Skirting the Gorge by Gerald R. Stanek

In the university town of Ithaca, the appearance of a fox at a Christmas Party sparks transformations in the lives of those attending, particularly the hostess, Michelle Wolcott. In this cosmopolitan yet bucolic setting, blessed with its numerous waterfalls, and beautiful, dangerous gorges, the Wolcotts live an idyllic, albeit wintry life, which Michelle knows she should find fulfilling. Following the party, Michelle’s old trouble with migraines returns, bringing frightening sensations, confusion, and the recurring vision of a body in the water. With the aid of a shaman, she approaches a new understanding of the nature of existence, learns to open her heart, and finds that spiritual forces are conspiring to take her life in a new direction.