Thursday, March 15, 2012

Elephant Medicine

Wise and majestic Elephant leads her family along the well trodden routes to the next source of water, as the hot African sun drains her energy step by step. Meanwhile, in the jungles of Asia others do the same. Elephant honours the paths her grandmother once followed, the same paths her mother taught her to follow. Elephant will push over large trees to access the highest of leaves and she will squeeze deep into caves where nutrient rich salt deposits exist. She remembers this ancient knowledge of the Earth passed down from generation to generation. Elephant’s ancient wisdom has ensured her survival of the past and will continue to do so in the future. This is sacred to them. It is their means of life. Elephant wishes for you to devote your attentions to that which is important to you. Consider your health, your relationships, your pets, maybe some special possessions such as photos, books, art, trade tools or instruments.

Elephant shows great affection to her families. Elephant gives you insight into the power of the three feminine energies: child, mother and old wise woman (or crone). Elephants are one of the animals that show most signs of distress and grief at the loss of a member of the family. The matriarch (the oldest, experienced female) leads the herd on their path. She is responsible for ensuring everyone’s well being and survival and is both gentle but firm. Keeping a strong herd ensures the safety of the group, especially the young. Elephant understands the sacredness of the families and nudges you to see the same for your relationships. Do you honour those people who nourish your spirit and nurture you?

Let yourself be guided by the medicine of Elephant. She will guide you to acknowledge that which is sacred and to be grateful, for without those things, your life would not be the same.

If an elephant has appeared to you recently, it may be trying to pass on a message related to the above information. It may appear in reality, dreams, pictures, conversations or any other form.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Should we mine the Moon?

It's a common saying, "look before you leap", encouraging someone to thoroughly consider an action before taking it. Will mankind take it's own advice with a new moral dilemma?

A new substance has been discovered on the Moon called Helium 3. When heated to high temperatures in reactors on Earth it produces massive amounts of energy that have the potential to replace nuclear and fossil fuel energy sources around the world. These samples were acquired during the Apollo missions who collected Moon dirt and rocks for scientists to conduct experiments on.

This has created a new era of the Space Race. Countries including the USA, China and Russia as well as private organisations are investing millions of dollars in getting back to the moon and establishing a cost effective way of getting Helium 3 back to Earth.

Many questions still seem unanswered before man leaps back on to the Moon. Firstly, who owns the Moon? Opinions vary and there isn't a set of total clear laws or treaties ratified by the UN as outlined in this National Geographic article: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090717-who-owns-moon-real-estate.html. Secondly, should we start mining a land mass we know little about? On one hand it may offer the solution to Climate Change here on Earth. On the other hand, do we know enough to start mining a landscape with confidence that we will not do irreparable damage? Our track record on Earth isn't immaculate!

The documentary, Moon For Sale, gives an outline of the opportunities, challenges and issue. Taking both sides of the argument equally, does it help you decide....should we mine the Moon?

Monday, February 20, 2012

Eagle Medicine

Eagle medicine is the connection to the Great Spirit. Eagle soars high above the land and thus is closer to the heavens that man can be. Send your prayers to Eagle, and he will rise above the chaos to meet Great Spirit and return, with a vision for you.

You too must take flight. It is time for you to soar to great heights. You must have a willingness to face the extremes, to push yourself to your limits. Through facing these challenges you will undergo a great spiritual initiation and reach a new zenith of your self growth. It is time to go beyond your dreams.

If eagle has come into your life it is a reminder that it is time to reconnect with the universe and your reasons for being here. What is your path and how are you contributing to the Greater Good? If you are not clear, connect with the eagle, ask him to aid your contact with the Great Spirit. He will bring you answers and then, like eagle, set your eyes on the target and take flight.

In your spiritual pursuits, you must still remember to stay grounded and connected to the Earth. Eagle's strong talons ensures he has a strong grasp wherever he lands. You too must not get lost up in your head with your spiritual pursuits.

If an eagle has appeared to you recently, it may be trying to pass on a message related to the above information. It may appear in reality, dreams, pictures, conversations or any other form.

Panda Medicine

The panda teaches gentle strength. Although they have the power to attack a human, they rarely do unless they are provoked. You can be strong without flaunting or proving your abilities to the world. If a panda has presented itself before you, now is the time to combine your gentleness with strength. Focus on the project with your full attention to avoid problems.

If the panda is bringing you a message about a particular event then know that the early stages will be difficult. When a panda cub is first born it is only three to four ounces, making it's mother nearly a thousand times larger. Initially the mother must help the newborn eat, stay warm and defecate. Life is not easy for a panda in the beginning. This message reflects the beginning of an event or task you have ahead of you. Know though that you can prevail. The panda, although often birthing twins will reject one, leaving it to die. The ability to focus will help you in this event. You too must focus on one path and not get distracted by another less important one.

For those whom panda is a totem, so too is bamboo. Like the panda, bamboo resembles strength but is extremely flexible. It is valued in many Asian countries where it is used for all sorts of things, from being a delicacy to scaffolding. Strength does not have to mean stubbornness. Show flexibility while not breaking from your core principles.

If a panda has appeared to you recently, it may be trying to pass on a message related to the above information. It may appear in reality, dreams, pictures, conversations or any other form.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Wolf Medicine

Wolf now calls the wilderness and remote areas his home, but this was not always the case. His once vast footprints stretched from through Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Covering such an immense territory it is no wonder Wolf has been part of so many myths and stories around the world.

