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

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?”

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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…

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“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  Ugh, I don’t feel so good.  I think I’m going through a healing crisis or something, healing is such a wild ride…  I did get some decent sleep last night, almost 7 hours, which is very unusual for me.  I almost never remember my dreams, and I think that’s the main reason why (not sleeping long enough).  I was thinking about that this morning, how so many of us don’t get a healthy amount of sleep.  And sleep is so very important.  Not only for our health, but it’s like meditation — that is, even though we might not consciously remember or note what comes to us, it still comes to us and it helps us in this life, it heals us – that energy that comes during those “down times.”  And so, since we create it all (including all the I-don’t-have-time situations), we are avoiding this healing energy that comes from healthy sleep and meditation.  Why, why do we avoid it?  Because healing brings change, and we invariably resist change, especially the mega-changes that these healthy rituals bring.  We fear change…

I guess I broke through my own resistance a bit last night by getting a dab more sleep.  Just enough to remember a very vivid dream.  Someone asked me a while back if I dreamed in color and I’ve never noticed that I have — until last night.  Again, it was very vivid, but I only remember the color of the animals.   And their fur resembled the color of my hair, (naturally) red or rusty orange :)   I was in what was apparently my home, but it was open, no walls in front.  I was looking outside through these open or missing walls.  There were camels lying around, one very close to the house.  I thought, ah, I’ve gotta get a pic of this for my blog, lol ;)  So I went to get my camera and found a fine-looking fox in my bed, just sittin’ there like he belonged there :)  I wanted him out of my bed, so I picked up a skinny leather belt and swatted him with it.  It pained me to hit him, but I was afraid he would hurt me…  He left my bed, went outside through the open walls, but then turned around and started walking back.  He came close to me, and I raised the skinny belt to defend myself (lol) — again, I wasn’t sure to what extent it might harm me.  He was glaring at me, and I was staring right back and was prepared to strike him again.  I did feel afraid.  He held his stare on me and I heard a very faint, close-mouthed growl.  That’s when I woke up :)

I have a few ideas as to what this dream is about, but I haven’t given it enough thought yet.  It is interesting though that I was reading about the fox totem just yesterday on another’s blog – even made a comment, sharing how the fox represents the Magician (in the Tarot) for me.  So it’s especially interesting that I then dreamed about a fox last night.  Here’s one interpretation for the camel…

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Replenishment, Survival

People with Camel totems have the ability to remain positive
in the harshest of times and experiences.
Their philosophy is always “the glass is half full.”

Camel people often have unusual sleep habits, rarely sleeping through the night.
They often power nap instead.

The appearance of a Camel totem can signify hard times ahead,
but everything will turn out good in the end.
Remain positive and all will work out. Camel people can accomplish the impossible.

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

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Geez, so much of this seems to be pointing to difficult times, and today’s one of them (but so far, so good) – hopefully, this is fleeting energy, but as I indicated, this transformation stuff is generally a rocky ride.  And it depends on how good we are at “going with the flow” and all…  I feel that all of these messages are at least primarily about my health, which is definitely improving, but also clearing away of stubborn ole patterns (and I think the two go hand-in-hand).

I’ve been seeing “555″ quite a bit lately, and this morning I happened to look at a watch I keep in the bathroom (it shows the seconds too) at just the right SECOND — “5:55:55,” which was a potent 5 message.  In a post I did recently(“Angelic Numerology”), it indicates this about the 5…

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“When you notice 5’s, this means significant transformation is going on within you, to bring you more into alignment, with the real you. You are being transformed into a beautiful butterfly.”

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And 5’s are aligned with the rest of these messages, not usually fun in my experience — such is the nature of “transformation.”  Ya’ just have to stick it out to get to the good stuff :) 

So this morning, I did my usual adrenaline-addict rush to work, angry about how I repeat this pattern every morning.  But usually I shake that off and have a good day, but today, again, I just didn’t feel so good (starting to feel better now).  I cut my cards when I got here, and got the most icky card in the deck.  Cut again, and yet another icky one.  Not a surprise — the cards draw right from our hearts/minds (our energy).  I felt like crap, so it shows me crap.  And when I see (am reminded of) my energy like that via the Tarot, I immediately try to change it.  Not always easy, especially when you’re not feeling well physically. 

I then did a spread online and it showed me as Pitiful Pearl (lol), the 5 of coins, but the Magician card was in the “Situation” position.  Hmmm, am I resisting becoming the Magician that I am (that we all are)?  Do I need to take some type of action for my healing…?  Or am I feeling the energy of another Magician?  (A problematic connection I have with another that strongly represents unhealthy relationship patterns that I desperately wish to heal.  Actually I feel I have recently made significant progress in this area as well.)  Hmmm, I think perhaps it’s all interrelated. 

The “Near Future” position showed the World card, which can be a healing card, generally a very positive card.  The “Outcome” is the Six of Swords, another healing card, but can also represent grieving or sadness — part of the healing process.

