Porcupine as a Spirit Animal

 Picture from a friend 

We live close to a provincial park and we have had several experiences with porcupines coming up into the neighbourhood to check out the gardens and the fruit trees.  They are beautiful in their laid back, quiet saunter.  Their ability to climb trees is awesome.  And, we know to stay clear of them.

If you grew up in the country or had a cottage at the lake, then you know that the porcupine is on the list of “beware of” animals.  One – it has quills that it can “throw” at you and they are very, very difficult to get out of either you or the dog! Two – don’t leave any tools on the ground because the porcupine will eat the handle – it likes salt! Well the first item is partially true – the quills are very difficult to remove. However, the porcupine cannot throw them. It can, however, back into either you or the dog, and do lots of damage. And, it really does like salt – possibly because it likes to be close to water and prefers willow and water lilies to eat – both with high water content.

The porcupine is a fascinating totem animal and spirit guide. Although it is a land animal, it spends most of its time in trees eating young buds, blossoms, and bark. As mentioned earlier, it loves water lilies and so spends time in the water where it maintains its buoyancy through its quills which are filled with air. Thus, porcupine has an affinity with three of the five Earth elements – wood, water, air, and metal. Porcupine is a reflection of a gentle nature that is joyful and full of innocence. Yes, it will defend itself. Yet, it never goes on the attack except in the protection of its young which the mother raises alone. Porcupines are very much loners and seem to exist in isolation. However, they do share their burrows or hollowed out trees with others if the occasion arises. Porcupine is also about communication – reflecting the “barbs” that hurt us and the barbs we hurl at others. 

If porcupine shows up for you, ask yourself if you are communicating offensively, particularly to loved ones. Also look at porcupine’s diet and determine if you are eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water, and getting lots of fresh air. Do you need to climb to a higher height to have a better view of the world? Do you need to allow others into your den in a move of generosity? Is your salt intake too high, too low, or adequate? Is it time to be alone?

Blessings,

Judy

Magic and Mystery

  Mystic Lights from the Northern Sky

This world is now in a time when we all need something to grasp on to as hope for a better way.  The media launches pictures and articles about the tragedies that occur in many countries around war, loss of civil liberties, the lack of rights that women and children do without in all countries.  Why, we wonder, do some of these senseless acts occur and why does the Universe let them occur?  When we look at the sky, the answer does seem to appear.  There is a huge configuration of stars and planets, swirling around in a senseless orbit.  Yet when examined closely by astronomers, a definite pattern is reflected in the movement of these faraway masses.  They are simply so far away that without that big eye view provided by some of the massive telescopes, no one would even see the pattern. 

As above, so below.  The Earth, too, is held in its place in this Universe by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon and the push/pull of all of the other planets.  It is a pattern so intricate that for thousands of years, no one believed it! The Catholic Church outlawed belief in it.  Just because the pattern is not seen or understood does not mean the pattern does not exist!

I believe that there are huge patterns of activity that occur on Earth that have meaning in the Universe, that have meaning for the cosmology of time to come.  I believe that while we may judge daily events, and scream for justice, that more justice exists in Nature than we truly realize.  I believe that some of these patterns are evening out karmic events in the same way that big winds and rains clean the ground to leave no trace of passersby.  I believe that every day we are witness to magic and mystery that simply flies over our heads because we do not understand.

Many blessings,

Judy

Existence - from Osho

This is an extraordinary message that resonates through me when I read it.  Most people seem to feel unloved, unwanted, and tired of the struggle.  And, they simply give up.   What is the meaning of life?  It is "to be"!  To be a shining point of life on this earth because your existence makes the lives of others also have meaning.  And, if you bring enjoyment and entertainment to millions of people along the way, then your job has been well completed!

-Judy

 

       

You are not accidental. Existence needs you. Without you something will be missing in existence and nobody can replace it. That's what gives you dignity, that the whole existence will miss you. The stars and sun and moon, the trees and birds and earth - everything in the universe will feel a small place is vacant which cannot be filled by anybody except you.  
This gives you a tremendous joy, a fulfillment that you are related to existence, and existence cares for you. Once you are clean and clear, you can see tremendous love falling on you from all dimensions.

Osho God is Dead: Now Zen is the Only Living Truth Chapter 1 

Many blessings,

Judy