great horned owl symbolism

Spirit Animals: GREAT HORNED OWL

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a large owl native to both North and South America. The wingspan of the larger female great horned owl is as much as 5 feet. The presence of this owl is often made apparent by her characteristic hooting that sounds like the phrase Who’s awake? Me too! Despite her excellent camouflage, the great horned owl is often spotted flying at dusk heading out to hunt for the evening.

Horns and Connection with the Heavens

The great horned owl doesn’t have actual horns, but instead has a tuft of feathers on each side of the top of her head that look like horns. Horns have long been associated with the ability to connect with the heavens and access psychic abilities. In this owl’s case the horns are symbolic rather than literal, made of fluff rather than bone.

Great horned owl symbolism is about trusting that you are connected to Source even if you don’t have physical proof. With great horned owl spirit animal, don’t expect to see material world results to your wishes and prayers. The communications, the answers to your prayers, will come as a feeling or a knowing, much in the same way that wind rustles through the “horn” feathers of the owl.

Connection to the spirit realms will feel like a whisper rather than a bolt of lightening. Luckily, great horned owl symbolism also encompasses the talent of all owls for acute hearing. You will find the remarkable ability to hear the faintest whisper of inspiration. The feathers of a great horned owl carry the power of the ability to connect to the quietude of the Divine. In the silence, you will find the support and solace you seek.

Like all owls, the great horned owl makes almost no sound when flying. This is due to special soft barbs on the edges of her flight feathers that gently push through the air. Hawks and falcons have stiff, sharp edges on their feathers that slice through the air and make much noise. Owls are designed for silence. Great horned owl meaning is about both moving with stealth and hearing what others cannot.

What Big Eyes You Have

The eyes of the great horned owl are nearly as large as ours but she is less than 2 feet tall. Her eyes, when compared to her head and body size, rank among the largest eyes of all terrestrial vertebrates.

These large eyes take in additional light, allowing the great horned owl to see well in near darkness. It then follows that great horned owl symbolism is not only about seeing in the dark, but having your eyes open wide. Great horned owl hunts at night and sleeps during the day, showing a talent for seeing into and being active in the unconscious. Great horned owl meaning lends enormous support for seeing into the shadow of our own unconscious and finding the fears and secret desires that motivate us. If you are trying to clear those skeletons out of your closet, now is a fitting time to do so.

 

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Early Starter

Great horned owl meaning is about getting an early start. The great horned owl is the earliest of nesters in North America, laying eggs from November through March depending on the climate. Obviously, she lays eggs later in the season in colder climates such as the Rocky Mountains. This gives the great horned owl a serious advantage over competitors. She is able to hunt and raise chicks when predation pressure by other hunters is low. Her chicks are also well grown by the time migratory predators, such as hawks and eagles return on their migrations from wintering grounds.

To get such an early start, the great horned owl does not leave her home. She lives with her single mate in the same territory year round. It is significant that great horned owls are most active in the winter. We typically think of the winter, and nighttime, as the times for rest and retreat.

Great horned owl medicine brings a time of contradictions. You may be active when others are quiet, and resting when the world is active. This may result in an increased dream activity or a change in your natural rhythms. Rather than be alarmed, go with the flow. The wisdom and schedule of great horned owl will help you get ahead of the game.

Ferocity of the Warrior

The male great horned owl fiercely protects his territory not only from others of his kind, but from other raptors of his size or larger. With as much as 300 psi (pounds per square inch) crushing power in his talons, his grip equals that of the much larger golden eagle. (For reference, golden eagles are three or more times the size of great horned owls.) It takes 29 lbs of force to open the talons of a great horned owl compared to a mere 6.6 lbs. for the barn owl.

Throughout the range of the great horned owl, over 500 different species of prey have been identified. The diversity of prey speaks to the ferocity of the great horned owl symbolism. She can take down prey that weigh more than she does and she easily takes down and eats most other species of hawks and owls.

Her main competition is with that of her daytime counterpart, the red-tailed hawk. These two species rarely nest close to each other because great horned owls may quickly devour the chicks in a red-tailed hawk nest. The red-tailed hawk and great horned owl inhabit the same ecological niche, eating the same prey. The great horned owl does not build her own nest. She instead takes those of other birds, including red-tailed hawks.

