.:|:. Dove Love’s .:. Points and Passions .:|:.

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I “play” with a regular deck of cards here at work through the day, using it like the Tarot. I find it so interesting that I’ve now manifested two consecutive jobs with enough “down time” to do this at my desk — both in private for the most part, and with my employers’ consent, as long as my job gets done in the interim :)

Anyway, yesterday I was amazed at all the Jacks I was drawing. At one point, and I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, I did a 3-card spread (past, present, future) and all three were Jacks. Some see the Jacks like Knights in the Tarot, but I see them more like the Pages. The Pages can be about new beginnings, but I was reading last night that they are also about CHANGE. And this aligns with the other messages I’ve been getting. I’m at work and a guy just walked in with an “11″ on the back of his tee shirt.  I take that as a confirmation of that last statement, which I had just typed. The 11/2 is my Life Path number…

I’m still pulling Jacks today, it kinda freaks me out — anticipating change. I can see certain changes are in the works, good changes. Very good. I’m eager for many areas of my life to improve/change, and they are, have been, slowly but surely.  I have to admit, it’s kinda scary…but I’m still so eager for certain things to change…so eager.  The fear aspect of it brings to mind another card I’ve been drawing out the wazoo for what seems like months now, the King of Cups.  That card often represents repeating old patterns, and I’m thinking that he “pops up” around those times when good change is “threatening” to happen, heh  “He” seems to want to keep not-so-good things the way they are… 

Hmm, someone just called and said the word, “Scorpion.”  That’s a totem I’ve gotten many times right before significant change has happened in my life.  More fearful feelings cropping up with that.  The Scorpion may well be one of my main totems.  I’ve even been stung by one — right before my whole life changed in a big way, but it was good change…er, ultimately.  Note, ya’ don’t want to be stung by a scorpion, very painful!  (I like to tell people that I have scorpion blood now, heh-heh)  And it was just a baby one — AND it stung my “baby” (little) finger.  The “Fool” (baby) Tarot card comes to mind with that … it happened right before I became a “baby” in the metaphysical world :)  

Here’s an excerpt from the first Scorpion totem interpretation I came upon in googling just now…(Very on-point.)

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The Fierce Scorpion Totem possesses the following virtues: Metamorphosis, openness to change, mystery, independence, self-protection, endurance, ferocity, self-possession, fearlessness, power of passion, masterful presence, magnetic personality, determination, personal intensity, willpower, tenacity, forcefulness, tranquility and dignity.

http://www.manizone.co.uk/scorpion-animal-totem-a-34.html

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Ah, the Jeep.  Yesterday, late afternoon, after having pulled all those Jacks, there was a red Jeep parked outside and on the back of it, there was the coolest-looking wheel cover on the spare.  As soon as I saw it, it grabbed me — it was totally a giant “Death” card.  I know that’s an in-style theme nowadays, and that’s something I would have had a strong aversion to in the past.  But having used the Tarot for so long, I am now much more comfortable with it, and any other “death” symbol, which atually represents ANY kind of transformation (big change) in one’s life — not just a physical death, which is rarely the meaning.  Some newer Tarot decks opt for calling it “Transformation” instead of “Death.”

This life-sized ”Transformation” card on the back of the Jeep, it was really a very attractive image of a skeleton, lol   I loved it, it looked great with the red Jeep.  And then I noticed the skeleton had red hair, which is the color of my hair :)  Talk about a mucho blatant message…”You’re in for some mega-change, girlie.”  But not only did the image not spur fear in me, I actually loved it — that speaks of good change.  Even so, seeing a giant “Death” card … that’s wild.  And this after pulling all the Jacks — at one point, I even pulled a Jack in response to “What are all the Jacks about?” lol ;) 

I’m also considering that this has something to do with my anger, which calls itself “Jack.” :)  I see Jack as my “fire,” and I’ve created some amazing things strongly fueled by “him,” including one of my favorite MS Paint pics, “Fire in the Belly.”  But like I’ve said in other posts, like fire, we have to be very careful in using that kind of power (see Scorpion excerpt above, “power of passion”).  But also like fire, there’s nothing else like it, and it is a gift to be honored/respected and appreciated — not hated, denied and pushed down.  It will harm and destroy ONLY when we treat it in that disrespectful way…like fire.

Okay, well, I went off on a lot of winding roads there, but perhaps it all ties together.  It seems certain that big change is on its way in my life — and perhaps for those who are reading this :)  And for sure our world is in store for some major change.  I’m holding to the belief that it will all be for the better.

Peace,
Dove

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  Well, I haven’t written anything in a while, so I thought I’d write a bit about some magic that happened earlier today :) 

It was kinda toasty in my apartment while getting ready for work, so I raised my bedroom window for some of that cool morning air.  Almost immediately afterward, a crow swooped down very close.  “Caw, caw, caw, caw,” he said, heh  I counted the caws, I always do :)  Again, it cawed four times — two sets of four.  Hmm, I thought, so whadaya’ sayin’ to me crow baby? ;)  I thought about how I’d elaborated on the number 44 a couple days earlier on Miki’s blog.  A way cool artist, she is.  It was “stuff” that came to me about one of her recent paintings.  It was about the moon, creativity and creating “bridges” with it … and hiding our “magic.”

I thought about how the number 4 is the number for the Emperor in the Tarot.  So I’m thinking, if the Crow is referencing the Emperor, he’s speaking either about something regarding my employer — or a guy in my past who once referenced himself as “the boss” … and who has the astrological correlation to the Emperor, Aries.  He also has the Raven (Crow) totem.  My Tarot cards have often referenced him as the Emperor.