I then endeavored to change my energy and was even saying a positive affirmation, “I am love, I am love…,” that I often use to shift my energy.  I drew another spread (online).  It showed me as the Ace of Cups, a potent love card :)  But what fascinated me, and I don’t remember ever doing this before, the first three cards, the core of the spread was all Aces, three Aces.  Interesting.  Shows some powerful potential (the Aces are like potent seeds).   The Near Future and Outcome cards on this one look very good — I just need to hang in there :)

But the three Aces excite me, getting Aces like that invariably means something new and very cool is on the horizon :)  And that was an awesome dream, even if the Fox did scare me.  Did I mention that the Fox is one of my totems?  Among other things, this dream may be saying that I’m still a bit frightened of my own “magic,” but my magic (represented by the Fox) knows it belongs in “my bed” ;) 

Hmmm, just noticed the time is 4:11 (I started this post this morning, and finishing it up this afternoon) — that, 411, was the number sequence that came up so much on my “Magic Monday.”  

My energy seems to have really improved since this morning, because I just drew a beautiful 3-card spread (yep, online again, heh), way good stuff on that one too.  It’s so cool to truly know that my world is all about MY energy.  I have the pow-uh ;)

Exciting times…

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  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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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  I’ve been getting the Owl totem today in a big way.  First this morning upon arriving to work.   I had to go around to the back entrance and noticed a large, um, thing shaped like an owl… I was just asking about it, and was told that it was placed back there to hopefully scare away some pigeons that had been nesting in the eaves.  He said it didn’t work, heh

Then a little bit ago, I noticed an email in one of my two main email boxes that had “Owl” in the subject line.  I then went to check my other email, and after a few minutes of scanning, I received another email and “Owl” was in the subject line — again, this is a totally different email from the other, and this email was not at all related to the other one.  So, very interesting…especially since it hasn’t been that long, maybe a couple of weeks ago, that I had an actual owl visit me about midnight, bringing its message with its soft little hoot outside my window…  It was a wonderful message of “magic” and very good change for me.

So here she is again.  Hmmm.  The Owl can be about being silent, so I hesitate sharing my thoughts here…  But in drawing cards (Tarot) on it, I’m getting good things, and certain cards keep repeating themselves. 

Another interesting bit of “magic” this morning.  At the same time that this guy walked through the front door, I noticed a hawk flying high just outside the door.  It was like the hawk was with this guy.  (The Hawk can be about meeting one’s “soulmate” or life partner.)  I even said to him as he came in, “Hey look, a hawk.” :)  He seemed eager to look, lol  He made a point to extend his hand to me before he left and ask me my name.  “Pretty name,” he said.  His name kinda spurred me.  Oddly enough, I was told by an “intuitive” a bunch of years ago that this would be my life partners name.  And then he told me where he lived, several states from here.  But the name of the town intrigued me.  It wasn’t that particular town, but I’ve long intuitively felt this place, with this same name, was somehow significant to me.  We chatted for a minute more.  The hawk appeared again, swirling around high up in the sky, as he walked out the door and off they both went :) 

No, I don’t think this guy is my “soulmate,” but the synchronicity, and the bit of “magic” with the hawk is intriguing.  Maybe just the Universe giving me signals that the energy of this area of my life may be stirring a bit right now.  I have gotten a lot of other indications that this is the case.  But also still getting that “be patient” message, that the Universe seems to especially hold dear, heh ;) 

Here are few interpretations for the Owl totem…  (see source links below)

Note, this second interpretation is an excerpt, and if you read the rest of the article, you’ll see that this person mentions that the hoot of an owl predicts a “death.” Let me interject that this, like with the Death card in the Tarot is not to be feared, because it is a rare incidence for either to predict an actual physical death. A “death” is actually the same thing as a “birth.”  In fact, this Tarot card is often referenced as the “Death/Rebirth” card…  It simply represents transformation from one thing to another. The end of one thing is always the beginning of another. The hoots from the owl I was visited by a few weeks ago did predict a “death,” but not a physical one.  It was actually a CHANGE that I was looking forward to. The end of something I was ready to end, and the beginning of something I was eager to begin. See? Nothing to fear :) “Deaths” happen to us every day all day long. The dark of night represents the ”death” of the day, and the birth of the night. Sunrise, the death of the night, the birth of the day… So when ya’ hear that word “death,” always remember, that it’s just a natural on-going part of this amazing life. One door closes, another door opens…always.   The Universe (and Owl totem) doesn’t distinguish any of it, it’s just transformation, and it’s giving us messages about it.  And physical death is no different, our spiritual energy never dies, so that too is another “rebirth.”  We simply move on to our next adventure ;)

Peace,
Dove

Update:  Hmmm, noticed another synchronicity.  I only scanned these interpretations before posting them, and I just noticed the mention of “cactus” in this first one.  My very last post before this one had “cactus” in the title and for the plural I indicated “cacti” and how it sounds like “cact-eye” — a reference to seeing.  Intriguing.  Also in that post, I mention the Two of Swords and how I learned that it can represent not seeing clearly.   And this very much overlaps this Owl totem.  If I would trust my intuition, I would see that this speaks of how I’m seeing a certain person (mentioned him in that post).  Even as this person repeatedly lied to me in the past, when I was “involved” with him, I still couldn’t get myself to hold onto the reality of his deception.  And this EVEN as he had told me early on (I thought he was joking) that he was a “manipulative bastard.”  Geez, we women can be so detached from our intuition (as well as just good ole common sense) when it comes to men, and the lowliest among them take full advantage of that…  It does seem the Owl, and these other “signs” are endeavoring to help me to trust my intuition/wisdom on this.  It’s strange though, even as I type that, my logical self says “duh,” it’s blatantly obvious…and yet my heart STILL doesn’t want to believe it.  And I even understand it, I understand the “pattern” …   But ya’ know, experiencing things like this make us less judgmental of those who are seemingly doing “stupid” things, despite seeming otherwise intelligent.  It’s not about intelligence, it’s about acting from our unhealed places, continuing our miserable patterns that keep us in “hell.”  When we can overcome those (so very challenging), only then will we find “heaven” (peace)….hmmm, peace, that too is reflected in the Two of Swords.  It seems to suggest that overcoming our inability to see clearly (Two of Swords) will bring us peace (Two of Swords.)  Yeah, that makes sense, it is a “war” within when we can’t decide what the truth is.  This is why “closure” is so important — it makes clear what that truth is so as to make it possible to accept it and move on, which ultimately brings peace.  Otherwise that war within just keeps raging on…

