Speaker for the Animals

The Bull -- The Powers of Creation

2006-12-01T07:27:00.001-08:00

Fertility, Sacrifice, the Sun and Moon,
Union of the Male and Female,
Vitality, the Powers of Creation,
Uncontrolled Violence, the
Male Combative Spirit, the Elemental
Forces within the Blood, the Dharma,
Cosmic Order, the Incarnation of
The Powers of the Underworld,
Of the Sky Gods, Fire and Water,
The Dominant Father,
The Royal Beast

The Bull, like the Cow, is a symbol of the most ancient order of man. A symbol arising out of the early cultures of herders as early as six thousand years ago, the Bull had associations with the Gods of the Sky or Heaven as the power which fertilizes the Earth with rain that she may bear her crops each autumn. Yet the Bull also carried the image of its opposite gender within, for the horns symbolize the crescent Moon and therefore the Feminine. We see this ambiguity appearing in the contrasting symbolism of Fire and Water, the Powers of both Underworld and the Sky, and the Union of Male and Female.

The Bull symbolized both royality and Divinity in many of our earliest cultures. In ancient Crete, the Bull acted the central drama of religious ritual as Cretan athletes dared death by vaulting over the horns of charging bulls. This early pagan culture epitomized in many respects the finest example of Earth centered spirituality on the planet, celebrating life and nature in culture, art, and religious expression. Here, worship of the Great Goddess was a central tenet everyday life, art and spirituality—and here we see the juxtaposition of the Bull as a symbol of uncontrollable masculine power in service to the Power of the Feminine in Nature, as personified in the Goddess Artemis.

It was in ancient Crete where the god Dionysus was said to have been born in a cave, nursed by bees, from a union between the Sky God Zeus and a human woman, Semele. Dionysus was the god of women, sexual ecstasy, the irrational feminine in the male, and the taking of sacred drugs. In Crete, the poppy was the sacred halucinatory plant. In Greece, it was wine. In the myth of Dionysus, the child god was pursued by Hera, wife of Zeus, in jealous rage at the promiscuity of her divine husband, and the child had to be hidden and raised as a girl. The confusion over his gender drove the young god mad, and from that point on, wherever the god went, his "bees" or Maenads--women who danced themselves into trance and engaged in sacred journeys into the wilderness--would fall upon his enemies and tear them to pieces with their hands and teeth.

Dionysus is the power of the Unconscious and the Irrational in Mankind.

Nevertheless, the presence of Dionysius among the archetypes of man creates a saving grace for Mankind, for it is his irrational side which saves Mankind from his arrogance and cold-blooded rationalism. Mankind cannot survive as pure rational masculine being, for man has his animal nature. It is Mankind's irrational nature which "saves him" from self-destructive cruelty.

Dionysus was also known as “the Bull God.” In ancient rituals, the sacrifice of the "bull" and later, the "goat", and even a "grape vine" represented the death of the god, who later was reborn, in the widespread "dying god" motif of mythology. Even in Christianity, Jesus Christ was depicted as "Dionysus", the dying god in many artworks of the Middle Ages.

The Bull is also the symbol of the astrological sign of Taurus, which is ruled by Venus. Like in ancient Minoa, the power of the Bull manifests under the august personage of the Goddess.

The Divine Bull is a god of thunderstorms, lightning and rain, fertilizing the earth with rain and, through his sacrifice, his blood. His raw power brings growth, the peacefulness of summer days, kindness of community, security, and abundance.

The Sacred Bull is the symbol of the King who serves his people. In many ancient cultures, a king was selected to serve his people through combat, but when he got too old, he was challenged by a younger warrior and killed. He became the "dying god" himself--sacrificed to the goddess in service to life, like the seed must die for the plant to grow. Through his sacrifice, his blood nourished his kingdom's soil, creating life in the form of new crops.

Taurus is a feminine, earth sign, and reflects the gifts of the earth goddess; gifts like abundance, security, growth, protectiveness, creativity, peacefulness, kindness. However, like all archetypes, Taurus may manifest in negative ways, like materialism, smothering love, emotional instability, restlessness, passivity, moodiness, obsessiveness, worry, and treacherousness.

Where the power of the bull is not allowed expression in our personalities and lives—which is to say, where the power of darkness, might, ferocity, wildness, and irrationality is not admitted into the psyche as an aspect of our natural expression—the power of the bull turns negative and becomes exploitative materialism rather than the natural spirituality of oneness with nature, smothering love rather than empowering love, emotional instability and rage rather than spontaneity, repression rather than full acceptance of one’s own full nature, obsessiveness rather than detachment, moodiness rather than emotional fluidity, and passivity rather than natural masculine aggressiveness.

Osprey - Guide of Lovers and the Heartsick

2006-07-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

Symbol of Royalty and the Sun,
Illumination, Authority, Sovereignty,
Visionary Power, Vigilance, Communication,
Egyptian Symbol of the Soul,
Hermes, Psychopomp, Messenger,

The Osprey is a beautifully marked member of the Hawk family; a fisher which dives from the air directly into the waters of ocean waterways, lakes and rivers to spear its watery prey. Often mistaken for a eagle, the Osprey has nearly an all white head, but sports a mask of black across its eye. Its tail feathers are a deep golden brown, with black spots; its beast and under-wings white. In eastern North America, the Osprey is found along coasts, but sometimes ventures inland hundreds of miles.

Like all hawks, the Osprey carries the symbolisms of power, vision, and spirit; thus, its association with Hermes, or Mercurius, god of communication and messenger of Heaven. At home in the air (mind), Osprey brings us together through lies; not the lying of lower dimensions, but Great Lies that make up Creative process Itself: clever redefinitions, arguments or perspectives which free persons caught in the past from their taboos, forbiddings, or self-imposed exile from love. Free of human concepts of good or evil, Osprey finds ways for both winners and losers in life to walk away feeling that they gained something from their experiences. Thus, diplomats, businesspeople, liars and thieves all are aided by such totem animals.

A trickster, Osprey even has the power to trick humans into loving one another again. Water is also the element of our emotions; diving into our emotions opens us to new softness in relationships, opening of the heart-spaces, and willingness to take greater risks for the greater good. Osprey sells us so cleverly on our need to be open that we never even suspect he’s different from other predators. Whereas they take, he gives. While you lose your wishes, your needs, your hope, and your will, you find out later how much you’ve gained. You learn how to love yourself so you can give others the love they need!

Are you lying down on the job of developing your own potential? Have you given up on life? Osprey's lies trick us into faith that divine love will never abandon us, guiding us as the gods might towards service or some other life focus until we can re-establish our will-to-live. His mask deceives us into believing that some other gods might be here, guiding. In fact, he is the only one. He is our own unknown potential for love and majesty, hidden but manifesting lies to free us of divine illusions. He is the voices of loving self deception for purposes we might never understand. He is teaching us that we are creators, liars, losers or winners, experiencing this loving lie that is life itself. And in the end, he ensures that we understand this.

Osprey is different than other hawks in important respects. No other member of the hawk family leaves its natural element of the air (Consciousness) to enter the element of water (the Unconscious). Even fish eagles like the Bald Eagle do not enter the water, but clasp their fishy prey with their claws as they skim along the surface of the water. In fact, a large portion of the food of eagles comes from fish stolen from ospreys.

Like Hermes, the Osprey is allowed to enter the Underworld as psychopomp, guide of souls, to bring treasures back and as your totem can lead you there to find the lost parts of yourself. The Underworld is the personal and the collective unconscious, symbolized by the element of water. Entering these nether regions are often dangerous, and without the power to return the mind (air) can become lost and descend into madness. Osprey brings us back into ordinary life after our dark nights of the soul.

Weasel - Silent Observation

2006-06-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

Sly Circumvention, Silent Observation
Ferreting out of Secrets
Totem animal of Royalty, Liars and Thieves,
Salesmen, Businesspeople, Travelers,
Diplomats, Magicians;

Solitary by nature, Weasels are small carnivores who feed upon mice, other rodents, insects, lizards and other small animals. With their short legs, taloned claws, and long bodies, weasels are fierce hunters, stalking their prey silently and stealthily until they can attack from ambush. They can follow mice and other rodents right into their holes and burrows. Most of their prey is then taken back to their dens, which are also in underground holes, where it can be eaten safely.