Upon arriving to work and opening my email, it was clear what the Crow had been speaking of.  There was an email from “the boss” guy, and immediately above his email was an email from a Tarot site that sends a card interpretation periodically, which I generally take just as if I drew it from a Tarot deck.  The card?  The Emperor :)

Of course, it has its “ill-dignified” side, but the Emperor is generally a great card to draw – especially if you’re asking the Tarot about some endeavor you’re considering.  Here’s the interpretation that came in my email.

Peace,
Dove

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The Emperor - Strong and Assertive

I’ve done a lot of international traveling on my own recently.
It wasn’t an easy decision to make, to go off traveling on
my own, but as The Emperor kept appearing in my readings, I
knew I could make a success of it.

The Emperor can represent a man of significance in your
life, such as a husband or lover, or perhaps a father or
close friend.  In a positive sense, the card signifies that
this man will stand by you and give you the support you
need.

The Emperor represents a powerful ally, someone who can
influence people and events in their own favor, and is
often a man of authority or position such as a boss, or
professional advisor.

If the Emperor appears amidst more negative cards however,
it may be a warning that a certain man is being too bossy
or domineering towards you, or perhaps you are the one
exhibiting these ‘qualities’ towards another.

Taking note of the cards that surround The Emperor in your
readings can help you understand whether the man it could
be representing is a positive or negative influence on your
life.

Alternatively, The Emperor’s appearance in your readings
may suggest that it is time for you to harness this
somewhat ‘masculine’ power within yourself and express your
own authority.

If you are faced with a key choice or decision and The
Emperor appears, it’s probably time for you to find the
courage and confidence required to influence people and
events in your favor and ensure your success.

The Emperor is often associated with Aries, which is a
strong and assertive astrological fire sign.

So look out for this powerful ally in your readings, and
allow yourself to show your strength and assertiveness when
it’s needed.

Love and Joy,
Alison

Source:  www.lotustarot.com

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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I know it’s not a particularly attractive bird, but the Vulture is, oddly enough, called “the peace eagle.”  I just learned that yesterday.  This totem came to me in a big way yesterday. 

We were having this event at work, a few hundred people were congregated outside.  I was sitting at my desk, but I’m right at the front and can see everything outside (glass walls).  The event was about to conclude, and all of a sudden this massive number of vultures appeared over the crowd.  I tried to count them, but they were swirling around and it was just too many to count.  I’d guess maybe 10 or 15 vultures. 

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Vulture Totem Interpretations…

Death and Rebirth
New Vision

The Vulture is the symbol of death and rebirth,
the mother symbol,
and represents purification.
For those with this totem,
you will be noticed more for what you do than
how you appear.

Vulture or Condor
teaches us how to soar above our limitations.
It is linked to the Griffin.
This Totem is a permanent totem; once it enters your life
it will be with you always, through your numerous lifetimes.

You may start to see auras and colors around people;
Vulture can help teach you how to accomplish this through patience and vision.

Vultures teach you how to soar without using much energy,
how to ride the thermal winds instead of flapping.
Go with the flow.
Use your own energy powerfully and efficiently.

Vulture is associated with the sense of smell and aromatherapy is a good tool
to use to connect with this Totem.

The Vulture promises us that no matter how difficult things are at the moment,
rescue and change are imminent.

Soar above the drudgeries of every day life through spirit.
And Vulture/Condor is there to protect you in this journey.

Source: http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/vulture.htm

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More Vulture totem intepretations:

http://www.wildspeak.com/vilturj/totems/wvulture.html

http://westmanpreacher.blogspot.com/2007/09/vulture-as-totem.html

http://www.sayahda.com/cyc5.html

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It freaked me out, because that’s the Universe speaking to me in a big way.  I’ve gotten the vulture totem in the past, but it was usually just one or two of them.  Geez, it makes me wonder what’s about to happen.  The date I’d been getting on “Magic Monday” is rapidly approaching and I’m wondering if this totem is pointing to this day.  It also reminds me of the message I’d gotten earlier this year about “pain, resurrection and then peace,” as well as the recent dream with the camels and the fox.

I’m not thrilled about the need for more pain in my healing journey, but I got another message last night that may have been pointing to that “pain,” and it’s aligned with what I figured this previous message spoke of.  I’ve had this one book for years and have been trying to get myself to read it recently.  It’s about healing one’s eyesight naturally, it’s called “Take Off Your Glasses and See” by Jacob Liberman.  (Note: In no way did the mention of “new vision” in the above Vulture totem interpretation spur me to this book on healing one’s eyesight — in fact, I just noticed that synchronicity in posting it here today.)

Last night I finally picked it up.  I did as I often do with books, before opening, I asked to be shown the most important part in the book for me at this time.  When I opened it, there was an emphasis on the importance of both pages.  Here’s a potent excerpt from those pages, the first thing I read on the left page…

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 …”we spend years resisting exactly what we need in order to cure our ‘nonexistent incurable disorders.’ 

Since we spend many years avoiding those difficult feelings, it can be quite a challenge at first to acknowledge them.  However when we begin to feel them fully, painful, self-defeating emotional patterns actually do begin to shift.  Emotional healing seems to take place as we allow ourselves to feel our deepest pain.  You could say that this process is like allowing a fever to run its course rather than suppressing it with aspirin.”

