Tag Archives: messages

Totems

The Regal Heron

It’s very common for people who are interested in totems to search Goggle or go to different books and look up the meanings of them. And you learn some great information. But…..often times the meaning of the totem is one that is not necessarily a generalized one.

For instance, lately when I’ve been walking the dog along the marinas, I’ve seen more Herons than normal. Now I see Blue Herons all the time but these particular ones are fishing. And I see them catch the fish.

There is one who usually hides behind a small boat and at the opportune moment spears the fish. It’s interesting to watch him, as he is very focused. First, he stands perfectly still…never moves. Then, when he sees his prey, he very very carefully and slowly moves one leg and then other to get closer. And almost so fast you don’t see it, he spears the fish. What amazes me is how still, focused and patient he is while waiting.

A day or two after watching that Blue Heron, I was writing at my desk when I heard a ruckus outside….sounded like dinosaurs fighting! (At least what I imagined they would have sounded like) There was a Blue Heron with a fish and 3 gulls trying to get it from him. He was not about to let them and even with the fish between his bills, managed to make a lot of noise about it. Before living at the beach, I had no idea at just how noisy Herons can be and what bullies gulls are at times!

Blue Heron Medicine typically means the ability to be a Renaissance man or woman. They follow their own path, which is unstructured. Not everyone is comfortable living this way as they perceive it as being without stability or security and yet it actually has it’s own security. Heron Medicine indicates that if one approach isn’t working then try another.

As I carry much Heron Medicine, I was familiar with all these attributes. This seemed different though. Maybe because they were getting my attention….even to the point that one of them was screeching at me to notice him.

So what does it mean?

When trying to analyze the meaning of a totem or message from the universe, one trick is to notice what specifically captured your attention.

Two things stand out in the experience for me. The first Heron showed massive patience, focus and goal orientation. That’s a pretty good lesson. Regardless of how much we vibrate to a specific feeling or desire we must put in the physical work and focus on our desire.

The second Heron’s “work or reward” was jeopardized by the gulls. This to me was a clear message that is common to the witnessing of smaller birds attacking a larger bird. To many aboriginals, this is a sign that someone is or may make an attempt to jeopardize or basically “make small” of something you’re doing.

Both of these messages made perfect sense to me. I am in the process of refocusing my business on a path that I’ve wanted to travel for years. For years I have longed to create a full-on Mystery School that blended the ancient wisdom with the modern magic.  I just recently set up the first of the certification workshops for this goal.

Before, I did not feel it was the right time. And I know that some people may not see the beauty or the “Spirit” drive behind it.

To me, Blue Heron was signaling me to keep my focus……to be patient….and to follow Spirit about the project.


If you’re interested in learning more about the ancient healing wisdom for self and others, check out: http://www.spiritsmuse.com/ancientwisdom.html

Share
Spirit

I Dreamed of Owl

Hawaiian OwlI dreamed of owl last night. Wasn’t too surprising as the owls have come back to nest at one of the old adobes not far from us. But, since spirit is always speaking to us, I thought it might be a good idea to pay attention.

People receive messages from Spirit www.magicmiraclesandmystery.com/messages-from-spirit/ all the time. The problem is that we don’t always listen. There’s a saying in the metaphysical world that “you always have to pay……at least with energy”. So if we ignore these subtle hints, dreams and nudges that come our way, then it’s as if our Higher Selves (www.spiritsmuse.com/yourhigherself.html) just give up trying to reach us.

Last night, we had heard the owl for the first time this season. When I went out front to see if I could locate him, I found part of its nest in the road. You can tell when an owl is around by the remains of animal skeletons in their pellets (the regurgitated, undigested parts of animals they eat).

This morning, even though I have a basic understanding of Owl medicine (www.magicmiraclesandmystery.com/totems/), I decided to get more feedback on it by doing a little research.

Two of my favorite books on animal totems are Jamie Sams, Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals and Ted Andrews, Animal Speak. (http://www.spiritsmuse.com/books.html)

Owl medicine generally means: wisdom, seeing beyond the illusions of this reality, messenger from Spirit, desire to learn, reincarnation and the ability to see past the masks others wear.

Owl has been a totem of wisdom since the days when we worshipped the goddess Athena who had an owl on her shoulder in order that she might see.

Owl is also a wakeup call to deception. We have to look at whether we are deceiving ourselves or is someone attempting to deceive us. This isn’t the first time I’ve had owl fly strong into my life.

On two occasions, there was someone attempting to deceive me. One of my lessons for this life seems to be learning how to “see” the inner light and goodness in another as well as being aware that not all are walking their talk. Both of those times, I deceived myself into believing that what I was picking up energetically was an illusion. And in the end, I discovered they were deceiving me.

