Wednesday, 30. May 2007
A Field Guide to Identifying Unicorns by Sound

I can truthfully tell you that it is
a blessing to talk with a unicorn.
—N. J. W. Mitchell,
Hannah, the Witch, and the Unicorn (2002)

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Here’s a secret: expert unicorn spotters can “see” more unicorns, per capita, with their eyelids shut than the average person can see with eyes wide open. That’s because they have an intimate friendship with the sounds unicorns make. As you concentrate with eyes closed and mind focused, you may detect the telltale song of the unicorn, announcing the presence of the venerable creature and beckoning you to begin your quest. When you open your eyes, the unicorn may not be immediately visible, but you’ll know where to start looking.


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Mystics from time immemorial have believed the alphabet to encapsulate divine creative power. This illustration from the late 1800’s shows how the entire alphabet is crystallized in a unicorn’s body. It’s little wonder, then, that unicorns are such miraculous communicators.

Hearing a unicorn requires time, patience, and “deep listening” skill on the part of the human, and vocal projection on the part of the unicorn. Because we live in a highly visual world, we rarely exercise the full range of our hearing. Yet our ears can detect things that our eyes automatically neglect. By listening as opposed to looking, we can avoid overlooking. Practice can be richly rewarding, whether one is listening for unicorns in particular or neglected delights in general.


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They do speak, sir, although not with words.
The unicorn sent her thoughts right into my head.
I understood her meaning.
—L. E. Engler, The Forgotten Isle (2004)


A soft gentle voice whispers in your mind as if carried
by the breeze passing through the gentle grove.
—Pharos, “Crest of the Unicorn” (2004)


This free e-book is lovely illustrated and offered in several online formats, such as eco-friendly, black text on white and a page by page version.

A Field Guide to Identifying Unicorns by Sound by Craig Conley.
Hearing is believing!
Category: Books & Magazines | Fantasy & Utopia | Myths & Sagas | Poetry & Inspirations |


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