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It seems apparent to me that this is the pain that was referenced in that earlier message.  I feel like I have scratched the surface of feeling this pain, but there’s so much from my past… It’s overwhelming.  And my anger seems to be what I’m most able to bring up … I don’t think I’ve ever allowed myelf to feel grief and related emotions …  That’s probably because I feel strong when I feel my anger, and like most people, I very much don’t like feeling vulnerable and weak, as those other emotions seem to represent.  Ya’ know, “strong” people just “shake off” those types of things, like an idiot told me in the past, heh  { Update:  In re-reading this, I’d very much like to delete that last statement per the “idiot” thing, but I prefer to be honest, to allow myself to have that honest expression, and to give less of a damn what people think of me for it.  To those who would judge me for being so “imperfect,” bite me, I’m human…oh, and have a nice day, lol ;) }

A little synchronicity with the aspirin.  A guy yesterday during the above-mentioned event came up to me, said he had a headache, and asked me if I had an aspirin…  I had a great day yesterday, but kept seeing the number 5 a lot.  I turned back to see the title of the chapter where I’d opened the eyesight book.  It is Chapter 5, “Seeing Through the Fear”  I had a terrible anxiety attack last night, lasting a few hours, as usual.  As enjoyable as the event was yesterday, I never realize that such things, the number of people, the energy of it all, are overwhelming me… 

More from the two pages…

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“Think of the last time you felt really uncomfortable.  Recall that feeling as vividly as you can.  Re-experience it as completely as possible.  What happened to trigger that feeling? What was your automatic response?”

=====================

Geez, I could think of several of these moments yesterday.  About the only time I don’t feel them is when I’m alone.  When I first arrived at work, a girl that relieves me for breaks was at my desk and the guys were around the desk chatting with her.  I felt threatened.  Why the hell was she at my desk at this time of day? (I do like her and there was a good reason that she was there.)  …  But I didn’t show my insecure feelings, quite the contrary.  I exuded confidence, chimed right in with the conversation, was joking around, and immediately got everyone to laughing.  Even so, that was likely the first “straw” on the camel’s back of my anxiety attack last night.  Then my boss seemed like he was angry with me (of course, I always think that, lol), and I often think this just because he walks passed my desk without speaking (several times per day, he’s busy for gawd’s sake!).  Geez.  And when guys, especially strangers – or just people — get close to me.  And when this one guy from the event yesterday was “hitting” on me, trying to get me to go out with him, very uncomfortable.  I never know what to say when I totally don’t want to go out with someone, a very unnerving situation for me…  Lordy, everything makes me UNCOMFORTABLE.  An intuitive in my past told me that I’m pretty much always in “fight or flight” mode…  I’ve just learned to live with it.  So where do ya’ start with all those uncomfortable situations?  Overwhelming.  I think that’s why I don’t.

What concerns me though is by not doing so, I fuel the likelihood of repeating painful patterns.  More from the pages…

=========================

“Like vision problems, our most uncomfortable feelings are chronic.  They keep coming back until we realize that the problem isn’t outside ourselves, in the other person or the external events.  The outside events simply create a resonance, a self-recognition, in our vibrational field.  …

“Now think back to that painful experience or any other difficult experience with a strong emotional charge.  Have those feelings come up again since then?  How long did it take before you had those feelings again?  Then, no matter what changes you decided to make after the first experience, did you eventually get into another situation that felt similar? 

Usually before you know it, you become involved in another experience with the same feeling.  This cycle can continue indefinitely.  How can we learn to shift out of those blocked places?  Sometimes it seems that the harder we try, the more stuck we feel.  But there is a remedy:  awareness. 

…  Awareness is simply a matter of experiencing every moment of life as fully as possible.  Greater awareness does not happen when we try to pay close attention — that effort actually requires a narrowing of one’s focus.  True awareness is an expansive, effortless process. 

Humans have developed a variety of wonderful tricks to avoid being “in the moment.”  Eastern gurus say that the majority of our mental and physical activities arise from the urge to distract ourselves from our awareness rather than out of any truly purposeful need.  I’ve found that the desire to avoid seeing life fully (and therefore feeling life fully) is also the fundamental origin of vision problems.  Most people become bored, anxious, or uncomfortable when they have to sit quietly for even a few minutes … those disconcerting feelings are why we continually seek distractions, and why the Eastern spiritual traditions place so much emphasis on meditation.”

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Hmmm, this reminds me of a guy I know who can’t sit still for 5 minutes.  I’m sadly so much like that guy, and that being the case, I’ve got a lot of healing to do, lol ;)  This morning I was looking at a “coffee table” book I’m going to give to a friend at work next week.  I kept looking for this one beautiful picture that I like so much.  I couldn’t find it, it was annoying, I fanned through the book several times looking for it to no avail.  Finally, I stopped my wild searching and with a nano-second’s worth of energy, asked to be directed to the pic that I sought.  I closed the book and, as always, I poked a fingernail into the book’s pages randomly.  I opened it to a lovely picture of purple flowers.  I said, “No, I like this picture, but it’s not the one.”  I turned the page (one page) and there it was, the beautiful picture I had been seeking :) 

Hmmm, the answers are so close, we just need to settle down from all our fearing and wild seeking, and just ask, and trust that our healing, the beauty, is just a page away ;)