I think for “lightworkers” this is a common theme. We know that inside all of us is that being of light regardless of how the person behaves. Sometimes, we let that spark of light get in the way of our awareness of whether another is actually walking in their light.

One thing that really spoke to me was the idea that we must respond to what our Soul needs and wants. As Owls hunt birds, rodents and insects they are part of nature’s way of keeping the balance. In our lives, if we allow too much “stuff” to dictate our lives we get out of balance and we smother the Souls’ desire to fly.

The questions that beg to be answered become:

What can we let go of which will rid us of stagnation, boredom and inertia?

Do we have too many “things”, projects or even negative emotions dragging us down?

This follows the principles of Feng Shui. Feng Shui means the “way of wind and water”. These two forces affect everything within us as well as our external world. They may appear separate, but in reality they are the same. So when we make a change in our external world, we also create one within ourselves as well.

To allow our Soul to fly, owl could be a call to release the old in order to make way for the new. Before we can change and become that which we want, we have to remove the self-imposed obstacles we have put in our way.

I think this is the message of Owl for me. Since presenting the Ancient Wisdom Modern Magic™ www.spiritsmuse.com/ShamanicMasters.html workshop in Hawaii last December, I’ve felt myself going through a transition. Even there on the Big Island, I realized I was saying goodbye to some old connections which I had been carrying far too long.

I’ve been aware of shifts taking place on an unconscious as well as conscious level. Not always comfortable and yet I’ve felt they were necessary. Lately, there has been an acceleration of the process as if it’s all finalizing.

So the answer is that I have to stay with the process and be open to the lessons. To be in the flow of it so that my Soul can fly.

What do you need to do to set your Soul free?

To read an incredible and moving story of one man’s flight with the eagles check out Michael Kemball’s book Out Of The Blue: A true story about learning to fly, discovering your wings and setting your spirit free available at: www.SpiritsMuse.com/books (under the “Magic, Miracles and Mystery section.)

Share
Uncategorized

Totems

3 Comments

Since ancient time, man has looked to animals for comfort, companionship and guidance. We have considered them messengers of the gods, healers and a direct link to nature for us.

Most of the ancient cultures revered animals and often worshipped them. In Egypt, cats were considered to be closer to the gods than man could ever be. The Jaguar was worshipped by the Mayans for its agility, cunning and stealth and Hawaiians carry their Aumakua, an ancestral spirit thought to have taken animal form.

We feel drawn to certain animals. Some of us even collect pictures or statues of a specific animal. And then there are those people who receive healing and a spiritual uplifting from being in close proximity to animals.

For many, swimming with dolphins is an extraordinary experience. We know from research that dolphins talk to one another through clicks and whistles. They are playful, very sexual and even have helpers when a female is giving birth.

Handicapped and autistic children are known to respond to dolphins and horses. And dogs are used in hospitals and homes for the elderly for healing and giving meaning to lives.

In ancient times, man attempted to understand his world. He looked at synchronistic events as messages from the gods. He turned to nature for answers to foresee what events might take place.

According to the Native American belief system, each individual is accompanied by nine different animal guides. They can come in and out of our lives depending on our needs and we can access their assistance at will. We also have one that is our main totem which guides us our whole life.

I was attempting to meditate one day and had just settled in when there was a knocking at the front door. Since I had waited all day to meditate, I choose to just stay put thinking whoever it was would leave. As I started to relax there was more knocking at the door. I went to my window where I can sometimes tell if there’s anyone at the door. I didn’t see anyone so assumed they had gone on. Just as I began to relax again, the knocking started. This time, I was agitated. We live in an older house with a small “door” window instead of a peep hole. I quickly went to the door and opened the latch of the window and no one was there. Again I went back to my room and got into the groove when the knocking started. Now I was really aggravated. I raced to the front door, threw it open and no one was there! Finally, looking down…..there was a crow at my feet.

Crow had been knocking at my door!

Another time, the crows in the trees in the front of the house were making more racket than normal. I went out to see what was up. I couldn’t tell if anything out of the ordinary was going on so I went back into the house. Shortly though, the racket was so loud I decided to take another look. Still seeing nothing, I noticed the direction in which the crows were looking. There, between my house and the neighbor’s was a dead crow. As I approached it, the crows went crazy cawing at me. I quickly ran back in the house and got a towel and went back to the dead crow. Again, the crows were having a fit. When I reached down and picked up the dead crow, all the crows went silent. Not a single caw from any of them. Not then and not for quite a while afterward.

Crow Medicine or the energy of the crow is about the unknown mysteries of the universe and they are considered the keepers of sacred law. As a teacher of ancient ways, the totem of the crow reminds me to keep the sacred laws pure as does the totem of the Jaguar. It’s always been important to me to present the teachings in their purest form available rather than do what I call “pablum” lessons…..turning them into a bland imitation of the original meanings.

