Birthday Animal Guide For My Next Trip Around the Sun

Lion/Courage card from Animal Reflections Healing Oracle deck & Lion rendering postcard art from wildlife artist, Jules Chabeaux

In a post I shared a few days ago I wrote about how I pick an animal card each year for my birthday. This animal then serves as my ally for that birthday year cycle. I hope you will enjoy doing this practice for yourself too!

So today, being my birthday, I said goodbye to Snake who was my ally the last year and was excited to pull a card to see who my animal guide will be for the next 365 days – and it is Lion and the message of Courage – which is from my deck, Animal Reflections Healing Oracle.

Right away I smiled because of a recent synchronicity. It was just last month my name was picked in a drawing from wildlife artist, Jules Chabeaux. I’d won a postcard of one of her beautiful animal renderings she picked at random for me – and it was of Lion!

And it is Lion I learned many years ago from an intuitive reading I had for myself that the reader shared with me that Lion has been with me since birth. Plus the year I had the reading done Lion was my guide three months out of that year.

From my guidebook about Lion:

Lion stands confidently and nobly upon the abundant planet as the sun’s luminous rays spread positive energy and an invigorating vibration across the Universe.

This is your time to soak up every ounce of earned wisdom you’ve accomplished to this point on your expedition. You understand when you honor and give attention to all of your aspects, self-respect elegantly rises to the surface and takes center stage as you lovingly feel supported from the inside out.

Having done the brave and courageous inner work of examining and releasing emotional wounds keeping you bonded to fear, you’ve been granted the gift of clarity and a sanctuary of inner peace. You stand in your power and welcome in a rush of acceptance for your life instead of engaging in the angst of struggle.

The mask has come off and the mane of your truth flows with gentle strength as you proudly show the world who you are. Like the sun continues to transmit its healing rays to the planet and all its inhabitants, your soul vibrates at a refreshing level adding a lustrous glow to the world.

As I marinate in this message, indeed, the older I get, the more I let go of fear as I continue to step into my true self.

Happy Birthday to another evolution of me! And to you too whenever it is you celebrate your birthday!

XO

Barb

    

Meditating with E.T. and the Animals

Photo Credit – Anne Wertheim

During two guided meditations in the past few weeks, I’ve experienced E.T. presenting itself – yes, that E.T. – from the wonderful movie released in 1984. This took me by delightful surprise! Though if I were to share this with some people they may think I’ve lost my marbles. But the encounter touched me and so I felt called to share despite feeling a bit vulnerable.

The first time I saw E.T. during a recent meditation was just like in the movie when E.T. with its spindly finger points to the Cosmos and says that famous line, “E.T. phone home.” I was nineteen years old when that movie came out and I still recall how palpable that moment felt.

In my mind I said, “Okay, of course, ‘phone home’ but what do you mean? Is there something more you wish for me to understand?”

“Dial in to your heart,” E.T. said.

I understood this as truly and deeply dialing inward – that this is the way – the only way – to more love and peace in this troubled world.

Then yesterday during another guided meditation calling in my Spirit Ally Team, E.T. was there again. We were deep in the forest and surrounded by a plethora of animals. I felt very much at home. I reflected on how at times it is painful to live in this world much like E.T. must have felt having coming to Earth and so far from its true home.

This time, E.T. slowly bent forward toward me and placed his loving alien hand on my heart and it instantly lit bright red surrounded by a white glow. I sensed this as reiterating its recent message of dialing in to my heart. As my heart pulsed this bright red I noticed all around me the heart of each animal was also beaming bright red.

Leaned up against the trunk of a large tree, E.T. sitting beside me, another scene from the film played out in my mind. The one where E.T. is sitting among all the stuffed animals as a way to disguise itself and from being found out by the mother in the movie.

This is how I’ve felt for as long as I can remember – how I feel at home among the animals – how safe they’ve always made me feel – how I can be just who I am with them.

Just before the meditation came to a close darkness began to fall upon the forest. I watched as a red squirrel climbed the tree trunk, out onto a branch, and hung upside while holding a lantern in its tiny paws to help light the way. It was such a comforting meditation and assured me that when love leads the way the world fills with light and all will be okay.

XO

Barb

    

My Yearly Birthday Ritual & Animal Guide. A Practice You May Enjoy Too.

Snake card from my deck, Animal Reflections Healing Oracle
 
Each year on my birthday – and what you can do for yours – is that I pick an oracle card as my guide until when my birthday rolls around again the next year. More often than not, I’ve chosen an animal themed card since I’ve learned (and continue to) so much from the Animal Kingdom.
 
Snake has been my guide this past birthday cycle.I’ll be saying goodbye to Snake on July 18th when I pick a new card for my next trip around the sun. I’m looking forward to seeing who it will be!
 
While Snake can be potent medicine, she was a bit more subtle this year helping me shed some aspects of myself that no longer fit for me. Not to say there were some challenging moments, but I find the more I continue to work with my inner self care, I don’t stay stuck in a negative space and the quicker I can move through what is calling to be healed.
 
So for your birthday why not pick an oracle card from any deck that speaks to you.
 
Place it where you will see it everyday (or a copy of it if you don’t want it out of the deck for the whole year). Then just be in awareness of how it nudges you to make changes, to see things differently, to let go of what no longer works for you.
 
At the end of your birthday cycle spend some time in contemplation with how that card and message served you. Perhaps do a meditation and journal as a way to reflect and honor the lessons and teachings. And lastly, express gratitude for this oracle that served as your loving guide.
 
Once that feels complete, pick a new card for your next year of evolution! Have fun! ❤
 
And I’d love to know if you decide to do this practice and how it goes!
 
If you don’t have a deck, but would like to give this a try, check out the free-pick-a-card on my website.
 
XO
Barb