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Owl: deception, clairvoyance, insight (the night eagle)

Owls come in all sizes, from a tiny miniature that actually lives inside the cactus in the desert, to the great horned owl, which is the only bird that can out fly the golden eagle. A fully grown great horned is an awe inspiring creature. Its talons are furry, and closely resemble the paws of a baby mountain lion with claws extended. It is a meat eater, which means it can be a fierce warrior if challenged, or if something dear to it is threatened. It is often referred to as Night Eagle. Owl is at home in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition: it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. Owl’s medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, comfort with shadow self, moon power, freedom.

Source:  http://www.crystalinks.com/totemanimals.html

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The Owl Totem

The Owl Totem indicates magic and omens, knowledge and of course, great wisdom. They are creatures of the night and the moon. Owls figure into many myths and legends. They have many names in many cultures; the American Indian tribe, the Cherokee’s called them Uguuk, the Russians Sovah, and the Ecuadorians call them Huhua. They are the spirit and animal totem of Athena the Goddess of Wisdom and she was often portrayed with an Owl perched upon her shoulder.   

So much myth and legend surrounds the mighty Owl that it is impossible to list them all with any brevity. The Native Americans associate the Owl with magic, astral travel, and clairvoyance. They have the power to see what is unseen. Shaman, witches and sorcerers were very fond of the Owl as a totem and spiritual guide. Owls are said to be able to see through deception to the truth contained beneath the lies.  Indian folklore and Greek legend portrays them as helpers of man and givers of prophecy.  In the Middle Ages of Europe wealth, abundance and riches were associated with them.

Owls are well known by mystics to be able to sense those with magical powers and can see the good or evil in people. They are messengers of the Gods, and the Universe to many cultures. To the Celts associated the Owl with the ability to guide others through and to the underworld. They will unmask those who seek to take advantage of ones kindness and reveal the hidden motives of those who seek to disguise their real intentions to those wise enough to seek their counsel.

Source: http://www.astralmagick.com/the-owl-totem–a-6.html

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By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  Wow.  The Hawk came to me in a big way yesterday.  I’m still working on deducing all that it wished to convey to me.  It was late yesterday evening.  I work in a huge glass-walled building, so I have the delicious pleasure of seeing my winged ones often :)  Yesterday, as I sat at my desk, I looked up and saw a huge pair of wings through the glass across the building, directly in front of me. 

A HUGE hawk was landing on the tip-top of this skinny, leafless little tree.  It looked strange, it seemed like the little branch on that skinny tree wouldn’t be strong enough to hold the weight of this massive bird.  I couldn’t leave my desk, but I so wanted to get a closer look.  It sat there for quite a while, and I kept looking up at it with a big ole smile, knowing it was here for me :) 

Then I noticed something interesting…  There was a small sign a couple of feet from my desk that said “Special,” an item here on display.  As I looked at the hawk, I noticed that this sign was, from my perspective, directly below the hawk (even though the hawk was outside, maybe 100 feet from me).  I thought, hmmm, this Hawk is special :)

I thought about doing a post right then, but changed my mind…  I wasn’t sure I was going to do one, until I came upon a Hawk interpretation just now, and the synchronicity was so cool, I had to share.  Note, right before doing a google search this morning, and coming upon this hawk interpretation, I had asked my supervisor if he thought it had been a red-tailed hawk, and he said it probably was.  I think that’s the most common one around here.  Here’s the interpretation, notice the mention of “special” :)  (see source link below)

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HAWK

Power, Magic, Messenger

Hawk is the messenger, the protector and
the visionaries of the Air.
It holds the key to higher levels of consciousness.
This totem awakens vision and
inspires a creative life purpose.
A Hawk totem is filled with responsibility
because Hawk people seek the overall view.
They are aware of omens and spirit messages.

A Red-Tailed Hawk Totem is special. 
It has direct ties to the Kundalini, the seat of primal life force.
It is associated with the base chakra .
If you have this Totem, you be aware of and work toward fulfilling your soul’s purpose.
It reflects a greater intensity of energy within your life:
physical, emotional, mental and spiritual forces will all be strong within you.
The Red-Tail Hawk is a permanent totem — it will always be with you.

It is associated with the number “14″ with the Tarot card Temperance.
This card represents the teaching of higher expressions of psychic ability and vision.

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

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I shared another  very special Hawk totem  in a previous blog, and was stating that I felt the Hawk was a permanent totem for me.  Now I’m feeling even more sure that this is true.  Now some might feel that I had remembered the “special” from reading this interpretation from this previous post (which I’m only just now discovering is the same one), but if that’s true, how interesting that my environment played along with it by providing a “SPECIAL” sign (literally) right below this amazing bird :)

I also love the following site for totem interpretations.  Here’s the link and some excerpts from her elaborate Hawk page.

