Delighted by the response to my previous blogs about the sacred messages in feathers, it is evident many of you are hungry for more information on how to read the intuitive messages around us. How is this relative to our wellness? What do feathers and animals have to do with our health? Anything that empowers and educates you to become your own sage, coach, trainer and guru is a development towards your wellness. As we are a united intelligence of body, mind and spirit, the more we can empower each area, the closer we move towards becoming whole.
Due to the growing demand for intuitive coaching, we are launching the very first workshop of “Sacred Messages” at IGNITE Live 2015 that teaches you how to read the messages in nature, the animal kingdom and oracles. I wanted to publish this addition to the series for further insight to how the elemental kingdom chooses to deliver messages by appearing to us in obscure places.
In my first blog about the sacred messages in feathers I wanted to emphasize the importance of your own definitions. What animals and elements of mother earth symbolise for you personally supersedes any of the generic definitions. In other words if a butterfly has a unique meaning to you, that personal connection will remain true to you over what you may read here or in another other publications.
The definitions that follow are taken from many different doctrines and amalgamated to the most common meaning. I have chosen the animals what appear to us in our daily lives as opposed to the long list of ancient symbolism in the monarch totems such as bears, panthers, tigers and lions etc. I have also kept it limited to wild animals we encounter by chance as opposed to the domesticated animals we have choose to surround ourselves with. Even though cats, dogs, horses and various other domesticated animals all possess sacred meaning, I wanted to dedicate this to the ones who choose their encounter with us.
The Butterfly
The butterfly is one of the most common symbols of personal transformation. If you are seeing butterflies around you, landing close to you or on you pay attention to the areas in your life or part of your identity that is in need of radical change or transformation. I use the word radical to illustrate what is a total shift in form from a caterpillar and a butterfly. The comparative way they look, move, skin texture, colour and form are a radical alteration. For this reason they will demand a radical alteration in your attitude and belief system towards yourself. As much as they are a beautiful and gentle creature, do not take the message of a butterfly lightly, especially for those who have one tattooed.
Like the grey feather, a butterfly represents the metamorphosis of the internal self, not the external self (our look) or outside circumstances. The common mistake is to misinterpret the butterfly as a physical or body transformation alone. Although it could be the outcome of an internal transformation, it asks you to look beyond this as the initial starting point. A butterfly asks you to transform your belief systems, thought patterns and definition of yourself.
This is reiterated in my recent vlog “Can you erase your past?” where I expand on the universal law of self-creation. We are responsible for creating our own reality, self-identity and definition of who we are.
The other sacred quality of the butterfly is its light, joyous and playful nature. The process of self-transformation is one to be derived by the pursuits that bring you joy and excitement. If a process is arduous, restrictive and strenuous then is goes against the natural grace of the butterfly. When you break free from the confines of your own logic (mouse wheel of thought) and tune into the emotional and spiritual nature of your psyche, you receive the sacred gift of the butterfly.
The Dragonfly
This divine ancient creature has many distinctive meanings in both eastern and western cultures. For the purpose of this blog the universal qualities of the dragonfly represent agility and emotional flexibility. Being one of the only creatures who can move in 6 different ways, it reminds us of the many different angles and view-points we can assess a situation in order to conquer it. A dragonfly is known to carry ancient secrets through time. They possess the divine wisdom to show you the multiple ways you can tackle a situation or problem. When you watch a dragonfly it moves with effortless agility and never confined to one path or direction. It reminds that you too have this ability. So when you see a dragonfly, look to the areas you believe you are stuck or trapped, then listen as it whispers “there is another way”. When a solution appears that may seem “out of the box”, you know you have received the sacred gift of the dragonfly.
The Owl,
Where do we begin with this ancient creature of wisdom and intelligence? As majestical as they are, the sacred gift of the Owl is the ability to see in the dark. It guides you to the true reality of a situation beyond illusion and deceit. This can relate to the ways you may be deceiving yourself and not looking at the truth of a matter. It sees beyond the veil of the mask and reveals what could be hidden. If you are assessing a current situation or going through a confusing time, the Owl asks you to reach into your intuitive ability to access the truth, not to be distracted by appearances or by the spoken word of others (including your own mouse-wheel of thought). An Owl will give you a brief moment to look upon him/her before they disappear in silence. In this special moment, they open the channel to your intuitive psyche so the truth can soon be revealed. If you have already begun the process of removing masks and seeking the truth, they are a sign your “Light-bulb” moment is coming where clarity and truth align.
Once you master the sacred gift of the Owl the channel to your intuitive mind and the conscious mind will remain open. You will have the ability to see through any situation, intension or manipulations that do not serve you.
A Crow
For those of you reading this in the Southern Hemisphere the crow is the relation of the raven. Both are associated to the life mysteries and magic. Due to movies and urban myths the crow is poorly perceived as a negative omen however this could not be further from the truth. It is a sign your power of insight and manifestation is developing and asks you to continue to nurture this skill.
