A friend used to be a wildlife rehabilitator, and, years ago she helped a crow recover from a wing injury. The crow, named “Derek,” was young and quickly bonded with her entire family, including her black lab, Jake. When my friend was away from home for any length of time, Derek would show as much excitement and pleasure when she returned as any dog would.

He vocalized softly and rubbed his head against her hand, seemingly delighted to be back in her company. Derek also had a thing for Jake, and would gently peck at his paws and try to preen his fur. Luckily, Jake liked Derek, and welcomed his antics.

The even had a favorite game in which Derek grabbed Jake’s collar and hung on like a rodeo cowboy as Jake raced around the yard.

My friend’s stories about Derek piqued my interest in crows, ravens, magpies and other members of the corvidae family. Corvids are not only extremely intelligent birds they are among the most intelligent of all animals, including mammals. Since the 18th century, farmers have known that crows are capable of counting, which is the origin of the expression, “counting crows.” Today, scientists know they are far more complex than we ever imagined. Crows make and use tools, demonstrate self-awareness, communicate complicated information in group-specific dialects, play games with one another, socialize with family and friends, and have a brain-to-body mass ratio equal to apes and dolphins.

British zoologist Christopher Bird recently conducted a study at Cambridge University inspired by one of Aesop’s fables, “The Crow and the Pitcher,” The tale tells of a thirsty crow that finds a pitcher of water, but the level is too low for him to reach. The clever crow drops pebbles into the pitcher until the water level rises and he can take a drink.

In Bird’s experiment, he tempted four rooks (members of the corvid family) with a worm that floated—out of reach—on the surface of water in a test tube. Bird videotaped the rooks as they appeared to assess the situation, circling the tube and considering their options. He then provided a pile of pebbles. The rooks did exactly what Aesop’s crow did. They raised the water level by dropping pebbles into the tube, until the worm was within their reach.

Even more impressive, the rooks selected larger pebbles, accomplishing their goal faster. The only other animal that has shown the same sophisticated understand- ing of fluid mechanics is an orangutan.

One of the most fascinating aspects of crow intelligence is their ability to deceive. Like many animals, crows cache food, but unlike other animals, crows will sometimes simply pretend to cache food if other crows are nearby. Instead of actually leaving the food in their cache, they tuck it into their chest feathers and fly off to another one of their cache locations out of sight of the watching crows. Unfortunately, sometimes the watching crows will follow the caching crow to its alternate cache in an attempt to outsmart one of their own.

Crows and ravens have a bold and unapologetic presence, and are not easily scared away by people or other animals. They appear to act out of rage, jealousy, devotion, affection, and even a sense of humor. They can be suspicious, fun loving, deceitful, and mischievous. In many ways, they are far more like people than we ever imagined, and we’ve only just begun to understand them. This makes them great fun to watch.

FOR THE BIRDS

Federal law prohibits keeping native crows and ravens for pets. These birds—and most other wild birds—are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to hunt, capture, kill or sell any of the over 800 birds listed in the statute. If you are interested in crows, ravens, and other corvids, consider volunteering at a bird sanctuary. A good place to research what sort of volunteering opportunities exist near you is your local Audubon chapter. Visit http://www.audubon.org/search-by-zip to find a near-by chapter.

As someone who was allergic to bees as a child, I spent most of my life afraid of stinging insects. Although I outgrew the allergy as an adult, I continued to panic, move too fast, and release a frenzy of fear pheromones every time a stinging insect was nearby. Of course, my behavior just made them that much more interested. It wasn’t until I met Susan Foster, a hobbyist beekeeper in Beverly, Massachusetts, that my attitude changed.

Long before the scientific community became concerned about colony collapse and the diminishing bee population, Foster advocated for hobbyist bee-keeping. A lifelong gardener, as well as a beekeeper, she was quick to inform me that one-third of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and that the humble little honeybee is responsible for 80 percent of it. But bees are also important to other food sources, such as livestock, because cattle consume alfalfa, which depends on bees for pollination. As I listened, I realized that I had it all wrong. It wasn’t the presence of bees that should make me panic, but their absence.

