Elemental Scavenger Hunt: Earth

Turkey Feather: Where I live, wild turkeys roam the parks. Called the “Earth Eagle” by Native Americans, the turkey does live close to Mother Earth, rarely flying. Moreover, the feathers of these feisty birds glisten like the jewels of the Earth. Turkeys bring us close to the earth.

White Oak Acorn: This acorn was one that a squirrel partially buried for future food. Each acorn is a miniature of the earth in fertility. Within every acorn are the beginnings of oak trees, mighty trees that are rooted in the earth.

Hickory Nut: Nearby any hickory tree are many large round balls of nuts. When these nuts fall, they make a loud thud reminding everyone of gravity. Moreover, hickory nuts are solid resembling the earth that they fall to.

Gravel: Often underfoot, these ordinary stones subtly remind us of the earth. They quietly service our needs by lining paths, and providing materials for parking lots and drive ways. Often neglected, these small stones are much like the earth, which is usually taken for granted by us.

Dirt: The essence of the earth is dirt. Dirt nourishes life through providing crops, trees, and grass for all of us all. In addition, the soil provides homes for many creatures such as moles and worms, who care for the earth. Without dirt, there would be no earth to speak of.

Elemental Scavenger Hunt: Water

Mussel Shell: I have a small shell that I picked up from a nearby stream. In this steam are shells from other fresh water shellfish. For me, shells, whether they are fresh or sea water ones, represent the essence of water. These animals open and close their shells with the ebb and flow of water.

Fossil Shark Tooth: Parts of the park that I visited were underwater in prehistoric times. Shark teeth abound for those who look carefully. As rulers of the seas, sharks ably demonstrate the fierce power of water.

Duckweed: Growing in ponds, duckweed provides oxygen for the animals that live there. It also offers places for fish and smaller animals to hide from the predator frogs and turtles. Water, in ponds, often obscures the other worlds that lie below.

River Stone: Worn smooth stones wash up from the local rivers and lie on their banks. Smoothing the rough edges of hard rock through time is something that water does well. Within these river stones is the quiet power of water.

Sand: Also associated with water is sand. Like river stones, sand aptly demonstrates the patience of water. Originally consisting of rocks, sand is the result of the waves repeatedly crashing various rocks together. In addition, sand moves like water, constantly shifting and changing, never remaining the same.

ELEMENTAL SCAVENGER HUNT: Fire

White Pine Cone: There are few natural items better for starting a fire than a pine cone. Full of tar and pitch, it makes excellent kindling. In addition, some pine trees, such as Jack Pine, require fire to open their seed cones for dispersal. For these reasons, I think of pines as cousins of the fire.

Sycamore Leaf: Only when hot weather arrives do the sycamore trees leaf out. A tree of summer, they are attuned to its heat and warmth. Come fall, these trees lose their leaves early, usually turning a bright yellow. Sycamores represent the fires of summer.

Red Oak Leaf: In the Celtic tradition, the oak is associated with Taranis, the Celtic God of Thunder. Often struck by lightening, oak trees are sacred to Him. Because of this ancient association, oak represents the illumination of fire.

Cicada Shell: In hot August, you can hear the cicadas buzzing in the trees. The hotter it becomes, the louder they buzz. After mating and molting, they often leave their shells in the tree sap for me to discover. For me, cicada shells contain the heated passions of August.

Piece of Basalt: This volcanic rock came from deep within the earth. Since I live in an area of few volcanoes, I purchased it at the nature center that I go to. For me it represents the fires of earth, the molten center of life.

ELEMENTAL SCAVENGER HUNT: Air

To find items in nature that represented the various elements was an exercise in creative thinking. Since it was winter time while I was collecting these things, I had both an advantage and a disadvantage. I had less to choose from, but could focus more on how each item would be connected to an element.

AIR

White Pine Needles: While standing under the pines, you can hear the trees whisper to the wind. In the fall, their needles drift down forming a warm blanket on the earth. Sometimes, the wind catches the needles in the branches, and they float off into the sky. The playful pine needles call to the wind “Let’s fly!”

Norway Maple Seed: I call these maple seeds “helicopters” for they twirl in the air when they leave their tree. Other people call maple seeds “whirligigs” for the same reason. In the spring, they are usually the first seeds to appear. To the delight of children and adults, these “whirligigs” dance in the spring air.

