Something Out of Nothing

I’ve been thinking a lot about the act of creation lately. I’ve always been drawn to the idea — I named my website “Something Out of Nothing” when I first created it over twenty years ago! I’ve been deep into several client websites and haven’t been as motivated to write for my blog; I want to get better about that. Apparently, the Universe wanted to send some encouragement.

The other day I saw a coyote on a morning walk with my dogs. It was a memorable surreal moment. We were walking on the sidewalk when we came upon the coyote. It didn’t run, it just kept walking towards us then went out into the street to give us the right-of-way, then veered back onto the sidewalk behind us. It was about ten feet away at its closest point and very calm, almost nonchalant, if that’s a trait coyotes possess. Rosie and Gus were very curious, but didn’t go nuts like they sometimes do with other dogs they see, no hackles, no growling or barking, just quiet observance. After it had passed, it stopped and turned around for a quick look back at us, like an acknowledgement or greeting. The moment was beautiful and stuck with me. I looked up the symbolic meaning of Coyotes and found this:

The coyote is a deeply layered symbol, most famously known in Native American folklore as the Trickster. Rather than being purely mischievous, the trickster serves as a teacher, using humor, chaos, and mistakes to impart wisdom and reveal hidden truths.

The coyote represents:
Adaptability and Survival: Known for thriving in diverse environments, the coyote symbolizes resourcefulness and the ability to navigate change.
Duality: It embodies the balance of opposites—wisdom wrapped in foolishness, and creation born from chaos.
Playfulness: A reminder not to take life too seriously and to find joy in the journey.

I’ve seen coyotes on our walks before but never this close. They are apparently getting more common in urban areas including ours.

Considering what the last several months have been like for me, it felt very appropriate, like a nod from the Universe that I’m on the right track, to keep going. All of the meanings associated with Coyote resonated strongly. I’ve been adapting to some big changes, creating a couple of businesses, building websites, and writing, and trying to get back in touch with my playful, creative side in general. Writing is obviously creative work, I try to write something every day whether I’m in the mood or not. Some days are better than others. Web design/development is also the work of creating something out of nothing. Both involve placing letters and characters in a particular order to create something bigger, more than the sum of their parts.

I’ve been having fun building my new business. Plus there’s something new and creative on the horizon that I can’t quite talk about yet — but it fits perfectly with everything the coyote seems to be saying. We’re literally building something out of nothing — order out of chaos. That look back spoke worlds.