We are human, and even though we are important to other people, as they are to us, our daily lives are really only of super-importance to us! After all, we are the ones that are most invested in how our life progresses. Or doesn’t!
Every single day we are faced with a multitude of opportunities – choices that affect who we are and where we travel. And every now and then we are faced with a major decision about which direction to take.
Only you can make those choices.
For today’s Journey, I can’t really go past the wise words that were spoken by Ghandi.
“Whatever you do in life will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it because you can’t know. You can’t ever really know the meaning of your life. And you don’t need to. Every life has a meaning, whether it lasts one hundred years or one hundred seconds. Every life, and every death, changes the world in its own way. You can’t know. So don’t take it for granted. But don’t take it too seriously. Don’t postpone what you want. Don’t leave anything misunderstood. Make sure the people you care about know. Make sure they know how you really feel. Because just like that…It could end.”
There’s a 94% genetic similarity between human and baboon, and as I began my research for this article I had the rather humorous thought that the other 6% is probably related to the amount of hair that one or the other of these species carries! Certainly it was a common joke in my family that my dad was descended from apes!
It is very possible to see our humanity in this magnificent animal. He is a social creature who takes family – and especially parenting and defending against danger – very seriously. He is filled with curiosity; and enjoys the challenge of learning and exploring new things.
When baboon comes into your field, you need to have a good look at what is happening within your personal life and in the world around you. There could be something that is pulling you beyond your comfort zone. Take care not to be carried away. Stay grounded and take time to seek your place of sanctuary within meditation. That place of peace and security is exactly the right place to be within as you look at what is happening in your life that need to be resolved.
Baboon will help you. He is comfortable in any situation and is not afraid to show his emotions. Baboon will cry loudly when needed and doesn’t care who is watching. Sometimes that can be the most courageous thing you can do.
Baboon is considered as the being who holds the greatest wisdom in the animal kingdom, and his message is for us to always be responsible for our choices in life. Our choices and the actions we take are the very things that shape our lives. Be aware of how much you share with others and remember that you might be judged by these things. Don’t be afraid to let your personality and love of family shine out, and remember that there is strength in allowing others to see your emotions.
I’m what is called a “detail person.” Apparently that means I don’t make for a good corporate-level manager, because I get too caught up in the little bits, the small details, but for me it is the little bits, all put together in the the right way that make up the bigger picture. A bit like pixels in a photo. If the little bits don’t work too well, aren’t put together properly, then what we perceive as the big picture doesn’t make sense and could even collapse like a house of cards.
It all kind-of works when you are looking from the point of view of your home or local office, your school or even your town. Lots of little bits, people, industry, education, health, ideas, dreams… all coming together to make a rich community tapestry, but is that really The Big Picture? Could that be just the local part of an even bigger picture? Are not our communities just small parts of larger communities? And they, in turn, are they not part of even greater communities: states, countries, our entire planet?
And what if you could step outside our planet and see the much bigger picture of our galaxy? Of Laniakea? Of the whole cosmos? We are such very, very, very, tiny bits of such a vast whole. Are we really so important?
The answer is Yes. And No.
If you think of Earth as a single pixel in a photo of the entire cosmos, it would not be noticed at all in that Big Picture. It’s a miniscule pixel point where everything is blurred because we can’t bring it all together into focus – as a planetary community.
But if we could remember that we are all parts of the same universe, and could work together to make our little pixel-point right at the focal point of that universal picture… well it just might be noticed if it goes missing!
As I write this I am also working as a volunteer for our town’s annual UFO Festival. It’s the only UFO Festival in the Southern Hemisphere and for a tiny town in the Far North of Queensland, it’s a HUGE event. When octopus came forward as a Power Animal with a message for todays reading, I just had (with the aid of AI) to make a picture of an alien octopus making a splash landing in a flying saucer!
There is a question amongst scientific circles that octopus may have arrived on Earth during the Cambrian Explosion – that is a ‘biological big bang’ approximately 538.8 million years ago. Fossils certainly show that this was when they suddenly appeared. The theory involves something called ‘panspermia’ – the possibility that life is seeded between planets by space debris, and that octopus, with it’s very different DNA and RNA from anything else on Earth, could have arrived in such a way.
Whether by panspermia or home-grown, octopuses are fascinating creatures with their flexible bodies, camouflage abilities and non-centralised brain. Did you know that they use tools? They use tools to hunt and for protection. They even work collaboratively with other species! They can be mischievous, and have been known to do things just for fun.
They are intelligent, flexible, and adaptable which shows us that octopus energy can help us when we need to work out something that is tricky in our lives. If something captures an octopus, they will shed an arm or two into order to escape and continue their journey. They can easily and quickly change direction and they are masters of wiggling out of tight places. They travel with the flow and not fighting against the current.
For us, it’s about looking honestly at our emotions and attachments, especially in our past experiences, and knowing that we can safely let them go; knowing that we have the ability to regenerate into something much better. We don’t have to keep following the same path – changing direction can be exactly what you need to do, even if you can’t see it. Be patient with yourself – some things can be camouflaged until the right time, and often, with octopus energy around you, you will look back and see that all along, there were unseen hints pointing you in your new direction.
