Today the Praying Mantis shows up in the 7th card, bringing with it the insights of prayer and meditation. It is easy for all of us to focus on the negatives of the world simply because it’s all around us everywhere. But to find what are souls are searching for is part of our purpose and journey here as we walk the human. When one looks to Buddha, Prophets and Saints the human ideology is to see them as the answer. But what they all have in common and what we should be doing more of is we all have, the gift of Unconditional Love. Do we need to look for something that is so easy to feed our souls with? I think we all can do better by looking at ourselves and loving ourselves for who we are… an imperfect human who is perfect and fits into this big Universe to help bind us all together. Part of that great jigsaw puzzle that works in harmony with the rest of the world. So bring about balance for yourselves by simply understanding we are all no better than, less than eash other.
Praying Mantis reminds us this day that as Humans we need to walk hand in hand with this amazing world we share with so many… Not only others like us, but ALL Creatures and Life that are part of the Great Mother Earth. We need to remember that even the smallest pebble, the tiniest blade of grass have purpose in the Great Sacred Circle, and it is up to each of us to keep it protected and safe. Just as it is the same with each other… we must keep each other protected and safe from all the negatives in this world.
Praying Mantis shares that we have gotten lost in the daily activity and chaos of our own lives. That we have forgotten to listen to our own voice. With that said it is time to take a step back and breathe in the 7 Sacred breathes. Reground, replenish what we have given away to this moment. Possibly do some simple meditation to recenter ourselves and remember our true self, our true path. Take a moment and breathe, look at all that is Sacred around us. the beauty of even the simplest thing or thought. Time to contemplate before stepping back into life. By doing this you will rekindle the purpose and meaning that are needed at this time.
Praying Mantis teaches us to return to the core of who we are born as. To step on our path with thoughtful placement of how we will imprint ourselves into the world around us. To carefully consider how we will move forward in positives and be prepared to step quickly and decisively when we need to. It is time to listen to our intuition, do not push it away it has guided you through your life sometimes without us realizing. Trust what you are sensing, what you are feeling and move or stand accordingly to that inner voice.
I thought it was fitting sinceGrandmother Moon has been ever so playful of us as of late, keeping us on our toes and eyes wide open during her reign in our night skies, that I once again revisit the story of the Snow Moon. It has long been a favorite of mine and a story that delights the children as well as the child that dwells within. Yet it also holds valuable lessons of community, trust and working together. So I hope you can enjoy the story as much as I do telling and sharing it. Perhaps it will shine a little light in your life and illuminate your world to a better understanding of things….
As it was long ago and far to the north… winter nights were very long, dark and bitter cold. Nights were so long, dark and cold that all the Four Leggeds and their friends could barely gather enough food to survive the season. No matter how quickly they tried to gather nuts and seeds, the darkness covered them and stopped all their efforts. On such a day Squirrel decided that something had to be done. Her first stop would be a visit to her friends the field mice.
“Oh, we do not know what to do,” said Father Mouse. “We have so many children to feed, and the winter nights are so long and dark.”
“I will help you my little friends,” Squirrel replied.
Next Squirrel went to see Porcupine to ask him if he too had been having trouble finding food during the long dark winter.
“Oh, yes,” said Porcupine,“ nothing can be done it has always been this way.”
“I don’t believe that,” said Squirrel. “There must be something that can be done.”
“It’s best to leave things as they are for you never know what could happen if you try and change things,” said Porcupine. With a bristle of quills, he scurried off through wintery wind and snow.
Squirrel sat and thought for a bit and then decided to seek out Owl. Owl rested by day and flew the woods at night, with eyes bigger than all the other animals. Perhaps Owl would know a way to bring light to the winter forest.
Squirrel climbed high in Owl’s maple tree and waited for Owl to wake.
“What brings you to me Squirrel?” asked Owl.
“All of the small woodland animals need to hunt by darkness as well as day. The northern winter nights are far too dark for us. If we could only find a little light to help us see we could gather our food with ease”
Owl agreed to ponder on this problem. He lifted his feathery head and then buried it into his shoulders to think. He thought all day long, while Squirrel shivered on the windy branch. Finally, he startled with thought, “I will talk to the Sky Father and see if he can bring the stars closer to us during the winter time.”