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“Many of the messages Hawk may bring are about freeing yourself of thoughts and beliefs that are limiting your ability to soar above your life and gain a greater perspective.  If one remains earthbound, then the possibilities of life are limited! It is this ability to soar high above to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture that is one of the aspects of Hawk medicine that makes it so valuable: If one is undergoing a difficult passage to know that just over the next hill is freedom and liberation if one keeps going can be a Godsend in supporting the person to keep moving forward!”

“For those who have difficulty attracting financial well being due to false or negative beliefs about money and success, Hawk can help to understand the true spiritual intent and purpose behind money and guide one in establishing new beliefs that are more joyful and abundant in nature.  Hawk can alert us to those times when we should NOT take action because we do not yet have all the information we need. For example, someone is thinking of about becoming involved in a relationship, personal or business, yet they get the feeling that something is “not quite right”. This needs to be heeded and Hawk sent forth to gather the appropriate information to help the person make the best choice. Sometimes the person finds that Hawk was telling them to steer clear for very good reasons!”

“Some with Hawk medicine find they have difficulty attracting the ‘right life partner.’ Hawk people may find that they tend to attract more “earthy” types who find the Hawk person’s need to “soar” disruptive or unimportant. This may occur because at a deeper level the Hawk person is fearful of soaring too high and crashing to earth Icarus like. In this instance, the Hawk person’s real issue is one of learning how to trust themselves and their medicine. Hawk people can pair well with more earth centered people because the earthy person can encourage the Hawk person to stay on earth long enough to bring some of their visions and ideas to fruition before soaring off to the Heights again. It can be very easy for hawk people to want to stay high above the earth and never bring their wonderful ideas back to earth where they and others can put them practice.
Since Hawks mate for life, the Hawk Person may need to accept that it may take them some time before they find the person meant for them yet when they do, it is well worth the wait! Otherwise the Hawk person may find themselves tied to someone and unable to free themselves easily because of the deep entanglements they have created with this other person.”

http://morningstar.netfirms.com/hawktotem.html

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Ah, and I just remembered another winged totem from yesterday.  A robin.  It was 12 degrees here (felt like 2 degrees per the news).  When I saw this single robin sitting out there on a branch, I thought, geez, how in the world does that little one stay warm in feels-like-two-degrees weather.  I dunno, but I feel good about seeing both of those winged totems yesterday.  Very “special” indeed :)

Peace,
Dove

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  A few years back while still living in southern Oregon, a potent time in my healing journey, I was participating in a group meditation.  I got a wonderful vision — a gift, literally :)   In my mind’s eye, I saw someone handing me a gift.  A small box wrapped in pretty green paper with a slightly darker green bow.  I opened it, there was a frog inside :)

The frog is, among other things, about healing, the healing of water, cleansing tears…  I’ve never been good about letting myself cry, but I feel I’ve improved in that area since receiving that frog totem.  A sweet gift, it was.  

When I was growing up, I kinda lived in a war zone, tears would be a sign of weakness….so I held them back, it was rare for me to cry.  But as a young person, my tears would, on occasion, spew in explosive moments of anger in that “house of horrors.”  It was not wise to touch me in those moments ;)   Crying in moments of sadness wasn’t something I did then, I just felt kinda numb to life.  I think that’s the only way the mind can survive such an upbringing.

I am getting much better about sitting with sadness and allowing the tears to come.  But admittedly it’s a challenge.  It’s funny, ’cause I’ll just get a few tears out and I’ll excitedly say, “Yesssss!” LOL … and, yeah, that’ll make me laugh, and then it’s invariably difficult to get more to come.  So I feel even just a few are like gold :)   But it’s overwhelming when I think of all the things I still need to express “grief” about — and, lordy, I guess the Universe and this frog thing is going to actually expect me to keep this crying up from now on, ugh! LOL ;) 

But it does make me wonder just how much crying am I going to have to do?  How much is going to be enough?  And with just a few bits of “gold” here and there, how will I ever cry enough to heal all the way?  With a person who hurt me deeply not that long ago, it hasn’t been enough…the way he hurt me was too much like what I’d endured in those wicked younger years.  But I know this inability to forgive him is so not a good thing for me, my life…

Anyway, the frog totem has been hounding me to do a post about it’s lovely watery green energy ;)  …  and to cry some more, of course, heh   Maybe there are others out there that need this message too, so here are a few interpretations of the frog totem.

Oh, and this first one here has an elaborate article about the frog energy, including ways to connect with it and to get healing from it.  A worthy read.  And another wonderful site I found on the “Six Faces of Healing.” I posted her writing on the third face (I love how she describes tears — “melted diamonds”).  See source links below each section.

Peace,
Dove

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Frog Energy

Frog’s song calls down the cleansing power of the rain. Frog is a reminder of the sacred power of tears to tranform and cleanse away sorrow. Frogs will die if away from moisture for too long, and thus Frog reminds us to refresh ourselves, and allow joy to moisten our lives and our hearts. If you are feeling “muddied” by the world, take a moment to dream, to laugh and cry and renew yourself. Frog also reminds us to cleanse our bodies, our environments and our auric fields. People with Frog energy should learn and utilize methods of psychic cleansing.

Frog is able to work equally well in the realms of Earth/Air (conscious) and in Water (unconscious.), taking in the unconsicious almost by osmosis. Frog people are often artists, mystics, psychics and healers. They are often empathic, excellent at reading others and in knowing how to help them heal.