I learned that the idiom “busy as a bee” is far more accurate than I had imagined. The typical hive needs to fly about 90,000 miles—roughly three flights around the earth—to collect one kilogram of honey. In order to communicate the location of nectar, pollen, water sources, and potential locations for new hives, worker (or “forager”) bees return from their searches and perform a series of movements. Their direction and duration, known as the “waggle dance,” corresponds to the location of food, water and future hive sites. The more excited the forager bee is about what it discovered, the more it waggles in an attempt to convince the other bees to check it out. I couldn’t help thinking about how something similar happens when we discover a great new restaurant and can’t stop talking about it. All the talk creates a “buzz.” I began to recognize that we had more in common with these social insects than I realized.

As I watched Foster handle her bees, I realized that the magic of beekeeping isn’t just in the sweet reward of honey or in the opportunity to observe bees firsthand. It’s also in the relationship between the bees and the beekeeper. Bees react to rapid movements and even the pheromones we release when we feel fear. So beekeepers need to possess a Zen-like calmness and quiet confidence near bees. Foster’s movements were gentle, steady, and focused, without a hint of anxiety. Nonetheless, my own habit of feeling fear around bees prompted me to ask her if she was ever afraid. “Of what?” she teasingly answered, but then quickly acknowledged that it wasn’t always easy not to feel afraid. She admitted that learning to control her emotions was as much a part of the process as learning about hives, gear, and bee health.

After a day spent watching bees and sampling honey, Foster asked if I was ready to start my own hive. Despite my newly discovered enthusiasm for beekeeping, and my life-long love of honey, I confessed I was worried that I might slip back into feeling afraid, the bees would sense it, and sting me. “So what if they do,” Foster replied. “You’re not allergic anymore. Get stung. Let the bees teach you something about yourself. It’s a lot cheaper than therapy. Plus you get the honey.” Foster’s advice lingered with me over the winter, and I hope to be ordering my first hive this spring.

Note: “A Hive of Your Own,” is dedicated to Susan Foster, who passed away unexpectedly

The indigenous Sami language includes over 300 words for snow and ice, but their vocabulary for reindeer is even more impressive, with as many as 1000.

To those of us “south of 60” (degrees latitude), our thoughts about reindeer are more than likely limited to the part they play in the holiday stories we heard as children. But for the Sami reindeer herders of northern Europe, reindeer evoke a multifaceted sense of kinship as profound as any other human-animal bond.

The Sami are the indigenous people who live in northern parts of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Until recently, they were known as “Lapps” or “Laplanders,” but today they prefer the name Sami. Reindeer have been an important part of Sami culture for thousands of years. They provided meat and milk for sustenance; hides for clothing, shoes, and tents; bones and antlers for tools, weapons, toys, and handicraft; and sinews for sewing. Every part of the animal was used. As livestock, reindeer were also used as draft and pack animals. But above all, the Sami considered reindeer as kindred spirits that shared the harsh yet beautiful northern landscape with them, and gave them life. Their high regard for reindeer is perhaps most poignantly expressed in one of their creation myths, in which the world was created from the body of a reindeer.

In ancient times, the Sami hunted reindeer, but, for centuries, they have herded them. Traditionally, Sami reindeer herders followed a nomadic herding practice in which the reindeer roamed free, and the herders followed them on their annual migratory journeys. In the North Sami dialect, the work the reindeer herders do is boazovazzi, which translates to “reindeer walker.” Before technological advances, the herders really were reindeer walkers, often covering hundreds of miles on foot or skis to follow the herds. Today, with the use of all-terrain vehicles, GPS, and contemporary technology, reindeer husbandry continues to be a way of life and livelihood for many Sami families. In fact, in Norway and Sweden, reindeer husbandry is legally protected as an indigenous right for people of Sami descent. Consequently, only the Sami can own reindeer.

In recent years, instead of following the reindeer, most Sami herders set up camps along their migration routes. They spend up to a few weeks at camp, at what is known as the “roundup,” during which they round up their reindeer, check the health and size of their herd, mark the new calves, and harvest the deer they need. Family members of all ages participate in this sacred ritual, and there is often song and celebration. When the roundup is finished, the reindeer are released and once again roam free.

