Power Animals: A Spiritual Aside

So, what is your power animal?

According to Native American teachings, we each have 9 power or totem animals and each of these animals carry a specific medicine. You have an animal that represents each of the seven directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below and Within. There are two more animals that are always with you; they walk on your left (female side) and right (male side). Each direction has a lesson to teach you and your totem animal is there to help guide you.

These are my animals and the medicine they carry:

East Mountain Lion (leadership)
South Squirrel (gathering)
West Swan (grace)
North Dolphin (manna or life force)
Above Wild Boar (confrontation)
Below Raven (magic)
Within Spider (weaving-creative force)

The animals on the left and right have usually been with us all our lives...they appear in dreams and our desires. For me, that has been obvious. On my left is the Wolf (pathfinder, teacher) but the right has not been so clear...first it was a white tiger, then the horse and now the raven.

Every day I pull an 'animal card' and today was Wolf...I rarely pull this card, which is unusual since Wolf is always with me in one form or another (physically, I have my wolf at my feet as I type this).

Given that we have a full moon upon us, I find this significant as I've been in a, let's just say, less than jovial mood...for no reason! Here is what it says for Wolf:

"...your intuitive side may also have an answer or teaching for your personal use at this time. As you feel Wolf coming alive within you, you may wish to share your knowledge by writing or lecturing on information that will help others better understand their uniqueness or path in life. It is in the sharing of great truths that the consciousness of humanity will attain new heights..." Hmmm...good stuff...but I think Wolf is telling me the second part:

"Wolf could also be telling you to seek out lonely places that will allow you to see your teacher within. In the aloneness of a power place, devoid of other humans, you may find the true you...Wolf would not come to you unless you requested the appearance of the tribe's greatest teacher."

So, believe what you want about this, but the fact is, animals are powerful and they have a lot to teach us. I hope we listen before it's too late.

(and, yes, this is my art work, though the wolf painting is a modified copy from my medicine cards. That being said, none of the art on this site may be reproduced in any way, shape or form without express written permission )

Meet Tikka

Well, we (or, more correctly, "I") decided we needed another dog ("Relationships are about compromise. My wife wanted another dog. I didn't want another dog. So we compromised and got another dog."). Meet our new dog, a sheltie mix named Tikka. Tikka was living in a crate 24/7 in her previous owner's backyard. Animal Control convinced them to surrender her, only she ended up on their euthanasia list. Grateful Dogs rescue pulled her and now she is ours. The only caveat is that she has heartworm, and needs to be kept quiet for the next few months. She's also suffered some trauma to her nose as she has a dent (did someone hit her?).

Roman loves her but she is undecided on him. She is very loving and trusting with people. I guess this is why I love dogs so much. No matter what injustice and strife they've encountered, they are still so willing to love us unconditionally.

City Coyote

A few years ago, Caleb and I saw a coyote in the city. I guess a few of them decided to try life in San Francisco, so they crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to settle in the Presidio (there's also been a coyote living on Bernal Hill for years, as well). I love the fact that wildlife is able to live and, in some instances, thrive, in such an urban environment. I've seen red tail hawks, peregrine falcons, snakes, possum, skunks, alligator lizards, salamanders and quail. We even have flocks of parrots (good documentary, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill and yes, I cried). So, be careful while driving!