Weeping Willow Leaf: Graceful weeping willows often catch the subtle breezes. Even in winter weeping willows rarely remain still, swaying their branches to and fro. Catching the movement of the wind with their branches, the willows hold a conversation with the air.

Crow Feather: As the crows molted, I would find their feathers on the ground. Although they are no longer used for flying, these crow feathers can still capture the wind. To me, these feathers represent air in all its wondrous glory.

Rose Petal: On particularly windy days, the rose bushes will let loose their petals. When catching a breeze, the aroma of the roses will waft through the air. These red blooms remind me of the tender breezes of June.

The Elements and Animals (4)

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Alligator (American): Water

Greatly feared because of her size and teeth, American Alligator is a shy animal. She prefers to live in her “gator hole” or mucking around the swamp. American Alligator is a keystone species. She creates “alligator holes”--mud hollows in swampy areas. This provides other animals with water, food, and homes. Moreover, American Alligator is the largest predator in her area, controlling overpopulation of deer and other animals. Even Her abandoned nest is used by other animals.

Salamander (Fire)

Tradition has it that Fire Salamander got her name from racing out of a log tossed onto a cooking fire. Since people saw her racing out of nowhere they assumed that the fire created her. “Salamander” comes from an Arab term for “lives in fire”.

Quite shy, Fire Salamander warns other animals and people away with bright yellow blotches on her black body. By secreting a white sticky substance called salamandrin from small pores on her body, she can kill a small animal or cause vomiting in a person. Instead of running away, Fire Salamander sprays her attacker. Her black and yellow colors warn others to leave her alone.

Newt (Great Crested): Water

The largest of the European newts, Great Crested Newt gets his name from his magnificent crown that he grows during breeding season. He wants to impress Female Great Crested Newts at their breeding pond. When a female shows interest, Great Crested Newt vibrates his tail and nuzzles her.

Because he is slow moving, Great Crested Newt will eat anything that he can catch. Usually, he eats animals slower than himself like slugs and snails. While underwater, he uses his sixth sense to detect vibrations in the water. To do this, Great Crested Newt uses a complex system of pressure-sensitive cells on his head and sides.

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Echidna: Earth

This small, barrel-shaped animal is one of two of the world’s only egg-laying (Monotreme) mammals. Resembling a pale brown porcupine, Echidna lives a solitary life in woodlands. With her powerful claws, Echidna turns over rocks in search of food.
Echidna is quite good at defending herself. When in danger, she curls herself into a ball, to be protected by her spines. Sometimes, Echidna will wedge herself beneath rocks. She can also swiftly dig vertically to get below the surface soil.

Mother Echidna lies on her back and lays one egg. She stretches so that her egg drops into the pouch on her abdomen. After a week and a half, Baby Echidna (Puggle) breaks out of the egg’s leathery shell. The tiny Puggle will suckle and live in his mother’s pouch for two months. Afterwards, he leaves his mother’s pouch for a burrow that she has dug for him. There, Mother Echidna visits daily to suckle her Puggle.

Grey Squirrel: Air

Agile and alert, Grey Squirrel remains active throughout the year. Chattering on tree branches, Grey Squirrel amuses people who watch her antics. What people do not know is that Grey Squirrel was a creature of the virgin forests of North America. She is one of the few mammals who adapted to cities.

Grey Squirrel needs to eat every day even in the winter. Active at dawn, she searches for fruits and nuts or whatever is in season. In spring, she eats plant shoots. In winter, Grey Squirrel eats tree bark and nuts that she stored in the fall. She locates her stored nuts by smell. Any acorns that Grey Squirrel does not find will grow into trees for future squirrel homes.

Manatee: Water

It is hard to believe that sailors once mistook Manatee and her cousin Dugong for mermaids. These sole remaining members of the Sirenia family are more like small blimps than beautiful women. Also called “Sea Cows”, Manatee and Dugong are the only sea mammals that eat solely vegetation. One of the most endangered of sea mammals, Manatee keeps vital waterways such as the Amazon River basin free of vegetation by consuming large amounts of food.

