Working With Animals, Tools and Symbology
By Cinnamon Moon
© Cinnamon Moon
All My Relations is a phrase that is common to Native American teachings. When one speaks of All My Relations they are speaking of the two-leggeds, the four-leggeds, the winged-ones, the finned-ones, the rocks, trees, and plants, and everything else that lives upon Mother Earth. Sp[irit is found permeating everything and everyone. There is no difference between a human being and a blade of grass; one is as important as the other and therefore deserves the same respect. Each of these lifeforms possesses an energy containing their essence and it is these essences that are important to the tools and symbology of the Medicine Path.
Combined essences provide a new energy to take form and it is these formed energies that become empowered in the tools and symbols wielded by the practitioner. They become keys to focus, channel, and connect the shaman to the dimensional realms of Spirit. They open the doors of dimension when you know how to find them. these portals will introduce you to paths outside the known reality, paths that lead you to know your totems, guides, and teachers. Their skills of instruction are unparamounted and can only be touched on here with the very basics. The lessons are theirs to give.
While you encounter spirit guides remember they come in the form of beings or animals that speak a language filled with wisdom. It will take first-hand experience to accomplish this type of relationship and an understanding of what to expect once it is established. You will learn to speak with them, recognize when the time for that is appropriate, and receive knowledge that is beyond the teachings of books or mere mortals. They are indeed the greatest teachers I have ever come to know and it is the tools, symbology, and interpretations attributed to them that take the Medicine Path along its course.
To walk the Medicine Path is to bring the dimensions of spiritual and physical reality together; to see them as one, balancing and interacting with them on a daily basis. The animal spirits will help us to do that if we are open and let ourselves receive their wisdom, while the tools and symbols will unlock the doors. Knowing what is appropriate and what is not becomes critical and often a process of trial and error that drives the lessons home. Not every animal in every situation is talking to us with great words of knowledge; but, they will speak if we seek them, and those that seek us do so for a reason.
Animals come in dreams, visions, quests, or in the wild and need to be heeded. They generally appear in repetitions or a series of at least three encounters. This is done to gain your attention and to confirm when you need to be more aware of things. There can be three animals together or three separate appearances. Perhaps an animal will make three aggressive moves, call out three times, or circle you three times. Watch for this. People often ask me how to recognize these messengers in the wild and if just seeing one is enough. It is not enough to see them at a distance. That could possibly indicate journey work to meet with the animal spirit is in order, especially if it is a rare occurrence; however, if it is common to see them then you need to be looking for the abnormal situation.
There are some questions you can ask yourself that are rudimentary indicators a message has been sent to you. did the animal go out of its way to get your attention? Did the animal call out or come very close to you? Did the animal come in numbers such as a flock, herd, or pack? Did the animal make sequential appearances such as showing up first on TV, then in a magazine or conversation, and finally in the wild (or a similar pattern)? Did the animal act out of character such as performing antics to get you to notice them? Did it seek you out specifically in some unusual way? Asking yourself basic questions like this will help you differentiate between common occurrences and those that are special.
If Eagle flies over your house daily it is not unusual to be expecting to see it. If, on the otherhand, it is always high in the air soaring and one day you come ut into the yard to see it perched on your fence or on top of your roof and looking you in the eye, that is something else. If you are in a park and the squirrels are busy in the trees they are not all giving you a message. It is a message when one or more of those squirrels comes down out of the tree to sit beside you, scamper at your feet, look you in the eye, climb your pant leg, or chatter at you. It is a message when you are standing in a parking lot and Owl flies overhead dropping a feather at your feet, or sits on a light pole hooting at you. It is a message if you are driving down the road and come upon a deer standing there stopping your progress and looking you in the face instead of running away to safety. If you are walking a trail in the woods and come upon some creature that does not run, if it comes up to you in a secluded place and gently waits for a few minutes, then you have a message. Remember to thank them for coming.
What these creatures are saying is to look to your own situation in life. They are telling you to examine your most immediate concerns through their essence and apply it to that situation. This sudden appearance is when the directions they come from and go to will help indicate the areas into which you need to delve. It all combines to give you a clear picture of something that is or will become very important to you. They do not waste your time though we certainly seem to waste theirs.
