An ocean of words. More than I can imagine, given the vast array of languages in our human cultures. And now that we understand, for example, that elephants create names amongst themselves, I can only float above this planet of mystery without finding any boundary between the known and the unknown.

This morning I wanted to expand my understanding of the concept of superstition. Origin meanings of the word include “a standing over.” I discovered yet another vortex: Elephants recognize death amongst their herd (clan, band, family). They stand over their dead.

Mothers have been seen carrying the carcass of their stillborn baby around with them for up to two years. Entire bands will stop to ‘pay their respects’ to the remains of one of their dead over many following years of their travels.

I know even chickens recognize the death of one of their own. They also stand over their dead. I described what I witnessed of this in a 2003 blog post — *In Honor of the Grieving Chicken (2003)

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Ahh…. Mentioning chickens. Just brought to mind the crew of six hens I had a decade later, on an entirely different spot of high desert land – this time with the Mexican border in my backyard – who practiced together every morning for a few weeks until they learned exactly the spot that would bring success to their efforts to acquire BREAKFAST – IF – as they also learned – they sang a specific song!

I would not have believed this was possible if I hadn’t been there, with them, to witness this! It wasn’t ANY loud annoying raucous racket that would stir me to correct action at 5 am. And not from just ANY spot in the rather large yard. But more than the amazing specificity they were able to figure out in terms of spacial smartness (along the outside of the wall where my bed was), it was the absolute melodic beauty of the SONG they created so that their desires could be harmonized with mine! I then enjoyed their singing every morning and the hens ate their breakfast at the time of their choosing.

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note: In the slough of origins for the word superstition I can pick out some of the rubble on the trail of the obliteration of the Medicine People of the regions where that word appeared.