Care must be taken however, not to become swamped by taking in the emotions of others. Frog reminds us to cleanse our bodies, our environments and our auric fields. People with Frog energy should learn and utilize methods of psychic cleansing so that they do not become bogged down. It is imperative to learn how to recognize when people, situations and circumstances are draining energy, and to cleanse them out of your aura so that you may sing freely.

A tadpole’s shape mirrors that of the spermazoa. Frogs are often seen as a symbol of fertility and creativity. Frog people should nourish their creative side.

Frog people may go through many metamorphoses during their lives, and may change careers several times. Balance will come through respecting these changes and learning to go with the flow.

Source:  http://www.serioussilver.com/totemenergy/frog.html

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Frog:  Healing

For me, one of the most welcome signs of spring is the evening chorus of the spring peepers who live in the ponds and streams which lace the woods behind my house. Their song heralds the earth’s rebirth and renewal.

The idea of renewal is widely associated with water, which in turn represents the unblocking and flow of energy for healing. Frog, as an animal who spends its earliest life nurtured in water and who never is far from it, is in both North and South American Native and Celtic traditions identified with healing.

Frog is believed to call the rains when they are needed. Water cleanses and replenishes the earth, and in terms of healing, this animal’s medicine can help when our lives feel dry and dull, when we feel mired in the mud of circumstances, or when we have allowed emotional toxins to poison our outlook on life.

The deepest levels of healing are accomplished on the emotional level. Emotions are associated with water, especially in the context of tears. If we are brought up to believe that tears are shameful and childish, we deprive ourselves of a powerful form of emotional release. With the help of frog medicine, we can begin to experience tears as being as natural and necessary as rain.

Frog is also strongly associated with magic and transformation. Beginning life as an egg, it becomes a polliwog, then a frog. It is thus a reminder to us that life is a miracle of change and transformation.

This message is particularly embodied in the story of the Frog Prince. In the Scottish version of this story, a queen who was ill could only be healed by a drink from the well of true water. When each of her three daughters tried to get this water, a monstrous frog refused to allow them access unless they agreed to marry him. The youngest daughter agreed and was able to heal her mother. She also later discovered that her unattractive bridegroom was actually a prince.

This story teaches us that to heal ourselves (and others), it is often necessary to face that within ourselves which we have buried because we find it unacceptable, or “ugly.” When we can honestly look at all aspects of ourselves, we find that the “ugliness” washes away, and our true beauty shines, like the sun after healing rain.

Source:  http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/power/poweranimals/frog.html
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{Dove:  Ah, here’s a wonderful site that elaborates on “The Six Faces of Healing.”  The Third Face is “Cleansing,” and I was drawn to this part over her little blip on the frog totem.  This “face” is frog energy.  This site and these “faces” compel me, will return to read more.}
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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The Frog Totem

The Frog Totem indicates metamorphoses and new directions in life. Frogs are often symbolized with a gold coin in their mouths signifying good luck and the energy of increased wealth.  Shamans felt that Frogs could make the quick and effortless leap from one stage of consciousness to another, thus they were a symbol of magic to them. The Frog was sacred to Venus the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. The Frog also has much legend surrounding it referring to it as a symbol of fertility. Many American Indian tribes refer to the Frog as the Great Rain Maker because they were thought to bring on the rains from above.

Frogs are amphibians; this word translates to “double life” because amphibians dwell on the land and in the water. Some Frogs hibernate in the winter months as their favored diet of insects is less available during that time of the year. They can live as long as forty years, with an average life span of four to fifteen years depending on species and habitat. There are 3,500 species of Frogs throughout the world. Frogs have lived on Earth for an estimated three-hundred and fifty million years. Several species of Frog are known to “sing” sometimes for mating or to mark territory or to announce a coming change in the weather. Frogs can be found all over the world with the exception of Iceland and Antarctica. They represent energy and metamorphosis because they change from their small tadpole form to that of the full grown frog. They also represent re-birth and resurrection. 

Frogs were extensively used in ancient China, by American Indians and throughout Europe for making medicines and potions. They were often thought of as a main ingredient in many witches’ brews and were thought to contain powerful medicine. Modern medicine has finally caught up and are coming to realize that the toxins and chemicals contained in a poisonous frogs secretions contain the secret to creating “miracle” drugs to aid everything from cancer to heart disease.

The second of the ten Plagues of Egypt as mentioned in the Book of Exodus, is the “Plague of Frogs”. These were prophesied by Moses to the Pharaoh of Egypt who refused to set the Jews free, whom he was holding captive and using as slaves. God chose the threat of using frogs to fill their homes and cover the land with them as punishment for refusing to grant Moses’ request.  

The Lucy Frog Totem possesses the following virtues: Good luck, transformation, creativity, adaptability, sudden change, fertility, healing, movement, metamorphosis, joy, wisdom, agility, wisdom to know when to rest and re-charge, re-birth, and magic.

Source:  http://www.manizone.co.uk/frog-animal-totem-a-45.html

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com    Years ago when I discovered my Skunk totem via the Medicine cards, I remember saying upon seeing it in the spread, “Geez, that’s not very sexy.”   LOL!  Seriously, that was my exact thought.   And what an irony, because I then learned that it is indeed a very “sexy” totem :)  Of course, lol! ;)  It represents, among other things, “sexual magic.”