Peace,
Dove

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I was just reading this older post on the Frog totem and realized I had forgotten about this great article and site that I wanted to re-visit, “The Six Faces of Healing,” …  The “third face” aligns with the frog totem, and very worthy of re-posting here, and a good reminder for me to get to that re-visiting thing ;)

Peace,
Dove

{Actually I’m just now posting this, it’s been sitting in the draft file for…maybe a few weeks?  I dunno, maybe this is an indicator of my resistance to the re-visiting thing :) … *sigh* It’s a journey.  I love the part elaborating on “why do we cry?” …  }

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The Third Face of Healing:  Cleansing

After anger is released the tears can flow freely. Why do we cry? What is the pain we feel? The pain comes from a realization that we may or may not have been living in accordance with our soul’s truth. We cry for the past, mourning those times when we weren’t true to ourselves, or when others insisted we give up our truth. We cry for the present, grieving for all those attitudes, beliefs, even dis-eases, relationships, and life situations that we are giving up. We mourn the death of an old identity, and in its place, a new life springs forth. We cry because we are tired from hanging on to emotions, beliefs, and dis-ease that would leave us trapped in a life we don’t love.

We cry because we long for those who would love us as we are, not as they would wish us to be. We cry in terror, worrying if we can truly find this love and make our lives work if we walk through our fears, remove the masks, and show the world the true face of our soul. The tears release us from our bondage to the past and create the emptiness inside that is required for soul to find rest in our human hearts.

This mask is used to help us remember that there is beauty even in the pain of our grieving and sadness. Frog is a Native American symbol for cleansing. When you are at a pivotal point in life, clean your closets, check into your beliefs and sort through them, evaluate your relationships and your careers. What is your truth? Cleanse your life of all that is not you. Absolve yourself from guilt. Feel the pains of your sadness and your fears, and then let them go. Let the tears flow, and then let them go.

As the mask shows, the teardrops wash us from the inside out and then provide a fertile ground for new ideas to grow. The “water” falling from the ears tells us that we need to sort through all we have heard and been told about who we are and cleanse our minds of all that is not so. Who told you that you weren’t lovable? Who told you that you weren’t good enough? Who told you that life had to be difficult? Cleanse yourself of the lies that you’ve heard, and create a new truth.

From the tangled undergrowth of our confused thoughts, beauty arises. You feel empty inside, cleansed of all that is not you, and ready to grow into all that is truly you. You begin to bloom. Give yourself time to grieve when you are healing or in transition. This is a natural process of living. Tears are beautiful — melted diamonds that represent the essence of our soul.

Source: http://www.visionsofheaven.com/articles_docs/ARmasks.html

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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I’ve been itchin’ to write about this since Monday, but…I dunno, sometimes I wonder if I should be sharin’ so much of my “stuff,” but I’ve gotta trust that “itch” :)   Most of it I keep to myself, but some of these magical moments are just too amazing not to share…  So here we go.

Monday (the 17th) was, um, a very interesting “errand day,” and I’m recalling that my last errand day started out with some interesting energy as well.  Right off, in driving toward town, I noticed the license plate in front of me was either 11 or it totalled to 11.  Okay, no biggee, I often notice such things.  I got to the post office, it had been two weeks since I’d been there.  I was amazed that I didn’t have much mail, but in my box there were two bigger-box keys for two packages I needed to get.  I looked at the number on one of them, it was 11 :)  Hmmm, synchronous with the 11 license plate, was my thought.  The other box key number was 4. 

I then wondered which box I should open first, which package might be heavier, thinking the lighter one would be easier to hold while getting the heavier one…  As I wondered which would be best to open first, I heard “4″ and thought, alrighty then ;)  I opened 4 (I can’t remember if it was the lighter one, but I think so) and then got the other package from Box 11.  Okay, now hang on, this is actually building to something :) 

My next stop was a town about 20 miles from here.  I got on the highway and was amazed when I saw the license plate in front of me, it was a long number, but the last three digits were, “411.”  Within seconds, I looked up and a car with one of those temporary tags was in front of me and it was here that I realized we had some mucho magic goin’ on, heh  I saw in the first “box” of this temporary tag, “4″ and the next box was “11″ — the date was 4-11-08.  Alrighty then…a huge emphasis on 411, and all within about 10 or 15 minutes? — and so intriguing that that “little voice” instructed me to go to the 4 first, then 11.  Then I remembered the day before that I had gotten “something” that was pointing me to the end of the first week of April, not far from that date.  So now I’m feeling something “interesting” is going to be happening on that day…

I started seeing an explosion of 11’s and multiples of 11 (22, 33) — and that continued for most of the day.  (Ya’ know, anywhere there were numbers.)  I started thinking about the number 11 — and “double magic” popped into my head, referencing the two ones in the 11.  One is the number of the Magician in the Tarot, hence “double magic.”  I liked that :)  Perhaps it referenced heightened “magic” beginning to happen in my life.  It’s pretty magical already :)

But the rest of my Monday wasn’t as “peachy” as it usually is.  Shortly after all the “411″ messages, I noticed a marquee (driving through a little town toward the other) that said something about “stand up” or “standing up,” and when I arrived at my destination, I had to follow that advice.  A retailer was going back on a price (reneging) that she had quoted me over the phone, and after that quote she ordered me a case of the stuff (and I had even told her that the price was the only reason I ordered and was willing to drive the 20 miles for it – strangely, she thought since “the price changed in the computer” in the interim, the rest didn’t matter).  I definitely “stood up” to that challenge and was victorious … but I didn’t like having to start my day with that kind of unpleasantness.  And then I was thinking that wasn’t very dang magical, lol ;)

The 11 thing continued throughout the day, but nothing much else to “write home about,” but there was one more little point of magic that gave me a bit of a thrill.  My last stop of the day, a late evening trip to the grocery store (the local healthfood store).  I had to return from my visit earlier that day because of an error on my ticket (hmm, yeah, the day did seem to have a few little snags like that, and that isn’t the norm). 

