WOOLLY MAMMOTH: Warmth and Hospitality

Best known of the Ice Age Mammals, Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) received her name from her outer layer of long hair.  Underneath that layer, She had another dense inner layer of fur.  To cope with the icy temperatures, Woolly Mammoth had a compact body, a high domed head and small ears.

            Woolly Mammoth had a shorter but more flexible trunk than other Mammoths.  At the end of her trunk was a finger-like appendage as well as another protuberance.  She used these to gather grasses and other plants for eating.

The smallest of Mammoths, Woolly Mammoth had extra long tusks.  These ornate twisting tusks had many uses.  For example, She could dig up plants and clear snow with them.  Also, Woolly Mammoth could fight off predators with her tusks by bashing with them.

            Meanwhile, Paleo-peoples used the tusks of Woolly Mammoth to construct their homes.  Many of their homes were built from her large bones and woolly hides.  In one homestead, the skulls of Woolly Mammoths, placed in a semi-circle, formed the base walls.  Then the jaws were used to erect the upper parts of the walls. For the entrance, they used the leg bones of Woolly Mammoth.

The last known Mammoth lived about 4,000 years ago on a small island near Siberia during the Stone Age.  Many people believe that Woolly Mammoth went extinct through overhunting. However others think that as the world’s climate became warm; She could not survive adequately on the new plants.  Whatever the reason, Woolly Mammoth became the icon for extinction from overhunting during the Ice Age.

            Woolly Mammoth exudes warmth and hospitality.  Meeting others during migrations, She greets Them with touching and trumpeting with her trunk.  Furthermore, Woolly Mammoth would wait for laggards as well, welcoming Them back into the herd. 

            Learn from Woolly Mammoth about proper hospitality and warmth.  She teaches us how to care for and welcome others into our hearth.  However do not so be taken advantage of that you end up giving up everything you have.

IMPERIAL MAMMOTH: Fight Wisely

The largest Mammoth of all was Imperial Mammoth (Mammuthus imperator).  Living in the warmer climates of North America, She only had a thin covering of hair similar to Modern Elephants.  Her great size meant that She also had a high broad skull and massive lower jaw.

Besides her great size, Imperial Mammoth could be also identified by her long deeply curved tusks, which were the longest tusks of any Elephantid.  She used her tusks to loosen the roots of shrubs for eating.  Moreover by swinging her head, Imperial Mammoth could knock a predator down with these massive tusks.

When Bull Imperial Mammoth became a teenager, the Herd Matriarch kicked Him out.  Roaming the countryside by Himself, He would fight others whom He encountered.  Since He had longer tusks than the Females, Bull Imperial Mammoth could defeat nearly everyone.  Out in the Badlands of Nebraska, two Imperial Mammoth Bulls were found locked in combat.  The two mature Bulls had been unable to separate their twisting tusks, died, and then became fossils.

Imperial Mammoth used her size and tusks to defend Herself.  She also used them to drive out Males from the family herd.  Meanwhile, Bull Imperial Mammoth fought to establish primacy amongst others.  However, there are two sides to combat.  We can choose when and why we fight.  Afterwards, we need to learn to live with the consequences of our actions.  If we choose unwisely, we can end-up like the two fossil Bull Mammoths.

MASTODON FAMILY: Look Closer and Think

Often confused with Mammoths, Mastodons (Mammutidae) are in their own family, since They split off from Elephants and Mammoths earlier.  Therefore, there are many differences between the two Animals.  Mastodons have larger and flatter brows than Mammoths.  Moreover, They have paired low conical cusps for teeth, and upper jaw tusks.  In addition, Mastodons are shorter and more muscular than Mammoths.

            Living side by side with Mammoths, Mastodons colonized Eurasia and North America about fifteen million years ago.  As browsers, They preferred to live in spruce forests and open woodlands.  During the winter, Mastodons had a double coat of fur to prevent Them from freezing in the icy cold.

            Fossil Mastodons have been found with full stomachs, indicating that They consumed about 500 pounds (1,000 kilos) of food each day.  Since their enormous appetites drove Them to seek more and more food, Mastodons roamed the countryside endlessly searching for food.  Mastodons tramped through forests to feast on moss and twigs of cedar, larch, pine, and spruce trees.  Their hunger drove Them deeper into bogs and swamps in search of food, where They died.             

Look closer and think teach Mastodons.  Do not mistake Them for their cousins, the Mammoths.  Examine the differences before making a judgment.  If you do not ponder what you see, you may end up stuck in a bog.

