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We will conclude this session with an old parable, so relevant to perception and thought.
It seems there was a female eagle that fell from her nest at a very young age. She wandered
into a chicken yard where an older hen adopted and raised her. The chickens taught the eagle
the way of chickens. She learned to dig holes and wiggle down into them on hot days so as to
stay cool. She learned to scratch with her talons and soon became treasured for her ability to
scratch deep into the earth. She learned many things from the chickens and despite her size
became loved by all. She was secure in her chicken house surrounded by her friends and
adopted mother.
Still, she sometimes felt out of place, uneasy in ways she could not explain, unfilled and
un-natural. Her friends would reassure her. They would let her know things like other chickens
didn't always lay an abundance of eggs and why hens made so much noise when they did lay
an egg. She would confide in her closest friends and most would reassure her that this was life
and she would adjust in time. She needed only to try harder; after all, her maternal mother had
failed her. This was comforting, for it wasn't her fault—her maternal mother was to blame. So, her
potential, the possibilities in life, went altogether unknown until one day when a male eagle
flying overhead spotted her in the chicken yard.
She is such a grand Eagle, he thought, so he began to descend to speak with her, but one of
the chickens caught a glimpse of his shadow and called to all. The female eagle, who all called
Nina, together with the chickens quickly scurried to the chicken house where they hid the rest of
the afternoon. The male eagle was confused, but determined.
Days passed before he gained his opportunity. Darting out of the sky with the sun in his face he
cut off Nina's retreat almost before any in the yard were aware he was approaching. All of the
chickens hid in the chicken house—not one dared to venture out to even see what might be
happening to Nina.
Nina crouched down in fear, almost paralyzed by her expectation. "Why are you here," the
male eagle asked. Unable to answer Nina could only tremble and look down. "What are you
doing here?" he went on. "I have never seen an eagle nesting with chickens. Have you lost your
mind girl?"
Nina looked up. She suddenly had an idea—for she was a smart chicken. "Did you call me an
eagle?" she meekly enquired. "Of course, you are one. Have you not looked at yourself? Have
you not felt the urge to stretch your wings and soar? Have you not felt out of place with these
chickens? Do you think those talons were made to dig in the earth? I have watched you for
days now; you do everything the chickens do. Why?"