I told a girl at the service desk about the error, she agreed with my remedy, and said to just tell the cashier.  I thanked her…she was a new girl, so I asked what her name was.  “Raven,” she said :)  I couldn’t help but smile and say, “Ah, I love that name.”  The crow and the raven animal totems are pretty much the same type of energy, and I consider them both under my “crow” totem — they are both very much about magic :)  I thought that was a highly cool punctuation for this “Magic Monday.”

I later asked my Tarot what the “411″ message was about and drew the Magician :)  I asked for clarity and drew the Fool card.  Hmmm, pretty powerful stuff.  The Fool’s magic comes from his/her childlike faith/trust and generally care-free, childlike and playful attitude toward life.  When we become like the “fool,” and begin to trust in our own magic, we too become “magical” :)

Peace,
Dove

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  It’s inconceivable to me what we’re doing to our precious world…  I don’t recommend continual focus on the negative, but we do need to be aware of the “monsters” we’re creating…the monstrous things we’re doing to Nature.  There has to be a balance between focusing on (manifesting) that which we wish to create (healing of our precious planet, peace…) and taking action intuitively toward making these changes. 

I hesitated making this post, but I kept thinking about this …

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“It was the news that the sexuality of starlings is being increasingly affected by contamination from female hormones like oestrogen from the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). These hormones are contained in female urine which passes through the sewage treatment process unchanged and the birds foraging for worms at the sewage works consume the chemicals. One effect of this is to increase the size of that part of the brain which controls their singing, and their song patterns are now very different to what would be expected from male starlings.”

Read more here:  http://salonesoterica.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/prepare-to-download-your-sexuality/

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Even though there are other sad things like this indicated in this article — how we’re screwing up the animals, I was sitting here thinking about a world where birds could no longer sing…  And in walks a co-worker from outside, and he expresses his joy about the nice weather, “The sun is shining, the birds are singing…”  It was difficult not to respond with, “Yeah, for now.”  His synchronous comment spurred me to go ahead and post this. I so want to believe that we will stop all of this insanity — that we will change before it’s too late, long before the birds stop singing…

Peace,
Dove
 

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com   The Rattlesnake totem came to me the other day — the mention of it in a conversation in front of my desk here at work, and a few days before that a co-worker said my “hollow cake” (MS Paint pic I recently did) looked like a rattlesnake’s tail.  Then I very unusually remembered a dream last night (it’s rare that I remember my dreams these days).  It was about a rattlesnake.  And if all that wasn’t enough, when I first clicked onto WordPress this morning, on the homepage under “hawt posts,” was a blog title that included “Rattler’s Tale.”  Geez, that’s a lot of synchronicity, don’t ya’ think? :) 

I don’t remember all of the dream…  But there was a rattlesnake in a glass box/cage and apparently it was mine, I had brought it to this place.  Then I think I did something to anger the snake and it started to climb out of its box.  It got out.  I was horrified that it was out and was thinking of nothing but getting it back into its box.  I knew I was responsible for it, so I chased it — I was so worried others would be hurt by it.  

The rattlesnake went to the back of the house.  (I realized here that this house was my greatgrandmother’s house, where I lived for quite a while as a kid…because my mother had been institutionalized for a time for a nervous breakdown, after my father divorced her.)  The snake hurried toward the back door.  I was so frightened it would get out there and we’d never find it — and then someone would surely go back there and be harmed by it.  Without thinking of anything but that, I grabbed its tail and pulled it back in (it had just darted out the door and half its body was outside).  Its head wildly flew around right up toward my face, as I expected, and I grabbed and pulled it back before it could strike me.  I was obviously horribly frightened, but I remember thinking I’d get someone to cut/kill it while I held it.  I woke up at that point, heart pounding. 

I was reading this morning how the “rattler” can represent healing.  I’ve been getting a lot of totems lately that seem to be pointing to my healing…creativity, and the transformation that the healing will bring.  It’s interesting that the snake went to the back of the house, the back door… the past.  Supposedly that’s where I’ll find healing.  It just overwhelms me, the thought of “going back.”  I don’t know where to start — so much, um, “stuff” back there.  Maybe I think … I “would surely go back there and be harmed by it.”  I don’t know, but I know I’ve made progress in my healing recently, and that began most significantly when I began to see the patterns spurred from the past, realizing the anger I feel now in relationships is tied to something, so much, in the past …  

The message I received in January about “pain, resurrection, peace” comes to mind.  It seems perhaps that I need to feel the pain of the past so as to “resurrect.”  Resurrection is among the snake totem interpretations.  Hmmm, and this brings to mind the Jesus energy that has been around me recently as well.

Update: Hey, here’s yet another mention of “resurrection,” the “444″ that I’d been getting … I’d forgotten about this one, it was back in February.  I only noticed ’cause so many people were reading it — ain’t synchronicity amazin’ (heh)  :)

I know this was a powerful dream.   The snake is a powerful totem.  I’ve had dreams of snakes in the past (and they were often touching me or I was touching them), even some interesting snake encounters in this reality – and they invariably were followed by major changes in my life… 

Here are some excerpts from some sites I just came upon about the snake and rattlesnake totem.

