More Incense & Inspiration: Ankh is Back

[courtesy of freestufffinder.com]

I’ve written a couple of posts about, “Ankh”, the homeless man I see on occasion:

The Friday File:  Incense & Inspiration

The Friday File:  Incense & Inspiration, Part II

I hadn’t seen Ankh in quite some time; more than a year, I’d say.  Although I did see him sleeping on the train one afternoon.  The only reason I knew it was him (he had a hat on so I couldn’t see his face) was the telltale incense sticks poking out of the disheveled knapsack that he was using as a pillow.

I met Ankh over two years ago; our conversation began when he noticed I was wearing a purple shirt, and that many people were also wearing purple that day as well.  Somehow in our chat we realized that we both share the same birthday:  October 28th.

About a week ago I saw him, incense table set up in an alleyway close to a train station building.  I approached him, very happy to see that he seemed okay.  I asked him if he remembered me; he didn’t, although after we spoke for a few minutes, I think he might have begun to recall a bit of our previous conversations.

Ankh (and by the way, I don’t know his real name; he uses this name, as it represents the ancient Egyptian spiritual symbol, and he said it resonates with him):

[courtesy of clip-artlibrary.com]

We chatted for a while, and I learned that Ankh was still living outside (by choice, I might add).  I asked him if he had been well; he told me that on ‘our birthday’ he is turning 65, and that perhaps it was time to come indoors for the winter.  He spoke about staying with a friend for a few months earlier this year, but he was, ‘kicked out’ for nearly starting an incense fire.  Ankh sells incense to make a bit of money.  He never asks anyone for a handout; that is, “Not my way,” he remarked.

Ankh fascinates me.  He is extremely intelligent, keeping up with world events, some political and some spiritual.  He told me he feels a shift of world energy coming for the better, and that soon things would begin to ‘clear up’ in the next year or so.

To listen to Ankh speak you would never know he was homeless.  And by that I mean when he speaks with such seeming clarity, you would assume he would have a place to live, food to eat, and understand the importance of doing everything he can to stay safe.

But Ankh is homeless.  I asked him if he needed anything; “No, I don’t,” was the reply.  I didn’t have but a couple of dollars with me, so I offered to get him something to eat.  Ankh began to root around the piles of incense boxes strewn across the makeshift table (which was made up of an old piece of ply-board and a couple of scratched up plastic pails holding up the ‘table’).

He handed me a colorful box.  “These are very powerful,” Ankh stated.  I told him I could only give him $2.00 (the container said, $5).  “I don’t want any money for them,” Ankh replied.  I made him a deal; I’d go and get him something to eat in exchange for the incense.  He reluctantly agreed.

I went to a store close by; when I returned, I saw a young man speaking with Ankh.  Feeling very protective of Ankh, I asked him if everything was okay, as I had only heard part of the conversation, but the young man seemed to be trying to get Ankh to go into ‘business’ with him (using Ankh’s incense no doubt).  The young man, seeming to notice my concern for Ankh said, “It’s cool, I know this guy.  He’s a great human being.”  Ankh looked straight at him and said, “Why did you say that?” The young man countered with, “Because I’ve seen you around for a long time, man.  You are a good human being.” Without missing a beat, Ankh said, “How do you know I’m a human being? I’m an angel.”

Grinning from ear to ear I chided, “Yes, he is.  That he truly is.”

(courtesy of quotemaster.org).

I will keep my eyes open for Ankh and will continue to send him lots of good energy.    As for being an angel? I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.