Manatee favors muddy bays, lagoons, and estuaries of the places around Caribbean Sea and Western Africa. Manatee prowls the bottom using her sensitive mouth to detect delicious grasses. With her front flippers, she grasps the vegetation and munches to her heart's content. When Manatee is done munching, she walks on her flippers to find more food at the bottom.

Works used

Andrews, Ted, “Animal-Speak”, Llewellyn, St. Paul, 1998.

Attenborough, David, “The Life of Birds”, Princeton University, Princeton, 1998.
“The Life of Mammals”, Princeton University, Princeton, 2002.
“Life in the Undergrowth”, Princeton University, Princeton, 2005.
“Life in Cold Blood”, Princeton University, Princeton, 2008.

Conway, D.J., “Animal Magick”, Llewellyn, St. Paul, 1999.

King, Scott Alexander, “Animal Messenger”, New Holland, Sydney, 2006.

Nozedar, Adele, “The Secret Language of Birds”, Harper Collins, London, 2006.

Palmer, Jessica Dawn, “Animal Wisdom”, Harper Collins, London, 2001.

Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Bestiary." ChristStory Christian Bestiary. 1997. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/beast.htm ( 9 Jan. 2010).

Animals and Elements (2)

Rabbit (European): Earth

The ancestral species for domestic rabbits, European Rabbit is the only rabbit of her kind. Originally living only in the Western Mediterranean area, European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus (which means “hare-like digger”)) was introduced throughout Europe by the Romans. Unlike other rabbits and hares, European Rabbit is quite sociable, living in large colonies. Preferring to live close to home, she shares burrows with her friends. Her colony (warren) is a network of tunnels, dens, bolt holes, and entrances to live in.

(Note: Marsh Rabbit, a Cottontail, is a strong swimmer and only lives near bodies of water. This rabbit would be assigned to water.)

Raccoon: Water

Denning in trees, Raccoon feeds along the waterways, hunting as she swims. What people think is Raccoon washing her food is actually a form of hunting. All she needs is water to help her find her food by touch. Called arakumen, by the Algonquin Indians, Raccoon, “the little hand scratcher”, picks up things in her hands to examine them by feeling.

Many Native Americans held a deep regard for Raccoon since she also was connected to magic. The Aztecs called female Raccoon, see-oh-at la-ma kas-kay (Cioatlamacasque), “She who talks with the Gods”. If she had cubs, they called her, ee-yah-mah-tohn, “the little old One who knows things”. Because Raccoons handle everything, the Aztecs referred to male Raccoon as mapachitli, “One who takes everything in his hands”.

Moose: Water

Living in the boreal forest, Moose has a strict and constant feeding schedule that he follows. For the maintenance of his huge antlers, Moose makes energy efficient choices. A boreal forest specialist, Moose feeds on berries, twigs, and bark. In the winter, He paws at the snow to feed on edible grasses. He regulates his nutritional intake to take advantage of the marshy and aquatic plants in his territory. To get to the tasty plants, Moose dives down in the lakes. He can often be seen in boggy areas munching on plants.

(Known as Moose in North America, he is called “Elk” in Europe and Asia. (North American Elk (Wapiti) in Europe is Red Deer.))

Deer (Red): Spirit

With his impressive rack of antlers, Red Deer makes an awesome sight. His power and agility makes Red Deer, a challenge to hunt. For that reason, the Europeans regarded him the “Lord of the Forest.” For many chieftains and kings, to bring him down was proof of their power. Because of his regal bearing and grandeur, Red Deer became a part of European religions. Because of Red Deer’s connection with ancient lives, he brings the old religions alive.

Stag and Hind (Doe)

Because of Red Deer’s ancient connection with people, they endowed special meaning to Stag and Hind as well. Each represents the male and female spirit.

Stag: Spirit

Stag worship has ancient roots. To the people of the Black Sea and Anatolia, he was a god of fertility. For Celts, Stag was associated with Cernunnos, the Lord of the Animals. Stag was also the one of the earliest representations of the “Horned God” (the male spirit).

In many stories, Stag signified a great change in a person’s life. White Stag initiated a series of challenges for a person to overcome. For later Christians, Stag came to represent Christ leading souls through the darkness. Stag became the one who guided the person through changes.

