Animal Medicine #9

When my daughter was young, our family would drive up to Scotland for short holidays and one of the highlights was seeing the Highland Cattle roaming over the Scottish hills.  My dad started a family tradition by telling my daughter that Highland cows are very different to gentle English cows.  They are much stronger and tougher because they live in harder places and as a result they don’t make milk.  They have to make something so much stronger than milk.  These cows are Yogurt Cows.

Forever in my mind will Highland cows be known as Yogurt cows.

Milk cows also hold that strength of yogurt cows, even though they can seem gentle and placid in the field as they chew on the cud.  They remind us to move gently through life – there are some things worth fighting for but there are other ways to achieve goals than through violence and the harming of others.  Remain in balance, nurture your dreams, be persistent, but also consider all angles in order to ensure that no other being is hurt in your rush to achieve these.

In some societies, the cow is held as a sacred symbol of life and should be protected and revered.  She is a symbol of motherhood, nurturing and continuity.  She is connected to the energies of Earth and that of Creation and allows us to see the way towards fulfilment of purpose and abundance.

Cow reminds us to be aware of the needs of others, of supporting our community by being an active member.  It is important to remember that a community cannot flourish without each member playing their part in its growth.  In human terms that means getting out into your community and getting involved in some way that aids the welfare of everyone.  Give without expectation of receiving, yet at the same time, don’t forget that you too are an important member of that community.  Stay grounded – look after you too.