Peace,
Dove

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Snake Totem

“Although the snake is feared and loathed throughout every culture around the planet where reptiles appear, it is among the most universally respected and sought-after of all animal totems. In ancient Egypt, the snake was regarded as a symbol of both immortality and death, and the pharaoh wore a snake emblem on his head-dress as a mark of royalty and divinity. Apep was the Egyptian and Greek name for the Great Serpent of the Underworld. Ouroboros was the Greek name for the gigantic serpent coiled in the earth’s womb.

Apollo, the Greek god of healing and medicine, was originally invoked and worshipped as a snake. In later times, Aesculapius, and other deity associated with medicine, is said to have assumed serpentine form. His crest remains today as a symbol of the medical profession.

…

To the ancient people of Asia Minor, Ophion was the father of all humankind, the divine, serpent who lived in the Tree of Life in the primal garden.

In ancient Mexico, Ciuacoatl, the Great Mother of men and gods, is represented as a serpent woman. Quetza-coatl, the great culture bearer, is depicted as a winged serpent. Among many African tribes, it is Aido Hwendo, the Rainbow Serpent, that supports the earth.

Father Charlevoit, an early French missionary to the eastern tribes of North America, remarked in his journals that there was no image that the Native American tribes marked upon their faces and other parts of their bodies more than that of the snake. Furthermore, according to the priest’s observations, the Shamans had the secret of charming snakes, of benumbing them, “so that they take them alive, handle them, and put them in their bosom without receiving any hurt.”

The rattlesnake was considered the chief of all serpents; and some tribes believed that in addition to delivering death via the strike of its deadly fangs, the “chief” could transmit diseases with but a glance of its beady eyes.

If a coiled rattlesnake should appear in the path of a warrior, he would freeze in his tracks, speak beseechingly to it, and offer it whatever gifts he had on his person that he hoped might propitiate the angry chief of snakes.

The Medicine Priests who walked unharmed among the rattlesnakes knew that the powerful essence of the Great Mystery moved through them. Those who had received the snake as a totem animal during the vision quest felt especially blessed. The Pueblo, Hopi, and Zuni tribes revered Horned Serpent and Horned Water Serpent as largely benevolent guardian spirits and prized snakes as totem animals and spirit helpers.

Shamans revered the snake for its great wisdom, and many believed that the serpent spoke a secret language of its own that no other animal was permitted to comprehend. According to many tribal legends, in the beginning time, humans and snakes could converse freely Therefore, if one were powerfully attuned on the spirit level, he or she could still communicate with a snake on the telepathic level. If one could achieve this mind linkup, the serpent would reveal secrets of the future and other aspects of arcane knowledge.

The skin of the rattlesnake was used by nearly all Medicine Priests in some aspect of their rituals, and their rattles were often carried in the priests’ sacred pouches.

Those born in the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac are characterized as wise and intense, with a tendency to be vain about their physical beauty. The sign of the Snake in the Native American zodiac (October 23 to November 21) identifies a person who is charismatic, but difficult to comprehend.

…

When you enter the Silence with Snake as your ally, you are certain to go deep within and draw forth ancient wisdom teachings that will immediately be able to change your life for the better.”

Totem Information by Wolfhawk.

Source: www.ravenmoonlight.com

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Adder and Rattlesnake Totems

Generally, Snake represents wisdom, rebirth, initiation and resurrection. Both the Celts and Native Americans believed Snake symbolizes transmutation, the ability to alter appearance, nature, and form, particularly to higher ones.

To the Celts, Adder symbolized transmutation, life’s energy and healing. He signifies getting rid of the old for the better new, reincarnation, wisdom and cunning.

The English believed the skin had magickal properties. It could draw thorns from the body, hung on the chimney attracted luck and hung on the rafters, prevented fires. To see Adder near the front door was a death omen.

Native Americans also believed that snake symbolized transmutation. It is the rattlesnake that appears on the Snake card in The Medicine Cards, Jamie Sams & David Carson, (Bear & Company, 1988)

Snake totem is the power of creation and embodies immortality and psychic energy. He has fire energy which, emotionally, are charisma, power and the intellect; spiritually, connection with Spirit, wisdom, wholeness and understanding. On the physical level, they are vitality and passion.

Source:  http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/snake_pagan_symbol_transmutation

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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  Wow, a lot of magic going on right now.  I pulled up an MS Paint pic I did almost exactly a year ago (amazing that I’ve been doing these that long).  It was one of the first ones… I wasn’t that thrilled with it, so I played with it this morning.  I really like the new version, it indicated it was “Goddess.” 

I was about to post it just now when I heard a guy in front of me (my reception desk) talking about a rattlesnake experience.  So I felt it was a totem for me.  It also reminded me that a guy about an hour ago was also standing right here talking to me, and he mentioned “cobra” (speaking of a vehicle).  So it seemed clear that I was getting the snake totem in general.  Here’s a link to my snake totem post. 

This rattlesnake interpretation (below) intrigues me because it mentions the number 16 (and “Mother Goddess”), a number I’ve been getting prolifically this week (I spoke of it in one of my “Jesus” posts).  It ties to the “Tower” card in the Tarot…  But I feel this is pointing to something that is a positive, unlike the rough-ride Tower experiences usually bring. 

