Finding Your Tree Guide

Unlike animals, trees do not move. However, like animals, trees have particular personalities and teachings. Trees, that grow by running water, will have a feeling movement within them. Meanwhile, trees in fields reflect the peaceful energies of those places.

To know a tree is a subtle and quiet process. Each group of trees (grove) has a head tree that needs to be acknowledged. This tree is usually the oldest or tallest. Once you speak to the leader tree, you can freely walk among the other trees. Remember though, some trees prefer not to be touched, while others beckon to be sat under. As you open yourself up to the trees, you will feel one call to you.

Trees are subtle in their relations with people. For a response, watch the movement of the leaves or the dropping of a nut. Sometimes, you will feel energy from the trunk of the tree. Rarely are trees dramatic in what they do. Trees move very slowly, and are in no hurry. They expect the same from people.

When you are with a tree, watch, listen, and remember. Your experience may not seem much to you at the time. Over time though, the tree’s answer will have relevance. Be calm when conversing with a tree. Remember to thank the tree, when you leave.

During a hurricane, a huge oak crashed into my living room. Why this tree chose my condo to die in, I did not know at the time. Later, I discovered that He passed his strength on to me. He opened the door to other worlds for me to step through. The oak has been my companion on my walk. Trees offer their wisdom to those who listen quietly and with an open heart.

Why Animal Empowerments?

Animals have gifts that they are willing to offer people. One gift of the animals is their energies to empower people on their journey of life. With their energy gift, animals offer their particular wisdom to the person. People in need of serenity will benefit from Manatee’s soft, calming energy. Meanwhile, Wolf offers people a strong sense of self. For people who need to walk without fear, Jaguar offers his formidable gifts.

For those who are willing to listen and respect the animals, the energy gifts are theirs for the asking. When you first receive their energy, you may notice a powerful shift in the beginning. Your “guide” animal will infuse the energy in you. United with the animal, you will be in tune with their wisdom. Because you receive inner guidance from the animal, you will have a healthier point of view.

How does an empowerment works? Feeling stifled? Killer Whale will help you facilitate a process of self-transformation. She will swim with you, teaching you, your soul song. Together, you will enjoy the richness that life has to offer.

Feeling poor? Buffalo will adopt you into his herd. He shows you how to create abundance. As the Native Americans know, He fosters abundance through his life. Roam with Buffalo and know prosperity.

As you can see animals, many benefits come from the animals. Have them infuse you with their gifts, and see your life change. Just ask, and the animal will help.

("Heart" by Maryann Sterling)
-------------------
For those interested in empowerments. I will be at the Holistic Health Fair in Dale City, Virginia ( http://www.harmonyproductions.net/index.htm ), on September 9, to do the empowerments in person.

If you can’t make it, I offer distance empowerments. Check out Animal Teachers: Empowerments: http://funkman.org/animal/services/animalempowerments.html

Dolphin and people

Recently a local gas station put up a beautiful statue of a leaping dolphin in from of their building. The dolphin sits next to a busy intersection. Imagine a gas station thinking that dolphins will make people feel good about them! Well, everytime I pass by the Shell station, I feel a smile coming on.

Here is a writing on dolphins.

Dolphin’s qualities are life force energy, manna, inner child and Universal Consciousness.

(Copyright: unknown)

Dolphin medicine people have a strong life force energy within them. They have a loving and tender nature. Within their soul is a young, vibrant and alive child. They love to live near, and connect to the seas and oceans. Other animals connect with these people. They treat all life forms with love, gentleness and compassion. All life is sacred in their eyes. These people are connected to the universal awareness. They have strong psychic gifts and an ability to communicate love and compassion through their eyes. They breathe in the energy of air, and allow this energy to flow through their being. They are people who believe that love can cure all. They are attracted to the ancient arts of yoga and meditation. They understand the workings of our spiritual energy centers. They live their lives through their feeling centers. When a Dolphin medicine person walks into a room, you are filled with love and compassion. As you breathe in their presence you are filled with compassion, hope and gentleness of spirit.

When reversed, Dolphin people have become quite hurt and fearful. They have held their breath and as such, have closed down their ability to love and express themselves. They are denying their inner child access to their outer life. They have become old and set in their ways. They have become stressed out and are causing themselves sickness and emotional trauma. They are refusing to listen to the signals that Mother Earth is sending to them. They have forgotten how to play and enjoy the wonders of life.

Release your breath and remove the fear that is invading you today. Use your breath to remove the negative emotions that are eating away at you. Connect to your inner child.