There are popular stories about how the vocabulary of indigenous people often reflects their close relationship to the environment in which they live. As one might expect, the Sami language includes a rich vocabulary for snow and ice, with over 300 terms. But their vocabulary for reindeer is even more impressive, with as many as 1000 terms devoted to the description of reindeer. The Sami have words that describe every detail of a reindeer’s appearance, behavior, movement, personality, habits, and location, as well as the interplay between all these aspects. For example, “sietnjanjunni” translates as “a reindeer with the hair nearest to its nostrils having a different color than one would expect in view of the color of the rest of its hair.” Imagine 999 other terms and you just might have a sense of the ancient and profound bond between the reindeer and the reindeer walkers.

Reindeer Reality

The Great Sami Winter Fair February 7-9 2013

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are found throughout the circumpolar north, though the subspecies in North America is known as “caribou.” They travel in herds ranging from 15 to thousands. Males can weigh as much as 400 pounds, and females up to 250. They stand three to five feet tall at the shoulder; have thick, insulating coats ranging from dark brown to white; and large hooves that provide traction in the snow. Both males and females grow antlers, but the males shed their antlers in the fall, and the females in the spring, which means that the legendary reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh must be female, because only females have antlers in December.

To learn more about Sami culture and reindeer husbandry, plan a trip to the Winter Fair, or Jokkmokk Market, in Swedish Lapland. This winter festival was started over 400 years ago as a way to support and celebrate Sami culture. The event includes reindeer roundup demonstrations, dog-sledding, folk music and folk dancing, films, lectures, and art and handicraft exhibitions. Be prepared, though, because temperatures during the festival can drop as low as minus 40 degrees! Jokkmokk Tourist Office can be reached year round by telephone at: +46 971-222 50, or via email at: turist@jokkmokk.se. Visit them online at: jokkmokksmarknad.se/home

- BELINDA RECIO, recipient of the Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals, owns True North Gallery (truenorthgallery.net) in Hamilton, Massachusetts, where she exhibits art that connects people with animals and the natural world. 

There is a popular series of photographs, taken in Churchill, Manitoba, by renowned nature photographer Norbert Rosing. The images depict a majestic male polar bear as he approached a pack of sled dogs tethered to a kennel. The bear appeared to take an interest in one particular dog, and much to the photographer’s surprise, the dog responded by wagging his tail. Instead of becoming the bear’s lunch, the dog became his friend and the two animals began to tumble and play in the snow like litter mates. For 10 days, the bear returned to play with his new canine pal, and soon the photographs and story of this unlikely friendship went viral over the Internet.

Since then, there have been all sorts of stories circulating—and books published—on unlikely friendships in the animal kingdom. These stories appeal to us for several reasons. They suggest that different species of animals may have much more in common than previously thought, and this commonality of emotions and behaviors evokes warm and fuzzy feelings in all of us. We enjoy seeing a dog and polar bear play for the same reasons we like to see a cat and dog curled up together. These relationships rekindle the archetypal dream of a peaceable kingdom.

In our own lives, we probably won’t need to facilitate a friendship between a dog and bear. However, if we want to share our homes with more than one companion animal, knowing how to introduce additional cats, dogs, and other pets to one another is the key to having our own little peaceable kingdom at home.

The best way to introduce a new animal into your home depends upon the kinds and numbers of animals you already live with, as well as their ages, health, genders and temperaments. To get specific advice based on your unique needs, it is best to speak to your vet or a professional animal behaviorist. However, there are certain basic rules that apply to most situations, and following them just might result in some heart-warming animal friendships right in your own backyard.

Before you bring home another animal

• Ask yourself if you truly have the time, energy, patience, and money to add another companion animal to your family.

•Think about the compatibility of the new pet you are considering with your existing pets.

• Consider the personality of your existing pet(s) and be honest with yourself. If your dog or cat is extremely territorial and has issues being around other animals, this isn’t going to change.

• Be certain the new pet you are considering is healthy and without any known issues that you won’t be able to accommodate.

Upon arrival

• Until they have had time to get used to one another, do not leave your new and existing pet(s) alone with one another. If they get into a fight, they may never forget it and always have issues.

• When your new pet first arrives, confine him to a safe and isolated place. Let him calm down and get used to the new environment. Let him explore the rest of the house and yard without the other animals present.