Although wolf lives in a pack, it is not uncommon for him to leave to hunt solo. In this time he can cover great distances looking for food. This gives wolf the power of the pathfinder. He has the stamina to go the distance and listen to his inner voice and follow his own person truth. Wolf teaches you to do the same.

Although confident alone, wolf is also a highly sociable animal. Wolf will howl to reassemble the pack and to advise others where he is and when he has found food. I still vividly remember being stopped in my tracks one chilly winter evening as I heard a pack of Arctic wolves howling for each other. The evocatively haunting sound seemed to resonate with my inner being. It felt like wolf was not only calling to his pack but calling to everyone who would listen. I sensed that wolf had wisdom to share with us all. Are you ready to hear wolf’s call?

Let the spirit of wolf resonate with you. Trust your inner teacher to guide you on your path when you are alone, just as wolf does. However he also knows when there is strength in numbers. Be open to the teachers that come into your life. Listen to other peoples words, analyse situations, embrace challenges and see what they are trying to teach you.

If a wolf has appeared to you recently, it may be trying to pass on a message related to the above information. It may appear in reality, dreams, pictures, conversations or any other form.

Giraffe Medicine

I had the chance to feed one of the giraffe's at Perth Zoo
Rolling savannas, open grasslands and vast woodlands in Africa are home to the world’s tallest animal, graceful Giraffe. Her long and supportive legs allow her slender, elongated neck to access the highest twigs and leaves. She is assured a plentiful diet since she can feast on foliage higher than available to the rest of the ground dwelling animals.

Giraffe’s most notable features are her brown and camel spotted coat and her elongated neck. Her coat ensures she can hide despite her colossal size; however her neck is her most important feature. Her graceful neck allows her to view the plains from a prime vantage point. No other animal can sneak up on Giraffe for she will long have seen them coming and be prepared. For Giraffe there are no surprises. Her prowess in the bush ensures she is currently assessed as “least concern” overall from a conservation perspective*. However, we must note the West African and Rothschild subspecies are “endangered”.

Giraffe wishes to teach you to use your abilities to look ahead so that you may plan and be prepared. Physically, you should ensure you are paying attention to that which is beyond your own nose – see the bigger picture. Who have I affected today? What outcome do my actions have on others? Spiritually, tune into your innate intuition and envisage your future. Am I happy, fulfilled and prepared for tomorrow? The next five years? What will allow me to manifest my ideal future?
Tuning into the energies of Giraffe will allow you to sense what is coming and what is over the horizon. For only when you have surveyed your life, contemplated your actions and planned for your future then you can “stick out your neck” and take calculated risks.

Remember, the only time Giraffe is at risk is when lowering her head to drink. Let us learn not to lose sight of the bigger picture, for both ourselves and the greater good. Losing vision and connection to Great Spirit opens you up to the possibility of becoming vulnerable to failure or attack.

If a giraffe has appeared to you recently, it may be trying to pass on a message related to the above information. It may appear in reality, dreams, pictures, conversations or any other form.

*as noted by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Yule Celebrations

Around Christmas a common heard blessing is "Yule time greetings". Yule is one of the eight pagan sabbats occurring in the Northern hemisphere around 21st December. Yule was initially celebrated by the Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. Amongst the craziness of the holiday season it is also an opportunity to observe and revere what is happening in the natural world around us.

Yule occurs on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year with least light. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. This is the initial onset of the spring.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. The Yule log must traditionally be the root of a hardwood tree. In the Northern Hemisphere Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. In Australia mallee roots are ideal for this purpose, as are Tasmanian oaks and all types of Eucalyptus. If burning a whole log is not possible finding a small piece of one of the above mentioned logs and drilling three holes to hold candles can be a great substitute.

As we start to leaver winter behind it is time to change our focus from planting the seeds of our desires and goals for the next year to bringing them into fruition. Make phone calls, apply for courses, join the clubs now to start to manifest your dreams. Your meditations and visualisations should start to shift from what you have chosen to manifest to seeing the manifestations occurring.

Apart from celebrating Yule at a coven festival gathering or performing your own magical circle there are other actions you can take to focus, acknowledge and celebrate Yule such as:
- Wearing colours such as red, green, gold, white and silver.
- Meditate on the energies of the animals associated with Yule such as the stags, squirrels, wrens, robins, polar bears and other Arctic animals.
- Eat foods such as nuts, turkey, eggnog, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, citrus fruits, ginger tea, spiced cider.
- Burn incense or oils with the fragrances of cedar, cinnamon, frankincense, ginger, myrrh, pine and sandalwood.
- Meditate or carry bloodstone, diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby and snowflake obsidian.
- Spoil yourself and buy yourself a gift

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then the festival at this time is Midsummer, or Litha. This is the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate and give thanks for all that you have manifested. Small ways to celebrate Midsummer include:
- Dress in bright colours especially red, orange, yellow and gold.
- Meditate on powerful animals such as the horse, dragon, kangaroo, lion and cows.
- Eat a lot of fresh,seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Burn incense or oils with the fragrances of jasmine, lavender, lemon, mints, orange and rose.
- Meditate or carry carnelian, citrine, diamond, lapis lazuli, sunstone and tiger's eye.
- Put garlands of St. John’s Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection.
- Spend time outside.
- Meditate on sun gods such as Ra. This is the suns peak day of the year so utilise this energy for any required spell work.