Octopus is intelligent. He uses tools in the same way that primates do – for hunting, protection, and safety. He is resilient and determined, and is letting you know that you have everything you need to get the job done. Use your brain, study, be flexible, understand your potential, and above all else…
I learned this lesson the hard way. What I learned was that sometimes the things you fight against are exactly the things you need to do in order to be prepared for the next step in your journey.
A few years ago I had to move to a town which, due to local industry, had really poor air quality. I fought against this move with everything I had, but it was not to be. I needed to go there. Instead of the horrors I expected, I found the most gorgeous cottage home, gained new skills, met new friends, and so much more. I would be there still if the next step of preparation for what was to come hadn’t happened, which was a whole sequence of events that resulted in my falling off a wall, smashing my leg, momentarily dying – and choosing to remain. That choice has led me to where I am now – which is exactly the life I had been trying to manifest for many years.
It’s not an easy lesson, and that wasn’t the first time that I had fought against things only to find out later that if they hadn’t happened – I would never have been in the right place, at the right time for the good things to happen.
Even when you know that there is method in the seeming madness of your life, and that if XYZ hadn’t happened then ABC would also not occur, it can be hard to accept.
Do you simply drift with the tide allowing life to lead you willy-nilly or do you accept that there are waves – and some of them are going to push you into life lessons and some are going to guide you towards life’s gifts.
I grew up in England where any building under 500 years old is still considered as ‘fairly new’. My brother-in-law was custodian of an ancient castle on a remote island, and one of the country’s greatest Cathedrals was close by. Roman ruins, stone circles, Iron Age kilns… all a part of my early life.
Yet when I think of Gargoyles, I think of the Kiwi Haka. The war dance that is possibly best known as performed by the All Blacks rugby team! If you haven’t seen a Māori Haka – you definitely need to hop over to You Tube and watch it!
The Haka is fearsome. The men pull faces, stick their tongues out, slap their bodies and stamp their feet in a way that tells you that they are very connected to the Earth and to Spirit. The Haka is not just a war dance, but is also a celebration and welcome to others. Above all it is a display of a tribes Pride, Strength and Unity.
The Haka invokes protection of the Tribe. And that is what Gargoyle represents to me. Protection. Like the Māori warriors, Gargoyles have fearsome faces which are meant to scare off evil spirits.
Gargoyle sits high on the roof of buildings and therefore has an unobstructed view of the world, and represent a connection with your Higher Self. Gargoyle can see the things that you cannot observe. You may need to adjust your point of view about something. If your perspective is different to someone else’s, it might be a good time to widen your horizons to a broader view. Gargoyle is also connected to the Throat Chakra which means he is able to help you to express yourself, especially if you are facing a traumatic event in your life.
In a very practical way, Gargoyles are beings of purification. In the physical world, they work with the element of water – they act as spouts to redirect water away from the building to protect it from erosion. In the spiritual world, they assist in clearing away the obstacles on your journey. Winged Gargoyles are also associated with the element of air: with intellect, creativity, ideas, and dreams.
When Gargoyle enters your life, it’s time to look at what needs to be changed in your life – and especially the perspective through which you view your self and the world around you.
Often we put a whole heap of pressure on ourselves by setting really high goals and then driving ourselves to go even further. For some very rare people, this can actually work, and they are so passionate or driven to achieve their target that all else becomes secondary.
But for most humans, this driving of Self to extremes, can be detrimental to health and self-esteem, and for various reasons we kind of set ourselves up for failure. A really good example is New Year Resolutions! I suspect that there are very few people who have not set a goal at the start of a new year and have forgotten all about it by February other than a feeling of letting yourself down; of not being able to hold attention; of not lasting the course or however else you want to describe what you see as failure.
This happens right through life and I recently had this situation brought to my attention. Something I had strived toward for many years, fell down around my ears and for a short while I sat in the energy of feeling like I was a failure. Then I re-assessed. Instead of looking at the ending of a dream; instead of feeling as if I had failed in achieving my expectations, I looked at the achievements that the Journey had brought to me. I looked at how I now have the knowledge and skills to move forward in much smaller steps and in a different direction.
My expectations are much lower, far more realistic for who I am, and as a result I feel far more equipped to take my task forward. I have made my expectations into smaller steps that will eventually lead me to a higher goal.
Achieving many small steps, and celebrating each one, will still take you to the top of the hill. And not everyone is meant to climb a mountain.
Unlike their cousins, the Stingray, Manta Rays are gentle giants of the ocean. They look pretty fierce with their devilish horns and black and white markings, but they are quite harmless. Even their 300 teeth are useless as they scoop up plankton. Mantas are sometimes called Devil Fish because of how they look, but they teach us to never judge something by how it appears. Not everything is how it seems to be on the surface.
