The Gentle Encounter

There is a profound alchemy that happens when nature meets narrative.

Julie Daniel Richards turns raw fibre into a totem of wisdom. Through the focused process of needle felting, she has created a Red Fox, sculpted with incredible detail, resting upon a natural wood slice.

Look closely at the wood. The rings are not just patterns; they are a map of time, showcasing life’s literal twists and turns.

Sitting atop this ancient timeline is the Fox, clever, adaptable, and paused in a moment of stillness with a delicate Butterfly on its nose.

The Gift of Story: This piece arrives in a bespoke presentation box, accompanied by the "Story of the Still Fox."

The details of this narrative act as a key, unlocking the silent wisdom already woven into the wool. It is the perfect gift for someone who would benefit from a new perspective after experiencing the twists and turns of their own journey.

Open the box. Change the view.

Be sure to read the story to someone as they stare at his stillness.

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THE STORY OF THE STILL FOX

This Fox knows the terrain.

He is the master of the "in-between" places, the clever navigator of dawn and dusk, always moving, always thinking, always adapting to the landscape.

But look at where he chooses to rest.

He sits upon a log slice, a map of ancient time. The rings beneath him show seasons of rapid growth and seasons of drought, the literal twists and turns of a long history. He does not ignore this history; he grounds himself upon it.

Notice his posture. His front paws are tucked tightly between his legs, he is centred, humble, contained. His tail curls around to his right side, with the tip pointing forwards. He is not leaving his past behind him; he is bringing it into his presence, completing the circle of himself.

Look at his ears. They are pinned back. He is not straining to hear the noise of the hunt anymore. He has lowered his defenses. He is in a state of reverence, listening not to the forest, but to the silence within him.

He could spend his life running around these rings, chasing old patterns. But he has chosen a different path.

He has stopped.

He has tilted his nose slightly upward, looking just above the horizon of his usual hunting grounds. And because he dared to be still, because he dared to surrender, Grace found him.

The butterfly on his nose is a reminder that the most beautiful things in life cannot be chased down by cleverness. They only land when you stop running.

The New Perspective:

If you are feeling lost in the twists and turns of your own journey, do what the Fox does.

Stop running from your history. Sit on it. Wrap comfort around yourself. Keep your paws on the ground, but pin your ears back and stop listening to the fear. Tilt your chin up just a little higher than your problems.

Be still enough for the answer to find you. It is already on its way.

by

Julie Daniel Richards