Today I’m sharing a reading for the New Moon in Virgo, PLUS a story I found so touching.
Such fun was this reading and the synchronicity! Hope you enjoy and it brings you some inspiration!
XO,
Barb
What Scares You Can Transform You and the Animal Guides that Provide Helpful Wisdom
How often I’ve found comfort and guidance through the wisdom of animals through challenging times. And such was the case again…
The last eight weeks or so have been about navigating a health scare with my husband, John. At the beginning we each went down the rabbit holes of fear and the unknown and the what if’s, but then spiraling back to the center again with reminders to stay in the present moment and allow life to unfold as it was meant to be.
I’m happy to say John is doing well and healing from two surgeries last week to remove and then stitch back together again an aggressive form of skin cancer he had on the top of his head.
During this time of uncertainty I leaned even more into my meditation and breathing practice, pulling oracle and animal cards, journaling, and taking time to be in nature. While also consciously allowing myself to be with all my emotions – especially those that really scared me in order that they wouldn’t get stuck and create a cyclone of anxiety. While I still had some intense moments, I’d remind myself to breathe deep and slowly into my belly, and I’d reflect on the many times in the past when I’ve allowed my fear to be acknowledged and then felt so they could move through me.
Three animals presented themselves on a consistent basis while John and I navigated different doctors to understand what would all be involved with the process of healing. While I know there are many going through far more difficult than this, I believe it’s important to not dismiss our fears and pain of individual circumstances. This brings to mind a quote (unknown author) I appreciate:
“No pain is greater or less, it is simply different.”
And it was Buffalo, Nuthatch, and Grasshopper that presented themselves during this time that I found not only comfort, but timely and welcome reminders. While Buffalo and Nuthatch came up often and are cards from my Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck, Grasshopper cleverly showed itself once on our front door and then on our kitchen window.
Buffalo a powerful teaching and one we are called to at different times throughout our lives – to stand and face the storm – and trust that all will work out for the highest good.
Excerpts from the guidebook:
“Buffalo can often be observed facing an incoming storm. They don’t try to outrun it or struggle against it. Instead, they stand firm and without fear while the storm roars forward and then rages around them until it eventually dissipates and moves on.
Remember that forcing or pushing will bring struggle, but having faith and trust will make your path much easier to navigate.”
It’s during times of intense uncertainty (that feel like a raging storm) to lean into the energy of Buffalo and reminds us to stay grounded in the here and now and not project into the future. There is nothing to do, but be with what is coming up in order for the feelings to eventually dissipate.
Nuthatch with its keen teaching of perspective not only also presented itself often when I pulled a card for the day, but also the sounds and sightings of nuthatch outside my windows, that there is always, always, always different ways in which to not only observe life, but your reactions to it. I said always three times to emphasize this as I understand it an be challenging!
Excerpts from the guidebook:
Has your mind felt muddled or fuzzy about something you are trying to understand on a deeper level? While having faith in a power higher than yourself is important to your growth, it’s also about bringing that focused awareness from a higher realm down into your physical being. This will allow a new, welcome perspective to more easily flow into your consciousness.”
Grasshopper first presenting itself on the outside of the front storm door and then again on the outside of the kitchen window was a welcome sign of their overall symbolism of good luck. But also fearlessness, longevity, and peacefulness, that I saw this as once again a teaching of not looking to the outside world as a way to offer a distraction from those things that cause us fear, but rather to stay connected to our inner world in order to arrive back to a more peaceful state.
So with the help of these animal guides not only do I feel changed in perspective in many ways within myself, but that as a couple too as John and I navigated and grew through this experience together.
XO
Barb
Encounter with a Walking Stick and Its Animal Wisdom Offering
I remember as a kid seeing stick bugs (also referred to as walking sticks). Though I must say that as a child I was spooked by them. I suppose because when I leaned up against a tree and didn’t know there was a walking stick there, well, when it suddenly moved…that was scary.
To see one yesterday afternoon sitting on the side of our house I was reminded how long its been since I’ve encountered one. But this time I wasn’t scared, but rather delighted and intrigued once again the creatures we share this planet with.
Being I appreciate the wisdom of animals and have received so many gifts of teachings from them over the years, I couldn’t help wonder about their symbolism and what wisdom did walking stick have to guide me and others right now?
From Ted Andrews Animal-Wise book the keynote for stick bug is: activity beneath the surface.
Andrews goes on to share: Their appearance always indicates that there is activity around us beneath the surface that we may or may not be aware of. If we remain still, making no movement or commitment, the proper course of action will make itself known. The appearance of the stick bug is a reminder to be patient.
Stick bug reminds us to focus on our activities and ourselves. It is also an indication that meditation and prayer will bring much greater results and benefits right now. There is something in the offing, but we must be able to recognize it. This is where personal stillness – meditative and altered states of quietness – comes into play.
While there is more, Andrews reiterates in the last paragraph, this is a time to be patient. I felt this as significant right now not only for myself, but for many of us.
As I thought about the walking stick on the outside of my house – my home – and the fact it was a few inches from the outside water faucet, it was a reminder to continue to be with feelings and emotions (water a symbol of being with our emotions) of fear, which I’ve personally experienced on an intense level at times over the last few weeks. Perhaps you have too? Or are currently experiencing this?
When we feel fear how often we just want to wish it away or know the reason or answer for it in the very moment so the fear will subside and/or just go away. But walking stick was reminding me to “stick” with it (pun intended!). And that fear is truly an inside job – our inner home – the place where we need to examine with compassion, and also hold ourselves in compassion, while exploring our fears.
I’ve also been meditating and praying more often lately and that feels like a confirmation from walking stick to continue doing this. And to remain patient. That there isn’t anything to do, but rather just be with what is coming up and then allowing it to move through.
How often it is we seek activity on the outside (away from our inner selves) – as a way to distract ourselves from what our inside world is calling us to be with – and that inner work is just as important of an “activity” to our well being.
And walking stick reminds us that when we honor the inner activity of learning to just be with our fears, feelings, and emotions, that the best course of action to move forward will present itself when it is time.
Lastly, as I like to often do to add another layer of insight, I pulled an oracle card asking if there is anything else walking stick would like us to know.
From the Wisdom of the Oracle – the card – Higher Power.
I sense this as walking stick reaffirming the teaching of the importance of the inner work as a vital activity, and that when we do so through meditation, stillness, and listening deeply, we are much more able to tune into and connect with a higher power (God/Source/Universe – however you define it) which ultimately provides us the answers we seek that are for our highest good.
Thank you, walking stick!
XO
Barb