• Find ways to expose your new and existing pets to one another’s scent by exchanging toys, blankets, or other items between them. Many animal behaviorists believe that by exposing animals to one another’s scents, the face-to-face meetings will be less stressful.

The Introduction

• The first few times your new pets meet, observe them and watch for signs of fear or aggression.

• Keep the first visits brief (five minutes) and use leashes or other methods of humane restraint in the event you need to break up a fight.

• If fighting does occur, do not scold or punish either your existing or new pets for not getting along. Instead, end the visit quietly by separating them.

• Reward positive encounters with appropriate treats for all the animals.

• Don’t rush it! Even if everyone seems to be getting along just fine, keep the initial meetings short and sweet.

• After five to ten short, supervised visits let them start spending more time together with more freedom.

Don’t forget

• Your existing pet(s) still need your love, attention, and their regular routine(s). In the excitement of bringing in a new pet, don’t forget them!

• Remember, it takes time to cultivate a “peaceable kingdom.” Have patience!

BELINDA RECIO, recipient of the Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals, owns True North Gallery (truenorthgallery.net) in Hamilton, Massachusetts, where she exhibits art that connects people with animals and the natural world.

With summer reaching its “high noon,” adventure seekers hitting the wilderness trails of the great outdoors may notice a larger population of wolves.

Though they were on the brink of extinction just a few years ago, wolves have made a comeback. Unfortunately, there have always been a few whose diet occasionally includes livestock, which is why wolves are now facing bounties, aerial shooting and other threats.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wolf predation of livestock is actually a relatively uncommon behavior, but the return of the wolf population and the predation of livestock by wolves have sparked a debate that is fraught with ambivalence. Some people would like to see the wolf eliminated completely; others don’t want even the livestock-killing wolves relocated.

Defenders of Wildlife have a new slogan for their ongoing campaign to save America’s wolves: “Not demon. Not idol. Just wolf.” The new slogan is a succinct reminder that humanity has alternately persecuted and romanticized the wolf for a long time. The campaign suggests that the best strategy for protecting this charismatic and controversial animal might be to strip away all our lupine projections and simply consider the wolf—the real wolf.

Wolves are gregarious, intelligent canids who live in packs consisting of a mated pair, their offspring, and sometimes other, unrelated juvenile wolves. They have a relatively complex social structure, which requires vocalizations, facial expressions, and scent marking to communicate rank, relationship and emotional status. As a predator, the wolf has great strength, endurance and speed, and uses cooperative strategies to take down its prey.

Native Americans have always admired the wolf for its hunting skills and loyalty to pack, family and mate. Because they learned so much about survival from the wolf, many Native American cultures considered the wolf to be a teacher. The wolf taught not just hunting strategies (such as when to advance, retreat or deceive), but also the value of social cooperation and the benefit of playing one’s part in society.

In contrast with the Native American perspective, the Western psyche had, for a very long time, cast wolves as the villains of fairy tales and folklore. Rather than being regarded as respected teachers, wolves were perceived as bloodthirsty and reckless predators who killed for sport. This attitude inspired stories of wolves who deceived grandmothers and ate little girls, and legends about werewolves who could convert their victims with a single bite.

How, with such contradictory perceptions—from the big, bad wolf of fairy tales to the totemic symbol of loyalty and cooperation—can we ever get to “just wolf”?

Most biologists believe that the answer is education. The more we know about the wolf, the real wolf, the easier it will be to frame the debate and find solutions based on fact, not irrational fear or sentimental symbolism. One way to learn about wolves is to visit a wolf sanctuary that offers educational programs.

The best wolf habitat resides in the human heart, and there’s no easier way to make room in yours than to experience wolves firsthand. Visit timberwolfinformation.org/info/listing.htm to discover where the best sanctuaries are located in your state.

BELINDA RECIO, recipient of the Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals, owns True North Gallery (truenorthgallery.net) in Hamilton, Massachusetts, where she exhibits art that connects people with animals and the natural world.

I braced myself the first time Monty descended onto my gloved hand, assuming that a Harris Hawk with a 3-foot wingspan would knock the wind out of me as he landed. Monty alighted on my leather glove with a dancer’s grace.

I met Monty at the British School of Falconry at the Equinox Resort, in Manchester, Vermont. Raptors are birds of prey that use their extraordinary eyesight to hunt from the sky, and just the name—derived from the Latin word rapere, meaning “to seize or take by force”—inspires awe.