Hind: Spirit

The Celts regarded Hind to be a fairy creature who could pass between worlds. Upon seeing White Hind, the seeker would be guided safely into the forest towards the gates of the Otherworld and beyond. Hind were “fairy cattle.” They were guides for people when life seemed chaotic and illusionary.

The Elements and Animals (1)

Elemental Animals
In assigning correspondences between various animals and the elements, both the cultural aspects and natural aspects of each animal needs to be considered. For example, dragonflies are masters of their small ponds, which would indicate an affinity with water. However to the Chinese and Japanese, they are creatures of flight and the air.

Meanwhile the species of animal also needs to be taken into consideration. Salamanders, in general, like mudpuppy and tiger salamander need water because they are amphibians. However fire salamander has poisons to deter people. This salamander could then be assigned to the element of fire instead of water.

In some cases, the same animal could be considered for more than one element based on different cultural aspects of that animal. Raven is a case in point. As an animal of deep magic, raven would be assigned to water. However, for the Northwest Indians, the Raven brought fire to them. For me a combination the lore and natural habits of the animal determines their corresponding element.

MAMMALS

Bear (Brown): Earth

Brown Bears are one of the oldest recorded totemic beings. Ancient legends tell of people sharing caves with bears. (People were contemporaries of Cave Bears (Ursus speleus) in Eurasia.) Early people often sought permission from the elders and from the Brown Bears, before hunting a bear. Brown Bears were powerful shamanic beings that connected people with the Mother Earth through caves.

(Note: The Polar Bear, a maritime bear, could be assigned to water.)

Cat (Domestic): Spirit or Water

Spirit: Throughout the centuries, Domestic Cat’s fortunes has risen and fallen. In Ancient Rome and Egypt, she was a goddess. Because a domestic cat symbolized the Egyptian god Bast, any person who killed a Domestic Cat was put to death. As the Cat-Mother, Bast embodied the benevolent aspects of Cat: fertility, love, and life-giving heat. In Rome, she represented the Goddess of Liberty. Roman legions carried images of Domestic Cat on their shields and standards.

Water: In early Christian times, Domestic Cat was regarded as a helper. Aboard Noah’s Ark, she kept out the Devil, who had taken on the form of a gnawing mouse. The “M” on her forehead was placed there by the Virgin Mary, in gratitude for her aid in putting the Baby Jesus to sleep. Stories of the saints featured Domestic Cat killing the mice that tormented various Catholic saints.

A late arrival in Japan, Domestic Cat did not appear in Japanese folklore until about the 1400s. Since the Japanese believed that she brought good fortune, they made statues of Domestic Cat with her front left paw raised for good luck. In addition, Japanese sailors believed that Domestic Cat kept the evil spirits away that dwelled in the sea.

Canids: Wolf (Grey): Spirit

The Native Americans of the Plains heeded Grey Wolf’s wisdom since she taught them how to live properly. The Kiowa taught their children to respect Grey Wolf through prayer and proper hunting. In addition, many Indian people regarded Grey Wolf to be a good sign since she was strong, wise, and courageous.

Meanwhile among the Baltic peoples, Grey Wolf was associated with the Other World. Sniffing amber, Grey Wolf received the power to communicate with the Unseen Forces. For the Baltic peoples, she acted as a guide to the Other Side.

(Note: The Red Wolf, who dens in trees, could be assigned to the element of air.)

Canids: Coyote: Spirit

Among the Native Americans of the West, Coyote is revered for many things. The Shoshone say that Coyote and Wolf created the world. Among California Indians, Coyote taught people lessons about the mistakes they make in life.

Meanwhile among the Lakota, Coyote was a representative of Wakinyan (Thunder Beings). Those who saw Coyote in a vision were considered Heyoka (Sacred Clowns), who taught, through example, by doing things the wrong way. Within the concept of Heyoka was an acceptance of Coyote’s innate wisdom of purposeful chaos.

The Elements (2)

Air

Without air, there would be no life. Air is the essence of life. On Venus, the gasses are too inhospitable for life as we know it. The gas giants of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus have liquid nitrogen for an atmosphere, and are considered to be lifeless. Only Earth and Mars which have atmospheres seem to be capable of sustaining life. As an atmosphere, air keeps the heat in, and converts water gasses into liquid. This enables life to flourish. As the wind blows the seeds to the ready earth, so it also brings rain clouds to dry areas.




