Kit had spent weeks wandering the South-lands, looking for the Spirit-Keeper of the South. No one seemed able to point the way. Fortunately, Kit had learned an exercise from King Snake, called Snake-at-Rest breathing that helped with feeling frustrated.

In talking to Coyote, Kit realized that the problem wasn’t really finding the Spirit-Keeper. The bigger problem, the journey Kit was on, was to find out what it means to be a human being.

“Yesterday,” said Coyote, “I told you that Coyote-Thinking is like making a journey map. You start with your immediate problem in the middle part of your map. Then, to understand the boundaries of your map you look to the four directions.

“In the north, you seek Clear Vision. You want a clear perspective on what larger journey you are on. Recognize that whatever your immediate problem, it is but a waypoint on your map. It’s a temporary destination that points the way, but it is not the whole journey.”

“I think I understand the northern boundary of my journey map,” said Kit. “Finding the Spirit-Keeper, or even learning all there is to know about the two wolves and the 7 Fears and the 7 Gifts, are just waypoints on my journey. The real problem, what I was asked to do by Chief Buffalo, is help the animals better understand human beings.”

“That seems much more clear. Well done, Kit,” said Coyote. “This will be a difficult journey. There will be times when you want to quit. So next you must seek a Clear Heart. You must strengthen your will-power by knowing WHY you are willing to take this journey.”

“Take your bigger, Clear Vision, and turn to the eastern boundary of your journey map. You must seek a Clear Heart. You must put into words as many of the reasons as possible for WHY you are on this journey. What will success feel like for you? What will it mean for others?”

“Having a Clear Heart is not easy,” said Kit. “This has been a difficult and frustrating journey. Part of me feels like just giving up. I guess I’m just curious about the two-wolves that Raven told me are always battling inside all human beings.”

“Curiosity is a powerful motivator,” said Coyote. “It’s gotten me into a lot of trouble, and its taught me a lot about the world and about myself. You must think more about this. Why are you curious about human beings? Why not just live your life and not worry about these confusing things? What will this knowledge do for you? What will it do for others?”

“I’ll need to think about that. I do want some answers for myself. I am proud to be a bear. The bears have been very good to me. But I am also a human being. I would know better what that means. Besides, I told Chief Buffalo that I would help the animals to better understand human beings…. Can I still move on to the other steps of Coyote-Thinking or do I need more for a Clear Heart?”

“Often times one must journey without a perfect map,” said Coyote. “Most of the time, we all have mixed feelings. It is, at best, a temporary thing to actually have a Clear Heart. What’s important is to keep seeking your ‘why’.

“Your reasons, your feelings, for why you are on a journey, instead of just staying in the same spot, may be difficult to put into words,” pointed out Coyote. “But you should try. It is the act of trying to put your feelings and your motivations into words that is important. Each day, as you learn more, you should work on clarifying the boundaries of your journey map. When you have a Clear Heart, it is much easier to have a Clear Mind.

“A Clear Mind makes up the southern boundary of your journey map. To keep a Clear Mind, you will have to learn The-Way-of-the-Scout. You will need to develop your scout skills and you will need to address the fears that all beings have. Fear will cloud the mind.”

“With Clear Heart and Clear Mind, you will then be ready to define the western boundary of your journey map – Clear Actions. But this is too much to learn all at once. For today, let us journey together. Perhaps you can reach one of the waypoints on your trip and you can work on having a Clear Heart.”

“It will be good to have some company today. I have been feeling too alone here in the south,” said Kit.

“Then we will journey together for a time. I’ll tell you a story about Coyote-Thinking while we start out. Coyote-Thinking can be used for small problems as well as large.

“Just a few days ago I found myself on the wrong side of a narrow slot canyon. I had not eaten for several days and I knew from the songs of other coyotes that there was better hunting on the other side.

“The gap across that canyon was only a few body lengths, but below was a flash flood. I looked over the edge of those rocks and saw that dirty water, full of mud and branches, crashing through that canyon. As I looked at that water, I thought that I was looking at overwhelming death. If I fell in that water, all my strength, all my skills, all my planning would mean nothing. My legs suddenly felt weak.

“I did not want to jump across that gap. But I thought about my larger journey. I could not stay where I was, in an area with such poor hunting. I could picture myself easily leaping across that gap and perhaps finding a delicious rabbit to eat!

“With that Clear Vision, and with a Clear Heart, I backed up from the edge of that gap to get a running start. I could still feel fear in my legs but I cleared my mind and ran as fast as I could at that gap.

“As my front paws hit the ledge on my side of the gap, my right paw landed on a loose rock and slipped! Still, I soared across that gap. I landed in a bit of a heap, and was glad that none of my brothers or sisters were there to see that!

“That evening I thought about my jump. My action, turned out to not be very clear. Obviously, I did jump that canyon, but my landing was terrible! I thought that I had Clear Vision, Clear Heart, and Clear Mind. So, why were my actions not clear?

“I realized that when I jumped, I did not really have a Clear Mind. I let my fear of the water get the best of me. I should have been aware of the loose rocks. Also, there was no reason to take such a long running jump. It was only a few body lengths. I can easily jump that distance, even without a running start!

“Coyote-Thinking does not always mean every action will be successful. But I learned from that jump and will not make that mistake again. I was reminded that Clear Actions usually mean having a relaxed body. I was so tense from seeing that raging water that it clouded my mind and then my actions.”