When Dolphin is your protector and guide, he is calling to you to awaken your love of life. He is telling you to heal your childhood traumas and become playful. Dolphin teaches you the art of release. By breathing in his energy, you release sickness, stress and fear. Become open to your connection to Mother Earth and Great Spirit. Use your qualities of love and compassion to help others heal.

Call on Dolphin to aid you in your healing. His love and compassion will guide you to happiness and fulfilment. Dolphin will teach you the sacred ways of breath. He will show you how to release the old and bring new life force energy into your being.

------------

For those who want a deeper connection with the dolphins, check out my Gifts From the Dolphins! http://funkman.org/animal/services/dolphingifts.html

What is Reiki?

What is Reiki?
Founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, Reiki is a system of hands on healing. This system provides the body with the ability to restore itself to balance and harmony. Reiki seeks to regain order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

For those who know Japanese will be confused by the Kanji (Characters) reading. “Rei”, according to Mrs. Hawayo Tanaka, means “universe”, and “ki” means energy. Since she introduced Dr. Usui’s system to the West, people have accepted the Kanji reading to be Reiki, “Universal Life Force Energy.”

Why are there so many different types of Reiki? If the healer channels the energy into the person, then is that not the same energy for everyone? In the real world, different bodies require different types of energy or can only handle certain kinds of energy. Energies can be softer or harsher depending on how they are focused. In Ocean Friends Reiki, manatee energy is softer, while seahorse energy is more energetic.

Reiki healing is warm, enlivening, and peaceful. The main goal is to nourish the body on many levels. The different energies heal physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. Manatee energy is used for heavy emotional distress, while sea turtle energy is for spiritual distress.

Therefore, Reiki can be described as a combination of 'spiritual healing' and 'energy healing' techniques. Reiki can be effectively used in combination with other therapies - both allopathic and 'alternative'. In fact, some studies have demonstrated that Reiki stimulates the relaxation response.


Ocean Friends Reiki Principles
Just for today do not worry.
Just for today do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to every living thing.
Love and respect all the oceans and marine life.
Give back what has so freely been given to us.

"Behold a Pale Horse"

What does it mean to see horses of a certain color? In Western folklore, there is a wealth of information regarding this. "Behold a Pale Horse" meant death is afoot. Here are some more colors and their meanings.


Color and Meaning

Black: Death, Mourning, Underworld
Brown: Sadness
Golden: Sun
Grey: Death
Pale or Greenish: Death, Pestilence
Red: Sun, War
White: Moon, Sun, Purity, Victory

Teachings of the Sea Turtle

GREEN TURTLE

Perseverance

(U.S. Forest Service)

One of the largest of the Sea Turtles, Green Turtle likes living in warm, shallow waters where sea grass, Her favorite food, grows. She locates the vegetation with Her excellent underwater eyesight. Swimming at great speeds underwater, She travels near the coasts in search of sea grass.If you find Green Turtle far out to sea, She is on Her way to Her nesting beaches. She is meeting the male Turtles there for mating. Both male and female Green Turtles return to the same beaches year after year. Usually, these beaches are the same ones from which the Turtles were hatched.

Although Mother Green Turtle is awkward on land, She still comes up on the beach to build Her nest. Mother Turtle drags herself on to the beach to dig a large hole with Her flippers. Once She lays Her eggs, Mother Turtle pushes sand over the eggs. Then, She hauls Herself back over the beach to the sea.

Green Turtle teaches perseverance. Watch Her as She struggles to lay Her eggs. Graceful in the sea, Mother Turtle comes on land, an alien hostile environment, to provide a nest for Her young.

Green Turtle’s Teachings Include:

“As about, so below, and within. The gentle turtle acknowledges the delicate balance between ocean and earth, and reminds us of the importance of respecting both.” Copyright: “Wisdom of Australian Animals”, Ann Williams-Fitzgerald .

Green Turtle’s Wisdom Includes:

Home

Being Grounded

Healing Knowledge

Respect

Persistence

Mockingbird by Sayahda

The Mockingbird

The Northern mockingbird is approximately 10 inches inlength with a long tail that twitches vigorously when excited. It has strong legs suited to scratching through dead leaves and underbrush for insects. Although their dull gray color doesn’t impress the eye their various calls definitely demand attention. Known for their songs the mockingbird was given its name because of its ability to mimic the calls of other bird species. In Latin the word mockingbird means “many tongued mimic.” The song of mockingbird is a medley of calls of many other birds. They are master imitators and usually repeat an imitation several times before they start another song in rapid succession. They are one of the few birds that sing while in flight.

