animal teachings

I Now Understand Why this Stuffed Pink Octopus from Childhood Meant So Much to Me

The Octopus card I created for my upcoming Animal Reflections Oracle Deck had been sitting on my writing desk for four days.

Last Thursday I ‘shuffled’ the remaining cards I have left to write messages for and pulled Octopus. Sitting on my office chair in front of my computer I held the card in my hands. The first thing that popped into my mind was an image of me with a bright pink and lime green stuffed octopus I’d gotten for Christmas when I was a young girl.

It was then that I became very emotional and my eyes filled with tears.

Next, I thought about the film I’d watched last year called, My Octopus Teacher. A deeply moving film about the relationship between a man who is a scuba diver and an octopus.

But it was the image of me and that stuffed octopus that was evoking something I couldn’t name and caused me to feel weepy. Over the years when I’d see the photo or think of the image I’d wonder why it was I’d wanted that octopus. It just seemed an ‘odd’ or not a typical animal to ask for as a young child. 

I’d had many stuffed animals when I was young, but the octopus was one I’d always wished I’d hung onto. But why?

What was Octopus trying to share with me? When I tried to write a message for Octopus it just wouldn’t flow. Something felt off. I knew then I needed to just let this sit until I was ready.

I tried again the next day, but again, it didn’t feel right. So I took some time to study the habitat and behavior of Octopus and allowed that to simmer.

Next, I decided to print out the photo of me and the stuffed pink octopus. Thanks to my mom who saved photos of me when I was young and put them on a disk that I saved to my computer.

The fact that Octopus has eight limbs brought up an exercise I took part in a little over a year ago with my friend, Dawn, who wrote a book that will be released this fall called, Shadow Animals – How Animals We Fear Can Help us Heal, Transform, and Awaken.

In that exercise that will be shared in Dawn’s book, I’d come to understand my fear of spiders linked to my childhood trauma of being touched inappropriately.

While the spider with its eight legs creeped me out, the eight legs of an Octopus felt different to me. While I had viewed spiders out of fear, I felt a sense of motherly love from Octopus. I sensed the eight legs of Octopus wrapping around me as protection. I also sensed Octopus limbs as an extension to the outside world – and that eventually – in my own timing – and learning to expand and trust my own intuition – I’d eventually give voice to what had happened to me.

Octopuses also have the ability to camouflage themselves as a way of protection when danger is near and this brought up how I’d kept my secret hidden for over fifty years. Just like Octopus retreats into a cave-like structure within the ocean, a part of me had also retreated within as a way to emotionally protect myself.

As I worked through all that Octopus was sharing with me I realized that the stuffed octopus was my friend, my confidant, my protector. Now the tears flowed again but this time from a feeling of joy and what that stuffed octopus really meant to me – all these years – that I never really knew why. And now I do.

XO

Barb

                  

Do Not Lose Your Inner Peace for Anything

A collective tension is definitely in the air this week. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. While I’m aware of what is going on in the outside world, I’m also making sure to stay in alignment with my heart.

My heart has reminded me to take time often this week to check in with myself, work on small projects that are bringing me joy and meaning, and continue to appreciate and be in gratitude for all I have.

When I walked through the door of Joyful Pause Cottage this morning, two things caught my eye — the faeries on a side table and a quote I have on my door, which I’ll share in a moment.

Though I say this often that there is joy in the simple things, I’m especially feeling that today.

The fairies that remind me of spring that will come soon enough again. I imagine them fluttering among the flowers and setting up camp among the boxwood shrubs.

The bunny, which is rather large next to the faeries, seems out of proportion. But I thought perhaps it is not. I sense it is a message that when we feel fear, to lean into the teachings of the animals. Whether we see a real bunny, a totem one like this one on my table, or we come across a photo of a rabbit.

As always, I truly believe the animals are here for us, and all we have to do is ask for their guidance. This bunny along with the faeries are reminding me of the richness of beauty and life that is here at any given moment. I just have to pause, pay attention, and take in the sweetness.

The quote, I think, fits with this too:

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.

Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your world seems upset.

~St. Francis de Sales

Take especially good, gentle care of yourself this week.

xo,

Barb

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The Animals Inspired Me with My Word for the Year

I believe this is either the third or fourth year that I’ve picked twelve animal oracle cards for my year – one for each month. In the collage above you can see the animals that represent my year. As I continue to enjoy learning more about what wisdom the animals have for us, this is one way in which I enjoy playing and discovering more. Plus it’s a wonderful way to do inner exploration!

This year I worked with the Spirit Animal Awareness cards by Ona Christie. On each of her cards, she has positive and shadow aspects of each animal.

For the month of January, my card is Bee. After pondering it for a few moments the word that jumped out at me on the card is productivity. I began a project in late 2020 and am gaining momentum with it so productivity feels right for where my energy level and enthusiasm are at for this. It also feels sweet to be in this space of creativity that is filling me with much joy.

I have a spot on my wall next to my writing desk where I will post a photo of the card along with the word (s) that resonates from that particular card for the month. It will be something I can reflect on when I feel called to. At the end of the month, I’ll take a few moments to observe how that particular animal card played out in my life and what I learned.

I’d also been pondering what my word of the year would be for the last few days though nothing was really coming to me.

After pulling an animal card for each month of the year it occurred to me last evening that I should turn to the animals for their help.

This morning as I looked over the complete spread of twelve cards the word that came to me is devotion. My whole body felt it and it made me come alive with inspiration.

So far this is what devotion is representing for me for my year ahead:

  • Devotion to my creativity and more exploration of mixed media collage.
  • Devotion to learning more from the animal kingdom world.
  • Devotion to appreciating the sweetness of life.
  • Devotion to living by the flow of my own authentic being.
  • Devotion to living life with much more zest.
  • Devotion to listening to my inner guidance.
  • Devotion to affirming life through doing things that make me happy.

I’m also reflecting on a quote by John Cage that I shared during the weekly oracle reading I did and posted on Monday. The quote is below and in bold are the sentences that stood out to me. They add to the reason why the word devotion fits for me this year.

Our intention is to affirm this life, not bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply to wake to the very life we’re living, which is so excellent once one gets one’s mind and desires out of its way and lets it act of its own accord.  ~John Cage

Next, I’ll print out a copy of the above collage I made in Canva and post that on my wall next to my writing desk as a sweet reminder of my intention for this year of 2021.

Just doing this simple exercise of pulling animal cards, pondering each month, and then discovering my word for the year opens up this path before me that I’m looking forward to sauntering down and what it is I’ll discover.

Do you have a word for the year? If so, let me know. I’d love to hear!

xo,

Barbara

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