I think the skunk is a little cutie, but yet another irony that despite it’s small stature, it has a, um, power about it that ensures others respect it ;)  And consequently that’s a key message that the Skunk totem conveys. 

Note, sometimes our totems are with us to teach us about or strengthen in us their specific characteristics, so it doesn’t mean that we are already necessarily highly representative of them. Although often that is the case ;) lol

Here are a few interpretations I found via Google … see source links below.

Peace,
Dove

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SKUNK TOTEM

I will not tolerate abuse in any form.
I have power!
I will not let others use me.
I am a divine child!
I will sift out friends, keeping the good.
That is my responsibility!
Like the skunk, I will learn when to be disagreeable.
That is my right!

Sensuality, Respect, Self-Esteem

The skunk is a very powerful totem
with mystical and magical associations.
It teaches how to give respect,
expect respect and demand respect.
This totem helps you recognize your own qualities
and assert them.

Skunks are fearless but very peaceful.  These are two wonderful qualities which you can learn from your skunk totem.

If you have skunk medicine will find that the use of fragrances will elicit dynamic responses in the people around you. Your sexual response will be heightened and you will have a greater ability to attract people.

Individuals with a skunk totem must learn to balance the ability to draw and repel people.  Skunks remind us that there is a time to be with people and a time for solitude.

The skunk’s stripe is the outward sign of kundalini or life force. When you receive a skunk totem, your kundalini or life force activates and amplifies. You must learn to use this force effectively.

Skunks are silent animals and through their silent, they teach us not to brag –
it will push people away rather than attract.  People will notice you without any help.

When the skunk appears, opportunities will open to bring self-esteem and respect.
There will be increased sexuality: physically, psychically and spiritually.

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

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SKUNK

Skunk: reputation, presence, strength

Skunk’s Message and Medicine

Reputation , Respect , Sensitivity , Confidence

The skunk is a powerful small mammal about the size of a house cat. It is easily recognized by its long black fur and double white stripes, which go from its head, to the back of its legs and bushy tail. Skunk is a peaceful warrior, fearless and friendly. It appears nonchalant as it moves slowly but deliberately towards its goal. However, do not interfere with skunk’s medicine. Skunk has a distinctive behavior trait, which sets it apart from other animals. When skunk feels threatened it will turn its back on you, raise its tail and emit a smelly , irritating, chemical spray , which numbs the senses and stings the eyes. You will never forget an encounter with skunk. Skunk’s message teaches you how to get respect without being overly aggressive or domineering. Skunk encourages you to raise a ” stink” if you are threatened, or being pushed around by a bully. Do not be afraid to speak up in order to defend your space. If you are involved in domestic violence you need to inform the proper authorities. Don’t worry about causing a ” Big Stink” when you expose these tyrants. Respect yourself and others will respect you. Be aware of your reputation. What is your self-image and how do people respond to you ? If you ” smell” something bad, make sure that it is not you, dumping negativity on others , or being dumped on. Take a class in aromatherapy.

Your sense of smell is a great gift from the Creator. Honor and be thankful for all of your senses.

Source:  http://www.angelfire.com/weird/LT/totems/totemmain.html

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Dove:  I found this great, but very lengthy article on the Skunk totem, so I’ll just post a few excerpts here…

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SKUNK TOTEM

“‘I am ze locksmith of love, no?’ Pepe Le Pew”

“An individual skunk can claim a territory of about 30-40 acres. Skunks are a favorite food of Great Horned Owls, so Owls are the balancing totem for Skunks and should also be examined by Skunk people. To find any totem’s balancing energy, look at what they eat or who eats them!”

“‘They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them.’ ~Mahatma Gandhi”

“‘If I despised myself, it would be no compensation if everyone saluted me, and if I respect myself, it does not trouble me if others hold me lightly.’ ~Max Nordau”

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?”

“Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.”

…

“The wisdom of Owl makes an excellent balancing energy for the bold Skunk. It is important that Skunks understand how to develop a good reputation without being ruled by having a reputation. In other words, don’t become so enamored of yourself simply because others find you such good company.”

“The simplest way to cultivate this is just by being true to one’s self, doing what you know is right in any given situation irregardless of what others think… in essence, living a good life.”

…

“Balanced or not, Skunk people will not tolerate abuse of any sort and will take action if their warnings to desist do not meet with the desired results, often with a dramatic result. When a Skunk puts someone in his or her place, everyone remembers it! Powerful yet peaceful, Skunk is, nonetheless, not someone you want on your bad side.”

…

“One of my favorite cartoon characters ever has to be the breezy and romantic Pepe Le Pew. He never hurried, never doubted himself, was multi-talented, optimistic, and was even content with himself when he failed in his objective! It is their basic self-confidence that makes Skunk people so sexy to others, not necessarily for their looks.”

“Skunk people make enthusiastic, energetic and inventive lovers, having an innate understanding of all things “sexy”. All the better for Skunk people then if they can develop a solid and balanced relationship with someone who understands their need to be solitary on occasion, their independence and flamboyant nature; someone who truly revels in them simply being themselves, warts and all. If your going to leave bite marks on someone, it ought to be someone you love. ~wink~”

“‘Being a sex symbol has to do with an attitude, not looks. Most men think it’s looks, most women know otherwise.’ ~Kathleen Turner”

“‘You know, it is possible to be too attractive.’ Pepe Le Pew”

…

“Consider the phrase, “I smell a skunk” which is commonly used to mean, “my intuition is telling me something is wrong with this person or situation.” Listen to these intuitions! Skunk people need to develop a trust in their instincts, as they will have a strong intuitive sense that will allow them to “smell” trouble.”