There are messages from all the animal kingdoms so do not eliminate insects, reptiles, birds, or aquatic animals. Volumes have been written about totems and animal signs, and there are many excellent sources for interpretation that can go well beyond what the pages that follow will permit. What is presented in the remaining two articles will be enough to help start you exploring this vast body of knowledge. I encourage you to examine the work of such authors as: Ted Andrews, Jamie Sams and David Carson, D.J. Conway, timothy Roderick, Brad Steiger, and Bobby Lake-Thom to mention a few. Taking the time to learn and understand these things will reward you well. Not only will you acquire a vast body of knowledge at your fingertips, you will also be making many new friends along the way.
Enlightenment is not an evasive issue when you know the methods of seeking it and where to look to find it. Native Americans have taught these things to their young and the young have grown to have the respect and love for All Our Relations that is exemplary of the Medicine Path. It is a love and respect that speaks to honor Spirit and Mother Earth; it honors the elemental forces and our own innate talents; it honors the Elders of all races; it honors life and All Our Relations.
The tools used by the Medicine Person are the objects that serve in ritual, ceremony, healing, journey work, or whatever task is to be performed upon the Medicine Path. They are intricate aspects that help maintain a focused mind. Distractions are all around us and many people have difficulty holding control over their wandering thoughts. Tools can serve to take you deeper than your consciousness would normally allow you to go.
The tool is empowered through its use and by taking on a spirit of its own where it is given birth and given life. Through certain ceremonies they can become the host to specific spiritual entities. Imbued with power and love from the person who makes them, tools take on significant meanings and begin storing energy. Through ritual use the item becomes further imbued with the energies that are drawn upon from the Web of Life in the process of the work being done. Tools are seen as sacred objects. They are treated with great respect and they are kept from the hands of others by storing them properly. This is done to assure the practitioner that they have not been tainted in any way and the secrets the tool holds are safe--even from accidental discovery. Protect your tools. This is fair warning to anyone who plans to acquire the items that often accumulate in the process of walking the Medicine Path.
Never, under any circumstances, should you pick up a tool that belongs to someone else without their permission, and only then if you know them well. You never can be certain of exactly what it is used for or the power it contains. You should never feel hurt or slighted if you are told not to handle an item, since it is possible for those energies to remain with you after you set it down again or for you to deposit yours on it. Respect goes a long way here. Never, under any circumstances, allow another person to handle your own tools without these considerations in mind. You have no way of nowing their intentions or the energies they may leave behind. Thust they are brought out onlyfor specific purposes and occasions. Tools serve the purpose of being functional as well as trigers that help the shaman shift into altered states of consciousness. Honor the sacredness of others by respecting their tools and possessions. Admire them from a distance. Always ask permission to pick them up or examine them closer. Your own energies can be transferred to them and interfere in their efficiency. It is a precaution that serves both you and the other person as well.
Each tool is generally fashioned by hand or received as a gift either from another person or from Spirit. The intentions and energies of the individual are infused in the work when a tool is handmade. Thus the intention for which it is made and the energy used to make it extend the physical body of the practitioner. There are parts of animals that are used in the process of making tools such as skins, feathers, claws, or hides. These items are acquired from the creatures of the earth as gifts to individuals either by leaving them in some way or through their death. I do not promote nor condone animals being sacrificed for this purpose; however, with thanks to their spirits, creatures that have fallen victim to an accident or come to a natural death can be used. Items from predatory birds and endangered species are acquired through agencies of governmental regulation. Whatever the source, the items are sacred and should be legally procured.
The makin gof tools and use of symbols can be dictated by purpose or it ican be shown to the individual through a dream or vision with specifics being made clear. It may be accompanied by a song or chant to be used with the item in question. The purpose of each tool or symbol is highly significant and in the case of multiple combinations there is much being said. To use these tools is then to use all they represent in the process.
The symbols we use are important to us. Some are universal while others are our own interpretation of things. Some of the interpretations in this series of articles may take on different meanings for you personally; however, their universal voices are an important study. This knowledge will give you a fundamental foothold and carry you a long way. Once it is grasped your enlightenment and own methods of working with them will blend to a new harmony that allows you to speak with and use them in marvelous experiences. Learn these things so they may serve you well as you walk the path of your choice.