Falconry classes are the best way to spend hands-on time with raptors. In addition to teaching people about hunting with trained falcons or other birds of prey, some schools offer falconry experiences
focused on handling and flying raptors. Steve and Emma Ford founded the British School of Falconry in Scotland in 1982 and opened the Vermont school in 1995.

Believed to be the oldest sport in the world, falconry began as a hunting method in the Far East around 2000 BCE. It reached Britain around 860 CE and became known as the “sport of kings,” an important part of a nobleman’s education. Today, falconry enthusiasts play important roles in the conservation movement.

After I was fitted with a leather falconry glove, I was introduced to Monty and taught how to hold his “jesses,” leather leg straps that kept him in position in my gloved hand. I learned how to “cast off” Monty to his perch and call him back to my hand. After practicing this ancient rhythm of release and return—the heart of the falcon-human relationship—we began the hour-long Hawk Walk. I cast off Monty to a tree. As my instructor and I walked the trail, Monty flew from tree to tree, waiting for me to periodically call him back to my glove. During this “following on,” as it’s called, the instructor explained some physics of flight and feathers, wind and weather. Monty flew from treetop to treetop, staying with us in much the same zig-zag way as my dog stays with me when we walk in the woods.

Like most trained hawks, Monty wore bells on his legs so we could hear him as he alighted. As I walked with Monty, I was struck by this ancient sport’s romance: the leather glove, the sound of bells in the treetops, the beautiful landscape and, of course, Monty—a magnificent raptor at my beck and call. Sometimes when I called him back to me, I kept him on my gloved hand for a few minutes, a lady and her hawk, side by side.

BELINDA RECIO, recipient of the Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals, owns True North Gallery (truenorthgallery.net) in Hamilton, Massachusetts, where she exhibits art that connects people with animals and the natural world.

RESOURCES

The British School of Falconry
Equinox Resort, Manchester, Vermont
equinoxresort.com

West Coast Falconry
Marysville, California
westcoast-falconry.com

New England Falconry
Hadley, Massachusetts
newenglandfalconry.com

Quebec Falconry Centre
Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Québec, Canada
centredefauconnerie.com

A therapy dog is specially trained to provide comfort to people who are ill, confined to an institution, or dealing with learning disabilities, behavioral issues or other stressful conditions. The dog’s primary duty is to be an all-around “good dog” who allows herself to be handled —sometimes clumsily—by strangers.

Any size or breed of dog, including mixed breeds, can be therapy dogs. The only requirements are a stable, easygoing temperament and excellent training that enriches your relationship with your dog and makes her a better-behaved companion for all social situations. The real gift is the heartfelt satisfaction you will feel when you see the joy your canine pal can bring to people in need.

Does your dog have the right stuff?
Therapy Dogs International believes that a therapy dog is born, not made. Training is required, of course, but a therapy dog has to have the right stuff. She must be smart, patient, relaxed, friendly and confident. She should enjoy human contact and handling from unfamiliar children and adults, even if they approach her awkwardly.

You might start by asking yourself how your dog behaves with toddlers. Is she tolerant as the stumbling two-year old pulls on her ears or does she growl? How does your dog react to wheelchairs and other walking aids? If a wheelchair were to bump your dog, would she simply step out of the way or would she snap at the chair? Therapy dogs should have “low reactivity,” meaning that they react defensively only in an extremely threatening situation.

If you feel like your dog has the right stuff, call Therapy Dogs International or look up a therapy dog organization in your area on www.therapydogorganizations.net. Training usually begins with comprehensive obedience work and the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test. After this, you and your dog will take a course that introduces you to different kinds of medical equipment and environments and “body desensitizing” techniques that train your dog to be handled without inducing a stress reaction. Lastly, as “extra credit,” you might want to take a “tricks” class.

Resources
Therapy Dogs International
tdi-dog.org
Volunteer organization that regulates tests and registers therapy dogs and their
volunteer handlers for nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions .

Therapy Dog Organizations
www.therapydogorganizations.net
State-by-state lists of organizations related to therapy dog training and service.