Another part of all of this is a multitude of “lightning” messages this week…  It all seems to be a strong message about creativity (Cobra is the King of Wands in the Animal-Wise Tarot and this has been a message about significant creative ventures for me in the past) and it also seems to be about healing and clearing away of the old ways… 

Another sync with this totem, I showed a recent MS Paint pic, “Wild Elephants and Hollow Cake” to a co-worker, he said the cake reminded him of a rattlesnake’s tail.

Here’s the pic I did this morning, “Goddess.”  It’s interesting that the previous eyeball had been something that looked like the Earth, but it’s now become a spiral.

Peace,
Dove

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“Goddess” by Dove, March 7, 2008

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Rattlesnake Totem

Rattlesnake is one of four venomous snakes native to California. Rattlesnake belongs to the pit viper family. There are 16 rattlesnake varieties and numerous colors, with distinct shape patterns. Rattlesnake is approximately four feet long and its body is covered with small scales. It has no eye lids and no legs. All rattlers are positively identified by the jointed rattles on the end of their tail. Rattlesnakes are dangerous and when disturbed, coils up and rattles a warning. If it is cornered, it will definitely strike. Rattlesnake hibernates in winter in deep dark crevices and ledges. When temperatures begins to warm in early spring, snake crawls out to hunt for rodents, lizards, squirrels and small rabbits.

All snakes are symbolic of death and rebirth because they shed their skin as they outgrow the old. In ancient times snakes signified the mysterious; they were primitive symbols of the Great Mother Goddess. If rattlesnake is your power animal there will be significant changes in some area of your life. You are going through a major transitional period. Try to make conscious choices and pay attention to your dreams which may contain valuable information about those changes. Make sure of the intention of others before you strike out at them. Rattlesnake’s message is change and renewal. Perhaps you need to take time out to digest new information or knowledge. Attend a Goddess workshop and get closer to nature. You are most powerful when you meditate, or spend some (quiet) time outdoors.

Source:  http://www.lilytherese.com/POWER1.HTM

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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I was tagged, um, last week? … for this meme and it sounded like my cup-o-tea (I love doing the open-the-book thing), so here we go :) 

About mid-week this past week, I had sat down to look up the Cardinal totem in Ted Andrew’s “Animal-Speak,” because I’d been seeing that gorgeous bird quite a bit, but before coming upon it, I remembered about needing to do this meme.  I thought, hey, this would be a cool book to use for it.  So I turned to page 123 in “Animal-Speak.”  Found the 5th sentence and these were the 3 sentences that followed:

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“One was the Strasburg Brotherhood of the Crown, and another was formed by St. Nicholas of Vienna in 1288.  In Germany, specifically, there existed a guild of meistersingers at Nuremburg.  This schooling was to teach the power of sound, music, and voice–physical and spiritual.”

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Right off, I thought it was interesting that it started with “One.” :)  Lotsa synchronicities with it.  Just hours before opening to this passage, one of my co-workers was actually speaking German to me!  Yes, this was exceedingly UNUSUAL, to say the least.  Note, the Universe is invariably speaking to us with unusual things, things that don’t happen to us everyday…  I looked at him, and said, “I didn’t know you spoke German.”  He didn’t respond in English, and just kept speaking in German to me, lol  There was also a German reference in an email I received that day…

Here are some interpretations I found at one dream symbol site (yeah, I don’t distinguish sleep-dream symbolism from this awake-dream we’re experiencing):

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Foreign Language

To hear or speak a foreign language in your dream, indicates a message from your unconscious that you do not yet understand.

Foreigner

To see a foreigner in your dream, represents an aspect of yourself that is unfamiliar or strange to you. You may be neglecting or ignoring some important feelings or talents.

Source:  www.dreammoods.com

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That last statement definitely rings true for me…  It’s also interesting that not long ago I made a comment on a blog where I posted some info about the original Saint Nicholas per a question on that topic (Santa Claus).  Hmm, that page that I just linked that to isn’t the source that I’m referencing, but a statement there intrigues me, …  “Nicholas, why dost thou conceal thyself from me? Thou art my helper” … 

{Update:  I feel compelled to add a bit here…  First, just for clarity, I had posted some info about the original St. Nick from one website onto another’s blog, but the St. Nick site I’m linking to above isn’t that one, it’s one I found just in the moment of my typing that paragraph.  But I especially wanted to point out that I realize that the statement, “Thou art my helper” is not (literally, or in this reality) referencing art, lol  ;)  But that’s what I saw when I first read it, intuition doesn’t have to be “logical” — and very often, it isn’t :) …  But I actually took both messages, that the Universe or “God/dess” is asking me why I am hiding myself, by holding back my creative expressions, AND that he/she sees me as one of his/her “helpers”… ah, and that our true (joyful) creative expressions are part of that — it is a “dance” we do with him/her.}

One of my first posts here was called “Create Change with Your Creations,” and not long ago I noticed how it had been right before I started doing all my MS Paint Pics and the post was spurred from people saying a single phrase to me one day that indicated they couldn’t see me…  It made me wonder if it was the Universe saying that I needed to do something to show myself, maybe my art I thought.  Writing, painting, some even consider the Tarot an art…  I’ve had people suggest I create my own Tarot deck, or write a book, and I’ve always felt I would write a book eventually.  I must say, this blog is the most I’ve ever expressed myself … the writing, the computer painting.  Right before starting this blog (Aug 2007), I was getting a plethora of Aces in the Tarot, a sign of new beginnings, the Aces are “seeds,” reflecting great potential.  I feel it has been a significant part of my healing journey.  I think we have no idea how vital it is to express ourselves, our creativity … but it makes sense, we are like that which created us, creators :)  We harm ourselves in not allowing that creativity to flow.