DEINOTHERIUM (Cousin to Elephants): Exercise Your Imagination

The second largest Mammal ever to walk on land was Deinotherium, a cousin to the Early Elephants.  Living during Miocene and Pliocene Periods (20 million years ago (mya) to 2 mya), He belonged to the Deinotheres Family, a sister group to Elephants and Mastodons.  In fact, Deinotherium lived side by side with Them in Africa and Eurasia until the coming of the Ice Age.

            Although Deinotherium resembled an Elephant, He had a shorter and flatter skull.  His notable features were his two tusks that curved downwards from his lower jaw.  The curved shape of his tusks made them perfect for digging for roots and tubers.  Using his tusks, Deinotherium could scrape bark off trees for good.

            In many African sites, Deinotherium fossils have often been found with early Hominids such as Australopithecus.  Later his fossil tusks were discovered on the island of Crete.  (Deinotherium was an excellent swimmer.)  The ancient Greeks uncovered his fossil remains throughout the Greek peninsula.

            From Deinotherium’s bones and teeth, the Greeks imagined monsters and giants.  His odd tusks gave them more splendid ideas for their legends.  Because his skull had a hole in the center (for his trunk), the Greeks believed Deinotherium to be the Cyclops.

            Deinotherium sparks the imagination.  His odd tusks, which curve downwards, can lead us to flights of fantasy.  His huge size gives us pause of how our ancient ancestors lived around Him.  His skull hole formed the ancient myths of the Cyclops.  Let Him help you with your story making.  What myth can Deinotherium inspire next for you?

EARLY ELEPHANTS AND ALLIES (TRUNKED MAMMALS): Partnership

Gomphotherium

(Deinotheres, Elephants, Mammoths, and Mastodons)

Of the myriad Trunked Mammals who once roamed the earth, only African and Asian Elephants still remain today.  At one time, Proboscids (Trunked Mammals) lived everywhere except Antarctica and Australia.  Spreading from Africa where They originated, these Mammals flourished during the Miocene Period (from 20 million years ago (mya) to 5 mya).  Since many Proboscids were not immune to the cold, only a few survived the Ice Age.

            Trunked Mammals have a long complex evolutionary history.  Beginning as small herbivores sixty mya, these Mammals resembled modern Pigmy Hippos.  For example, Moeritherium did look like a small Hippo but possessed a flexible upper lip and snout like an Elephant.  Later a cousin, Deinotherium appeared alongside the Gomphotheres (Early Elephants) about fifteen mya. Many of the Gomphotheres had flat tusks to shovel plants out of soft swampy ground.  In addition, They used their trunks to uproot trees. 

            Later, Mastodons split off from the Elephant Family (which also includes Mammoths).  Unlike Mammoths, Mastodons had cheek teeth with low-rounded crowns.  Meanwhile, Mammoths had the most highly evolved of elephantine teeth.  Because of the grinding surfaces of their teeth, Mammoths could eat grasses whilst Mastodons searched the trees for tender leaves.

            The Family of Trunked Mammals has been a part of human history from the very beginning.  Both Humans and Proboscids evolved together in Africa.  Later both spread out of Africa to populate the world.  When Paleo-humans needed food and shelter, they hunted Trunked Mammals.  They also built their homes from the bones and hides of various Proboscids. To honor Them, Paleo-peoples painted the likenesses of Mammoths and Mastodons on cave walls. 

            The infant science of paleontology became advanced through the study of Proboscids’ teeth and bones.  Since Trunked Mammals were widely distributed around the world, early scientists could trace their evolution.  Because Proboscid fossils were plentiful and readily available, early naturalists could learn their craft from these fossils.

            Throughout the ages, humans entered into a partnership with various Trunked Mammals.  As each developed, They learned from each other.  Proboscids provided for humans and taught them basic life skills.  In return, Humans honored Them. The lesson of Trunked Mammals is that a partnership is one of equals.  We need to be good partners as They have taught us and protect their living representatives. 

ARSINOITHERIUM: Unification

Looking like a cross between a Rhino and an Elephant, Arsinoitherium lived during the Oligocene Period (36 to 30 million years ago).  Discovered in Fayum, Egypt, Arsinoitherium was named for Queen Arsinoe II (316-270 BCE) of Ptolemy Egypt.  (Her palace was built over the fossils of this ancient Mammal.)  Considered to be an Afrotherian (a Mammal originating from Africa), Arsinoitherium casts a new light on the poorly known natural history of Afro-Arabia before that continent’s merger with other lands.

