Coyote Finds Direction

Coyote feels lost and hungry, falls asleep under a guava tree. Guava Tree talks to him and gives him magic petals. He enters the tree trunk and meets a grandmother who tells him to follow a stream for guidance. Coyote encounters judgmental coyotes but escapes with the help of a puma. Puma teaches Coyote to be authentic and shows him a tribe of happy coyotes. Coyote learns to be himself and flies with his inner light. He returns to the grandmother who praises his newfound wisdom. Coyote thanks the guava tree and leaves as a wiser coyote. Coyote Finds Direction by Mushroom Montoya. Once upon a time, Coyote was feeling lost and getting very hungry. He was so tired that he fell asleep under a blooming guava tree. He didn't know that this was no ordinary guava tree. The tree dropped petals from her blooms all over Coyote, hiding him and protecting him from harm. He awoke to the delicious aroma of the sweet guava petals that covered him. He stood up and shook himself, sending the guava petals into the air and creating a fine mist. Guava Tree talked to him. At first, he had no idea where the voice was coming from, but as the mist cleared, he saw a woman's kind face in the trunk of the tree. Why are you here? Guava Tree asked. I was hunting for something to eat and I got lost, Coyote said. Really? How can such a wise coyote get lost? Coyote wasn't sure he was dreaming, but it felt so real. The breeze fluttered his fur. The aroma of the guava petals was too sweet to be a dream. I don't normally get lost, but this past week I haven't been feeling like my normal self. What do you think you need to find yourself again? Guava Tree asked. What I really need, Coyote said, is something that directs my life in a meaningful and beautiful way. A meaningful and beautiful way? Guava Tree lowered two of her branches and gave Coyote a big hug. Then surely the Great Spirit has blessed you by bringing you here to fall asleep at my feet. Coyote wagged his tail, feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Eat some of the petals I covered you with, Guava Tree said. Coyote bent down and grabbed a few with his tongue. These taste even sweeter than they smell, Coyote said. Eat a few more, Guava Tree said. They are magic petals. Coyote ate more, and as he did, he began to glow. Guava Tree became iridescent. Guava Tree opened the face of her trunk and invited Coyote to enter. Go down the pathway. Follow the light to the end. There you will find a grandmother who will help you. Coyote stood up and walked into the opening of her trunk. Walked down a moist earthen tunnel until he came to an opening. He stepped out into the sunshine and next to a pond. An old lady sat on a flat rock with her feet in the water. Her hair glowed turquoise blue. She turned as he approached. She patted the spot next to her. Come and sit, she said. He walked over cautiously. He sniffed her. He was surprised that she smelled like the guava blooms. He sat next to her. She patted his head and kissed his cheek. Her voice was so smooth, motherly, and comforting as she said, Guava Tree told me that you were looking for something that directs your life in a meaningful and beautiful way. Coyote nodded. I've lost my way. I need direction. Grandmother turned to her left and pointed to an opening. Follow the stream between those two boulders. You will find the answer you need there. Coyote stood up, bowed his head to the grandmother, and licked her a kiss before he left. He turned around as he approached the boulders. Grandmother kicked her feet happily in the pond and waved goodbye to Coyote. Coyote followed the stream between the boulders. Once on the other side, he found himself walking along a paved walkway next to a river. Several coyotes, each dressed in a business suit, came up to him and started admonishing him for being underdressed, for not being dressed like them. They began to chase him as they continued to yell louder and louder. Coyote jumped into a sailboat that was sailing down the river. He hadn't noticed the puma at the helm. The puma steered the sailboat away from the business suited coyotes and headed for the open sea. Coyote didn't move from where he had entered the sailboat. He wasn't sure it had been a good idea to jump in before looking to see who else was in the boat. The puma was so big and so black that Coyote thought he saw twinkling stars in puma's coat. He tried to look away before puma looked at him, but he couldn't. Coyote is hoping that puma was not hungry. Puma let go of the helm and sauntered over to Coyote. Coyote began to tremble. Puma sniffed Coyote. In a loud baritone voice, Puma said, fear will not save you. This made Coyote even more scared. He wanted to jump out of the boat, but when he looked over the side he saw sharks. He looked harder and he was surprised to see the sharks wearing business suits too. Coyote in a quieter voice said, Puma in a quieter voice said, look at the island on the starboard side. Coyote turned to his left, then to his right, then back to his left. He saw an island with white sandy beaches and palm trees. Puma sailed into a small inlet on the island. Puma stood on her hind legs and used her paws to turn Coyote's head. Nude coyotes, coyotes wearing silly hats, and coyotes wearing colorful flowing capes were playing, laughing, and singing, painting, and goofing around. They are your tribe, Coyote, Puma said. See how happy they are? Coyote nodded. Why are they so happy, he asked. They are being their authentic selves. You want direction? The direction you seek is inside you. Just be authentically you. Do not try to be anything else. Just be who you are. But what if the other coyotes don't like me? Then you will know that those coyotes are not your tribe. Don't try to change them. Let them be who they are, and you just be who you are. Puma jumped out of the boat. Follow me, she said. Coyote jumped out and followed her across the beach and up a heavily wooded trail. They stopped at a clearing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. This is beautiful, Coyote said. What have you learned, Puma asked. Coyote looked down at the beach below and saw the happy coyotes laughing and playing. When I am just being who I am, without worrying about how I am being perceived by others, I will find the direction I need that is inside me. Puma smiled, exposing her huge, glimmering teeth. Good, good, Puma said. Now it is time for you to fly. What? Coyote's mouth fell open. I can't fly. Of course you can, Puma said. Fly with the light within you. Shine your light, Coyote. Coyote looked at himself. He had forgotten that he was on the globe. Do not try to be like anyone else, Puma said. Just be you. And don't expect to change anyone or for anyone to change for you. Let them be who they are. Puma stood behind Coyote at the edge of the cliff. It is time for you to fly. Fly with your light. Be the light. Just be you and you will shine for those who need to see. With that, Puma pushed Coyote off the cliff. Coyote yelled, I love being me. He flew like a happy pelican over the ocean back to the boulders and landed in front of grandmother. Once again, she patted the spot next to her. Coyote walked over and laid his head on her lap. You are glowing, Coyote, she said. You must have run into Puma. Coyote smiled. I did. He licked her kiss on her chin. I'm happy for you, grandmother said. Coyote stood up, bowed and thanked grandmother. He turned to walk to the tunnel and back up to the front of Guava Tree. Guava Tree closed her trunk and dropped a few petals on Coyote's head. She lowered two branches and hugged Coyote. Share the wisdom you have learned, Coyote, Guava Tree said. Coyote bowed. I shall. Thank you so very much, Guava Tree. I shall never forget you. Coyote left, now a much wiser Coyote.