American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Class
akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm
Describes the training a dog needs to pass the Canine Good Citizen test.
Dogs Are Good Medicine

SMOKY’S LEGACY
Smoky, a Yorkshire terrier rescued on a World War II battlefield by Corporal William Wynne, was the world’s first official therapy dog. Wynne took Smoky along on combat missions, during which she entertained and comforted the troops. When Wynne was hospitalized with illness, his friends brought Smoky to the hospital to cheer him up. Commanding officer Dr. Charles Mayo (of the Mayo Clinic) gave Smoky permission to go on rounds in the hospital, and Smoky continued her work as “the first therapy dog” for 12 years.

BELINDA RECIO received the 2004 United States Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals and Society.

Every dog should know how to come when called, how to heel, sit, lie down, stay, “leave it,” and “get off.” But beyond these basic obedience commands is a big bag of tricks that have no purpose other than having fun learning together. And yes, you should be learning as well as your dog. To be a good tricks teacher, you need to learn how to pay attention to your dog’s body language as well as your own, and you need to practice consistency and patience. The end result will be a shared sense of pride, a deepening of your bond, and fun opportunities for you and your canine companion to entertain friends at parties.

Here are a few tricks and trick-teaching tips to get you started. If you and your dog enjoy learning tricks together, look into taking a local class together. You can also find some great resources on the Internet, including a variety of YouTube training videos.

Tricks
• Shake: Take your dog’s paw and gently move it up and down as if shaking hands, while saying, “Shake.” Practice this several times for a few days, and then don’t take his paw and just say “Shake.” If he gives you his paw, reward him with a small treat. If not, go back to taking his paw and shaking it while saying “shake” and try the second step again later.

• Spin: Stand in an open space with your dog. Have a small treat hidden in your hand and let your dog smell the treat without taking it. Lead your dog by moving the hidden treat in your hand in a clockwise circle, repeating, “Spin” while he follows your hand. Be sure he has enough room to follow the circling treat. Reward him with the treat if he follows it. Repeat these steps several times and then say, “Spin,” without leading him with the hidden treat. If he “spins,” give him a treat (from your pocket or treat pouch). If he doesn’t, return to the previous steps and practice a few more times.

• Crawl: Begin with your dog in a down position, and a treat hidden in your hand. Hold the treat just in front of his snout and move it slowly away from his nose about an inch at a time, saying, “Crawl.” Don’t let him get up. Gently reposition him in the down position if he tries to stand, repeating the command, “Crawl.” As soon as your dog starts to “crawl” toward the treat without standing, praise him, and reward him with the treat. Gradually increase the distance you ask him to crawl, withholding the treat just a little bit longer each time.

Trick-Teaching Tips
• Keep it fun. Never punish your dog if he doesn’t get it right!
• Break each trick into small steps. Teach one step at a time and practice it before moving onto the next step.
• Reward your dog with gentle praise even for simply paying attention and trying. Reward him with big praise and a treat for succeeding!
• Consider your dog’s breeding and personality when selecting tricks to learn. For example, some dogs are more athletic and can learn how to catch a Frisbee in a few minutes, but due to size or personality, these same dogs might be very uncomfortable “rolling over.”

Belinda Recio is the Contributing Editor of Nature & Psyche at Organic Spa Magazine. She is the recipient of the 2004 United States Humane Society’s Award for Innovation in the Study of Animals and Society.

Inspired by an ice hotel in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, the Hôtel de Glace is located just 45 minutes outside of Québec City, on the banks of Lac St. Joseph. Every winter for the past 10 years, as much as 15,000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice have been transformed into an architectural wonder that rivals the ice palace of Anderson’s mythical snow queen. The Hôtel de Glace has 36 private rooms and theme suites in which guests sleep in protective polar sleeping bags on top of fur-covered foam mattresses supported by beds chiseled from ice. Every room is a work of art, decorated with relief sculptures carved into the walls, and sculpted ice furniture. In addition to the rooms and suites, there is an Ice Café, a breathtakingly beautiful ice chapel (where over 200 couples will have been married by the end of this season), and a spectacular lobby with a sculpted ice candelabra lit by fiber optics of changing colors. The hotel also has an ice slide, art gallery, and a renowned reception room known as the Ice Bar, which serves guests cocktails in glasses made of ice. In between drinks, guests dance on the snow-covered floor while an auroral play of light illuminates the crystalline interior and sculpted ice furniture.