Weasel medicine is the ability to track and ferret out prey surreptitiously. Stealth and silent observation are the prominent characteristics of weasel people. Because they are small, sly and stay hidden, they bring people with this totem the ability to 'listen in' without being noticed by others. Such people are very good at picking up secrets others would never tell them.

Because weasels are small, they are vulnerable to larger predators, so weasels—and weasel people—should never take on more powerful competitors directly. But then, they don’t need to. Stealth, cunning and expert use of camoflage is one of the more successful survival strategies in the wild.

Society usually holds that direct confrontation is the measure of a man or assertive woman. But all too frequently, confrontation with a more powerful person leads to loss of a job, a dangerous physical conflict or loss of an opportunity. Weasel people seldom are promoted into the top positions in business or industry. They are not leaders. However, they make superb leutenants, because they will execute orders with cunning and stealth. Many are caught up in the rules of righteousness or ethical behavior. Weasel people have to rid themselves of such attitudes in organizational politics, because these attitudes expose the individual to overpowering force from more powerful forces. Weasel survives through flattery, subterfuge, lies or near lies, ambiguous answers or excuses. He may not be well liked, or even in a powerful position. But he survives when others get their pink slips.

Weasel people are often solitary, but get along well enough with everyone. The "Eddie Haskel" of the animal kingdom, they take what they need and are not ostentatious about it. They don’t poke into other’s business or step on toes. They really want no trouble from anyone, but they can deliver a ferocious “bite” if attacked. Even larger “predators” tend to be cautious with a weasel person, and if they should make an enemy of a weasel person, learn never to turn their back on them.

Weasel deals with competing animals furtively, and can dispose of their competition and provide for themselves without danger to themselves. In Nature, survival is the only criteria of success of a species, and those who would learn from nature would do well to emulate the successes of weasel, who often lives and prospers in the shadow of more powerful and dangerous animals. His survival depends on knowing when a dangerous predator is in the area as well as where to seek his own food safely.

Silently watching and listening, weasel people know who is “in” and who is “out,” which way a decision is going, and who is a critical ally in any situation, using that information to position themselves in any organization. They keep their own counsel, remain silent and uncommitted, avoid taking positions in disputes prematurely, wait to see who takes which position. Then, they make themselves useful to others so that they are seen as an ally to people on all sides of any dispute.

WHALE - The Power of Creation

2006-06-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Containment, Concealment and Resurrection,
The World, the Body and the Grave,
The Power of the Unconscious,
The Truth and Strength of the Inner Being,
The Descent into the Dark,
The Awakening of our Inner Depths,
The Mystic Mandorla or vesca piscis,
Creation, Practical Use of one’s Creativity.

With 90 or so different species of cetaceans or whales, the whale is the largest mammal on earth. Some whales are toothed, eating fish, seals and other marine life, while others have baleen in place of teeth, feeding on plankton and the sea life within this sea weed.

Whales have held spiritual associations and archetypal meanings for many cultures through the ages. The list above describes some of the key associations. It is an ancient symbol for creation. In Jewish and Islamic spiritual texts, the whale symbolizes containment, concealment and resurrection—as Jonah was swallowed by the whale and forced to wander in the dark of the belly for three days before being spit back up. There comes a time for each of us when we are swallowed up by the whale and descend into our dark places. In the belly of the whale, each of us teeter between heaven and earth, being both macrocosm and microcosm; at any instant, we could tip over into macrocosm and enlightenment. It is in the dark night of the soul where we meet the Creator.

In modern psychotherapy, this period of containment and imprisonment symbolizes man’s descent into the darkness of his shadow or into his Unconscious for a period of introspection and death, before being “reborn” or resurrected as a new being.

In dreams, being swallowed by a whale is archetypically the passing of the Threshold of the Heroic Quest into the Darkness of the Underworld, where the dreamer must confront his demons and dragon, find his pearl without price, and return to the World of Mankind changed, renewed and prepared to bring his gift to the waiting world. The whale is the world, our very bodies, and the place where each and everyone of us experiences the transformation of souls.

The whale swims in deep waters, and is a power of the deepest part of the Unconscious. Like Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, the medicine of whale can bring an obsessive need to be with the gods rather than be here living life as a human, or bring the need to capture and possess the love of god rather than allow Creation Its own regimes and element of existence. Whale dives deep and lives in the depths with the intent of the Creation to be innocently aware of itself and awake in the worlds of man and God. Swallowed by the Whale, Man becomes the Creator.

In general, the whale is not a predator of man. Even so-called “Killer whales” or Orcas, seldom attack men or people in the water. Recently, I have dreamed of Orca in ways which suggest that It represents the power of Creation offering itself to us in this time and age: a power of the Unconscious Sea upon which we all dwell. Creation is bringing a new Creativity to Man—a time of renewal and change is upon us all. All about us are signs of a more tangible love from the Power of Creation. These gifts of creativity should be used with wisdom and love—for both ourselves and others.

The pursuit of wisdom and spirituality must bring all peoples together rather than holding us apart, for the loss of love is deepening the needs of many for signs that they are loved here on Earth. Feelings of loss and lovelessness are driving men and woman into despair where they do harm to themselves and others. Now is the time to reach out to others, including the poor and downtrodden, those of different religious persuasions, and different social classes. Now is the time for power to be used more wisely and justly for everyone is here to be transformed.

The Needs and Wants of all beings here on Earth should be honored and respected, including the plants and animals. Life is here to be honored as sacred. Our emerging creativity must bear fruit in the form of love among all peoples, regardless of divisions of race, religion, or nationality so that peace might reign as once promised; or else it will not be continued as before.

If whale has shown up in your life, it is time to re-examine your use or lack of use of your creativity. Are you copying others and their ideas, or are you adapting their ideas to new and pragmatic uses to improve the lot of others? Each man and woman possesses this gift, to be reined in if it is not well used. Think of ourselves as the ‘prodigal son’ or ‘daughter’ who has been given priceless gifts of creativity and adaptation; how are you using your gifts? And what return will you take to the Father as you complete your assignments here on earth?

Sources: J.E. Ciriot, A Dictionary of Symbols
Jean Chevalier & Alain Gheerbrant, Dictionary of Symbols
Ted Andrews, Animal Speak
Alice Anne Parker, Understand Your Dreams

Swan - The Beauty of the Soul

2006-06-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

From ancient times, Swans symbolized the Beauty of the Soul. Totem of the child, the poet, the mystic and the dreamer, the coming of Swan intensifies the emotions and the feeling nature within man and woman, as the Soul rises to the surface to feel its way in the Sunlight of Earth.

In myth, swans pulled the god Apollo’s chariot across the heavens, signifying that our own lower selves are pulled along in the wake of the Soul’s own journey.

The Soul’s Beauty is too great for this weary world, and she comes only occasionally, preferring—like the Swan--to remain in her own cold realms of inner conscousness. But when she does come, she is so bright, so bright, that many fall beneath Her spell. She calls many to tragic ends seeking a Beauty which is not for this world.

In ancient Greece, the Elders taught that no animal sings so sweet as the swan as she dies. In fantasy and faery, swans transformed into beautiful women, drawing men into hopeless yearning for that which could never be possessed. Swans were sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of Love. Once touched by Swan, men can feel their hearts, and the music of poetry awakens within them. Yet Beauty is also perilous, for once men have drunk of Beauty, they cannot live without it. Passion denied is the dark side of the soul’s need, for men destroy the things they love.

In the youngest children, the soul stirs and feels its “inferiority.” This is why children relate so well to the Tale of the Ugly Duckling. For in their innocence, they yearn to be loved, as does the Soul, for itself. And adults wonder about the shining eyes of their little ones as they gaze uncertainly upon the world in which they find themselves.