Some people just seem to know what their animal totems are. To help you discover yours, notice which of these you have experienced.

  • Do you feel drawn to one animal without being able to explain why?
  • What animals consistently appear in your life?
  • Do you receive cards or letters with the same animal, or turn on the TV and see nature shows featuring that animal?
  • Do you find yourself reading stories in the papers or the internet about the animal?
  • Do your dreams feature a specific animal?

Once you feel you’ve discovered your totems, pay attention to the times they show up in your life. When they do, check out the meanings and see what messages that animal is trying to convey. You just might be surprised!

Check out these great pictures of people’s totems done by the artist Mike McCarthy at www.michaelmccarthystudio.com/. Go to “Gallery” and then “Spirit”. Michael attended our Ancient Wisdom Modern Magic 2 day workshop and was inspired to create these incredible artworks of Spirit.

Chief Dan George…”If you talk to animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.”

Share
Spirit

Messages From Spirit

Over the years, working in the field of spirituality, metaphysics and transformative work, I have asked for and received many messages from what I call Spirit.

 

The energy field that we live in and receive messages from Spirit, is the same energy we are composed of and therefore it will also “feel” like whatever we’re feeling. So if we’re afraid, the universe will feel scary to us. This is the lesson of Law of Attraction. Whatever we’re feeling (vibrating to) than that is what we experience in our world.

 As so many seem to struggle to stay feeling connected, I thought hearing some of the messages I’ve received might help.

 The one I like the most is: “You are not alone”. Our universe is like an ocean of energy. And just as a drop of water is to the ocean, we are to the energy sea we live in. We are all part of the same consciousness; therefore, we are all connected to one another. When you send out an energy intention of wanting to feel connected, the universe sends the connection right back to you.

You can prove this to yourself right now. Get quiet, open yourself up to the energy, imagine you can expand yourself into the field and then notice how the area around your heart feels. You should be an expansion of yourself.

Another message that may not seem like much unless you’re in overwhelm is: “Pick 1 thing!” Often in my life I’ve had so many things going on I didn’t know what to do. Then I would hear—“Pick 1 thing”. Once I did this and put it into action, things settled down and my stress level went down. Our world is so inundated with To Do lists, projects and responsibilities that we all get overwhelmed at times. The simplest answer is to focus on 1 thing.

One of my favorite message I’ve ever received is that “Energy begets energy”. This means that whatever you want to be, do or have in your life you have to generate or give energy to get it. It’s really simple. For example, if you want to lose weight, you have to change your eating habits and exercise. It you want to manifest a new house, car, boat, or whatever, you have to take action to generate the resources and money to acquire those things.

If you sit and do nothing then nothing is what you’ll get. If you say you want to be successful and yet you watch T.V. or play video games, you’ll end up being successful at watching T.V. and playing video games. Whatever you want in life you have to pay with energy.

These are just a few of the things I’ve learned from Spirit. Simple really and things we all already know. Sometimes we just need to be reminded.

Share
Welcome!

Welcome to the Spirit’s Muse blog Magic, Miracles and Mystery!

4 Comments
Sunset Ceremony at Honaunau
Sunset Ceremony at Honaunau

Do you remember when you were a child and everyday was like a great mystery to unfold? And when you got up in the morning you couldn’t wait to see what the day would hold?

What if you could feel that way again?

If you have found your way here, it is my hope that you will find inspiration for the journey that we all walk. Much of my life has been spent doing my best to make sense out of what I was experiencing. As a child, I often had trouble making out what I was seeing. The energies were so intense and beautiful that I couldn’t always distinguish between what most would call “the real world” and the other world of energy.

I felt I lived in a world of magic and mystery. And because it was magic…..miracles happened every day.

One night I stood outside at dusk just before the light faded.  I suddenly felt the movement of air on my cheek. And there, swooping in front of me was an owl! He circled round me and then flew up into the tree.

Meditating one morning later that week I hear a knock at the front door. I decide to stay put, hoping they’ll come back later. But no, the knocking continued. I realize it sounds like a child’s knock and peek from the window where I can see the front door. Nothing. But when I run and open the door, there’s a crow knocking at my door!

To a local medicine woman these events have great significance in my life. Each one is a message from the natural world that I need to pay attention to.

Paying attention to our world allows us to live in a world of Mystery, Magic and Miracles. Every day I get to wake up and decide if today will be a world of the mundane or will it be a world of Magic. Most days I pick the Magic. And when I do, all kinds of fascinating things occur.

So, this blog will be about all those things in our lives that seem to be miraculous, mysterious and magical. This is not a religious blog. It is one of spirituality in all its forms, of metaphysics and how that relates to our lives and one of raising our consciousness and therefore our awareness. That awareness can be about our own spiritual evolution or it might be awareness of our place in this world.

I hope you enjoy…..

Share