Mantas have to constantly keep moving in order to allow oxygen-rich water to flow over their gills so that they can breathe, and with this they show us the importance of always moving forward, not allowing stagnation to enter our lives.
Water Energy represents emotion and we are being asked to seek balance and inner harmony, to keep moving forward without living at either end of the emotional spectrum. Mantra represents Security, Stability, Peace within Self, and the ability to deal with complex situations with calm quietness and grace.
Manta Rays mate during the time of a full moon, which tells us that this is a good time to start a new project – to expand and create, but also be aware that Manta Rays don’t produce very many young. Pregnancy is 12-13 months long and this lets us know that whatever you manifest during the time that Manta Ray comes into your field, may take a long time to come to fruition, and also take up a fair amount of your time and energy. So don’t just jump into manifesting – plan carefully.
Manta also teaches us the benefits of allowing others to support you. She suggests that you should carefully watch those around you – either physically, spiritually or in a cyber platform – and decide who really has your best interests at heart. Be aware that is not always those who agree with you – so be discerning.
For Manta Ray this means allowing some fish into her field to help her clear herself of parasites.
For Starseeds and Lightworkers it means doing the Energy Work – deciding who or what is most beneficial and – very importantly – brings you joy and freedom – a lightness – into your life. You should build strong personal boundaries allowing in only those who can bring about an easing of pain and heavy loads and not contribute to the weight you carry.
Manta Ray teaches us to remain true to Self – especially when navigating deep waters.
In the time between waking and sleeping this morning I saw the cameo-style heads of two women, one white, one black tessellated together like a Ying Yang symbol.
A short time later, whilst drinking coffee and casually browsing through old entries in my journals I came across a notation of exactly that same ‘dream’ in August 2015.
I really shouldn’t have been surprised when “Harmony” came forward for today’s Journey. For me, that word represents Balance. More specifically Peaceful Balance. The rightness of the duality of our existence.
It means working together for our greater good – something that we as part of the Collective Consciousness of Humanity are not terribly good at.
Achieving harmony means recognising that there is good in this world – and bad. That if there wasn’t darkness, we would not ever recognise light. And then accepting this truth. The balance of all things.
Today, as you travel through your day, think about being in balance. But don’t beat yourself up if you can’t maintain it. Without being out of balance you would not know what it feels like to be IN harmony with all there is.
When I work with Animal Medicine, I never fail to be surprised at the number of Bird Spirits that come forward even though I know better. I shouldn’t really be surprised – they are, after all known as Spirit Messengers and I, as a carrier of Crow Medicine, do have a tendency to draw birds to me.
Tomorrow I have to take long drive to an appointment and always on such drives Falcon appears as a guide. She is a fantastic look out for danger and warns me to take care by swooping in front of my car. Her warnings have saved me from many driving difficulties over the years.
Falcon is not only a fascinating creature but she is also the fastest Being on this planet. This determined hunter has been recorded as reaching speeds of 242mph as she dives straight towards the Earth.
Falcon is an incredible hunter that can be found on every continent except Antarctica! She is ruthless. A dominant predator who operates primarily on instinct. Most of her brain power is devoted to her hunting behaviour and her eyesight – she can see eight times more clearly than the sharpest human eye. She can even see ultraviolet rays!!
Not only is falcon fast, but she is very strong and can easily take down prey six times her own body weight.
So what information does this bird bring to us? How can Falcon help us?
Her main message is Success Depends Upon Your Actions.
The world we live in is one that is very different to that which many of us grew up in. In only a few decades life has moved from a relatively slow progress to a point where things are changing daily and often, especially for older folk, there is a strong temptation to throw our hands up in the air and say “ENOUGH!”
Whatever stage of life we are in, and however quickly changes happen, there is a massive need at times to just sit still and let the world stop turning for a while. We all need time to regroup and replan – except when you forget to re-join the merry-go-round of Life. Then, it is possible to become unfocused, to wallow in what has become comfortable without moving forward. And that is OK if that is where you want to be – in comfortable, safe, known inaction, and you understand that you will not succeed without thought and action.
Falcon is extremely focused. She soars high above, seeking clarity and knowledge – exactly the attributes we need when we are seeking the answer to a question or looking for higher knowledge.
Falcon’s brain is not cluttered with lots of nonsense stuff, which allows for that intense focus and very swift action. She sees opportunity; and instantly weighs up the chance of success or failure before she takes action.
That focus is something we are going to need to draw upon as we move through these tricky times, especially if we want to grow as a society.
Falcon symbolises Freedom, Victory, Vision, Wisdom, Determination, but above all her message talks of Self-Responsibility. Success depends on YOUR actions. No-one is going to hold your hand going forward. You are responsible for you.
You are able to rise above any turmoil in your life and soar through the skies. You have the knowledge to decide your path forward. Only you are responsible for your path, and the potential pitfalls that may lie ahead, so chose wisely. Make sure your path is chosen through knowledge and wisdom and don’t enter the swift dive unless you are sure of the result.
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