Badger - Keeper and Teller of Stories

2006-05-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

Bold Self-Expression and Self-Reliance
Healer

Badger is a keeper of knowledge of the Earth and her animals. In her dens below the ground, she hears the Earth speak and knows much about Her wholeness. Badger brings these stories she hears far below the ground up into the light and tells them to the children of the Earth. She sees below the surface of life and understands what she sees and hears. So she is the Story Teller of the animal kingdom.

Badger is carnivorous and eats many smaller animals. As she takes these animals within her, she absorbs their knowledge and stories.

Incredibly tough and resilient, badger has been known to take the kill from a mountain lion. Very few animals will take on an adult badger. It is an incredibly fierce fighter.

Badger is an unsociable animal. It does not “relate” well with others-even its own kind. It looks after its own needs. Those who would feed off badger or her kills soon learn that they had better look elsewhere. One might think that an animal such as badger would be lonely, but she is quite comfortable in her aloneness, self-reliant and centered. Badger needs no one to make her happy because she is grounded and comfortable with her self.

Like other members of the weasel family, badger is cunning. Provoke her and she’ll make you sorry you did. She has immensely powerful jaws and razor sharp claws. Try to move her and she’ll dig into the Earth and not be moved.

If badger has come into your life, you should ask yourself: are you looking beneath the surface of things? Have you become ungrounded and too ethereal in your spirituality? Do you need to get grounded. Are you giving away your power to others by depending on others to meet your needs? Are you comfortable in your aloneness? Are you disconnected from the Earth and its animal spirits?

If badger is one of your totem or power animal, you are fortunate for she will help you to live in the present in your power. And when you are ready, she’ll help you tell your story to others so that they too will feel their own power, their love for themselves and their wholeness.

Goat - The Ecstasy of Nature

2006-05-27T23:02:00.000-07:00

Fertility, Vitality
Creative Energy
Lust, Unbridled Sexual Powers
The Sin of Lust

Goat carries a number of symbolic meanings that give him both positive and negative messages. Goat has long symbolized sexual lust, but sexual energy is the very energy of life. Therefore, goat gives us vitality to live our lives with passion and enthusiasm for sexual relationships. Without the passion of sexuality, fertility is lacking, both in procreation and in creative pursuits. The body also requires sexuality to move energy efficiently. Those who become and remain celibate often “dry up” and lose energy, creativity, and enthusiasm for life.

Obsessive focus on sex however is generally considered a negative personality trait of some men, whose interest in the opposite sex is primarily focused on their need for sexual activity rather than intimacy or commitment. Women recognize such men and rightfully think of them as Old Goats!

Goat is a negative symbol in Christianity, which gives Goat an association with Lust as Sin.

In Greek mythology, the god Pan was half human, half goat in appearance. He played a flute which he used to lure the unwary into the wilderness. He was known for seducing human women into orgies in nature. Pan symbolized the Ecstasy of Nature; that Life and its Creation is sexuality. Pan draws our attention to another realm of Reality—a Realm where sex is neither immoral nor ‘good’, but simply a Law of the Creator. Sex is Sacred in this Realm of Nature of the Old Ways before Man decided to make lust and sex a sin.

Spider - Weaver of Webs (Fate or Karma)

2006-05-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

Guardian of Ancient Languages and Alphabets,
Polarity and Balance, Creativity,
Death and Rebirth,
Magic of Writing,
Gentleness with Strength.

Spider has long had symbolic meanings in many cultures through history. To Native Americans, spider's archetypal form was Spider Woman, a trickster immortal who might help the seeker or devour her. Often, the seeker must pass a test or answer a riddle before Spider Woman decides whether the seeker is to be helped in her quest or eaten for lunch.

In India, Spider symbolized the Laws of Cause and Effect. Her webs held humans fast in their illusions (Maya) until their learned that their own actions had caused their painful life experiences. Once learned, Seekers found her need was kindness, and they discovered their Dharma.

Her eight legs speak of the Mayan Twenty Count, where Eight is the number of the Laws of Cycles and the Book of Life. When we have lessons written in our Books of Life, they are karmic requirements. So when Spider lays down the Law, we must listen and do as she tells us. The Seasons of our Lives have their time. We must accept the natural cycles of birth, existence and death.

Spider teaches us that everything we do has consequences which may carry well beyond this life. Do No Harm is Her Lesson.

Spider wove the web of the Universe. When morning first came to the Universe, the dew drops glistened on her web in the dawning sky, and the First People named the points of light in the skies “Stars.” She was called First Creator for many Aeons.

Spider symbolizes three magics: The magic and energy of Creation, the magic of writing, and the Magic of the Spiral or Labyrinth.

Spider is the Guardian of ancient languages and alphabets. In old myths, letters were created from the patterns and angles in spider webs. Spider gives the gift of writing which can catch others in their webs of thought and emotion.

Possibly because the female of the species sometimes eats the male after mating, Spider has been associated in some myths with Death and Rebirth. She is also associated with the Moon.

In her dark aspect, Spider is associated with murder and horror. Out of mankind’s primal past, an image has also come which causes both men and women to recoil in terror at the touch or close proximity of Spider. Spider reminds us how we too once were prey of animals which ate us.

If spider has come into your life, you should ask yourself: are you caught in a web of karmic issues? Do you keep holding onto the things in life you shouldn’t? Are you in pain because you can’t let go of losing and winning? Do you need to spin a new web of dreams and life directions? Do you blame others for your not getting your needs met? If so, call on Spider to aid you. To find Her, you will need to go down into dark places within yourself to find your own answers to your frustrated needs. Spider often also brings the gift of writing; do you need to write?

Raven - Magic & Mystery

2006-04-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

Messenger between Heaven and Earth,
The Unexpected, An Omen of Death,
Shapeshifting, Power of Languages,
Scavenger of the Darkness (Unconscious).

Like Coyote and Mantis, Raven is an animal which frequently appears in the creation myths of the First Peoples. Raven can be wise, assiduous and heroic, but it might also be greedy, cunning and foolish. Raven is unpredictable. Raven is chaotic happenstance, change in the form of coincidence (or synchroniticity?) at the worst time. Because of Raven, we might experience catastrophe or miracles. Who can tell? Life is a constant surprise.

The Norse god, Odin, had a pair of ravens who served him as messengers. Their names were Munin (memory) and Hugin (thought). So too do our own thoughts and memories serve to link us to what is divine because our own minds are the Mind of God.

Ravens are found wherever there is death. Death in life is simply change, dropping our compulsions to constantly relive the past and repeat our self destructive beliefs, behaviors, and ways of thinking. Descending in the Underworld, while still living, is the Hero's Quest, which begins with the Dark Night of the Soul, or shamanic death, in which a person is torn apart by animals of the underworld so the he can be reconstructed or remade. Death-death is physically dying and descending into the Underworld to be eaten as are other animals; ravens are the scavengers of the Underworld and feed on the dead. They humble mankind by showing us that as we eat other beings during life, we are eaten after we die. We return to the Earth as do all other life forms. We are not the Masters of Heaven and Earth we sometimes believe we are. We are subject to the same Laws of Matter and Life as all other beings.

By showing us our light and dark sides, Raven links the Light and Dark sides of existence. Raven teaches us that life as it is—with both positive and negative circumstances—is essential. He brings messages to the dreamer from the Unconscious (as thoughts or memories), and are thereby the agents of change in our lives. Raven 's message is that mankind is not simply made to live as beings of light and happiness, but also darkness and suffering. We are not to reject our dark, unconscious, instinctual sides, but accept them as a part of who we are. Accepting this is the first step to understand the wholeness of love, for love cannot expand if we are not allowed to experience its complements: hate and indifference.

Raven is watchful for danger. It is especially watchful for Hawks and for Owls who are Raven’s enemy, for if either finds Raven’s nests, the sky will rain death. Raven will mob Hawks or Owls for miles to drive them away. Owl is a creature of the Moon, symbolizing the power of the dark feminine, while Hawk is a creature of the day and symbolizes the light masculine. If you are a Hawk or Owl person, expect Raven--chaotic happenstance--to pursue you. So fly high and silent. Once at height, Hawk ignores Raven, so take the high road to be well in this case. If you are an Owl person, you carry the power of the dark feminine, e.g. the Unconscious Feminine. You can be cruel and without mercy. In the darkness, no one challenges Owl, so open to the darkness within you. You will discover that this is only one aspect of self.

