Long ago, Bear wanted to walk the path of The Chief. After speaking with Chief Buffalo, Bear sought out Cougar for some advice.

“Hello Cougar,” said Bear. “I wonder if you could help me with something?”

“Greetings Bear,” said Cougar, “Even though I sensed you coming from quite a distance, you surprise me! I don’t think you’ve ever asked me for help before. What can I do for you?”

“Well…,” said Bear, feeling somewhat embarrassed, “I’ve recently decided to try and walk the path of The Chief. I was talking to Chief Buffalo and it became clear that to walk this path, I will need some help from others.”

“If I would someday be a chief, I must honestly look at my strengths and weaknesses. The problem is my temper. Chiefs need to be thoughtful. Sometimes, when I get angry, I cannot control my own feelings and behaviors. Sometimes I cannot think at all. I become angry just because I get frustrated or even having to wait too long for something I want.”

“That would be a big problem if you were a cougar,” said Cougar. “We cougars have learned how to be very patient. We have to lie still for hours waiting for our prey to walk right by. Then, in an instant, we leap!”

“Can you teach me that kind of patience?” said Bear.

“I can teach you the way we teach our kits” said Cougar. “But you will have to make a commitment. It is a skill that seems easy enough to do, but it will only work to change you if you practice every day. You have to train your muscles to tense and then relax.”

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To learn what Bear learned from Cougar, check out Bear Clan relaxation tools on the Tools page. You’ll find audio you can stream or download, text of the Bear Clan Systematic Muscle Relaxation sequence, and a tracking form you can download.

 

 

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Do you teach relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, or other related techniques to your child-clients?

What barriers have you found to getting your clients to commit to these practices?

 

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Many years before founding Bear Clan, Kit was still living with Bear. You might know the story of how Kit was found in the forest, all alone, just a small human being. Perhaps you’ve heard about the Great Council of Animals and Bear’s offer to make Kit part of the Bear Family. Now years later, Kit had learned how to live like a bear. Kit felted loved and respected and a strong sense of belonging with the bears.

Only occasionally would a human hunter even come near where Kit now lived. When that did happen, Bear knew every tree in the forest and easily evaded these human hunters, who only saw the signs Bear wanted them to see.

Bear noticed from these almost encounters that Kit seemed to be truly terrified of these hunters. Afterwards, sometimes Kit’s whole body would tremble, Kit would jump at even small sounds, and would have nightmares instead of peaceful sleep.

To Bear, hunting and even being hunted was just a normal part of life for animals. Bear asked Kit why the hunters brought forth such fear. Kit did not know.

“I’m sorry,” said Kit, “I don’t really remember much about what it was like before I was a bear. I don’t like humans.”

“Hummph…,” said Bear. “It is true that you are now a bear. But you are also a human. Do you remember what Chief Buffalo said at The Great Council that convinced me to make a place for you in my family?”

Kit’s eyes got very large but no words came out.

“Kit,” said Bear, “You will always be part of the bear family. Remember your lessons in how to relax. All Chief Buffalo said was that it would be good for the animals if we understood humans better. I have an idea. Raven is known to be a very deep thinker and is always watching other animals, including humans. Why don’t you ask Raven about humans, and then let me know what you learn.”

“I will do that,” said Kit, and soon after set out to find Raven.

When Kit returned, Bear was curious to hear what Raven had said about humans.

“I’m not sure it makes sense to me,” said Kit, “but I will tell it to you the way that Raven told it to me.”