I had a vision of a Suricate,

A Meerkat Queen. Whos story needed to be told. I could not have imagined this however little did I know that I would meet such a tiny individual and make a promise that I intend to keep till my very last breath.

On September 22, 2020 I went on a walk about.  I said goodbye to the Ocean and my Ocean friends to set off on a journey to discover wild spaces and mission for Earth and The Animals. I have a desire to tell their stories and work on a plan with wildlife warriors to protect their innocent lives and give them back their homes.

Upon my arrival in this place I call The Middle of the Middle. I saw her and I finally got to meet my three legged friend. I was introduced to Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth The 3rd. Her name means "Gift of God" or "Oath of God".  I bowed down to her as a courtesy and proceeded to pick her up. She of course took one step further and decided she would climb up into the center of my Diamond Heart. This was the person I would end up spending most of my time with trying to learn her language and her ways and I also learned about her oppressed and painful past. She was captured, hurt and abused. Then rescued and given a second chance. It was decided that she would go to a reserve to live out her Glorious Meerkat days and figure out her new Suricate Ways after everything that had changed.

Everyday brought a new lesson. She taught me about staying grounded and humble and not to take things for granted. She mourned and showed me pain, reflected sorrow about those she longed for. She would turn her back on me when she was crying and wanted to be alone and would come and find me when she needed comfort and a 'pick me up' for a hug or a cozy cuddle. After she and her friends got rescued, they said their goodbye's and left her behind to form a new troop and discover a new borrow. Sadly when they departed she stayed behind. With three legs, she would never survive in the wild. I would watch her sit on the roof of her castle and see her stare out into the open space in front of her while she made a sound that would make even the most courageous warrior cry. Her tiny heart was broken, my sweet little Queen Elizabeth The 3rd. "Don't let anyone rush you, healing takes time. Climb under the boulder, dig or rest, do what you feel like doing and only come out when you are ready to face this world on your terms and not on theirs. Rest when you must and don't force your creativity the inspiration will come. Do you hear me Petro Diamant?" Who was I to rush this little Queen.

With three legs we would take our time. She is fast and strong though and always up for an adventure. She showed me how to lay low. When to pick up the pace and when to go slow. She would show me the tracks and turn over rocks to look for big juicy yellow or green worms and also for tasty crunchy bugs. Our days together were spent in the heat and dust often with great excitement to sniff out what was hidden underground.  One day we found so many worms that I decided to put my head down like she taught me, and pretended I was a book worm. I started digging, researching and investigating all things Meerkat to innerstand my new Royal best friend.  Wholeheartedly and completely I embraced her world. My roots grew deeper by the trees where we dug and I was curious about the dark termite tunnels and what they would reveal about places that shut the light out. What I discovered was worse than I could have imagined. I learned about her story, her family members and her specie.  I learned about the Illegal Meerkat Pet Trade and how she was abducted from the wild, tied up and held captive in a township to be sold to those who thought her kind to be cute and cuddly. Those who think nothing of removing wild children from the bush, from their families and from their homes. Those who think that Meerkats make great pets and see them as something to own. "This is not the way of the Suricate" she said.

We went for long walks together with our anti-poaching dog friend who always followed his nose and left us behind to investigate as we wandered in wonder talking about our journey together here on Earth. I wanted to explore the unknown and unfamiliar with her Sometimes with her under the cover of my black hoodie and cap because of the The Great Eagle soaring high above us looking for his next meal.

One day we went for a hike. I became even more attentive as I listened to the Suricate SOS. "I can see you are paying attention." She clung ever so tight to my chest while she whispered and began to teach me the lesson of how to look up to expand my vision. "Do you see?" she asked. And so I began to learn and asked my Sky Friend The Great Eagle if he too would teach me about the Higher Perspective to help me to see things differently. To become and be visionary. I asked for her protection in return for his. I asked for a friendship and we made a sacred agreement between the three of us. Together we gained more insight. "As so above, so below in Peace", this was the mantra we would practice along with the rest of our animal friends. "Do you see ?" she would always ask. "Do you see the beauty and the ways of the natural world?" I said "yes. One would have to be blind not to see it." She has the most beautiful brown eyes with long black lashes. Her heart shaped head reminded me of love. It was easy to love her for exactly who she is and easy for me to humbly listen while in the presence of such beauty and wisdom.

The dusty and sandy days went by and together we would sit at sunrise to meditate and sungaze. Hearts open to the warmth of the early morning golden rays. We both love Ra. She would tell me about the story of the Sun and the Solstice and continue to teach me about her new found ways of balancing things with her tail. "It's all about maintaining the balance" she would say. All while comforting each other by making subtle little sounds to assure one another that we were not alone out there in the wild. "Sit up straight and reach tall. Take a deep breath and inhale the sunshine through your chest, breathe it in through your heart and fill your soul. Try not to fall back  asleep cause I need you to watch my back. I know the Sunlight is powerful. I know" She used to say to me "that as long as we had each other everything would be alright and that together we were stronger in numbers." She would often repeat that to me as if our lives depended on this. And it does or at least for her kind. She would also say to me and to others "Some of us simply must remain with our own kind in order to survive the dangers of this world and also to thrive in a place with like minded people where we know we are loved and know we belong. It is the way, The Suricate Way. Do you innerstand, Petro Diamant? Are you still awake or are you daydreaming ?"

I would smile and nod, say "yes" and then ask her to show me more. Most of the time I would just stare at her in complete aw, utterly mesmerized and  fascinated by her wisdom and grace, her kind heart and her beautiful soul. That this tiny individual would trust me enough to love me and to teach me was beyond wonderful.

I remember the day I made my vow. I had discovered what happened to her. That specific day I met another Meerkat child that was taken from his family. Another someone who was abducted and stolen from the wild. It was just before sunset. Just before she tried to sneak in under the bed. I picked her up and held her above my heart and gave her the longest hug. A hug we will always remember. I held her so tight and in a way I thought she was sure to pass out. This was also her favourite place for cuddles. The perfect position for me to kiss the crown on her head and to speak my devotion and love into her tiny little ear. I sang her a song and said "I Love You." on every pause. She became my Nunu, Queen Elizabeth The 3rd. A most beloved teacher and friend. I vowed that for as long as I walk this planet that I will tell her story to the human people and do my very best to help care for her and care for her kind. "I love you too Petro Diamant. Will you tell them that we need to be with our own kind?" she asked.

"Yes, of course I will. I will also tell them to be kind to your kind and to all the animals. I promise you Queen Elizabeth The 3rd."

By Petro Diamant, Awareness Artists For Near Threatened And Endangered Species © Copyright
Advocacy for The Animals & The Earth

Awareness Art for Meerkats :  THE SURICATE SOLSTICE