Wherever Raven is, magic is there. Magic is the ability to let go of the past and change—death and rebirth. Like the Fool in the Tarot, Raven is both foolish and wise. He is trusting, innocent, dark and magical. Raven is the flash of lightning in the dark. Who knows what will happen? He keeps life fresh and exciting with his magic of life and change.

Elephant - Symbol of the Highest True Self

2006-04-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

Ancient Power, Strength and Royalty,
Strength of the Feminine: The Child, the Woman,
and the Wise Woman (Matriarchal Head of Family).
The Importance of Family, Fertility, Sexual Power,
Discrimination, Clouds and Illusion,
Out of Control Masculine Rage

The symbolism of Elephant is ancient. In India, Elephant was the mount of Kings. Elephant was a devastating weapon of war and would throw the enemies of the Kings of India into confusion whenever the giant animals would rush into their ranks. In the West during the Roman Empire, the general Hannibul was made famous for attempting to bring the Carthagenian war elephants over the Alps to attack Rome from the city’s exposed flanks. He failed, of course. But in India and even in the West, Elephant came to symbolize the God of Warriors. Elephant is the totem of the greatest of warriors, denoting royalty, inner strength and nobility.

The myths involving Elephant have profoundly influenced humanity through history. Dreams filled with Elephant carry messages of transformation and spiritual power. Elephant in one’s dreams can signify the emergence of one’s Highest True Self. The Self, deep within the Collective Unconscious, only emerges when one has done one’s shadow work and integrated the contents of the Unconscious with Conscious Mind. This cannot be done by oneself, but is a sign of the Grace of the Divine and gift of Love of the As Above.

Like most mythic symbols, Elephant carries both positive and negative symbolic content.

Elephants live in separate social groups of females and male. Members of the female herds care and protect their young, act together for mutual protection from predators, and maintain loving relationships across the generations. The older, experienced females act as the Grandmothers of the Herd, using their experience and wisdom to assist the mothers and calves with the problems of life. Unlike much of human society, elephant herds demonstrate how close supportive relationships can be maintain between the generations by the feminine members of family.

Elephants depend heavily on their well-developed sense of smell to stay informed on their environments. The sense of smell symbolizes the ability to ‘discriminate’ between positive and negative environments. Elephant can bring the gift of discrimination, so that if you are contemplating some important decision, you will notice if “something does not smell right” about your options, and you will take more time to find more positive solutions.

Male elephants wander with other males during much of each year, seeking food. But during breeding season, they become aggressive and go individually in search of the female herds. Once the breeding seasons are ended, they leave the females and return to their bachelor herds. In rut, the males are dangerous and so the term “rogue elephant” has become part of even the Western vocabulary. In the dark, Elephant symbolizes the abusive, enraged, out of control male.

Linked with the planet Neptune, Elephant can also symbolize illusion or fantasy. In Greek mythology, the god Neptune was the god of the oceans. The Ocean, in dreams, symbolizes the Unconscious. But then imagination is a gift of the Unconscious as well, so Neptune/Elephant can bring gifts of creativity. However, the danger of the Unconscious is the possibility of becoming lost in illusion or fantasy. The dreamer can become lost in illusion in life or escape reality into fantasy, turning ones back on the challenges and learning opportunities in everyday life in exchange for the lure of imagination and fantasy. The dreamer therefore must learn to live in the Present, using his creativity to build dreams here, instead of wandering only in the realms of the fantastic within his mind. Fantasy can also bring riches of creativity. Children often fantasize about life as a way of experimenting with solutions to problems. Adults need imagination to find solutions to life’s challenges, but too much fantasizing can lead one to withdraw from life into isolation, leading to depression and loss of healthy relationships if not attended to. If we lose the ability to play and instead start to take life too seriously however, Elephant can teach the adult how to play with others again and thereby restore lightness and laughter to his life.

Thanks to Ted Andrews’ book Animal Speak for symbolic analysis. Also, Mary Ellen Guiley’s book The Encyclopedia of Dreams for information on Jungian dream symbols.

Crocodile - Guardian of the Threshold

2006-04-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

Guardian of the Gates to the Underworld (the Unconscious),
Guardian of Mystical Treasures and Wisdoms,
Primal Energies of Birth, Death and Initiation,
Ferocity, Fury, Viciousness, Destructive Power,
Keepers and Protectors of All Knowledge,
Primal Mother, Fertility and Power, Fecundity,
Vegetation, Hypocrisy, Insincerity.

Crocodile guards the Gateway to the Underworld of the Unconscious. Her great mouth is the entrance into the Waters of the Unconscious, which is the domicile of the Great Mother. She therefore symbolizes the unconscious aspect of the Sacred Feminine.

To be swallowed by her is akin to Jonah’s being swallowed by the Whale. Her bite is death, and in her jaws the seeker is torn to pieces so she can be reborn as a new person. This is the Shaman’s Death.

The waters of the Collective Unconscious are dangerous waters for the unwary adventurer, for many get lost here and never find their way back from the Underworld. Madness lurks there. But here is where the Seeker must venture to discover the lost aspects of her self. They are also protectors and guardians of the wisdom and treasures to be found into the dark waters of our minds and hearts.

Crocodiles are excellent mothers. They guard their young and nurture them. Occasionally however, they suddenly turn and devour their young. Unpredictable, primal, savage, and ferocious, they symbolize both Life Mother and Death Mother.

Fox - The Soul's Guardian Spirit

2006-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

Feminine Magic,
Invisibility, Shape-shifter,
Protector at the Edge of the Unconscious.

Like Serpent and Dragon, Fox holds the distinction of being a negative symbol within Christianity and a positive symbol in other older and New World indigenous traditions. This paradoxical archetypal animal signifies cunning, stealth, slyness, cleverness, trickiness, and even deceit within the symbolisms of Christianity. Fox even symbolized the Devil in early Christian mythologies. Curiously, it is these same characteristics which makes Fox the ultimate survivor in Nature. For little Fox survives by escaping the notice of more powerful predators. In fact, in hunting Fox, even man has had to turn to his cousin, Dog, to overcome Fox’s talents of stealth, speed, cunning, and invisibility.

According to Ted Andrews, Fox symbolizes the feminine magic of camouflage and shape-shifting. These have to do with the energies of the aura and the Second Great Magical Law. Fox lives in the border places around us: in the instants between evening and night, between nighttime and dawn, in the auric energies around our bodies, and in the spaces between waking consciousness and deep sleep. Meeting Fox in dreams indicates a feminine power of the Unconscious has intervened in favor of your living your life well. Fox may also appear to lead you into the Deep Forest; many knights and warriors have found themselves lost in an adventure in an unknown part of the Great Unconscious, lead there by an odd numinous animal.

Both ancient Chinese myth and native American tales speak of Foxes who shape-shift into beautiful young women, who appear in the lives of lonely young men. Fox magic dreams itself into the lives of young men even today, whenever they are caught and be-spelled by the wide-open eyes of a lovely woman and are held fast. But unless he can recognize and respect the wildness and need for naturalness within his paramour, he might lose her. In many of these old tales, husbands try to tame their wives or subdue them by controlling them, only to lose their wives and happiness as the wildness rose against them. In some of these tales, the husband killed their Fox wives in fear of them. In our culture, the male of our species often fears women, as well as the feminine energies within themselves; these are the energies of the anima—the inner capability of men to feel. The man who appreciates his own inner feminine is in love with his own soul! For it is She who guards the borderland between his conscious and unconscious minds. It is She who works to make him Whole.