Mockingbirds hold a variety of teachings. On a subtle level they show us how to mimic ourselves. What we mimic reflects back to us and helps us see what we truly are. Discovering oneself in this way can be a powerful transformational experience. Those with this totem should ask mockingbird to help them connect with their personal sound frequency. Once this connectionis made healing on all levels takes place. It is common for an individual bird to have as many as 30 songs in its repertory. It can also mimic the sounds of barking dogs and cats.

They teach us about the power of the voice through song. Appearances are not important to those with this totem. They are always heard before they are seen, if they are seen at all. Those with this medicine can learn new languages easily and make excellent interpreters and spokesman. Mockingbirds are fearless and will defend their nest and territory. Courageous birds they will dive and attack intruders that come too close. They teach us how to develop confidence within ourselves, sing out our truth and stand up for what is rightfully ours. http://www.sayahda.com/cyc3.html

From Nature to Myth: Owls and People

Owls spark people’s imaginations. These silent predators of the night both inspire and frighten people. For nighttime, when owls are most active, is also when magic is afoot. To many people, seeing these shadowy birds with their glowing yellow eyes is to experience the Other Worlds.
This worldwide Order of Birds ranges from tiny elf owl of North America to huge eagle owl of Eurasia. As predators, owls regard anything that moves as fair game. While elf owl eats insects, eagle owl feasts on deer. Because most owls fly at night, they occupy the same niche in the eco-system as hawks and eagles. Native Americans called the Owl Family “Night Eagles”.

Owls are divided into two families-True Owls (Strigidae) and the older family of Tytonidae, to which only barn owl and bay owl belongs. Barn owls can be thought of as the more ancient version of “Owl”. They do not hoot like true owls, but instead make a hoarse “Khurrew” noise. In addition, they have heart-shaped faces, longer beaks and heads, and forked tails. Barn owls live in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, and bay owls live in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This makes the Barn Owl Sub-Family, one of the most widespread land birds in the world. The round-headed owls, that most people see, are from the larger Strigidae Family which contains 300 species.

Because so few birds are nocturnal and the majority of owls (Strigiformes) are, most people respected but distrusted them. The Japanese regarded barn owl and horned owls as demonic. In Borneo, Scops owls were thought of as ill omens to be avoided at all costs. The Romans believed that any owl sucked the blood of babies.

However, the ancient Greeks welcomed little owl as their Goddess of Wisdom’s Friend. In Hawai’i, Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) is a protector. As ‘Aumakau, Pueo is the ancestor guardian who watches over the family. Because barn owl saved Genghis Khan from his enemies, Mongolians revered her. Meanwhile, the Celts look upon tawny owl as one of the five oldest animals on earth.

For owl empowerments and other animal consultations:

http://funkman.org/animal/services/serviceslink.html

Otters on youtube

Hi everyone,

"Ferrets have a golden rule that we humans could teach to our sons and daughters,
Do unto Otters, as Otters would do unto you."

This is on youtube - a short video of sea otters holding paws by Cynthia Holms, taken 5 years ago. I watched it several times and it was truly remarkable. The otters were not simply floating or rafting together. I thought it was great.

Watch the whole 1 minute and 40 seconds, it is not an accident these otters are holding hands!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

The otters are Niack (She is a survivor of the Exxon Valdez Oil spill) and Vido, of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Otters at the Otter Trust, Earsham, Suffolk, UK

Watch European Otters play and eat and swim to music (not the otters, the sound on the tape.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjBN3etmHwY&NR=1


Baby otter learning to swim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnnKKltKLQ&mode=related&search=

Midsummer

Midsummer is when the sun stands the highest in the sky. Daylight dominates, and the night is short. Then, the night reclaims its due.

In the past, on Midsummer Eve, people gathered herbs for healing. (Plants of the wort family were especially prized.) For more healing and cleansing, people then bathed in various springs. After the Midsummer bonfires burn out, people gathered the ashes to mix with water. Then, they sprinkled this ‘glop’ around their houses for protection in the coming year.

To the Norse, Midsummer was as important as Yule. At this time, the Norse gave thanks for the prosperity and fertility of their lands. Also, they prayed for continued prosperity and good health. Sunna (the sun) was honored at Midsummer, as well as Balder (the God of Light) and Nanna (His Wife).

