Both of the boys totally enjoyed the experience. It is basically a guided meditation where you wander through your mind and see who shows up! Contrary to my worries, they found it easy! Perhaps because unlike adults, they don't have all the mind chatter going on about what if they have already decided what the animal is, will they be able to see it, what if they see nothing...... you know! They just walked in, laid down and completely trusted that because their mom said their animal would just show up and they would know it when they saw it, that they would! And they did!
By birth, my oldest is an Otter, which, like our horoscopes pretty much fits him to a tee. Playful , sociable, loyal and perseptive he is a really fun guy. Gentle and loving, and very intuitive. He feels the world though his skin. He can get along with anyone, anywhere, anytime. He is very in touch with his inner child! Otter people view life as a game to be played and enjoyed. They are the people who are very intune with family and awakening a sense of wonder about life. He definitely has done that for me in our journey together. Otter medicine is the capacity to listen to your inner child and create change and bring newness into all areas of your life. It is about tremendous creativity and passion.
His spirit animal in his journey, came along as a bear. Bear medicine is about awakening the power of the unconcious. Bear teaches you to go within your soul's den to find your answers, to find your resources necessary for survival as you already carry them all. It also teaches that those with a Bear totem may find a natural active and "hibernation" pattern at play in their lives that enhances their creativity. He teaches that what you go inside yourself to seek, you must remember to bring out and share with the world, making your mark as a bear marks trees with his claws. Don't keep your passions to yourself. Have the courage to share your creations with the world, to make your mark so to speak. Wonderful balance to the creativity of Otter.
His animals balance each other in an interesting way, teaching that we can never be too far off center. One can be playful, but to accomplish in life, we also need to spend time searching within and bringing our creations to light.
My youngest, who was so excited he had to go first, is born under the Snow goose. Also a remarkable fit.
The description of Snow Goose would be very close to the description for Asperger's funny enough.
They are patient, disciplined, prudent, uncompromising, respectful and sincere. They are headstrong and rigid. His learning according to Snow Goose, is to let go and open up to new ideas. To move out of his comfort zone and a life that is too well structured. Ringing any bells for anyone out there with an Asperger's child? Snow Goose people need a lot of structure, and they have strong beliefs about right and wrong. They are remarkably loyal individuals. They fuss a lot about details, but they have hearts of gold. They have an incredible drive to accomplish and often become very successful.
His spirit animal showed up as a very interesting looking wolf. Now my kids play their fair share of video games, so it might be fair to say the the graffics around his wolf were influenced by that. Wolf and Bear are considered by the Native Americans to be the two last true symbols of the natural primal world. Interesting that we would end up with both in our family. Wolves have a sense of smell that is one hundred times greater than humans. My son relates to this too, with his hypersensitive senses.Wolf medicine is about guardianship, ritual, loyalty and spirit. Their sense of family is extremely strong and they thrive only within a strong pack. Again they have a very structured society and a complex communication system involving ( of all things) body language. Wolf teaches that all postures and gestures carry great meaning. The message of learning for my son here, is very clear. He teaches you to empower your voice with meaning from your body. He teaches the lesson of governorship, again, a balance between listening to your own authority and taking the input of others. Wolf teaches that discipline can create freedom,, a lesson that I know will speak volumes to him on his journey.
It was interesting to me that both of my children's spirit animals and totems speak about the strong importance to them of family. Our journey in both parent's homes over the last few years has been about recreating that for them in two strong places.
After the sessions, I printed out both of the boys animals and all of the information associated with them and we talked about what we read meant to us. The things that fit, the things we didn't yet understand. I love the moments where I have their full engaged attention. So often I lose them to the computer or video games that what I cherish most are the times that we share something meaningful to all of us.
Who knows what they will choose to do with the experience. Like all things in our lives we either store them and use them, or store them and forget. But my intuition tells me that what we have explored together may yet serve them in their lives to come. If only to bring them to balance, where they can experience life with the joy of being connected to all creation.
As a parent, what more can we offer?
In love and light,
Kathryn
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