'Hooding the falcon' or 'Why I fancy my evening walks'

In the sport of falconry there is a piece of equipment called a ‘hood.’ Between attempts at game or while traipsing between the field and their home a falconer will put a rather funny looking leather hood on his hawk. Falcons and most other birds of prey are quite fierce and aggressive. They are gifted with powers of sight few humans can comprehend. Seeing game or another hawk, they might try to cast off their handler. They also don’t share mankind’s fear of the dark. It is actually quite calming and restorative for them to be in the dark rather than exposed to the stresses of car travel, other animals, or what have you.  While I am l not usually given to the restiveness of the falcon, I know I share some of that fieriness with my feathered brethren.

Enter the evening walk. Going in the gloaming. Sashaying at sunset. Specifically, Greenlake.

2.8 miles of humanity and nature mildly mixing. A place to see and be seen. Most evenings, it is usually getting on towards sunset when I arrive there. 

The semi-darkness is good for me. It forces me to rely on other senses than sight, which is usually an enjoyable exercise. I’m reaching the point that I know where I am by scent alone, unless there is a lot of wind or perfume obscuring things. The perfume is not always unwelcome, though. Strangely enough, in this magic moment in the half-light, a certain sort of intense eye contact and mutual inspection becomes more acceptable. In the broad daylight and in the pitch black it would be inappropriate, even frightening. In that little time though, more smiles and face to face gazes happen. I don’t know why. One doesn’t always have to know the hows and whys of a specific grace to enjoy it and name it good. 

I’m getting too technical though. Quite simply, the vesper light is healing and a tool in God’s hand. The hooded falcon will more often than not puff out its feathers and settle into a certain repose on the falconer’s fist. Sometimes they even fall asleep. I’ve come to realize I am sitting on God’s fist, being tamed bit by bit by the calming effects of the evening with it scents, people, animals, gentle movement, and our unique social moment as we promenade together around the lake.