Because of its mythological association to mysteries and magic, the crow is seen in many shamanic traditions as the sacred animal for those who have the power to manipulate the laws of our physical universe; magic. This is why it is associated to witchcraft and shape-shifting. In the modern age of spirituality what was once identified as spell casting is now being articulated at the art of manifestation. When you announce your desires to the universe (or to the creator of our choice) and align your energy and thought (vibration) to attract those things, this is the act of manifestation. A crow encourages us to pursue the ability to develop our own personal magic. It asks you to delve into the study, practice or act of manifestation as this is a hidden ability you are not aware of or utilising enough. The crow may visit you if you believe you are a victim of circumstance to remind you the current situation is yours to magically transform. With a dedicated commitment to shapeshifting your self-talk and attitude soon the situation will miraculously transform itself.
The other sacred quality of the crow and raven is its fearless nature. It chooses its own path whether it be with a murder of crows (pack) or alone depending on the purpose it serves. So which ever sacred message resonates with you the most from this multi-faceted creature, allow this to be its gift to you.
Eagles
In the Southern Hemisphere the relative of the eagle family is the Wedge Tail Eagle. Although the meanings of Eagles do vary due to their size and origin, the most common sacred message is freedom and the quest to obtain it. Of course, as rulers of the sky, Eagles are connected with the air element, which symbolizes communication and thought. Most bird totems speak to us about higher thinking, visions, and mental liberation. As king of the birds, the eagle’s message is hone your skills of focus and concentration to master your own mind. If an Eagle presents itself to you the time of procrastination and avoidance is over. The time of mastering your skill has arrived.
If you think about the aesthetic of an eagle its appearance is sharp, streamlined, sleek and chiselled. This asks your deeper psyche to hone your skills and sharpen your wits. The eagle commands you to tailor your intelligence and talents in a way that best defines freedom to you. It will challenge any idea or tolerance towards mediocrity you may carry and provoke you to step above the status quo. Be flattered when an Eagle crosses your path as you being recognised as master of your domain.
Dolphins
Have you ever been overwhelmed by emotion, stillness or captivation when you encounter a pod of dolphins? This is because they are the custodians of the pure vibration (essence/frequency) of inner peace and harmony. If we could emulate the essence of the dolphin we would experience the perfect alignment of body, mind and spirit without effort or resistance. As you tune into the way they dance through the water, you will be granted their sacred gift; resurrection.
In the blessed moment a dolphin or pod of dolphins choose to show themselves to you they are said to resurrect your pure heart. If life has become imbalanced, darkened or hope is smothered, they are a sign of revival. As opposed to the sacred signs of transformation or change, resurrection refers to the breath of life being returned to a part of us that felt lost or dead. Accept their gift with gratitude and take whatever action is needed to protect and nourish your pure heart. If a home or interior space is decorated with dolphin’s means the space has been re-calibrated to create pure harmony.
A Rabbit
For some reason I always let out a child-like “A Rabbit!” when-ever I see a wild bunny hop in and out of my path. They appear as fast as they disappear bringing the sacred message of fertility for new ideas, new beginnings and adventures. There are variations based on their colour however in general a rabbit is a sign of the abundance we have access to. Abundance comes in many forms and the Rabbit is a fertile sign there are many opportunities of wealth (not limited to only money) once you step on the path of adventure. Associated to fairy tales and “rabbit-holes” they invite you to come on a journey of the unknown to explore that your spirit wishes to discover. They tempt you to divert from the track of mass-consensus (normal) and discover the elements of your nature that is eclectic, unique and original. So if you have recently engaged in learning or discovering new information that may be considered left of centre it is a sign you are on the right track and to immerse yourself in the quest.
In eastern doctrines that are recognised as great fortune and a sign of good luck (especially a white rabbit). They ask you to let the blessings of good fortune and prosperity to come to you.
In celtic culture they represented the ‘gathering of the clans” for battle as the symbol of the rabbit was formally a fierce and worthy opponent in numbers.
Bearded Dragons and Water Dragons.
If a dragon-lizard presents themselves to you the time has come to detach from the ego and dive beyond the superficial. What appears on the outside in appearance no longer holds value and you will soon become more detached from the shallow situations in your life. Now and again it is required to be detached, to separate yourself from others, to succeed in what is necessary. Lizard-dragons will also show you how to leave the past in the past. To move on and released your attachment to what has been. The story you tell yourself of the past no longer serves you. Dragon lizards propose immediate change in one or more areas of your life. You may need to let go of old ideas, patterns, belief systems, habits, actions or lifestyle because they block the creation of new life and new beginnings. It is time to let go. Lizard-Dragons prompts the need to go within and examine your present reality and then, move with confidence and utmost assuredness into a new chapter of your life.
For those of you who love to dive deeper in to mythology or the study of deities, I will expand on the relationship with animals with specific gods, goddess and icons through ancient history in upcoming series. If you want to learn more about how to read the intuitive messages of animals, elements of mother nature and oracles we are featuring “Sacred Messages” in the workshop line up at this year’s IGNITE Live 2015. We also feature the chance to learn more about Moon Cycles and how to read your own star chart with Eddy DeSilva in “Astrology”. For more information see www.ignite2015.com.au
