11/29/04: My first formal Journey in over a week was to try to ascertain the identity of my Nephew's Wife's Power Animal. I wanted to ensure she had the most Spirit Power available to her as she goes through this difficult time of pregnancy. I Rattled in Sacred Space, lit the Sacred Candle, breathed Shamanically while focusing on my objective, and then settled in for a planned 15-minute Drum loop using the CD. Right as I met with my Lower World Guide, Crosses in Front (Snake), she transformed herself into her human form..and was heavy with child! This told me she was in tune with the needs and burdens of pregnancy. But then, as I was expecting us to begin the trip down a Tunnel to the Lower World, instead I found myself on the floor of Maine Medical where my Niece had been staying. Crosses and I then walked the length of the corridor to the little room at the end, reserved for cell phone use. There, Crosses and I sat down at a little table in there, each at one end. Then, two translucent, white Spirit Shapes formed on the side of the Table, sitting next to each other. I asked Crosses if these were the Spirit Helpers for my Niece and her Little One. Crosses answered "yes." I then asked if I was meant to know the identities of the Spirits, in terms of their Power Animal presentations. Crosses told me that this was not necessary, that the two Helpers were already firmly attached to the my Niece and the baby, and that there was no need therefore for me to retrieve them from the Lower World. She told me their Power Animal identities would be revealed to me in the Future as it became necessary. At this point, the Journey's Purpose had been fulfilled. Crosses suggested we use the remaining Time to flood my Robe with healing rays of Energy, as I have a few minor ailments that need attending to as well. At one point during this process I could feel intense heat around my brow as that Chakra area was invigorated. This is the Chakra that helps one to see with the Third Eye, and so I was grateful this skill was being intensified. When I felt I had had enough, I curtailed the Journey early and self-drummed myself back to the Room, thanking all the Helpers involved.
12/1: Word came today that the baby passed back to the Spirit Camp. This was the gist of the two Journeys I took..all had to go perfectly for this to happen. The two Spirits I met in the Journey above were there to take care of the passing..and the forlorn mom.
I then immediately set up for the second Journey, to find a Power Animal for my dear Friend and Co-worker, who was the "thin strand" that set me on this Shaman Path over 4 years ago, and to this day continues to share my joys and successes in this regard. I set up for a 10-minute Journey, as is my custom for Power Animal retrievals. Crosses met me immediately, as we were whisked off to a small clearing, with a fairly large wood log Fire burning in the middle. As we sat there, a group of Deer came to the Circle and stopped. It was a meeting of the Deer Council! They told me they came to honor my friend, as she has many of the qualities of Deer. A wary innocence, a smart and tender way of dealing with Nature, a gentle but firm aggressiveness. They held her in very high esteem, and were pleased to stand around and thank her. We in turn thanked the Council (and I thought to myself how pleased my friend would be for this rare and special treatment), and turned to find a tall, totally light blue Tree standing about 50 feet away. At the base was a small opening, the yellow-orange color that I would call Mango. We went to the entrance and moved into the Tunnel. As we moved down toward the Lower World, I saw Mango-colored Roots and Grass patches. We soon emerged into a Lower World consisting of a strongly wind-swept, high-Grass area. I felt the Winds represented Spirit Power! It was well into twilight. As I looked up in the Sky, Stars were being formed and put in place through large, fireworks-like explosions. It looked like a vastly sped-up view of the Universe's creation and/or growth. The full Moon off to my right was a purple color, another sign of high feminine Spirituality. I then turned to Crosses, who said we should now await the arrival of my friend's Power Animal. My Black Panther totem of the West arrived and lay down beside me. My own Power Animal Eagle then came in and perched on my left Shoulder. Lots of high-powered help here! Soon, a Chipmunk scurried by my feet, but did not linger. Then, a huge Black Bear moved up in front of us, but her bared his Teeth and growled at us, so we knew this was not her PA. Then, I saw a Hawk flying across the Sky from right to left, and quickly dive down below the line of sight about 150 feet to our center-left. Hawk soon came back up with a Porcupine in its Talons, and brought the Porcupine over to us and dropped it at our feet. The animal's quills were had a very glassy reflective quality, and were the colors of the Rainbow, a sign of tolerance and acceptance of much of life's difference in my friend. I asked if this were her PA, and got a resounding "yes." Crosses and I then took the Porcupine back up the Mango Tunnel and were back at the Fire. The Council of Deer was not only still in session, but they had now transformed into human shapes and were seated around the Fire, smoking the Pipe. We all passed it around. The Council Head said we were smoking to honor my friend, and to place her PA within her. I saw a younger looking friend move in from my left, smiling, wearing pigtails. She was lifted over the Fire, where Porcupine and she merged. At one point I saw the Porcupine with her face! The Council members then blew Prayer Smoke into the pair above the Fire, lifting them even higher. This was quite the PA blow-in! After this was accomplished, Crosses told me that our job was done, and there was no need to remain here any longer. I thanked all the Helpers who had appeared, including Bear, of course, and came back to my Room. Once again I cut the Drum loop short and drummed myself back into the Room.
Among Porcupine's many qualities (Ted Andrew's Animal Speak): They are excellent climbers, and use their strong legs to test a limb's strength before moving out. They eat tree and evergreen barks, also enjoying blossoms, young leaves and water lilies. They love salt, so those with this totem should watch out for excessive salt intake.
It has a good nature, and seems to enjoy anything it does. It has a strong sense of curiosity, and seems filled with wonder at most things it encounters as it ambles along.
The quills stand up when danger is sensed. The quills are filled with air, and make the Porcupine buoyant in water, reflecting the ability of "Porc" People to move well in emotional areas. The barbs at the end of the quills expand when dug into another animal's skin, making it impossible for that animal to remove them. Porcupine's greatest enemy is the Weasel and Porcupine People should study the weasel to recognize its enemy better (quick look: very aggressive attacks, and silence in hunting: Weasel People learn a lot about you by just hanging around in the background. The worst assumption about weasel people is that they are weak because they are silent. Weasels attack the face directly, so Weasel people are those who take you on "face-to-face"). Cougars are also good at flipping Porcs on their backs to kill them, and their Medicines should likewise be studied (quick look: Cougar People are quick in the use of their personal strengths. They attack decisively and go for the most vulnerable part, as in having learned to go for the unprotected underbelly of the Porcupine. People who tend to flip you upside down emotionally are part of this adversary group).
Porcupines spend a lot of the winter in trees, preferring to climb than to slog through the snow on foot. The young stand on their hind legs and dance, reflecting the chance for Porc people to renew their sense of wonder through dancing. Porc People's diet should be rich in nutrients and vitamins, with lots of greens, especially when feeling run-down or sick.
Porc People have a knack for sticking it to people sharply and intensely if aggravated, causing the most hurt for the longest time.
Its Medicine teaches you how to resist the barbs of others and see the wonder in life even when it is going poorly. It can show you how to shuffle along without too much seriousness and still achieve, how to protect the inner child from life's barbs, and show you the strength in your vulnerability.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
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