animal medicine

Skunk Dream. What Could It Mean?

Skunk Dream. Would Could it Mean?
Photo credit: kids.britannica.com

If only I could remember all the parts of my dreams.

I try really hard, but it seems I can only manage to remember one small tidbit of them. Maybe I’m trying too hard?!

The only thing I recall of my dream last night was that I encountered a skunk. And then he sprayed me right in the face!

Upon awakening, I thought, “What in the world could that mean?”

I’m increasingly becoming more and more fascinated with what our animal world is trying to teach us, not just dogs, which I’ve learned so much from in the past ten years. I can’t help but think they’ve led the way for me to now become more interested and open to other animal teachings.

For a long time I always thought you had to actually encounter an animal to receive a message. But I now understand to pay attention by patterns of animals that show up whether in images or on TV, or in person too, as well as in dreams.

When one shows up in my dreams, I get excited and intrigued about what it is I’m supposed to understand that perhaps I’m not getting.

One thing I’ve learned to do because of my animal communicator friend, Dawn, whose written lots of books on the subject, is to think deeper into their meanings and listen to my own intuition to how that animal is trying to speak to me.

It’s often called animal medicine which is the Native American practice of embracing an awareness that reveals itself when a certain animal crosses our path.

It’s “the custom of animal medicine refers to the healing aspects that a particular animal brings to our consciousness. This would mean anything that supports, strengthens, restores, empowers, or revives the spiritual body, as well as the physical body.”

So what could skunk mean appearing in my dream?  I went to a popular book by Ted Andrews called, Animal Speak, for guidance.

One paragraph jumped out at me:

“The skunk does not get out of the way of any animal. It moves along at its own speed, with its own mind. It is self-assured and confident in itself. It skunk has shown up, it can be to help you with this particular aspect. It can teach you how to be more self-assured and how to assert yourself.”

I asked myself, “How does this relate to where I’m at right now?”

As I thought about it, I knew exactly what it meant.

I’m adventuring into offering workshops out of my home teaching the SoulCollage(r) process. I have this fear that no one will sign up. That people won’t want to see how this process can help them. That perhaps they aren’t ready.

For about three nights in a row this is exactly what I’ve been worrying about in my dreams.

But this time skunk showed up to encourage me to be confident in myself and to trust that all is going to work out.

So okay, Mr. Skunk, I guess you had to spray me in the face to get my attention to stop worrying so much. I’m taking your message into my heart and trusting it….

and if you don’t mind me adding, without any offense what-so-ever, I’m really glad you were in my dream and not reality when it took spraying me in the face to get my attention!

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Red Moon Passage and Animal Medicine

Red Moon Passage and Animal Medicine
Photo credit: http://wordsofraven.blogspot.com/2010/10/when-moon-turned-red.html

Recently I came across a book by Bonnie J. Horrigan, published in 1997, called Red Moon Passage.  As someone who is a newborn of my post menopausal years, I was struck by the title and that it is about “The Power and Wisdom of Menopause.”

You may be wondering what this has to do with animal medicine, but hang tight as I will share that with you shortly.

Red Moon Passage is a term that the author came up with as a way to look at this time in a woman’s life “as a spiritual journey to a new way of being and celebrating menopause as a spiritual journey of transformation.”

red moonI love this because it is exactly how I am trying to embrace this transition I’m now in. It’s not to say it does not bring with it challenges, because I’m experiencing a few of those, too.

But as Frankie, my paralyzed dachshund taught me so many years ago, I want to always find ways in which to focus on the positive.

And there are many to this red moon passage time such as feeling freer to live from the inner light of who I really am and not getting caught up in what others may think of me and my choices.

While I’m not always positive about when a hot flash comes, I do remind myself to view it as the old self leaving and a more empowered self emerging.  And you know what? Most often, I really do like this new self that I’m witnessing in the reflection of my mirror.

Which brings me to animal medicine…

A friend suggested a homeopathic medicine called Lachesis Mutus by Boiron to help with the hot flashes. I was quite excited to give it a try because I want to move through this time as naturally as possible.

I went ahead and ordered the product. Afterwards, I came to find out it is made from the venom of the South American bushmaster’s snake. I researched further and read the venom is so dilute that only almost undetectable amounts of the poison remain.

But I couldn’t get over the fact it was snake venom. I thought I might die if I took the little white pellets which they instruct to put under your tongue when you feel a hot flash coming on. Which is silly because they couldn’t sell it if it did that!

But this led me to read more about snake medicine in Dr. Farmer’s Animal Spirit Guides book and to also consult author Dawn Brunke’s Animal Wisdom Tarot cards.

What did I need to learn from Snake?  I wondered. But more so, was I open to it?

As I consulted the two resources these are the passages that resonated with me:

From Animal Spirit Guides by Dr. Steven Farmer:

“You’re going through a major life or developmental transition, one so powerful that it requires you to shed a lot of attachments, especially to your old identity.”

“You’ve gone through a series of initiations, including death and rebirth experiences and as a result have gained compassion, wisdom, and a powerful capacity for healing.”

“You’ve gained a deeper interest in ancient and indigenous cultures and spiritual practices and feel quite at home with these.”

From The Animal Wisdom Tarot Cards by Dawn Brunke:

This is a card (Snake) of enthusiasm, adventure, excitement and adventure. Fueled with inner heat, we sense a challenge—and are ready.

As guardian of sacred places, Snake helps us to explore the far-reaches of our soul and learn to be fully alive.

Be bold, daring; let your inner light shine.

I appreciated how Snake reminded me of what was, what is, and what is yet to come…and to be open to all of it.

Animal Wisdom Tarot CardsI was still a little apprehensive about taking the tiny white pellets, though I was feeling a bit more confident. After a discussion with my friend a few days later, I finally found the courage to give it a try.

And guess what? They work for me… And I’m here to tell you about it!

And oh! how I’ve grown in expanding my awareness and embracing even more how animals can show us the parts of ourselves we are sometimes afraid to look at.

But when we do, how our world can open in even more magical ways helping us to heal and move forward.

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Walking (Dog) Meditation

IMG_2130Being in nature is healing medicine for whatever may be troubling your mind — I’m convinced of that. This is what ran through my mind as I took Kylie and Gidget walking in the small woods near our home yesterday.

It really is like a walking meditation soaking in the crisp air, hearing the crunch of leaves below my feet and their paws, and the many smells that float on the wind.

I try to get the girls out for a walk around mid-day as often as possible because I know it is good for them. But how often I’m reminded it is just as good for me.

Just being with these two beings who don’t have an agenda, but to walk with me and enjoy the outdoors, is such a calming meditation. The spirits of animals that help you to slow down. Take in what is important and weave it into our days filled with many to-do’s.

These walks with my two favorite creatures is a gift. A gift of the here and now. A reminder to stay open to their wisdom as a guide to how I wish to live my life.

These four paws, two snouts, and deeply soulful eyes ground me time and time again.

REMINDER:  I’m giving away a copy of Jon Katz’s new book, “Saving Simon: How a Donkey Taught Me the Meaning of Compassion.” All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment by midnight cst on yesterdays blog post here. I’ll be picking a winner Thursday using random.org (US residents only).