The Magic of Family

I remember the first time it happened. I was collecting herbs for my abuela. She had this gleam in her eye like she knew something no one else did when she asked me to help her collect the things she needed for her works as tribe medicine woman. I knew something was up because she rarely asks for my help. I am not very good at identifying the herbs she uses.

I was walking thru my favorite path in the woods when I started feeling a tingling in my arms. It spread up thru my shoulders and into my chest. My head felt like it was vibrating faster than the wings of a hummingbird. Then my skin started crawling like a thousand fire ants. I look down at my hands and find that they took on a brown hue. Browner than normal that is. I watch in fascination and horror as small scales appear. No, not scales. Feathers. My arms were slowly becoming wings. I feel the trees around me loom larger over me. When my body finally becomes still, I feel raw. I feel like I was pulled thru the sands of the nearby river. Looking around, I can see every detail of my surroundings. I can feel the wind rustling thru my new wings.

Lifting my wings high, I take off into the sky. Flying above the trees, I head over to the river. Peering into the water I see my new reflection. An owl? I am now a barn owl. I have a white heart shaped face and different shades of brown along my body. I feel strong; stronger than I felt as a human. As a human I always felt awkward and unsure.

I realize I am hungry. Taking to the sky again, I use my heightened vision to look for something I can eat. Flying low over a meadow, I spot the perfect meal. A mouse sits unknowingly next to a patch of clover, eating a meal of it’s own. I swoop down and grab it in my powerful claws like I have been doing this my whole life. I land in a nearby tree to enjoy my food.

I look around to take in my surroundings. Now what do I do? I suddenly remember my abuela was waiting for her herbs. Grabbing as much as I can of what she needed, I take off and head back to the village. As I arrive I realize that no one will recognize me. Keeping to the shadows, I head to my abuela’s house. Swooping in quickly as to not be seen, I startle abuela. She spills the bowl of medicine she was preparing. I retreat because I don’t want her to yell at me for spilling her hard work again. She looks at me in wonder and confusion. Barn owls are nocturnal, so me appearing like this would be strange. I still have the herbs in my beak, so I slowly and gently sit them at my abuela’s feet. Realization crosses her face.

‘Nina, is that you?’ I squawk in confirmation. ‘I knew it was the day, but it happened much faster than I thought it would. Have you eaten?’ Squawk. ‘Ok. So I assume you do not know what is going on. Let me explain. As a medicine woman, my mother’s family line and her mother’s family line have been mixed with magic from the beginning of time. Every so often, a woman in our medicine line will have little medicine woman in her and more magic in her. It appears you have more magic in you. From the time you have shown signs of very little skills for medicine, I had hoped you would inherit the magic. Now is the time for you to train and grow your skills. People may call you names such as witch, bruja, or even abomination. But you are not. You are my granddaughter. You are Nina. You are meant to be here, and you are meant to do great things while on this Earth. It is going to be a difficult path, but remember this path chose you for a reason. It saw your strength and love for life. I will help you with what I can from what my mother told me of magic, however you must put in the work yourself. I love you granddaughter.’

Thru my abuela’s speech, I began to feel warmth thru my body. I began to feel tingly and magical. I lift my wing to wipe a tear from my eye and realize my arms have returned. ‘Oh abuela, I love you too. Thank you for this gift. I am scared, but I am excited. I can not wait to find out what this magic has to give to me.’