Symbolism…Just Believe

I, Seamus Scott Perritt-Reish have always identified as part North American Indian, my heritage intertwined with the rich tapestry of indigenous cultures. Our connection to this heritage traces back to our fourth or fifth great-grandmother, Nancy T. Wells, a proud Cherokee woman who left an indelible mark on our family's history. Countless of stories were told to my brother David and me by our parents and grandparents.

Perhaps now it's my turn.

Recently, our family faced the somber event of my mother's passing. Charlotte Gayle Perritt, a woman of strength and wisdom, had departed from this world, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. We chose to lay her to rest in the serene cemetery of Arcadia, Louisiana, the very land where my roots intertwined with the earth.

On that day, as the sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the graves, my father, Lorenz Perritt, and I stood beside my mother's final resting place, bidding our last goodbyes. It was a moment of profound sadness, as the weight of loss settled in our hearts.

As we shared our memories and whispered words of love, something extraordinary occurred. Suddenly, a pair of majestic bald eagles appeared overhead. Their wings, outstretched against the backdrop of the azure sky, held a striking presence that seemed almost otherworldly.

We watched in awe as these magnificent creatures circled above, their flight steady and graceful, as if choreographed by the universe itself. The symbolism was not lost on us. Bald eagles, revered as symbols of strength, freedom, and connection to the spiritual world, had come to us at our moment of deepest grief.

In Native American cultures, the appearance of a bald eagle is often seen as a powerful and spiritual omen, a symbol of guidance and protection from the ancestors. And there, above my mother's final resting place, they circled, embodying our connection to the universe and reminding us of the enduring bond we shared with the land and our ancestors.

For a brief, transcendent moment, it felt as though my mother's spirit was carried aloft by those eagles, joining the infinite sky. A sense of comfort washed over us, and we understood that her presence would forever be with us, not just in memory but in the very fabric of our lives, as enduring as the roots that run deep in the soil of our ancestral land.

As we left the cemetery that day, we did so with heavy hearts but also with a profound sense of gratitude. The eagles had brought us a message of reassurance, affirming that the legacy of our heritage, and the love and wisdom my mother had bestowed upon us, would continue to guide and protect us as we journeyed forward through life. The bond between us and the universe was strong, and we were reminded that even in our darkest moments, there is always a connection that ties us to the spiritual world, to the land, and to the enduring spirit of those who came before us.