Squirrel flicked her tail in excitement and hope as she raced down the tree to her spot in the woods. A few days went by and then Owl flew in and landed at Squirrel’s burrow.
“Tell our small friends that the Sky Father has decided he will bring the stars closer to us at night. But first, he must clear all the clouds from the sky. We must all prepare for a strong and terrible blizzard.” With that said, Owl flew off to his tree.
All the animals worked as quickly as they could to forage all the nuts, berries and seeds that they found. Then they gathered and huddled in a hollow log and watched as the huge storm clouds gathered in the sky above.
For three days the Sky Father gathered the storm clouds in the sky, stacking them in huge towers. The animals shivered below, waiting. On the third day, the storm arrived. The blizzard howled through the woods. The animals were frightened, all except Squirrel for she believed in what Owl had promised.
When the storm died away, a huge snowdrift had blocked the hollow log so that the animals could see nothing but the wall of snow and the darkness from inside the hollow space. They were scared and disappointed, thinking that only hunger and darkness awaited them.
Brave Little Squirrel made her way through all her friends and turned to them, “Wait here, I will tunnel out and see if the stars are closer as the Great Sky Father promised.”
Squirrel dug and dug, pushing through the cold and wet snow finally reaching the top. When her head popped out through the snow, she gasped in surprise. The winter stars hung so low in the evening sky, it seemed that she could almost touch them.
A large, antlered moose stepped forward and bowed his head, “I have been sent to help you, if you little animals can gather all the snow you can and push it into a giant snowball, I will then carry it cradled in my antlers across the highest mountain ridges, where it will shed light on even the darkest winter nights.”
So they all worked together with the help of the moose and the Sky Father to create the first Snow Moon. Now despite the cold and the long nights of darkness, all are happy in the winter when the stars come close and the moon shines bright like great snowball in the sky.
I am dedicated to Educating and sharing the lessons, teachings and culture I have been taught by my Elders and journey with the World. It is not enough merely to learn the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…
Blessings to you All,
bear Medicinewalker
Music provided by Chris Ferree and available at http://www.chrisferree.com as part of the Wolf and the bear Network @2021
So as some of you may or may not know, I speak with Nature around me, have since I was little. As with Spirit, I didn’t know others couldn’t do what I am able to do and see. With that said I will also tell you all you can do it as well if you are open to it and slow down for a moment to observe our surroundings, cause truly … it isn’t rocket science.
So what prompted me on this today was someone who I have never seen or heard speak about animal communication offering a class on Mediumship and connecting with Animals and charging close to $200 for the class, seriously not sure what drives these people to do such things but I guess it is what it is. The thing that irritates me is the fact we are all capable of tuning in I guess I will call it, we just have to allow ourselves to slow things down and pay attention. Because when we do, wow can we learn things. Creatures share the knowledge we Humans need to be kinder, gentler, more respectful and absolutely 100% more accepting of each other. So after seeing this earlier today and not being able to shake it, I decided to step outside to clear my energy, my head and thoughts. And of course wouldn’t you know it something special happened.
The world we all live in at the moment is very angry and hateful and in order to stay positive, be positive as example for others to follow…. we need to remember WE can be the positive that shares that great example for other. So as I stepped outside and took a seat next to the lake a set of ducks showed up. Not an ordinary set, but rather one that yes indeed I would pay attention to. It was an unusual set of Teals.
Teal Duck Story
Normally by this time of the year we have mostly Mallards and all of what I consider the more exotic types, have moved on to other locations after the migration through our Lake here. But this Mama Teal Duck had 6 little babies with her that she was ever so watchful of. I knew they were her young ones as they all made a more chirpy sound than that of a full grown adult duck.
They little ones played and swam and were as per normal of young ones, oblivious to anything but playtime and exploring. Then as a couple of them strayed from their Mom, she called them back. When they refused and adventured farther she started swimming towards them scolding them the entire time. Just as we human parents would do with our own kids, and let me tell you she was not happy they were not obeying her call. That is when I looked closer to them. Five of them were showing the same markings of a teal, four defiantly males and two were females, but wait one of the babies was not a teal? Upon looking closer it was a female Mallard Duckling, and her Mom was no doubt the Teal Duck that went to get her and apparently her brother.