Symbols speak of many things including the spirit worlds. They address other dimensions and issues related to states of consciousness, trance, healing, or shamanic journeys. They are often found painted on the tools themselves, beaded into clothing or Medicine Bags, painted or carved on stone walls at sacred sites, or laid out upon the ground. They have been tattooed and painted on bodies for centuries. Such markings trigger the subconscious to awaken and allow the inner spirit to function in the capacity needed for a particular working. They address the type of work done at a site and speak of the power of the Medicine Person or Spirit of Place that resides there. When painted on objects they address the power of the individual that possesses them as well as the energies that particular object holds. Each symbol tells a story all its own and is a way of communicating the spiritual aspects that are involved with its use.
It is important to recognize that through the animals we are taught, given messages, and spoken to by Spirit. They tell us many things about life. Through them we learn what to expect along our pathway. We learn about changes that will come to us now and in the future. There are teachings about Great Mystery which we belong to and need to understand as best we can. Sometimes it is simply their appearance that tells us it is time to journey and meet with them so they can shed enlightenment in other ways. At other times we sense we are to shapeshift or the spirit animal will initiate the experience themselves. However it happens, the important thing to remember about these encounters is that it is all a message from Spirit and that we have many teachers both seen and unseen in this world as well as beyond it.
Do not let go of my arm just yet. I have much to share with you still. Enjoy these teachings and apply them to your life with the wisdom of one who has the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the good sense to value them. Remember to than the spirits that come to you and share. say this with your words and say it with your heart. They will come again to honor you. Show that you appreciate them by taking the time to do that. We are not terribly interesting to them unless it applies to their lives and the encroachment upon their habitats; so let them know they are appreciated. Remember to thank Spirit for sending you the messenger in whatever form it takes and for thinking of your needs--and to thank the messenger itself. Remember to thank Mother Earth for providing all your needs. Doing these things gratefully, humbly, and with sincerity are all that Spirit asks of you in return for so much more. Each and every one of us is loved, protected, and guided always. We need only to open to receive those blessins and be aware of them. Take this key and put it on your ring along with the others you are gathering and remember to use them.
By Cinnamon Moon
© Cinnamon Moon
All My Relations is a phrase that is common to Native American teachings. When one speaks of All My Relations they are speaking of the two-leggeds, the four-leggeds, the winged-ones, the finned-ones, the rocks, trees, and plants, and everything else that lives upon Mother Earth. Sp[irit is found permeating everything and everyone. There is no difference between a human being and a blade of grass; one is as important as the other and therefore deserves the same respect. Each of these lifeforms possesses an energy containing their essence and it is these essences that are important to the tools and symbology of the Medicine Path.
Combined essences provide a new energy to take form and it is these formed energies that become empowered in the tools and symbols wielded by the practitioner. They become keys to focus, channel, and connect the shaman to the dimensional realms of Spirit. They open the doors of dimension when you know how to find them. these portals will introduce you to paths outside the known reality, paths that lead you to know your totems, guides, and teachers. Their skills of instruction are unparamounted and can only be touched on here with the very basics. The lessons are theirs to give.
While you encounter spirit guides remember they come in the form of beings or animals that speak a language filled with wisdom. It will take first-hand experience to accomplish this type of relationship and an understanding of what to expect once it is established. You will learn to speak with them, recognize when the time for that is appropriate, and receive knowledge that is beyond the teachings of books or mere mortals. They are indeed the greatest teachers I have ever come to know and it is the tools, symbology, and interpretations attributed to them that take the Medicine Path along its course.
To walk the Medicine Path is to bring the dimensions of spiritual and physical reality together; to see them as one, balancing and interacting with them on a daily basis. The animal spirits will help us to do that if we are open and let ourselves receive their wisdom, while the tools and symbols will unlock the doors. Knowing what is appropriate and what is not becomes critical and often a process of trial and error that drives the lessons home. Not every animal in every situation is talking to us with great words of knowledge; but, they will speak if we seek them, and those that seek us do so for a reason.