“Skunk can help anyone learn to recognize, accept and properly react to warnings of all sorts. Like most of us, the challenge here is for Skunk people to learn to trust their instincts without their mind’s many logical arguments getting in the way. Skunk will often appear to deliver a warning, and one should proceed with caution whenever she appears.”

…

“Black is the color of wisdom, the void, mystery, death, sorrow, extremes, everything and nothing in balance, power, strength, earth, sexuality, and is considered both grounding and calming in color therapy. White can also represent death, but it more commonly represents purity, innocence, femininity, peace, harmony, security, blessings, hope, virginity, and surrender.”

“In color therapy, White is commonly used to provide energy, achieve balance, stimulate the production of serotonin, to cleanse, and refresh. Skunk’s black and white self is a visual reminder of both his strength and the need to find and maintain a balance in life.”

“Think of the typically black and white image of YinYang energy and imagine it swirling into Skunk’s vibrant form. If you need help in communicating, self-esteem, confidence, developing a good reputation, charisma, developing your sensuality or finding balance, Skunk is an excellent Teacher to ask for help.”

“Just remember to approach him with respect and you should get along just fine. Powerful, protective, a living example of extremes in balance…”

“How does Skunk appear in your life?”

“‘It is better to rise from life as from a banquet - neither thirsty nor drunken.’ ~Aristotle”

“‘Enough is as good as a feast.’ ~English Proverb”

“‘Even nectar is poison if taken to excess.’ ~Hindu Proverb”

Source:  http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=11818

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It intrigues me that the Great Horned Owl balances the Skunk, because the Owl is one of my main totems, and I’ve always suspected, among the various types of owls, that mine was of the Great Horned variety :)

Ha, I used to love to watch Pepe LePew as a kid :)   …”ze locksmith of love.”  lol

Oh, I also was just remembering how when I was much younger, and not-near-so mellow as now ;) I would sharply say that if I had to choose between love and respect, I would take respect in a heartbeat — because there is no real love without respect.

Peace,
Dove

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Dove’s Art    Dove’s Posts At-a-Glance    Dove’s Tarot Website

By Dove, www.TarotwithLove.com  This is for my friend, CV :) … and anyone else who may be drawn to this topic.  

Animal totems are spiritual animal guides.  They bring messages to us via their symbolic presence.  That is, if you synchronously see, and especially continue to see, or hear an animal or the name of an animal, there is a message in that.  The best book, considered a classic, on this topic is called “Animal-Speak” by Ted Andrews.  And here’s a link to a post I did not long ago that touches on this subject, Ramblings on Animal Totems and my Tarot story, “An Owl, a Crow, and a Nudge toward the Tarot”  shares the moment when I became aware of my Owl totem.

They say we each have nine totems, and although I know my nine, I’ve long felt that I have many more.  And the woman who read my aura (see my Tarot story), when she saw “sooo many animals” in my aura, I think that was a reflection of that.  I recall reading how this aligns with shamans.  And I don’t know if I am one, but many things in my life certainly align with that. 

So how did I discover my totems?  It wasn’t that long after I was nudged toward using the Tarot that I had a similar experience with animal totems.  I was guided towards some cards called, “Medicine Cards” that came with a book (by Jamie Sams/David Carson).  The very first time I shuffled these cards, I was very curious as to what card the Universe would most want to show me.  It was the Owl card.  This I already knew was one of my main nine totems, and the same with my Crow totem (see Tarot story).  I mention in my above “ramblings” post how the owl had come to me, and how I mentioned in my Tarot story how I’d had dreams of owls as well, and then when she saw it in my aura, that was the final confirmation I needed on that one.  With the crow, I can’t honestly remember how I knew that one, it was just something I knew.  I had lived in a wonderful wooded area before all of this started, and lotsa crows were there.  I liked them :) … and that’s a good indicator that a certain animal is one of your totems.  There was also this one crow that used to “visit” us there.  The wildest thing, it had one white feather.  We called it “White Feather” :)  But again, I don’t remember the actual point where I knew, I just knew.  And that right there can be the totality of discovering one of your totems.  And then it was especially nice when the aura reader saw the crow on my shoulder :)

I discovered the rest, the other seven main totems, through the Medicine Cards.  In the book, it has a spread that you can do.  Just do it one time, and it will show you your totems.  I might not have embraced this except that I saw one of them during a meditation immediately before drawing this spread.  As I began to meditate in preparation for doing this, I immediately saw the eyes of a wolf, directly in front of my eyes.  I felt sure in that moment that this was one of my totems.  After the meditation, I shuffled the cards and began to to lay them out.  The second card was the wolf :)  Ya’ gotta know, that was a thrill.  I smiled as I drew the rest of the cards.  Most of them were winged ones, which aligned with my owl and crow…and the name the Universe bestowed upon me a few years ago, “Dove.” :)   I even had an intuitive once reference me as an “Earth Angel.”  More wings ;)  And that nudges me toward seeing birds and angels in the same light…

Further synchronicity with the totems I already knew and that I saw in the spread that day is that I’ve seen that my own personality and such align with many of the characertistics of these animals.  It’s come to me that these animals actually recognize us on some level, that we actually have this energy, that it is a part of us, part of our spiritual energy.  This is why we are drawn to them and they are drawn to us.  We’re like their family :)  Cool, eh?

