the city of hidden gems" and behind its gates burns the fire of our transformation and digestion. The sages believe health of the fire at the navel center is what governs our ability to clearly "see" both the inner and outer dimensions.

— Kim Krans

I was not the child who was in love with Dragons. I was an avid reader, but not really drawn to fantasy stories. Could it be that even back then, I knew they were so much more than fantasy?

It wasn’t until several years ago that they began appearing in my dreams and journeys. I was in my sixties!

I’m going to put it out there for you to ruminate on. I believe Dragons truly did exist. Might they be rising again? Can you imagine that happening? Maybe they’re underground, deep in the Earth.

A few weeks ago, someone mentioned to me that they were reading “His Majesty’s Dragon,” so, of course, I am reading it now, too.

And in December, when my birthday came around, look who my friend Pam sent me:

This is how you build relationships with animal helping spirits. Synchronicities start happening. I plan to journey into the Middle World to meet with Himami. I’ll keep you posted.

Spending time in the Natural World is the key to unlocking all of your extrasensory gifts (in my humble opinion), but make no mistake - you don’t have to live on a hill surrounded by woods and mountain ranges. Living in solitude as I do.

The other day, I was calling to mind all the learning, growing, and healing that happened for me while I was living in New York City. One of the biggest, noisiest, chaotic cities in the world.

It’s where all of my animal dreams began to happen. Not here, living in the country where wild animals literally come to my door. No, in NYC.

It’s where I had a true healing dream of a physical nature.

It’s where I learned about shamanism and druidry and Ayurveda and energy healing, and all things holistic.

It was where my path diverted in ways that I could not have imagined.

I made an effort to get outside most days and go somewhere where I was a part of the Natural World. On big January snow days in NYC, I was that lone soul walking to the river at night, drinking in the silence and no cars on the road. Playing in the snow. I rode my bike to all of the many parks to get a dose of green (or white in the winter)

And so, wherever you are, you can plug in to that connection we were all born with and have carried for many lifetimes, but which has lain dormant since childhood for many of us. It just takes some effort.

One thing I want to mention is how true the saying

Gratitude is the Attitude

really is.

Or this one:

The quickest way to get something you desire is to be grateful for what you already have.

I started saying thank you over and over when I lived in the city before I eventually found this little house. Now that I’m here, I must say “thank you!” or “I’m so grateful for (fill in the blank)” dozens of times every day and night.

This is a very shamanic and also druidic practice. They share many similarities, one of which is the belief that everything has a spirit. It’s why many of us name “things” like cars. Like Willow.

I thank the lost-and-found fairies (sometimes angels) when I find what I’m looking for.

I thank Willow when she gets me back home, safe and sound.

I kiss my houseplants and tell them I love them. Charlotte, my Spider plant who I’ve had since I lived in NYC, has a new baby growing, and so she’s getting lots of love these days.

And boy oh boy, does The Little House and The Little Barn ever get a lot of gratitude from me. Daily.

Ditto the Trees and the Stones and the Mountains and the Birds and other inhabitants who are in the woods behind my house. And, of course, Gone-Away Pond.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Try it sometime and see how things begin to shift in your life.

I’m not unaware of what’s going on outside my seemingly bubble of a life. You can be informed and somehow manage to stay in a space of Peace. I know a lot of people may disagree with me, but in my life, it’s Peace I want to cultivate and send out into the collective.

And, if your dream is to find a place to call home where Magic can flourish, get yourself a moving mantra and don’t forget to be grateful for what you already have. You never know, you could end up in a place like I did. With Beavers for neighbors.

So Much Love,
Barbara

Thank you for your heartfelt comments, your subscriptions (free or paid), or just for stopping by and reading or listening to The Quaking Poplar 🌳!

I love snowstorms!