Animals come in dreams, visions, quests, or in the wild and need to be heeded. They generally appear in repetitions or a series of at least three encounters. This is done to gain your attention and to confirm when you need to be more aware of things. There can be three animals together or three separate appearances. Perhaps an animal will make three aggressive moves, call out three times, or circle you three times. Watch for this. People often ask me how to recognize these messengers in the wild and if just seeing one is enough. It is not enough to see them at a distance. That could possibly indicate journey work to meet with the animal spirit is in order, especially if it is a rare occurrence; however, if it is common to see them then you need to be looking for the abnormal situation.
There are some questions you can ask yourself that are rudimentary indicators a message has been sent to you. did the animal go out of its way to get your attention? Did the animal call out or come very close to you? Did the animal come in numbers such as a flock, herd, or pack? Did the animal make sequential appearances such as showing up first on TV, then in a magazine or conversation, and finally in the wild (or a similar pattern)? Did the animal act out of character such as performing antics to get you to notice them? Did it seek you out specifically in some unusual way? Asking yourself basic questions like this will help you differentiate between common occurrences and those that are special.
If Eagle flies over your house daily it is not unusual to be expecting to see it. If, on the otherhand, it is always high in the air soaring and one day you come ut into the yard to see it perched on your fence or on top of your roof and looking you in the eye, that is something else. If you are in a park and the squirrels are busy in the trees they are not all giving you a message. It is a message when one or more of those squirrels comes down out of the tree to sit beside you, scamper at your feet, look you in the eye, climb your pant leg, or chatter at you. It is a message when you are standing in a parking lot and Owl flies overhead dropping a feather at your feet, or sits on a light pole hooting at you. It is a message if you are driving down the road and come upon a deer standing there stopping your progress and looking you in the face instead of running away to safety. If you are walking a trail in the woods and come upon some creature that does not run, if it comes up to you in a secluded place and gently waits for a few minutes, then you have a message. Remember to thank them for coming.
What these creatures are saying is to look to your own situation in life. They are telling you to examine your most immediate concerns through their essence and apply it to that situation. This sudden appearance is when the directions they come from and go to will help indicate the areas into which you need to delve. It all combines to give you a clear picture of something that is or will become very important to you. They do not waste your time though we certainly seem to waste theirs.
There are messages from all the animal kingdoms so do not eliminate insects, reptiles, birds, or aquatic animals. Volumes have been written about totems and animal signs, and there are many excellent sources for interpretation that can go well beyond what the pages that follow will permit. What is presented in the remaining two articles will be enough to help start you exploring this vast body of knowledge. I encourage you to examine the work of such authors as: Ted Andrews, Jamie Sams and David Carson, D.J. Conway, timothy Roderick, Brad Steiger, and Bobby Lake-Thom to mention a few. Taking the time to learn and understand these things will reward you well. Not only will you acquire a vast body of knowledge at your fingertips, you will also be making many new friends along the way.
Enlightenment is not an evasive issue when you know the methods of seeking it and where to look to find it. Native Americans have taught these things to their young and the young have grown to have the respect and love for All Our Relations that is exemplary of the Medicine Path. It is a love and respect that speaks to honor Spirit and Mother Earth; it honors the elemental forces and our own innate talents; it honors the Elders of all races; it honors life and All Our Relations.
The tools used by the Medicine Person are the objects that serve in ritual, ceremony, healing, journey work, or whatever task is to be performed upon the Medicine Path. They are intricate aspects that help maintain a focused mind. Distractions are all around us and many people have difficulty holding control over their wandering thoughts. Tools can serve to take you deeper than your consciousness would normally allow you to go.
The tool is empowered through its use and by taking on a spirit of its own where it is given birth and given life. Through certain ceremonies they can become the host to specific spiritual entities. Imbued with power and love from the person who makes them, tools take on significant meanings and begin storing energy. Through ritual use the item becomes further imbued with the energies that are drawn upon from the Web of Life in the process of the work being done. Tools are seen as sacred objects. They are treated with great respect and they are kept from the hands of others by storing them properly. This is done to assure the practitioner that they have not been tainted in any way and the secrets the tool holds are safe--even from accidental discovery. Protect your tools. This is fair warning to anyone who plans to acquire the items that often accumulate in the process of walking the Medicine Path.