Although there are several varieties of foxes, the most common American Fox is the Red Fox. Its color is symbolic of the kundalini—the life force. In my own life, Fox has dreamed itself into my own life to tell me how I must avoid the depths of the Underworld. Life is to be lived in the third dimension—not out among the stars or in the depths of hell (the astral realms). Death awaits those who dive deep into those Underworld realms, for many become lost! Fox has at least on one occasion saved my life during deep dreaming by herding me back up into consciousness in time to save my life and restore my health and ability to think, create and plan!

Fox medicine teaches us how to remain unnoticed in crowds, to come and go without being remarked upon. A person can learn much by just standing in the shadows and listening. Invisibility is a powerful medicine to cultivate in life.

Fox has very acute senses of smell, vision and hearing. Smell symbolizes the power of discrimination; so Fox medicine offers us the power of clear thinking and decision-making to keep us safe, healthy, and prosperous. Fox “sight” may lead us astray if we’re looking for those entities who dwell in the ether, but then you know yourselves. But if you so choose, you may sight one or two before your life is over. And hearing? Well, there are those whose Fox magic has gifted a sense of hearing beyond the ordinary. Who knows what you might hear if you listen carefully at dusk or outside your windows at mid-night?

Although farmers tell stories of the foxes which got into their hen-houses, Fox is mostly a hunter of mice, insects and other small animals. Fox is “charming” and dainty, cat-quick, light-hearted and playful, a great parent to its cubs, and a strong teacher of stalking knowledge about life. Fox has a gift for play that captivates the attention of animals which make very good dinners, for they relax and become curious of Fox’s play when they should be fleeing for their lives. If Fox is your totem or guardian, take time to play; perhaps you too will attract an attractive guest or two—not to mention members of the opposite sex!

Fox magic can have its darker uses as well, as all the great archetypes tell us. For encountering an enemy at night has its uses. Invisibility makes for a great offense, as well as defense. Who knows who might be listening wherever we live and work?

Being cunning and deceitful with co-workers and potential colleagues might backfire. And lying can be a temptation if Fox’s needs get too strong. You’ll want to seek out Fox’s lighter aspects. Learn to be a patient hunter, to be careful and discriminating, listen before you speak, and keep your eyes open. And you too will be a Master of Natural Magic before you end this lesson. Respect Fox and Her needs, but keep your own mind! Keep in mind how there is almost always a light in the darkness however. Whatever that is, you’ll know in time.

Deer - Keeper of Magical Law

2006-04-03T03:53:00.000-07:00

Gentle Luring to New Adventure,
Innocence, Return to the Worlds of Childhood,
Messenger of the Fairy Kingdom,
Swiftness, Grace, Love, Compassion,
Timidity.

In many myths of both East and West, the Deer plays a central role in luring Kings and hunters into the Deep Woods where adventure finds them. The Deer is the Keeper of Magical Law. Wherever Deer is, the Seeker will encounter the magic of the Wild Places. In the Legends of King Arthur for example, Sir Gawain found adventure after following a White Hart into the Woods.

The Deep Woods symbolizes the Unconscious Realms of our Minds, but a friendlier dimension than the Ocean as a symbol of the Unconscious. It is a place where magic can still be encountered—where the fairy kingdom and the Old Gods still live. Those of us who have to grow up lose the memory of the wonder of those fantastic realms of fantasy, where once we could see and hear the fairies, where once the birds and animals talked to us. Childhood’s time is so short, and children today must grow up so fast. The Real World of adulthood won’t tolerate fantasy or play or even the willingness to let the mind roam into unworldly possibilities. The older we become however, the more we need to recall the gifts of youth and Nature.

When we reach the point in life when our enthusiasm for life wanes, when we need to go back and rediscover what is important, Deer will lure us into our Deep Inner Woods to find those magical realms where life was once bright and new. Deer can return to us the awe and passion we once felt about Life and living here in Earth’s Light.

Because of its connection with ancient legends of kings and chivalry, Deer takes us back into the times of Romance, when Knights and Kings courted beautiful damsels, fought great battles and hunted the deer with horse and hound before the coming of Christianity. Deer takes us back to learn the ancient wisdoms of Ages past and can remind us of the times before guilt and sin was the basis for religious experience. And Deer can reawaken the spark of lost Love in the old who need to rekindle the inner fires of romance and living from the Heart.

One of the most noticeable characteristics of the Deer is the antlers of the male animal. Antlers symbolized antenna, which attune one to higher realms. If Deer has entered your life, expect new awareness of the magical realm. You should watch for the awakening of new psychic gifts and perceptual abilities of the subtle realms.

In rutting season, bucks can become very aggressive, and have been know to attack and humble human hunters. The masculine character can emerge whenever the feminine is ready to receive him. The Buck can become aggressive and masculine when the Doe accepts him.

On the feminine side, Deer may draw us away into fantasy when we ought to be grounding ourselves and facing the need to be present in our lives and face our everyday problems. Deer’s senses are sharp, and he can sense trouble when still far away. Deer runs away to hide whenever danger comes. This is understandable for children, who need fantasty to cope with harsh experiences and learning about themselves. But living in the Deep Woods, in those fantastic realms, is not good for grown men or women for long periods. It can become a habit to escape reality in fantasy if we are not very careful. There comes a time for coming out of the woods and confronting life’s issues.

Immaturity is also symbolized by the immature deer, for the deer appears a fragile and fairy-like creature. Young people for whom Deer is their power animal may fear for their safety in our rough and tumble youth cultures. Many learn to shy away from confrontation and aggressive youths to avoid hurtful situations. Middle school and high school years are difficult periods to pass through. Young bucks practice fighting with one another, separating from females and adults, and can make life difficult for many more timid boys and girls. But they should remember that maturity can bring new opportunities to discover their real strengths, and the time will come when few will dare to confront them directly. Few animals have the combination of ethereal beauty, speed, grace and strength of Deer when they grow into their maturity.

Wolf--Teacher of the Path with Heart

2006-03-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Symbol of Guardianship, Ritual, Loyalty, and Spirit

Wolves are the epitome of the wild spirit. Their positive characteristics are so numerous it is no wonder that Native Americans and others practically deified them. Many believe that the true test of American’s sincerity about protecting the environment will revolve around whether or not the wolf remains protected and is allowed to be reintroduced into areas of the country where it has heretofore been eliminated. The wolf is the true spirit of the free and unspoiled wilderness.

Wolf medicine teaches you to know who you are and to develop strength, confidence and surety so that you do not have to demonstrate and prove yourself to others. Wolf empowers our voice and body to be an effective communicator. He teaches us how to be a cooperating member of our packs and how to stand up for ourselves when we disagree with others. And he leads us into true intimacy with others of our kind. Wolf can teach us our alpha male and alpha female sides and put us in touch with our primal, animal natures.

Learning to trust your own insights and to secure your attachments according is part of what wolf medicine teaches. The wolf can help you to hear the inner and guard you from inappropriate actions. It will guard you as it teaches you—sometimes strongly, sometimes gently—but always with love.

Wolf is the Teacher of one’s Path with Heart. Wolf will lead you back to your natural self, out in the wilderness where the pack runs under the full moon, running the deer into deep places within your soul.

When wolf shows up in your life, it is time to breathe new life into your life rituals. Find a new path, take a new journey, take control of your life. You are the governor of your life. You create it and direct it. Do so with harmony and discipline, and then you will know the true spirit of freedom. Where wolf leads one will also be well.

Wolf also shows no mercy and kills his prey quickly and without sentimentality. By reputation, wolf is vicious, mercenary, attacks without provocation, and is at home under Nature’s Law of kill or be killed. Wolf loves the hunt. Here, there is true wildness and wolf will bring us home to our own wildness.

With thanks to Ted Andrews, Animal Speak.

The Bee - Power of Collective Consciousness

2006-03-25T02:41:00.000-08:00

Industriousness,
Organizational Efficiency,
Cleanliness, Purity,
Symbolizes the Soul, the Sun, or Christ,
The Gifts of Poesy and Prophecy,
Sexuality, the Womb and Death.

What animal archetype could be more appropriate to describe the contradictions within the Western psyche than “Bee?” For like Mankind, Bee stands between the Divine and the Mundane, the most conscious and the least, the productive and the compulsively driven!