For me, Midsummer is a bittersweet High Day. Because of my on-going depression, I crave the sunlight. At Midsummer, the sun is at its peak, and then daylight lessens gradually. Midsummer is time of joy tempered with the shadow to come.

My connection with Nature (2)

How do I live on the earth right now? I live modestly in a garden condo. I do not feel the need to have a bigger house. I dislike clutter, and strive for simplicity.

Clutter comes in many forms. Financial clutter is when you overspend to feel good. Demanding more and falling behind in payments has a cascading effect. The things no longer please you, and they take up valuable space. You accumulate debt, and more things. After awhile, you become trapped, unable to function as the debt piles up. You think that a bigger house is the answer. Of course, that eats up more resources both financial and physical.

Body clutter is when you over focus on food. You demand food in fashion or out of season. This uses up scarce resources like the rainforest and oceans. The transportation system becomes congested with shipping more and more food. More land is only used for roads. Moreover, the air becomes more fouled as more trucks put out exhaust. Buying food in season focuses on replenishing the local resources.

My connection with Nature (1)

My connection with Nature is complex. Although I live in an urban area by the railroad tracks, I am surrounded by nature. For me, the various plants and animals have adopted this unnatural place.

The oak and maple trees behind my garden condo shade my small balcony. A little intermittent stream appears when it rains between the two garden condo buildings. The rocks, lining the stream, provide places for snakes to sun themselves. Of course, there are the squirrels, who nest in the trees.

How do I honor the earth? I do it in small ways. The local woodpeckers bother the neighbors with their noise. They like to drum on the gutters at daybreak, waking everyone up. I teach the neighbors the names of the various woodpeckers in our neighborhood. (We have Pileated, ladder-backed, downy, and hairy.) I think that my neighbors will appreciate these birds. One elderly man now refers to them as the ‘big bird, middle bird, and small bird.’

Also, I am known as the snake lady. Often, I will see someone with a shovel ready to whack a snake. I scream, “DON’T KILL THAT SNAKE! IT EATS RATS!” They generally thrust the snake and shovel at me, demanding I get rid of it. I usually take the snake to the local wildlife rescue person.

Sky and Earth Powers

In Roman Cosmology, the Sky is the traditional province of the Dii Consentes (The Council of Twelve Gods). In the Roman mind, the powers of the Sky were just and right. The Romans sought to divine the will of the Dii Consentes from birds in flight and other sky omens. Iuppiter, Optimus and Maximus (Jupiter, the Supreme Sky God) signaled His Will through thunder and lightning.

In Rome, the Sky Power supported civic society. Iuppiter’s temple was the center for Roman politics. Victorious generals made sacrifices there as well. In the Roman worldview, the Sky Gods with the Senate and the People governed Rome.

Meanwhile, the Earth was the province of the Dis Pater, God of the Underworld. Under His Rule, the earth is chaotic and dark. For that reason, the Mundus (Well to the Underworld) is only opened three times a year. Once the Mundus is opened, Dii Inferi (The ‘Infernal Ones”) move about. For that reason, these days are considered to be unlucky.

However, the Earth Power used sacred snakes to convey prophecies to to the people. Caves and grottos were his sacred places. The Dis Pater not only ruled the Underworld but also governed wealth and riches. Meanwhile, the Penates, guarding the family’s food stores, lived in underground chambers.

In the Roman sense, the mingling of the Two Powers is one of order working with chaos. Snakes, associated with various Gods, crawled out of caverns offering omens. Lightening bolts from the skies were more signals of Divine Will. The powers of Earth and Sky mingle, but then separate.

As the Sky and Earth Powers mingled, it was for the good of the Roman people. The Sky brought the governing power and the Earth brought riches and kept people safe. Together, they supported the people of Rome.

Sharks in Danger!

Sharks are not glamorous subjects but without them, our oceans would become cesspools. Take a look at the website in the following post. Shark cartillage has no medicine value. It will not cure cancer. Don't eat shark fin soup - taking of the shark's fins is cruelty to animals.

-----------
Hi,

I found your website through the Shark Webring and thought you or your family might be interested in this story about sharks from Conservation International:
Preying on Predators: Shark Tagging Data Will Guide Conservation Policy, Efforts
"Contrary to popular belief, sharks are not preying on people as much as people are preying on sharks. Millions are harvested every year, primarily to fill a ravenous craving for shark fin soup."