Never, under any circumstances, should you pick up a tool that belongs to someone else without their permission, and only then if you know them well. You never can be certain of exactly what it is used for or the power it contains. You should never feel hurt or slighted if you are told not to handle an item, since it is possible for those energies to remain with you after you set it down again or for you to deposit yours on it. Respect goes a long way here. Never, under any circumstances, allow another person to handle your own tools without these considerations in mind. You have no way of nowing their intentions or the energies they may leave behind. Thust they are brought out onlyfor specific purposes and occasions. Tools serve the purpose of being functional as well as trigers that help the shaman shift into altered states of consciousness. Honor the sacredness of others by respecting their tools and possessions. Admire them from a distance. Always ask permission to pick them up or examine them closer. Your own energies can be transferred to them and interfere in their efficiency. It is a precaution that serves both you and the other person as well.
Each tool is generally fashioned by hand or received as a gift either from another person or from Spirit. The intentions and energies of the individual are infused in the work when a tool is handmade. Thus the intention for which it is made and the energy used to make it extend the physical body of the practitioner. There are parts of animals that are used in the process of making tools such as skins, feathers, claws, or hides. These items are acquired from the creatures of the earth as gifts to individuals either by leaving them in some way or through their death. I do not promote nor condone animals being sacrificed for this purpose; however, with thanks to their spirits, creatures that have fallen victim to an accident or come to a natural death can be used. Items from predatory birds and endangered species are acquired through agencies of governmental regulation. Whatever the source, the items are sacred and should be legally procured.
The makin gof tools and use of symbols can be dictated by purpose or it ican be shown to the individual through a dream or vision with specifics being made clear. It may be accompanied by a song or chant to be used with the item in question. The purpose of each tool or symbol is highly significant and in the case of multiple combinations there is much being said. To use these tools is then to use all they represent in the process.
The symbols we use are important to us. Some are universal while others are our own interpretation of things. Some of the interpretations in this series of articles may take on different meanings for you personally; however, their universal voices are an important study. This knowledge will give you a fundamental foothold and carry you a long way. Once it is grasped your enlightenment and own methods of working with them will blend to a new harmony that allows you to speak with and use them in marvelous experiences. Learn these things so they may serve you well as you walk the path of your choice.
Symbols speak of many things including the spirit worlds. They address other dimensions and issues related to states of consciousness, trance, healing, or shamanic journeys. They are often found painted on the tools themselves, beaded into clothing or Medicine Bags, painted or carved on stone walls at sacred sites, or laid out upon the ground. They have been tattooed and painted on bodies for centuries. Such markings trigger the subconscious to awaken and allow the inner spirit to function in the capacity needed for a particular working. They address the type of work done at a site and speak of the power of the Medicine Person or Spirit of Place that resides there. When painted on objects they address the power of the individual that possesses them as well as the energies that particular object holds. Each symbol tells a story all its own and is a way of communicating the spiritual aspects that are involved with its use.
It is important to recognize that through the animals we are taught, given messages, and spoken to by Spirit. They tell us many things about life. Through them we learn what to expect along our pathway. We learn about changes that will come to us now and in the future. There are teachings about Great Mystery which we belong to and need to understand as best we can. Sometimes it is simply their appearance that tells us it is time to journey and meet with them so they can shed enlightenment in other ways. At other times we sense we are to shapeshift or the spirit animal will initiate the experience themselves. However it happens, the important thing to remember about these encounters is that it is all a message from Spirit and that we have many teachers both seen and unseen in this world as well as beyond it.
Do not let go of my arm just yet. I have much to share with you still. Enjoy these teachings and apply them to your life with the wisdom of one who has the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the good sense to value them. Remember to than the spirits that come to you and share. say this with your words and say it with your heart. They will come again to honor you. Show that you appreciate them by taking the time to do that. We are not terribly interesting to them unless it applies to their lives and the encroachment upon their habitats; so let them know they are appreciated. Remember to thank Spirit for sending you the messenger in whatever form it takes and for thinking of your needs--and to thank the messenger itself. Remember to thank Mother Earth for providing all your needs. Doing these things gratefully, humbly, and with sincerity are all that Spirit asks of you in return for so much more. Each and every one of us is loved, protected, and guided always. We need only to open to receive those blessins and be aware of them. Take this key and put it on your ring along with the others you are gathering and remember to use them.
