silent ways of knowing: the heron

The great blue heron has been communicating with me lately. Flying over my car while running errands near the Mississippi River. Wading in the marsh near Theodore Wirth park on my way to visit my family. Reminding me of what I can so easily forget: that I can be confident in my silent ways of knowing.

Spring - again referencing Ted Andrews in his book, Animal Speak -  is the cycle of power for herons, and thus, for "heron people," like myself. Absolutely. There's been SO MUCH activity in my life of late, both internally and externally, that it comforts me to know that another being is experiencing this time of power and movement as well.

Andrews summarizes, for me, the most important aspect of identifying with the heron: "a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and path of self-determination. You know what is best for you and should follow it, rather than the promptings of others."

Amen. Here's to following our own paths today, guided by our silent ways of knowing.

Artist: Kari Maxwell, http://karimaxwell.com/

"They are coming..."

Elephants are profound creatures. In a recent sand tray session with my spiritual director, she asked who (surrounded by shelves upon shelves of beautiful symbols) wanted to travel off the shelf today, join me in the sand, and possibly speak to me.

It was this elephant. And, as it turns out, she was in good company.

"If she had something to tell you, what would it be?" asked my spiritual director. Immediately, the answer: "They are coming."

I mentioned the book Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews in yesterday's blog, here. Andrews says of the elephant on page 269:

"Mutual care of the young, respect for the elderly and the sick, being strong within your own self - these are the foundations of a great person or a great society. If the elephant has come to you, you will have the opportunity to work toward establishing this within your own life or the lives of others. If elephant has come to you, prepare to draw upon the most ancient of wisdom and power. You will have an opportunity to either help yourself or others reclaim your most primordial royalty."

Last summer, I had the distinct honor of being present with, and company to, a good friend's dog, Stella, who was in the process of dying. Meet Stella:

You see, her owner had to be at work. But dying is a sacred time. And my friend new this.  I laid beside Stella, adjusted her pillows and blankets, petted her, and mostly, just offered my presence. I let her be who she was, where she was.

Like the elephant, Stella was (and is) royalty. And she knew (and knows) it. I believe I helped her express her royalty that day. And, I feel called to offer this service to other animal beings who are in need of hospice companionship.

"They are coming..."

goose as storyteller

Sometimes, when something is so deeply engrained, so close to the heart, it’s difficult to know where to start the story. Why not start with today and move backwards? 

On my way home from a gathering in South Minneapolis, I witnessed two geese leading six yellow goslings along Cedar Avenue. Excited, I filed away a mental note to look this up in my (personal) bible: Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews, to see what possible meaning or symbolism this demonstration might have for me. And then I went on with my day.

Later, during a meeting with two friends (who are really more like life coaches), the idea was born for me to start a blog. “It’s important to tell your story,” they said. "To explore where you came from, why you’re here, where you’re headed."

Enter Animal Speak. Andrews says, “The goose can also be a totem to aid you in communication, especially through the use of stories.”

Bingo.

This is me sharing my story, with the help of those geese and goslings, of how animals inform and guide my spiritual process.