The story describes the plight of sharks endangered by the demand for shark fin soup and the efforts of scientists to learn how to best protect them by shark tagging. There are maps of the sharks' movements, photos, and video.

Learn more at:
http://www.conservation.org/xp/frontlines/2007/03260701.xml

Please consider adding this link to your website to help spread the word!

Cheers,
Lindsay Walter-Cox
l.walter-cox@conservation.org
Conservation International

Mythic Animal Teachings

Pegasus:

He can guide us through dreams and astral travel experiences, as well as meditation. As directed by the Muse of Poets, he brings inspiration, teaching us how to express ourselves eloquently.

Unicorn:
As a symbol of innocence, gentleness, and purity, they often tell us it is time to find those things within ourselves and see through childlike eyes in order to rediscover our personal sense of wonder at all the beauty around us. Also they help us to find and develop our individual power and then nurture it carefully.

Dragon:
Dragons represent the supernatural, and infinity itself and help us to understand both. They help us to find andcreate change and transformation and aid us in spiritual growth. Dragons represent ageless secrets and ancient energy, and can be helpful in working with those things.

Persistence as a Virtue

Persistence:
The ADF defines persistence as “the drive, motivation to pursue goals even when that pursuit is difficult.”

Virgil’s “Aeneid , the great epic of Rome’s founding, celebrates persistence. Writing of the voyages of Aeneas to find a home for his people, Virgil sought to codify the beginnings of Rome in an epic poem. However, Virgil died before finishing his “Aeneid”. Personally, I think that the “Aeneid” celebrates not only Aeneas’ persistence but Virgil’s as well.

After the Greeks destroyed Troy, Aeneas took his people on a journey find a new home. While searching, he was constantly harassed by Juno, the Queen of the Roman Gods, who bore a grudge against his mother, Venus, the Goddess of Love. While the two Goddesses sparred, Aeneas coped with the death of his father, shipwrecks, and attacks by vicious harpies. Finally, he landed in Italy, where his dead father had told him to go. However before Aeneas could settle, he has to fight the Latins and other local Italic peoples.

In my life, doing the family laundry exemplifies persistence. Every week, I have to walk two blocks to the laundry room in my complex. (Parking is not allowed in the area.) Carrying the soap and my bags, I walk in all types of weather. Furthermore, the laundry room of my complex is freezing in the winter and stifling in the summer.

The Chinchilla

The Chinchilla

by Sayhada

A member of the rodent family, the chinchilla has big eyes, round ears and thick silky fur. Because of their beautiful fur they are captured and bred by the fur industry. It takes over a hundred chinchillas to make one fur coat. Unfortunately supply and demand could lead to its extinction.

Chinchillas have a persistent undying curiosity and will explore every nook and cranny of their surroundings. The like sitting high up as if to observe the world below. Once they feel an area is safe for them to enter they explore it with a sense of adventure and innocence. Their observation skills are acute. They instinctively know when to act and when to retreat. Chinchillas teach us the importance of timing. Those with this medicine intuitively know the right time to act and the right course of action to take, although caution is advised not to become too analytical. Balancing observation skills with a sense of innocence is an important lesson.

Naturally robust and hardy the chinchilla has an extremely sensitive yet effective digestive system which is designed to extract the most out of its food. It does not have a vomit mechanism like other animals and is unable to expel bad food out of its system. This serves as a warning to those with this totem. Good nutrition, a proper diet as well as physical exercise is a necessity for optimum health. Difficulty in eliminating toxins from the body can lead to many health problems.

The chinchillas predominate form of communication is the variety of sounds it makes. Each sound relays a specific message. When upset it chatters its teeth, when nervous it lets out a shrill squeal, when agitated or alarmed a sequence of loud high cries is heard. If it is hungry it will make a rasp like snarl. It knows how to use its voice to convey a message and teaches us the art of efficient communication.

The chinchilla is an important messenger that demands respect. It requires us to heed its advice. If we choose to listen it will serve us well. If we don't honor its message it will scamper away and find someone else to help. When it appears in your life ask yourself the following questions.

Do you need to apply more discernment in your life to avoid chaotic situations? Are you using your observation skills to help you reach your goals? Do you take the joy out of an experience by over analyzing it? Does the wonder and magic of life still excite you? Does your health need attention? Do you communicate effectively with others?Although the chinchilla holds a variety of messages one thing is certain. When it appears in your life something is out of balance that needs to be corrected immediately.