 I have had so many amazing experiences with the crow, it’s definitely a part of my heart.  If there’s a crow around, you can bet my attention will immediately zero in on it.   But birds in general thrill and captivate me.  I think they’re absolutely phenomenal.  Again, if you love a certain animal this much, that’s a very strong indicator that it is one of your totems.  Additionally, if you feel/believe (intuit) that a certain animal is one of your totems, then it very likely is. 

My life and health issues, my personality, my “challenges” are all reflected in these animals.  It’s very beneficial to know one’s totems.  For example, the hummingbird is one of mine.  One day in reading about it in the “Animal-Speak” book, I noted how the hummingbird eats very often, it has to…  It was around that point when I discovered my own blood sugar issues, and per this knowledge of the hummingbird, I began experimenting with eating every few hours.  Doing so was life-changing for me — one of the best health-improving rituals I’ve adopted.  Many of my totems are solitary ones, and this helps me to understand my own strong need for solitude…

Different people discover there totems in different ways.  Besides using the cards, you can simply ask the Universe to show them to you and then wait and watch :)  They might come to you in dreams, on television shows, books, magazines…through other people speaking of certain animals, etc. etc.  Ultimately, trust your intuition in knowing them when they come :)  Then get the book and read about them, you’ll see yourself in them…  The more you’re open to them (respect/honor/enjoy, call upon them), the more you’ll see the “magic” in them, and in this way (among many) that the Universe speaks to us  :)

Peace,
Dove

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Dove’s Art    Dove’s Posts At-a-Glance    Dove’s Tarot Website

See my “Wolfberries…” post

Here are a few interpretations of the Wolf Totem that I came upon via Googling :)

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Wolf Totem

Wolves are the epitome of stamina, known to run 35 miles a day in pursuit of prey. They are highly misunderstood animals, who have gained the reputation of being cold blooded. In reality wolves are friendly and social creatures. Aggression is something they avoid, preferring rather to growl or create a posture to show dominance.

Even though living in close knit packs provide wolves with a strong sense of family, they are still able to maintain their individuality. Wolves represent the spirit of freedom, but they realize that having individual freedom requires having responsibilities.

Because wolf is a teacher and pathfinder, he comes when we need guidance in our lives. Those who have a Wolf Totem will move on to teach others about sacredness and spirituality. Wolf can also teach how to balance the responsibility of family needs and not to lose one’s personal identity.

Wolf teaches us to develop strength and confidence in our decisions. He shows we will learn to trust our insights once we learn how to value our inner voice. This wisdom keeps us from inappropriate action. If wolf appears in your life examine where you need to develop more confidence and if you need more balance between friends, family, and yourself.

Source:  http://www.animaltotem.com/wolf.html

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WOLF

Intuition, Learning, Spirit

This totem brings faithfulness, inner strength
and intuition when he enters our lives.
But he also brings learning to live with one’s self.
The wolf teaches us to learn about our inner self
and to find our inner power and strength.
But to achieve this, we must take risks
and face our deepest fears.
A wolf totem demands sincerity.

This totem demands a lot of us
but gives us much in return;
a spirit helper that is always there to help
and gives us extraordinary powers of endurance.
He reminds us to listen to our inner thoughts 
and trust our insights.

They remind us not to waste resources and
to learn how to avoid trouble and confrontations. 
People with Wolf totems have the capacity to make quick and firm emotional attachments. 
Trust your insights about these attachments.  Wolf will guide you. 
Take control of your life with Wolf’s help and do so with harmony and discipline.

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

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WOLF

When a lone wolf is spotted in the wilderness it embodies the energy of freedom.  When seen in a pack it embodies a sense of community. If wolf appears to you alone or in a pack it is asking you to acquire the same within your own life.  In spite of their negative press wolves are actually friendly, social and highly intelligent.

The wolf’s senses are highly developed. Their intelligence is marked with excellent hearing, sense of smell and strong feeling. They are determined as well as cunning and use these skills for the benefit of the pack. The  howl of the wolf is primal and penetrating. They howl to find other pack members or to let wolves from outside of the pack know their territory boundaries.  If you hear a wolf howl it might be telling you to stand your ground and defend your boundaries.

Wolf teaches you to have a balance between the needs your family has of you and the needs you have for yourself.  They are totally loyal to the pack but do not give up their identity to the pack. If wolf appears in your life you are being asked to look at where you are being too dependent and where you may be too independent. In both family and community there needs to be a balance.

Wolves convey much with their bodies. If they are angry, they may stick their ears straight up and bare their teeth. A wolf who is suspicious pulls its ears back and squints. Fear is often shown by flattening the ears against the head. A wolf who wants to play dances and bows playfully. Their body language is symbolic for those with this medicine.  Man also uses body language to convey messages.  The study of this art can increase perception in those with this totem.

Wolves hunt in packs, relying on endurance to run down weak and older animals. They have been known to run 35 miles a day in pursuit. They are the epitome of stamina and strength. With an extremely well developed societal organization, they act together to hunt and raise their young. They do not fight unnecessarily and often go out of their way to avoid fighting. Sometimes a growl, a glance, a posture is all that is necessary to determine dominance. Wolf teaches those with this medicine to know who you are and to develop strength and confidence in what you do.

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

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