“Brotherhood of the Crown” –  the crown, the crown chakra, associated with universal love and ONE-ness … 

1288 = 19, the Sun card in the Tarot, a major arcana card that can represent our “god-ness’ or “God.”  19 = 10 = 1

“Master Number 88: The elevation of the personal and the infinite consciousness is facilitated to encompass the actuality of “knowing” and the receipt of meaningful, revealing, and significant revelations (and implementation of same) with respect to ones unlimited and unrestricted capabilitites. The concepts of sensitivity and compassion, with the experiencing of each moment, is reflected in the “eighty-eight” vibration.”  (Source:  http://www.lochsrocks.com/meta.asp?insert=Master)

“Meistersinger” — Master singer.  I love to sing, but not in front of anyone, lol   But I’ve always thought it would be such a joy to be a singer…  I’ve felt I might take voice lessons someday.  An intuitive years ago told me that singing would be healing for me.  And on the rare occasion that I do sing (in private), I can actually see a kind of a glow in my face the next day :)  I should do it more often…  “Make a joyful noise.” :)

And shortly after coming upon this “Animal-Speak” passage, I came upon a blog about the power of sound :)  It’s a great post, giving the mantras for each chakra.  I’ve seen the power in doing thse mantras, but I have gotten out of the practice of doing this.  This is strongly motivating me to get back to it…

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that this passage was part of the Canary totem, which is synchronous in that I have winged totems, mostly birds, out the wazoo :)  AND, I have often referenced myself as the canary because I am so sensitive to chemicals, even those that others feel are not harmful or whatever — like I can’t be around stuff like fingernail polish remover and such.  I avoid the laundry products aisle at the store like the plague… 

And if all that’s not enough, guess what was on the very next page, page 124.  The Cardinal totem, which is why I picked up this book in the first place, remember? :)  Cool, eh? haha!

Well, I got a lot out of my three sentences.  I’m not really big on doing the tagging thing, but here are the directives for anyone else who would like to play :)

1)  Get a book with at least 123 pages, and go to page 123.
2)  Go to the 5th sentence, post the next 3 sentences.
3)  Have fun with it :)

Peace,
Dove

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I started this MS Paint pic a few days ago.  The eye, I first thought was going to be a woman’s eye, but then became an elephant’s eye.  I heard “elephant” as I was painting it.  I primarily did the left half of the pic, and then put it aside.  Then later saw the mention of elephant in another blog a couple of times and that spurred me to go back and finish this pic. 

I’ve only been to a zoo once, I never want to go again.  So sad.  We cage these amazing animals, elephants and their giant hearts, so we can go for an hour or whatever and gawk at them.  We essentially take their lives, their freedom, solely for this momentary high, to gawk at a chained elephant…and we somehow don’t see the insanity in that, the imbalance of it.  These very human-like, very powerful creatures chained up…hmmm, perhaps we should look for the mirror in their eyes.

Peace,
Dove

(See source link below for totem interpretation.)

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“Wild Elephants and Hollow Cake” by Dove, February 2008

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Elephant Totem

Throughout history elephants have been prized for their power and strength.  They are extremely intelligence and honored by many cultures.  Elephants are the largest land animals and among the longest lived, with life spans of 60 years or more. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha chose the form of a white elephant as one of his many incarnations and the rare appearance of a white elephant is still heralded as a manifestation of the gods.  The Hindu god Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, is depicted with the head of an elephant.

Despite their great weight elephants walk almost noiselessly. Their stride is exceptionally graceful and rhythmic. Their hearing, smell, taste and touch is acute.  This compensates for their poor eyesight.  Their eyes are small in relation to the enormous head, which can only turn slightly from side to side.  This limited movement results in restricted side vision. Those with this medicine feel things deeply and respond to those feelings from a place of inner knowing.  Because their peripheral vision is limited they have a tendency to look straight ahead and not always see what is around them.  Learning to shift ones focus to encompass the whole is helpful.

Loyal and affectionate elephants are willing to risk their life for the sake of others in a family group.  Wild elephants have been known to grieve and even shed tears over the death of a family member.  They have excellent memories and when mistreated they often seek revenge.

Elephants have a total of four teeth, all molars.  The first pair of molars is located toward the front of the mouth.  When they wear down, they drop out and the two molars in the back shift forward.  Two new molars emerge in the back of the mouth to replace those that have moved forward. Elephants replace back molars six times throughout their life.  When the last set wear out, they are unable to chew and die of starvation.

Teeth have great symbolism. They are considered receivers and transmitters of energy linked by connecting paths throughout the astral body.  Because the elephant is highly intelligent those with this totem make excellent researchers and alternative scientists. The complex study of numbers, energy meridians and the tie in between the physical brain, the teeth locations, and the major and minor head chakras is fascinating as well as beneficial.

Elephant tusks point backwards and are used as weapons and for digging edible roots.  From a spiritual point of view this suggests an ability to uncover the secrets left behind you and bring them to the consciousness for evaluation and healing.

This beautiful creature hold the teachings of compassion, loyalty, strength, intelligence, discernment and power to name a few.  If this is your medicine these virtues are a part of your natural character.  By applying these gifts in your life soul evolution is achieved.

Source: http://www.sayahda.com/cyc2.html

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