Spirit

The alchemy of spirit binds the other four elements together. The spark of spirit unites with the elements to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts. Without spirit, each element would remain inert. However, spirit does more than add spark, it also keeps the elements in balance so that none could harm us. Too much air destroys trees. Too much fire creates a lifeless world. Too much earth will suffocate us. Too much water floods us. In return, the four physical elements balance spirit. Too much spirit makes us insubstantial and ungrounded.

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Works Used:
Cessna, Abby, “Atmosphere of the Planets”, Universe Today, 24 July 2009, 29 Dec. 2009 http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/the-solar-system/atmosphere-of-the-planets/

Leonard, William, “Food for Thought”, Scientific American, December 2008, 29 Dec. 2009 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=food-for-thought-into-the

Roberson, Don, “Sandgrouse Family”, Bird Families of the World, 27 Feb 2000, 29 Dec. 2009 http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/sandgrouse.html
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Copyright: Virginia Carper, 2010, Animal Teachers

The Elements (1)

Writing about the elements and what they mean for our survival is a bit daunting. So much has been written over the centuries, that I feel I have nothing new to add. In addition, much of what has been written has probably been discussed already. Since each contributes directly to the well-being of all, they (air, fire, earth, water, and spirit) are essential for all life. Without one or more of the basic elements, there would be no life. That is why early Greek philosophers and others focused on learning as much about the elements as they could.



Water

Without water, people plants, and animals could not live for very long. Because our bodies are made mostly of water, we need it to sustain us. Places without water are dry and lifeless for only water provides life for the barren land to become fertile. Since water is so important, animals and plants devise strategies to catch and store water in arid regions. For example, the sandgrouse has a net of filaments on his upper body. After he returns from soaking at the water hole, his chicks drink from the water stored in his net.

Earth

With its bounty, the land sustains life. The plants and trees that grow on the earth nourish us and replenish our air. The earth provides the structure by giving us a firm foundation for our lives. The rocks are the bones that we build our homes on. Moreover, we use the earth’s ores to fashion our civilizations. In addition, our bodies also contain minerals which enhance our well-being. Without them, we would sicken and die.



Fire

Heat in the form of our sun warms Earth, and allows life to flourish there. Cold tends to retard the growth of needed plants for animals to feed on. Moreover, the animals that live in the Polar region are fewer and more dependent on the seas than the land. During the summer’s thaw, only does life explode in profusion.
For humans, fire has made us what we are today. By converting raw food into cooked food expeditiously with fire enabled humans to expend little energy. People could now use their excess energy to develop language and culture. Since fire provided humans with heat, it also enabled them to move beyond hot Africa into colder regions.

Astrology and Me: Chinese

The Twelve Animals (1) of the Chinese Zodiac combined with the Five Elements (2) allows for variations within each year Sign. The elements ensure that people who are born in a given year are not all the same. Since each element affects Dragon differently, a Water Dragon is not the same as a Metal Dragon

The characteristics of the Twelve Animals reflect what the Chinese understood about them. According to some stories, when the Buddha asked to animals to dine with Him, Rat was the most prompt. Therefore the Buddha rewarded Rat with being first in the 12 year cycle. Meanwhile, the Europeans regard Rat with dislike since rats had brought the plague to the West.

The same can be said for the Five Elements. Again, they represent Chinese philosophy. My experience with water is that it reflects everything around it. However, I can expand my ideas to include water as ever-changing.

According to various charts, I am a Water Dragon. The combination of being fluid with being a born leader makes me feel important. (Plus, I do like dragons.) However, this does explain why I love water. As I understand it, Western astrology has no explanation for my watery nature, although I am an earth sign.

For me, Chinese astrology makes more sense since it combines two things that I can relate to - animals and elements. Western astrology uses myths, which I do not relate to as well. For me Chinese Astrology, on the surface, seems more intuitive and easier to grasp.

Footnotes:
1. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Dog, Pig, Goat, Rooster, and Snake.
2. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth

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Copyright Virginia Carper, 2009, animalteachers @ gmail.com

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