So here it is, Nature at it’s best. Mom had probably set on an abandoned Mallard nest and the egg had hatched with her own eggs. The Duckling was obviously not hers, but it was hers as she had sat on the nest and it hatched with her young. I sat and watched some more, and she was treating this small female just as her other babies, they were bonded and loved. So why is it that we as a Human race can not do the same. Accepting of those that are different yet treating them with love and respect regardless of differences.
Because I posed no threat to her or her young I was gifted enjoying the time they spent on the lake ever so close to me, happily going about their day of bugging and swimming. Another lesson that was shared by the creatures that continue to live their lives oblivious to hate and anger that occurs from differences and judgements. So if they can do it without thinking… why is it so hard for us?
With that said… take time out to connect with Creatures around us, All Creatures Great and Small. You don’t have to be Doctor Doolittle to do it, all you need to do is quiet your self long enough to see what life has to offer around us.
Blessings to You All!
I am bear Medicinewalker and I am dedicated to Educating and sharing the lessons, teachings and culture I have been taught by my Elders and journey with the World. It is not enough merely to learn the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…”
The Gull pops up in the 7th place today to tell us energy is high but in a positive way! So we must learn to harness it for the sky is the limit! Maneuver and ride those waves to achieve what ever it is you set as goals for the day. Gull shows us the freedom of soaring high and touching the face of Creator…rising above it all to see and accomplish things that are meant for the bigger picture.
Things are clear if we just blink to clear our sight and visualize the positives. So take advantage of it today and it will trigger the law of attraction, bringing to our lives good things that will help our journey along the way!
The Gull is an amazing bird that most disregard as having purpose. Yet to understand the Gull is to respect and appreciate the bird as quite impressive. The Gull teaches us survival mode, which some situations may require us to deal with even in bad conditions or unpleasant ones in order to reach our true goals, our true dreams.
Gulls teach us to pay attention to Nature, and alert us to brewing storms that may be entering our lives. They are warriors sent by the Creator to cleanse negativity away allowing the positives to return and balance.
Gull talks about communication and how it is important to sometimes open those lines of communication in responsible ways. They also teach us to look deep at the magical world around us, for all we need is at our fingertips or deep within our souls to be able to move through in positives on our human walk.
Working with both the Elementals of Earth, Air and Water, they also teach us to be adaptable and sometimes we are called to behave and act differently under varied situations. This is okay and part of our learning how to communicate better with others and the world around us. Or perhaps they are showing us areas that we need to clean up in our own lives so that we can meet our full potential.
I am bear Medicinewalker and I am dedicated to Educating and sharing the lessons, teachings and culture I have been taught by my Elders and journey with the World. It is not enough merely to learn the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…”
~ bear Medicinewalker
Background music provided by Chris Ferree and is available on Itunes and at http://www.chrisferree.com
and as part of the Wolf and the bear Network @2021
So today the seventh card that appears is the Elk, bring forward teachings that today we need to utilize positive energy and dig deep to resolve the issues we have been dragging around with us for too long. As humans we often fall into the trap of running from our problems instead of dealing with them head on. By doing just that we can often resolve them and have better outcomes. After all, why feed hidden fears and make negativity grow from within our own minds?
Elk tells us it is often better to simply deal with things so that we can move forward into new possibility and outcomes. So today get the work done!
Elk teaches us to keep friends, family and things that are meaningful to us close… but in healthy ways. We are not meant to walk alone but in a celebration of community! So let your hair down today and be who you are and don’t be afraid of people seeing you as you are… for as Elk tells us we are all important pieces to the great quilt of life.
Elk brings in the energy that is needed to slow down and pace ourselves. It’s all about seeing the goal and reaching it without killing ourselves and depleting our energy in the process. Elk helps us to understand that we do not have to do it alone and that companionship and group support are available we just have to ask. Elk signifies abundance and is a sign that all we need will be provided for. To remember that we do not need to rush, for sometimes the reward is in the journey itself. .