            The only member of her family, Arsinoitherium has no ancestors or descendants.  However, She is related to Elephants, Hyraxes, and Sea Cows of today.  Moreover, Arsinoitherium lived side by side with more advanced Elephant species.  However, when Africa merged with Europe and Asia, many new animals migrated into her territory.  After that, Arsinoitherium probably went extinct from the increased competition.

            Preferring to live near mangrove swamps, Arsinoitherium was particular in what She ate.  Possessing the high crowned teeth of a browsing animal, Arsinoitherium was fond of fruit and leaves.  Her best known feature was her two enormous rhino horns above her nose.  Arsinoitherium also had two tiny knob-like horns on the top of her head.  Furthermore, her body was similar to a modern Elephant.

            The world is sadder for the loss of Arsinoitherium for there was only one of Her. She was a unique being who existed for a brief time.  However, Arsinoitherium has many lessons to impart to people.  Neither a Rhino nor an Elephant, She stood alone as Herself.  Like Queen Arsinoe II of Ptolemy Egypt, She was the melding of two entities into one whole.  Arsinoitherium became as a third, a unique being of her own. 

She tells us that we do not have to be one type or another, we can be both.  Merge the many into one is what She teaches, for there is always a third way.  Life is not “either/or” but multiple choice.  Move beyond multiple choice to unify the whole.

Negative Energy: Sloth

Sloth comes in many forms.  It ranges from being lazy or idle to actively avoiding doing something.  The core meaning of sloth is “the failure to act”.  Time management articles teach the basic of idea of “when you are doing one thing; you are not doing something else”.  Therefore, you have to decide which task is more important.  However, when you want to appear as if you are actually working on the important task, you engage in busy work.  You work around the chore, instead of just doing it.  (This activity is known as “active sloth”.)

On her website, Maria Cilley, an online coach known as “The Fly Lady”, addresses why some people avoid doing housework.  She links it to low-self worth.  She explained that these people do not love themselves enough to merit a clean home.  Therefore the mess in their homes is evidence of how little they value themselves.

The Fly Lady further addresses a corresponding problem of avoidance - perfectionism.  Many people have been taught that if they do not do everything perfectly, then they are not good enough.  For example, vacuuming a room may means moving the furniture instead of just vacuuming around it.  Therefore, these people delay doing the chore.  However, The Fly Lady counters their thinking with “housework done incorrectly still blesses the home.”

I see sloth as a secondary emotion covering the primary emotions of fear and hurt.  Sloth gives people something to focus on while avoiding something else.  To escape from their feelings, people indulge in pleasurable activities.

My experience with sloth involves fear.  During my recovery from major depression, I encountered people who wanted to remain ill.  One man in my group sabotaged his recovery so many times that his doctor fired him.  Remaining sick is familiar and comforting, where as becoming well is frightening and scary.  Moving from the land of the sick to the country of wellness takes true grit and faith in oneself.

If you remain sick, no one will ask you to be responsible.  Instead of becoming an adult, you can stay a child.  This ensures that you will be taken care of by others.  After all, being well means that you cannot check out when things are tough.  Therefore what lies behind the reluctance to recover from major illness is usually fear.

My recent brain injury has prompted me to reconsider what it means to be well.  I struggle daily with my perceptions of my injury. Since the accident there is now three of me, therefore I have to negotiate each day with my various selves.  One “me” is super responsible, and also a perfectionist.  This part urges me to do everything regardless of my limitations.  This self tends to drown out the voices of the others.  I do want to be taken care of, and receive people’s sympathy.  However, I need to be as independent as possible.  Therefore, I need to test to see what is feasible for me to be doing.

In her essay on laziness, Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun, tells people to embrace their laziness.  Stop and listen to what it is telling you.  Once we do that, we can be compassionate towards ourselves.  When we embrace laziness open heartedly, it can heal us.

Sloth helps us to move slowly towards what is hurting us.  It can also prevent us from dealing with it.  What we do when we are confronted with sloth is up to us.  I choose to let sloth heal me.

Works Used:

Chodron, Pema, “Looking into Laziness”, Shambhala Sun, November 1998, http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2286,

Cilley, Maria, The Fly Lady: Your Personal Online Coach, 2011 http://www.flylady.net/,

---, “Time Management”, Mind Tools, 2011, http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm,