Since the beginning years of the Prayer Vigil of the Earth, geese seem to welcome us as they fly overhead at propitious moments, such as at sunrise or sunset, prayer times, talking circles or moments when wisdoms are shared by the Elders.

When the participants in the Prayer Vigil are in deep sincere prayer or focused on a spiritual vision or ceremony, such resonance with nature in the immediate environment can happen with surprising regularity. Some years we have looked up from our circle on the National Mall to see a bald eagle in circling high above us, a rare experience above one of America's five largest cities. Nature often echo's our activity with the arrival of a pair of osprey, a pattern in the clouds, or a wonderful coincidence of a person with some connection to the ceremony going on, just happens to be going by the Vigil site and walks in at a "perfect" time.

In 2001, less than 2 weeks after 9/11 we prayed for peace next to the Washington Monument as our nation was in thewhirlwind of our reactions and responses to being attacked. The very next day atornado's funnel cloud passed directly over the Prayer Vigil site but did nottouch or damage the area. A prefect echo of the state or our nation and themitigating effect of quiet prayer.