"A History of Pagan Europe"

Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick, “A History of Pagan Europe”, (Routledge U.K., 1995, Reprint 2005, ISBN 0-415-15804-4)

People new to Paganism will benefit greatly from this book. By tracing Pagan religious history from early Crete to modern Europe, Jones and Pennick introduce people to the depth of Pagan philosophy. By placing the European peoples in their Pagan religious milieu, the authors eliminate various Christian filters. Unlike many other books, Jones and Pennick do not assume that monotheism is the epitome of Western civilization.

By detailing Christian versus Pagan thought, the authors give the readers a solid grounding in Paganism. In discussing Roman piety, the authors write, “Interesting the Latin word superstitio simply meant religious practice which was outside the State rituals…private religion which could well be duly registered…. The Romans regulated people’s actions; the Greeks with finer sophistication, also judged people’s attitudes,” (p. 49) What I conclude from this is that Pagans usually regarded the structure of worship to be the most important.

This book expands on the tensions between Pagans and Christians. Two concepts in the Christian religion put them on the offensive. As a rule, Pagans were tolerant of other Pantheons, as long as the State Gods were properly honored. Christians, on the other hand, regarded the belief in any God but theirs (heresy) was a sin. Sin, another alien concept, baffled many Pagans. People break laws but they do not ‘stain their souls’. To “save” them, Christians had to forcibly convert Pagans.

What surprised me is the durability of Paganism. Instead of disappearing, it forced Christianity to adapt to it. For example, many early Christian saints are Pagan Gods in disguise. Many Pagan customs are intertwined with Christian holidays. Few Christians, today, know that many of their holidays are Pagan High Holidays, with a Christian flavor.

After discovering the varieties of various Pagan faiths, the reader takes heart that people can go back to their ancestral faiths. The history of Paganism in Europe is a fascinating one. Rather than the progression to monotheism that many histories present, this book shows how Pagan philosophies borrowed from each other. Each had their own specific focus but adapted from others. Celts borrowed from the Romans, while the Finns borrowed from the Norse. The Gods remain eternal, worshipped in Their various Aspects by peoples.

Swan Teachings

SWAN
Symbology: transformation, loss of innocence, beauty

The painting of a swan maiden represents a common motif found in the mythologies and folktales of many cultures around the globe – from Native American to Slavic. Although the story varies from place to place, the basic plot is the same: a young man finds the feathered robe or skin of a swan maiden – a goddess-like creature – which she ahs temporarily shed to assume a human form. Although the youth attempts to hide the feathers from the maiden, which allows him to possess her, the swan finds its feathers, assumes its animal form, and leaves the youth. The lost swan thus symbolizes the departure from youthful innocence and the passage to maturity. In some versions of the story, the swan dies. In Greek mythology the "swan song" is the beautiful song sung by the swan just before death.

From: Animal Spirit Knowledge cards

To the Ancients, all things in nature had a sacred or spiritual meaning. The world was inhabited by the higher beings, who took the form of fantastical creatures that were part animal, part human, and exceedingly powerful. These beings are the spirit guides who lead the departed to the next life, heal the sick, and restore balance and harmony to a troubled world. The tribal healers knew the animal spirits well. The journeyed beyond the threshold of ordinary reality to invoke the power of these great beings.

---------

The 48 paintings by Susan Beddon Boulet (American, b brazil 1941 –1997) reproduced in this deck resonate with an ethereal energy and speak the language of the soul. Each image is accompanied by a brief description of the animals’ power and symbolism in various cultures.

Animal Spirit Knowledge Cards
Text by John Nagiecki
© The Susan Eleanor Boulet Trust
catalog number K152
Published by Pomegrante communications Inc.
Box 6099, Rohnert Park, CA 94927

---------------

Read more about the Swan Family at Animal Teachers

http://funkman.org/animal/bird/swanfamily.html

More Animal Predictions

Whatever occupation one has, when he hears the frogs croak for the first time in the spring, will be one's occupation for the entire year.

Make a wish when you see a spider spinning a web and the wish will come true. If you see a brown spider crawling around on any clothes in your closet, don't brush it away! The spider means you will be getting new clothes.

A bee flying into the house means a stranger is coming.

If you say "mumbly up" repeatedly over an anthill, the ants will come up out of the hole.
Saying "mumbly down" makes the ants go back down.

It is lucky to have a snake live in, near, or under your house.

When you see a crow for the first time in a new year, observe its flight-- that will indicate the distance you will travel that year. If the crow just sits there, it means no journey; if it flies out of sight, it means you'll take a very long journey.