Ted Andrews’ research maintains that bees appear in many mythologies around the world. Hinduism considers the Bee to symbolize Vishnu, Krishna, or even Kama—the god of Love. In ancient Egypt, the Bee symbolized royality. In Greece, it was part of the symbolism of the Eleusinian Mysteries. To the Celts, Bee symbolized hidden wisdom. And to Christians, Bee symbolized Christ.

In more modern times, science was for many years confounded by the bee, perceiving it as an insect that was ‘too heavy to fly’, and yet it did. It earned the reputation of being the Rocky Balboa of the insect kingdom: able to “do the impossible.” Like Rocky, Bee became an imago for all who saw themselves as facing impossible odds and yet were determined to win.

Bees are always working, going, gathering pollen and making honey. But like Man, Bee gathers and does far more than required to feed himself. Beekeepers take away much of a hive’s honey to sell, returning very little in security to their tiny charges. But Bee just keeps working, locked in its own world of prescribed roles and duties.

From the outside, Bee is the very model of duty and industriousness—all characteristics admired in western economic thought and culture. Bees are orderly and efficient, managing their hives and work schedules so effectively that businessmen and government bureaucrats might well choose this imago as an ideal model to emulate in their own realms of responsibility. They keep their hives clean and hygienic, providing an idealized model for our homemakers, religious and social organizations: doing good, keeping busy, cleaning house, caring for the children, making money, being and doing “good”, and doing one’s duty.

These qualities of Bee remind us how our modern economic system seems totally dependent upon collective effort and creativity rather than individual effort and creativity; so complex has modern economic life become that it is impossible to think of our capital and technology-driven economy remaining viable without carefully coordinated effort by many persons who possess many specialized skills. Bee does not have much of the artist or entrepreneur in it, for such energies are driven by individualized callings and passions.

But the dark side of these qualities are rigidity, inflexibility, conformity to collective order, mindless activity, and the imposition of collective values and priorities without individual rights or responsibility. Bee thus also symbolizes the compulsiveness of Man’s unconscious programming to work and unthinkingly attend to social or work duties over personal or individual need. Much of Mankind, like sterile worker Bees, spend their lives thoughtlessly leading sterile existences. Or like soldier Bees, our professional soldiers, defending the homeland against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Individual judgment and survival are not important against the needs of the collective.

As the single bee is a part of the hive, so too is the individual’s soul a part of the Anima Mundi—the World Soul. In India, the Soul is viewed as a collective entity—like the hive; Hinduism believe that all humans have a common soul. In the West, it is much more common today to visualize one’s soul as an individual part of oneself. In pre-Christian eras when paganism and the power of the Mother Goddess was supreme in the tribes of man, the soul was also seen as an elemental power—a part of Nature. Bee’s gold color linked it to the Sun and the Solar Energies of Apollo. Even today, spiritual movements such as Theosophy still refer to the soul as the Solar Angel.

The hive is populated by several types of bees. The Queen is the only female allowed to live in the hive. Whenever any bee is fed royal jelly by caretakers and is born female, the Queen will kill them if not prevented by her caretakers. Drones are males whose only purpose is to breed new queens. Soldier bees guard the hive. And workers are sterile eunuchs whose only purpose is to gather pollen and make honey.

As Queen of the Hive, the Queen Bee is the ultimate tyrant. Like many CEO’s of large corporation, She is also captive of her Hive and can never escape her duties. She is the epitome of the Earth Mother or Great Mother archetype, being both the Source of Life for her species and Death Mother of her young, as she destroys her female young as they emerge from their birth chambers. Like the Queen, Man’s business and political leaders ruthlessly cull aggressive challengers from their staffs to ensure that they are never successfully challenged, selecting eunuch-like staff who subordinate themselves to the CEO and are loyal workers.

The shapes of bee hives have associations to burial mounds. Anyone who has visited the famous “beehive tomb” in Greece will recognize the ancient association of the hive with the burial tomb. So too, in our modern organizations, Man has entombed himself in burial tombs of steel and glass, away from the sunny fields of flowers and open skies outside, so that he can attend to his compulsive duties within the Underworlds of government and business without distraction. The hive is also associated with the womb. Sex and death speak through this imago of the eternal cycle of the wheel of incarnation from birth, to death and back again into life.

Bees also have symbolism from early Christian mythologies. In earlier times, bees were believed not to birth young themselves but instead harvested their young from flowers. Thus, bees became early symbols of virgin birth and the immaculate conception. Because of this belief, they were also associated with Jesus’ birth.

Honey, the food produced by bees, was associated in earlier times with “ambrosia”—the food of the gods. As a result, they became associated with the gift of the Muse—poetry and music—and with the gift of prophecy. Priestesses of the Delphic Oracle were called “bees.” And offerings of honey and honey cakes were made on altars to the gods and goddesses of yore. Similar mentions were made in the Christian Bible; Israel’s ‘promised land’ was the Land of Milk and Honey.

Finally, bees are associated with sexuality or lust, due to their capacity to “sting.” Here, the ancient mythic connection between sex and death is imaged, for when bees sting, they die from the wound in themselves when the stinger remains behind and is wrenched out of their bodies. In this, they join the salmon, the mantis, and the black widow spider—all of whom demonstrate the closeness of sex and death in their mating and spawning.

Bee reminds us to hold on to our individuality and not to lose ourselves in collective duties or in our social programming which ties our identities, our self-worth, and our self-respect to what others ‘at work’ think of us. Life is far more than work, but work also gives meaning to life. Like all other archetypes, Bee is paradox. Bee shows us that life is both nirvana and samsara at the same time, and the fullness of our lives is all in how we look at it. Bee is therefore also a reminder to “make honey while the sun shines”, to live life fully and in the present, for tomorrow we die.

Bibliography

Ted Andrews, Animal Speak (Llewellyn Publications: 1998), page 337-338.

Rosemary Ellen Guiley, The Encyclopedia of Dreams (Berkeley Books: New York, 1995), page 166.

Great Blue Heron

2006-03-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

Aggressive Self-Reliance,
Self Determination

The archetype of the Great Blue Heron has been a strong factor in our own personal journey. Has it been for yours?

Heron links two worlds: the waters of life—the Unconscious, and the air—the realm of the conscious mind. He feeds on fishes, which symbolize the treasures of the Unconscious mind: spiritual nourishment for the Seeker. Yet he is also a creature of the Earth, so he is a grounding influence for people who spend too much time in their minds and who are called to ‘fish’ in the waters of the unconscious.

The legs of Heron are long to “stand” the deep waters of the Unconscious: the Waters of Lethe bring sleepiness and unconsciousness if one is not awake, aware and wary. Heron is a solitary fisher; if you call upon Heron to be your own totem, you must be able to stand alone as you seek, for there is no one to call on should you step into too-deep waters.

Heron’s strength for those of us who spend too much time ‘in our minds’ is that he brings one down to Earth. With Heron as your guide, he will bring you to ground to explore life here in the physical instead of just daydreaming or losing oneself in one’s imagination or dreams.

Since as fishers of these waters our attention is constantly drawn back to the treasures of the Unconscious, we tend to lose interest in the matters other humans focus upon. We are not the most stable workers, or attentive spouses, or normal neighbors. We tend to be more than a little eccentric, preoccupied, inwardly turned people. We’re dreamers, liars, creating things out of our discoveries, imagining new things to be and do. We’re deeply engaged with exploring our naturalness, learning to know our bodies, or exploring Divine Nature. We’re unconventional, hearing our own inner drummer. We don’t worry about ‘keeping up with the Jones’s, doing what others do, believing what others believe, valuing what others value. If there is a weakness, it is that Heron works too hard at its fishing because he is a superb ‘stalker.’ He spends long hours standing and watching for a movement in the water, and needs sometimes to ‘loosen up’ and spend more time playing, courting lady herons or just snoozing in the Sun.

