Kit had been exploring the South-lands for many weeks. As the land changed, Kit stayed close to the few streams in the area. Every day Kit practiced Snake-at-Rest breathing. Kit saw few animals, but always asked for help in finding the Spirit-Keeper of the South. Unfortunately, no one pointed Kit in a particular direction.

Kit did get the impression that the Spirit-Keeper moved around a lot, but still didn’t even know which animal was the Spirit-Keeper of the South! Kit became more frustrated as the stream being followed became smaller and smaller.

Kit felt a lot of respect for King Snake and so practiced Snake-at-Rest breathing every day. Kit had to be patient because, to be honest, Kit didn’t really feel any different. Sometimes, it made Kit feel a little light-headed for a few seconds, but otherwise it made Kit feel a bit silly. Kit remembered that King Snake said that the breathing exercise needed to be done every day for at least three moons.

Kit also practiced walking quietly and softly. Because of this, Kit was beginning to find a lot more animals. That was encouraging, but still the animals seemed to be of little help in finding the Spirit-Keeper. Just before bounding off, Jackrabbit said to Kit, “You’re better off avoiding that one! Nothing but trouble. Makes my head hurt!”

Kit was beginning to feel hopeless. Because of the hot sun, thirst was becoming a real concern. Thankfully, the now almost dry stream bed rounded a curve and opened up into a small pool. The water was clear and right there was a nice fat fish!

Slowly and calmly Kit slipped into the pool and caught that fish. Kit was certainly used to eating raw fish. But, standing there in the water, Kit thought it would be wonderful to lay that fish out on the flat rocks just above the pool. Kit could drink water and enjoy sitting in the pool while that fish cooked a little on the sun-heated rocks.

One of the things Kit missed about living with humans was fire-cooked food. Kit opened up the fish and placed it on the hot rocks. Sliding back into the pool, Kit marveled at how good that water tasted! Kit’s headache went away. Kit’s muscles felt better. The cool feeling of water on skin was very welcome.

Much refreshed Kit stood up to reach that fish and was stunned to see nothing but empty rock!

Kit couldn’t believe it. This was so unfair. Just when things were looking up, it now felt like this entire quest was impossible. Kit began to feel scared. It was too hard to live in this land, especially all alone. Kit began to softly cry.

Kit started to feel overwhelmed. Kit sat back down in the water and decided to try some Snake-at-Rest breathing. That actually seemed to help. Certainly Kit felt much calmer.

Kit climbed out of the pool to look again at that empty rock. This time Kit noticed some tracks from the rock leading around a large boulder. Quietly, Kit crawled around that boulder – and almost bumped heads with a large coyote!

“Hello,” said Coyote. “I just wanted to thank you for that delicious fish you left out for me.”

Kit did not know what to say. “Uhhm… er… I….”

“You seem confused,” said Coyote. “What are doing out here all by yourself?”

Kit then remembered both human parents and Bear saying to always be respectful, and what Eagle said about the Gift of Respect.

“Greetings, Coyote. I am called Kit. Perhaps you know my foster parent, Bear? I am exploring the South-lands looking for the Spirit-Keeper. Can you point me in the right direction.”

“Oh, you really are confused. It can be easy to get lost when exploring. That was wise of you to gift me with that delicious fish. I am an experienced explorer and will help you! By the way, do you have any more fish?”

“Uhhm… er… I didn’t actually ‘gift’ you that fish….”

“What are you talking about! Have you gotten too much sun? Why else would you place perfectly delicious food on a nice clean rock and just walk away? That makes no sense! You should drink more water.”

“I just drank a bunch of water! Oh never mind, Coyote! Hey! Are you smiling? Are you having fun at my expense?”

“I am just happy because you gave me such a delicious gift,” said Coyote with a twinkle in the eye. “I will be sure to tell Bear how generous and respectful you have been. You must have known that I was hungry.”

Kit couldn’t help but notice Coyote’s sharp teeth and thought that maybe it was a good thing that Coyote wasn’t so hungry any more. Slowly standing up and backing away a couple steps, Kit said, “Coyote, I’m glad you liked that fish. Can you tell me how to find the Spirit-Keeper of the South. I’ve been asking everyone and all I get is advice to keep looking!”

“It sounds like you need to keep your eyes open,” said Coyote. “In my experience it’s always good when exploring to keep your eyes open. Oh, and you should also pay attention to your other senses. Be aware.”

“Well yes, Coyote, that sounds like something Eagle told me.”

“Ah… has Eagle been keeping an eye on you?” said Coyote, suddenly looking up into the sky where, way up high, one could see a distant eagle.

“What?” said Kit, spotting the eagle for the first time. “I don’t think so…. Anyway, I was hoping you could help with this problem of how to find the Spirit-Keeper.”

“We coyotes are great thinkers. That’s why you find coyotes in so many different places. We have ways to think strategically that make us successful. Coyote-Thinking helps us stay focused. It helps us get our basic needs met by using our strengths to take advantage of any opportunities. It helps us work on our weaknesses and avoid threats.

“I can teach you Coyote-Thinking. Let’s climb up to the top of those rocks. If you’re exploring, it’s good to get to a high place and have a look around!”

Coyote led Kit to the top of a nearby mesa. From there, Kit could look back and see for quite a distance. Kit could see the small stream bed and where the pool of water was tucked into some rocks.

“Coyote-Thinking includes a way to make a map for your problem-solving journey,” said Coyote. “That way, your fear of becoming lost does not grow too powerful.”

“You start with placing your problem somewhere on the map. You find the northern border of your map by seeking Clear Vision. You then find the eastern border by seeking a Clear Heart. For the southern border you seek a Clear Mind. In the west you seek Clear Actions. Then you return to the north and reflect upon your journey and again seek Clear Vision.”

“I don’t really understand, but I could definitely use a map,” said Kit “I’ve been wandering around the South-lands for weeks trying to find the Spirit-Keeper!”

“Here we are, on top of this mesa, with a long view,” said Coyote. “This is a good spot for working out the northern border of your map. You said your problem is finding the Spirit-Keeper. You’ve been asking everyone where to find the Spirit-Keeper, but you feel no closer to your goal.

“That goal is what we coyotes call a waypoint on your journey map. It is a spot on the map where you hope to achieve some outcome. Then you will move on. It is not the whole journey. There must be some reason why you want to find the Spirit-Keeper of the South.”

“Yes, of course,” said Kit. “The reason I want to find the Spirit-Keeper is to learn more about the 7 Fears and the 7 Gifts. I want to understand how they feed the two wolves inside all humans, Fearsome and Courageous.”

“That is how it is with problems. Finding the Spirit-Keeper is the close-up problem. Seeking Clear Vision means imagining what the bigger journey looks like. Your bigger journey involves having wolves inside you. Sounds uncomfortable,” said Coyote with a sad shake of the head.

“No… but yes, kind of…, but no… you still don’t understand,” said Kit.

“No, yes, no! You do sound confused,” said Coyote. “This is why you need a map. It can help to find a big view and think before setting out on a journey.”

Kit decided that maybe doing just one Snake-At-Rest breath might help.

“Okay, Coyote. I can explain. I want to learn about the two wolves inside all human beings. I want to know what feeds them and makes each of them stronger. Eagle told me that Fearsome feeds on the 7 Fears and that Courageous feeds on the 7 Gifts.

“Fearsome will grow stronger when people let Fear-of-The-Cold and Fear-of-Being-Alone get the best of them. Courageous will grow stronger when people experience the Gifts of Respect and Love.”

“These sound like very strange wolves to me,” said Coyote. “But I think you are beginning to find a vision of a larger journey. Ask yourself some questions to better form your vision. For example, if you found others who could tell you about the 7 Fears and the 7 Gifts, would you still need to find the Spirit-Keeper?”

“Well… I suppose I could go home to Bear at that point.”

“And would you then understand human beings?” asked Coyote.

“No, I think it is more complicated than that.”

“When seeking Clear Vision, ask yourself these questions,” said Coyote. What is the problem? Is that problem the whole journey or is it just a waypoint on the map? What’s the bigger way of seeing the journey?”

“I want to find the Spirit-Keeper,” said Kit. “But really I want to learn about human beings. That’s the bigger journey.”

“That is a good start to seeking Clear Vision,” said Coyote. “It will be dark soon. How about we see if you can catch us any more fish! In the morning, we’ll talk more about Coyote-Thinking. Be encouraged, not discouraged. A good plan is hard work, but then it makes the journey that comes after much easier.”