In addition to all its icy amenities, the hotel has heated bathrooms, showers, and lockers, as well as hot tubs and saunas in a private courtyard. The hotel is located next to the Duchesnay Resort, which offers dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice-skating, and a full-service spa, Tyst Trädgård. The resort also features a lodge, cabins and a regular hotel (Auberge Duchesnay), as well as a highly rated gourmet restaurant. This year the Hôtel de Glace is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and they are offering a special “Polar Getaway Package.” This two-night getaway includes welcome cocktails, as well as dinners and breakfasts at the Auberge Duchesnay for both days. The package includes one night’s accommodation in an Hôtel de Glace theme suite (complete with arctic sleeping gear), and access to hot tubs and sauna. A private room at the Auberge Duchesnay is included for the same night as the Hôtel de Glace (in the event that guests want to warm up a bit), and for a second night of the package. The Polar Getaway also includes a choice of two activities offered at the resort, such as tandem massage at the Tyst Trädgård Spa, and dog sledding at Adventure Inukshuk.

During its construction as well as its operation, the Hôtel de Glace is committed to preserving the environment and reducing its carbon footprint. They recycle at the hotel and sell recycled items in their gift shop. And, during the last two years, they have reduced their consumption of energy by roughly 13 percent. But perhaps the greenest thing about the hotel is its building material: ice. They use nothing but pure water from the Saint Joseph River to make an especially stable kind of snow called “snice.” And at the end of the season, when the hotel melts, the purified water is returned to the river. In this way, the Hôtel de Glace is not just easy on the environment; it is also an exquisite exercise in the Buddhist practice of non-attachment. For five weeks, engineers, builders, and sculptors work nearly round the clock to construct a breathtaking work of art. Everyone involved knows the hotel won’t last for very long, but they build it anyway. Upon completion, for three months in the winter, the hotel sits on the frozen riverbank, like a mirage from a fairy tale. But then, as often happens in fairy tales, when its time comes, the enchanted place disappears, in this case, turning back into the river from which it came. So visit the amazing Hôtel de Glace it while it sparkles like the Snow Queen’s castle in the icy winter light.

Open January 4, 2010 to April 4, 2010.

www.icehotel-canada.com

But as our days get longer and we happily escort winter’s darkness out the door, let’s remember that light and darkness are complementary: two parts of a whole, cyclical in nature, and meaningless without the contrast of the other. The Chinese Tai Chi, or yin and yang symbol is a perfect example of this concept, with its interlocking curves of light and dark. In most mystical traditions, darkness and light are equally necessary aspects of creation because darkness is associated with gestation, which precedes birth, and with death, which precedes resurrection.

Author and theologian Matthew Fox reminds us of the necessity of darkness in his writings on Creation Spirituality. In Original Blessing, he describes one path of the spiritual journey as the via negativa, or “the way of negation.” On this path, we let go of what we have created and what we seek and “befriend the darkness. When we are on the via negativa, we embrace what Buddhism calls the great “nothing,” which is the heart of the universe. We yield to the darkness so that, when the time comes, we can once again see the light, but with a deeper understanding of ourselves.

It isn’t easy for most of us to embrace the darkness. For the past three centuries since the start of the Enlightenment darkness has fallen out of favor, and has been equated with ignorance, despair, and evil, rather than mystery, potential, and renewal. Spiritually, we shy away from the dark and its silence, preferring the distractions of light and sound that the modern world offers us. And, technologically, we’ve practically rendered darkness extinct with electricity and the seemingly never ending string of lights wrapped around the planet. We have become a specie that is afraid of the dark. We are even afraid of our own shadows, as the saying goes. In Jungian psychology, the shadow represents the part of ourselves that we would rather not know. But even these shadowy parts of ourselves cowardly or selfish though they may be are a part of who we are and denying them prevents us from living up to our true potential.

So the next time you are feeling spiritually dark, remember that our hearts started beating in the darkness of the womb, seeds germinate in the darkness of the earth, and the earth rests in the darkness of winter so that spring can return. We all need fallow time. Darkness is a gift it’s a great open space in which anything can happen. Surrender to it and the light will return.