Because they are unconventional people, Heron people often must learn to make their living being ‘jacks of all trades’-picking up income from a variety of jobs, projects, part-time assignments-rather than a routine, full-time job with one employer. Most people, as Ted Andrews says in his book Animal Speak, would never choose to live this way: “It is not a structured way, and does not have a stability or security to it. It is though, just a matter of perspective. There is security in heron medicine, for it gives the ability to do a variety of tasks. If one way doesn’t work, then another will.”[1]

Solitary in nature, Heron people follow their own path. They learn self-reliance. This is a valuable character trait in these times of conformity and homogenization of values. Heron people can stand alone, listen to their own inner wisdom, and go their own way when everyone else is conforming to society’s commands. In this way, they build their own ways to be as well as choose their own way of doing. They are individuals first.

On the negative side, many heron people get lost in their emotions (water) and lose the discipline of reason or will, forgetting to come to Earth to live life to its fullest, or even getting lost in that ‘vastness’ which is the realm of forgetting and dream, sentimentalizing life and its meaning rather than getting on with life as it is. Heron people occasionally have to be reminded to stay Present in their lives; that Heaven is here spread upon the Earth (as Jesus said in the Gospel of Thomas).

Footnotes:
[1] Ted Andrews, Animal Speak (Llewellyn Publications: 1998), page 156.

Bear - Great Mother

2006-03-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

Awakener of the Power of the Unconscious
The Great Mother Archetype
The Great Sleeper-Dreamer
Raw Power, Primitive Instincts

Historically, Bear has many associations among the cultures of the Earth. One of the most consistent of those associations is the link between Bear and the Moon, which ties her with our emotions, souls and subconscious mind. She was linked with the Goddess Diana, the Huntress, and was a symbol for the nigredo of prime matter in alchemy, as well as man’s primal instincts. She represents tribal consciousness rather than individual consciousness and individuation, and awakens each of us to the power of the Collective Unconscious. Tribal consciousness has little regard for individuality in the interest of the traditions of the tribe; it is a matriarchial archetypal identity which stresses ones roles within and obligations to society, family, or clan instead of the freedom of individual expression.

Bear is a great power of the Unconscious mind who awakens and then protects us on our hero’s or heroine’s journey into the subconscious and Collective Unconscious.

She hibernates for many months during winter, spending months asleep in Her Den. While she sleeps, her little ones are born. It is in dreams therefore that She often comes to us and works with us. She is the Great Sleeper-Dreamer Teacher who protects us, her little one’s, in the dreamscape that we may stay safe in that great Unknown of the 5th Dimension.

The Den is a symbol of the womb and the Collective Unconscious. Bear symbolizes Great Mother, both archetype and personal mother, with all that implies. She therefore carries the positive power and “medicine” of the creative feminine, birth-mother, nurturer, protector and teacher. In her dark aspect, she symbolizes the death mothers who kill or abuse their young by spoiling, overcontrolling or figuratively castrating their young boys, or over-controlling, crushing the spirits of, or humiliating their daughters.

In dream analysis, Bear can symbolize resurrection, rebirth, initiation into a new life passage. Because of its seasonal hibernations, bear can symbolize the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. In alchemy, the bear has a similar meaning, representing the dark night of the soul--the darkness that occurs before spiritual rebirth or a new phase in life. And in some hero myths, the bear can represent the solar, masculine principle.

Bear creates for young males the challenge of separating from the Mother in a positive way in order that they may come into their own power. Failing to separate implies that sons forever seek to return to the womb and seek mothering from their wives and girl friends. In presenting this challenge to males however, Bear strengthens them and gives meaning to their journey through life, for it is only through struggle with opposition that men discover their inner strengths and win their way to freedom. And it is only through finding the positive relationship with women that men find meaning in their existence. For in that relationship, men discover their feminine or “feeling” sides which make them feel alive and gives purpose to their lives. For women, Bear challenges them to pass quickly through the negative aspects of the mother that they may reach the positive archetypal energies of loving protector who fights ferociously to protect their young.

Bear is a great power among the animal teachers of man. Seek Her inside yourselves and be well with this lesson.

The Eagle

2006-03-10T02:37:00.000-08:00

Nobility, Great Spirit’s Bird,
Messenger of the Spirit, Spirit of the Sun,
Pride, Triumph, Fierceness, Power,
Liberty, Liberation, Illumination,
The Father

Eagle has so many regal associations throughout history, it is difficult to list them all. The Eagle has inspired many cultures. Kings and Religious Orders in countless cultures have used the symbol of the Eagle to symbolize that which is Spirit, Noble, and Inspiring.

In the religion of ancient Greece, the Lord of the gods, Zeus, was said to shapeshift into an eagle to control the thunder and the lightning. The Sumerians worshipped an eagle god, and the Hittites had a tribal symbol of a two-headed eagle indicating that they were vigilant. To the Romans, the eagle symbolized Jupiter and the Roman Empire. To native Americans, the eagle represented the ancient mythological Thunderbird, which symbolized punishment and reward and controlled the thunder and lightning.

There are several types of eagles, including fish eagles, sea eagles, snake eagles, harpy eagles, bald eagles and golden eagles. Each type carries unique associations in their symbolism. The only eagles on the North American continent, however, are the bald and golden eagles. The bald eagle is larger than the golden, cannot fly as high and is not so graceful as the Golden. The bald eagle is a symbol of the feminine, whereas the golden eagle symbolizes the masculine. As a fish eagle, the bald eagle symbolizes the spirit of man which reaches down into the unconscious to discover the truth about himself. The Golden Eagle is a booted eagle, possessing a mantle of feathers on its head and neck (which give them their fierce look) and feathers on its legs that look like boots.

Among native Americans, eagle feathers are used in healing ceremonies and pipe ceremonies and for war bonnets of the chief. Warriors earned their feathers, which they wore in their hair in battle and ceremony to give them a connection with spirit. In their prayers, warriors called to Eagle--Wombade, Great Spirit’s Messenger--to carry their prayers to Great Spirit and bring Visions.

In dreams, eagle symbolizes spiritual victory, the triumph of spirit in matter, the spiritual principle of humanity, illumination, nobility and mind. Jung felt that the eagle symbolized the Father God. Among early Christians, the eagle symbolized resurrection.

Those who would align themselves with the medicine of the eagle will surrender to the Will of Spirit, surrendering ego; we are our own Spirits in this encounter with the Lord of Wind and Fire. Alignment means aligning with one’s soul force energies, balancing the masculine and feminine within, and being well with living Life as a human being on this Earth.

TIGER - Wild Beauty and Power

2006-03-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

Passion and Sensuality
The Master of the Life on this Earth
Intelligence

Anyone who has seen a Tiger knows that she has seen something special. Few animals possess the charisma, power and elegance of Tiger—or the deadly grace either. Today, Tiger’s numbers have been decimated by poachers, but once his range extended from Siberia down into the southeastern Asian peninsula. In Siberia, Tiger’s prey is largely wild boar; in southeast Asia, the Bengal Tiger’s prey is deer. These animals should also be studied by all who have Tiger as their totem.

Tiger is a solitary hunter. The males range over vast ranges, while the females stay in local areas, raise their kittens, and hunt at night, teaching their young to hunt. Unlike many cats, Tigers love the water, enjoying a good swim in hot weather to cool off.

Tigers are prominent in the mythologies of several eastern cultures. In India, Tiger is linked with the goddess Kali, who signifies creation, destruction, sexuality and death. Although her presentation in the West is usually as simply dark and violent, Kali is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism. Her earliest history as a creature of indiscriminate violence and wrath still has some influence, while more complex Tantric beliefs sometimes extend her role so far as to be the Ultimate Reality and Source of Being. In China, Tiger is a sign of the zodiac and is an archetype in astrology indicating a personality characterized as adventurous, passionate and powerful.

Tiger is the Master of Living on this Earth; Tiger can give us all the time and lore we need to take command of our lives and live 'at the edge.' If you are dreaming of Tiger, you are being offered the opportunity to create new dreams, if... you are willing to take risks, dream big dreams, step out of old patterns of loss and victimization.