Elk symbolizes strength and endurance. It teaches us to spend more time with our families and friends. Elk are also very seldom alone, preferring to live in large herds, yet knowing when they need to have some personal space. They are very well prepared to take on a challenge, they can fight passionately about what is important to them, sometimes can be unpredictable being passive one second and aggressive the next, it is their nature.
Believe in yourself…Empower Yourself…Connect with those you love and hold a good sense of Community… and your goals will be met with positive outcome.
It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories… WE All need to become proactive in saving our planet, the creatures that live upon it, and each other
Blessings to You ALL,
~ bear Medicinewalker
“Fourth Wind” from Wind Dance Under the Moon by David Rose. Released: 2013. and is available on Itunes as part of the Wolf and the bear Network family@2021
So what Truth is it that you are not wanting to face and deal with in order to move forward on your path? That is what the Orca shares with us today. Although it is true at times we need to be Guardians of our Emotional Self, that does not mean that we allow the stuff we do not want to look at and deal with to become the anchor that is keeping us in the same spot instead of moving ahead. Time to grow up “Buttercup” and face the demons of the deep emotional pools in which we swim and hide. The Orca will assist us in navigating through the muck and swimming freely again in the open waters of our lives.
Fears need to be set aside for you are wasting too much by feeding them, if you face them they tend to dissipate into an abyss of nothingness, allowing a balance for us again. This is something we need to do every now and then… clean out our proverbial closets especially if it is stuff that is causing clutter in our lives. Stop romanticizing about things…people…issues…that no longer serve the highest good for the soul and its journey. Breathe, Swim and rejoice in the freedom of all that is Sacred within the Great Hoop!
Orca is one of the most revered of the ancient Ones who swim and protect our Waters. Their songs speak to us of healing from deep within our souls. Listen as they begin calling in positive vibrations of thought and sound. Orca’s guide us through the depths of our own emotions allowing us to explore and mend self more effortlessly by moving with the waves of life, rather than against. They help us access the Ancestor’s knowledge that is buried deep within our own DNA that is the key to all that is Sacred.
We are being called to search our souls for looking inward is the only way that we can move forward in positive motions at this time. Orca will help us to understand self and give us a clear view to set our intention of what is needed in the situation for the highest good. Orca will guide and help us to confront our emotions that are out of control by making connections that are needed between our conscious and subconscious to bring about the balance we need in our Sacred Hoops.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing culture with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Blessings, ~bear Medicinewalker
Okay so this is the most frequent question I get asked… and I am simply going to give you the response….”We don’t choose our totems. Our totems choose us!” This is one of the first basic concepts of Totems.
Totems are hard to explain at times, but what we need to understand is what a totem is before we can comprehend what it means to follow their teachings. Once we understand the concept, it helps us to learn the messages they then have to offer and teach us.
A totem shows up to us as a spiritual sign or entity. They come to share and teach the knowledge they hold to help and assist us with our own lives, how to relate to others and the world around us. Totems are not worshiped, we follow the teachings they offer, we incorporate the way they deal with life into our own to help us move in positive steps on our paths. We don’t control them and often it is difficult to explain our draw or affinity to them… yet there is a deep connection inside of us that responds to them when the show up in our lives. Why we ask ourselves… because it simply is.
Walking with a totem will put certain disciplines in place for us that are not always easy to walk. The knowledge and lessons they share with us are rather set as goals to be like or a way of life to aspire to. They come in many forms and will often show up at just the right time in our lives, and sometimes they will walk with us our entire life cycle, keeping spiritual watch over us. They will show up in our lives as an animal we are drawn to, such as a wolf, a bear, an eagle, lion or elephant, a tiger.
People often ask what is my animal totem? How do I know if I have one? My reply is to open yourself up to the possibilities, look around your life at the pictures or items you collect, we all have them whether it is a honey bee or a bear, a snake or a turtle…. They are all there to share with us wisdom that will help enrich our life and challenge our souls to grow into the positives that are possible. Teaching us to cope, deal, create and live happy and productive lives.
It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories… WE All need to become proactive in saving our planet, the creatures that live upon it, and each other
Blessings from a bear and a Pip! ~ bear Medicinewalker
Tree-Frog-dance-Jonny-Lipford
December 3, 2015 used as part of the Wolf and the bear Network@2020