Deer people are generally gentle and compassionate people, but in the dark may become victims of more aggressive personalities. If you have deer in your archetypal matrix and dream of tiger, watch out! You may find yourself growing aggressive and charismatic as Tiger’s needs emerge. People may begin to recognize something dangerous in you and treat you with more respect.

Boar people are warriors. In history and myth, the boar is the symbol of intrepidness. A champion among wild beasts, he encounters enemies with nobility and courage, and has thus come to signify the traits of bravery and perseverance. But although he may face Tiger with courage, he is no match for this cat. Boar people who dream of being eaten by a tiger might become a Tiger.

In his dark aspect, Tiger—like Kali—can be violent and unpredictable. Tiger males are dangerous to a tigress’ kittens, and will kill and devour them if not protected. Males have been known to savage their mates. Tigresses, on the other hand, are devoted and self-sacrificing mothers, and will starve themselves if their kittens are going hungry. Tiger is one of the few animals left on the earth who will stalk, kill and devour humans. Every year in India, a number of humans are killed by tigers when they wander into tiger country.

If you have lost your dreams and your passion for life, Tiger can bring it back. Tiger is wild beauty and power beyond your wildest dreams. Tiger lives in deep woods, so if you are willing you must go deep within yourself to discover the wildness and fierceness of ancient times.

RHINO -- Ancient Wisdom

2006-03-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

Rhino is a surviving animal from the age of giant mammals and the earliest times of pre-human and human existence in the dark continent of Africa. Rhino speaks to each of us from the deep Unconscious—from the times when ancient lineages of mankind hunted on the savannah in small groups and faced ferocious predators that far exceeded us in strength and ferocity.

While Rhino is today endangered by man’s predation, he still teaches us in dreams and wakening moments, when we open to the flashes of memory of earlier ages, when our senses suddenly come alert and wary at the sight of a stranger or potential danger to ourselves or our families. Rhino gives us sudden aggressiveness when needed to defend our selves and our young.

Rhino is heavily armored against predators. Still, he feels the stings of the insects and parasites of his home ranges in native Africa. Fortunately, rhino has an ally in the oxpecker bird, who is Rhino’s friend, picking parasites from his skin and relieving rhino of their painful stings.

Like rhino, modern man learns to armor himself with “thick skins”, so others cannot hurt him with their stinging comments, criticisms, or rejection. Man’s armor keeps him from feeling the pain of feeling unloved, but it also keeps him from being open to life and from feeling pleasure in his body. So one of the tasks he has on the journey of life is to put off his own thick skins and become more open to others. Man must learn that real self-love allows him to detach from others opinions and thoughtless comments so that their barbs and criticisms don’t hurt so much. Man can learn to feel love and compassion for others still armored and lost to themselves.

The name “rhino’ refers to the distinctive horn which grows from the nose of this huge ancient animal. Those who dream of rhino should contemplate the symbolism of the nose. In myth and dreams, the nose is associated with personal power, instinctive knowledge, or discriminating and intuitive knowledge. When instinctive knowledge and discriminating wisdom leads, the individual becomes a formidable force within humanity.

Rhino can teach you to be yourself. Although not a “seer”, rhino is ancient power well lead through instinct. If rhino appears in your dreams, look for the appearance of allies from the dimensions of spirit. In the same way that rhino is aided by the oxpecker bird, you too have spiritual allies, whose needs complement your own, who will aid you in dealing with parasites and biting foes.

Rhinos are solitary animals. They can teach those who must journey into themselves in search of ancient ties, past lives, or love for themselves to be alone and be well with their aloneness. Like Rhino, such persons are likely to be a solitary throwback to earlier ages, when man lived close to his instincts and to Nature.

The Red Hawk

2006-02-26T05:16:00.000-08:00

Message-Bringer, Visionary, Protector

Hawk is one of the most mystical of the great birds of prey. As an archetypal symbol, it is associated with the god Hermes, the messenger, healer, and psychopomp—ferrying souls into and out of the Underworld. Hawk is a communicator, bringing us messages from the Collective Unconscious-or in more mythic language—from the Underworld.

A raptor, Hawk feeds on rodents, snakes and rabbits. Those having this totem should also study the medicines of these animals. For example, those who are detailed oriented (mouse-people) can find in Hawk people the leadership they seek. Those who reach the time of their life when they are ready to leave the past behind (snake-people), find in Hawk the wings to fly. Those who fear and avoid life (rabbit-people), will find through Hawk the courage to face their fear.

Hawk rises into the air where it may witness all that happens below. At height, it can see the whole forest, but the sharpness of its glance gives it all the details below on the forest floor as well. If Hawk is your totem, you will discover that you have the ability to see what others cannot see, that you see the whole as well as the parts of issues that divide us.

I have always found Hawk to be my personal symbol of the Spirit. It is associated with the number 14 and the 14th card of the Tarot: Temperance. On the path of Temperance upon the Tree of Life, we are learning to balance between the opposites. Here, we learn to challenge our concepts of right and wrong, good and bad, winning and losing. We learn the tread the middle way and embrace faith, hope and charity. By balancing between the extremes, conflict will pass and the journeyer will discover peaceful acceptance of life.

In the Mayan Twenty Count, the Number 14 refers to the God Coatyl, who is the Blue Sky Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of the Animals. Coatyl is the teacher of Hope, Health, Happiness, Harmony and Humor. Hawk is his symbol of lightning.

In the teachings of the Quabala, the 14th Path on the Tree of Life is the path between the Moon (Yesod) and the Sun (Tiphareth). The 14th Path is known as the Desert Way, and by some as the Dark Night of the Soul: the descent of a man (or woman) into the Dark Night as the soul begins to search for the meaning of its living.

The sight of Hawk can lift our hearts and spirit when all seems lost. The lesson of the 14th Path is not that rescue will come to make our lives all right again; the lesson is to appreciate the ecstasy of being alive. The challenge of the 14th Path is to balance and tread the middle way, free from the extremes of thought or emotion, through the agony and joys of life. As psychopomp to the gods, Hawk/Hermes leads us down the pathless path into the Dark, and then back up into the Light.

In Hawk, we can see the fierceness and beauty of life as it is in the natural world. No mercy. Life and death together. Eat or be eaten. Beauty and ecstasy together.

In dreams, the appearance of Hawk symbolizes royalty and its qualities: power, authority, and sovereignty. If you are dreaming of hawk, perhaps it is time for you too to begin your journey into the dark spaces within yourself--to see who you are and what lies you are telling yourself and others about your own dark brothers or sisters.

Swan - The Beauty of the Soul

2006-02-24T18:13:00.000-08:00

From ancient times, Swans symbolized the Beauty of the Soul. Totem of the child, the poet, the mystic and the dreamer, the coming of Swan intensifies the emotions and the feeling nature within man and woman, as the Soul rises to the surface to feel its way in the Sunlight of Earth.

In myth, swans pulled the god Apollo’s chariot across the heavens, signifying that our own life journeys as conscious beings are also gently pulled in the wake of the Soul’s own journey.

The Soul’s Beauty is too great for this weary world, and she comes only occasionally, preferring—like the Swan--to remain in her own cold realms of inner conscousness. But when she does come, she is so bright, so bright, that many fall beneath Her spell. She calls many to tragic ends seeking a Beauty which is not for this world.

In ancient Greece, the Elders taught that no animal sings so sweet as the swan as she dies. In fantasy and faery, swans transformed into beautiful women, drawing men into hopeless yearning for that which could never be possessed. Swans were sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of Love. Once touched by Swan, men can feel their hearts, and the music of poetry awakens within them. Yet Beauty is also perilous, for once men have drunk of Beauty, they cannot live without it. Passion denied is the dark side of the soul’s need, for men destroy the things they love.

In the youngest children, the soul stirs and feels its “inferiority.” This is why children relate so well to the Tale of the Ugly Duckling. For in their innocence, they yearn to be loved, as does the Soul, for itself. And adults wonder about the shining eyes of their little ones as they gaze uncertainly upon the world in which they find themselves.