The way that red-tailed hawks and great horned owls are able to overlap in territory is that one rules the day and the other the night. Fierce fights still may break out between the two when they happen to cross each other’s paths.

Wise Action

The strength and courage of the great horned owl relates directly to the warrior archetype and the gift of wise action. The warrior archetype is not only known for ferocity, but loyalty. Great horned owl symbolism relates to fiercely defending what you believe in as well as staying strictly loyal to where you are most at home. You’ll be able to avoid conflicts by avoiding the busyness of the tribe and retreating into the quiet and less active areas of your life.

Do not fear the medicine of great horned owl, she will not lead you into mindlessly injuring others. Instead, she will teach you about the wise use of warrior power and the amazing gifts of strength and courage. When you turn these gifts to focus on facing your own fears, you’ll reap the most reward.

 

Spirit Animals: TRUSTY TURTLE

The names tortoise, turtle and terrapin apply to different groups of turtles in the USA, but other countries either place them all in the same category or categorize them differently. All have the characteristic shell which is either made of bone or cartilage. There are over 250 species of turtles worldwide.

Eternal Life

Turtle spirit animal symbolizes longevity and immortality in many mythologies around the world. This may be due to the fact that turtle always looks old with her wrinkly, dry skin and belabored movement. Even freshly hatched out of the egg, she appears elderly.

The association with longevity could also be due to the fact that turtles live for a very, very, very long time. The oldest known tortoise passed away in 2006 at 250 years old, and a Galapagos tortoise named “Harriet” recently died 171 years after befriending Darwin.

Science is backing what mythology already teaches. Researchers have found that the internal organs of turtles do not age, which is a unique gift in the animal kingdom. The fountain of youth may very well be in the genome of the turtle.

Along with eternal life, or at least growing to be very old, the meaning of turtle is coupled with wisdom. The archetypes of the sage and crone parallel the medicine of turtle spirit animal. Does having a turtle spirit animal mean you’ll live a long life? It probably has no bearing on your lifespan, but how about your soul?

Turtle spirit animal reminds us that we are ageless. She points out the timeless quality of our soul and patiently prompts us to recall the broader picture of centuries rather than seconds, lifetimes versus break times. You are being called upon to develop your own inner sage to guide you along the path.

 

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Slowing Down

Of course, turtle symbolism is about going slowly. That shell is heavy to carry and it limits the range of motion of turtle’s legs. We are all familiar with the story of the tortoise and the hare. However, this story is only one facet of the slow nature of turtle.

Turtle does not molt her entire skin at once like snakes do. She is always molting her skin in small pieces. Some members of the turtle family slough off the excess skin while others deposit it in layers as additional protective armor. This speaks of a gradual, continual and barely visible transformation. If you are hoping to wake up one morning and be a different person, turtle medicine suggests adjusting your expectations.

Turtle can stop the beating of her own heart, turning it on and off at will. Isn’t that amazing? The heart is often seen as a ticking clock, keeping time. We cannot escape the advance of time as our hearts must beat to keep us alive, but turtle spirit animal can teach us about how to slow down or even stop our perception of time. Ultimately, time is an illusion, a construct of the human mind.

Now is the time to let go of deadlines and forget schedules. Have you ever experienced one moment stretched over many? This is the meaning of turtle at work.

Patience

We all know the adage “slow and steady wins the race.” The meaning of turtle encompasses the amazing grace of patience. Patience is not simply suppressing restlessness or bearing annoyances, but settling into the “now” and embracing restfulness. Turtle spirit animal encourages you to check in on your capacity to be patient with others, yourself, and life, and she helps you further develop the grace of patience. Steady is not just about leisurely putting one foot in front of the other, but persevering in the face of obstacles that slow you down. The odds are against you on purpose so you slow down, develop an even temper, and practice diligent care.

Earth’s Creation

Turtle is more ancient than alligator, crocodile and snake. She knows a thing or two about the beginning of time. Her egg was buried in the sand or mud by her mother and she was born out of the Earth. Stories from North America to China speak of turtle’s shell making up the Earth. Turtle is a key player in countless creation stories and the symbolism of turtle is synonymous with the Earth itself. Thus, spirit animal turtle carries the qualities of the Goddess, the feminine, earth and water.

The Hindu god Vishnu transformed himself into a turtle to re-create the world after the great flood that occurs every four billion years. The turtle carried an elephant which, in turn, supported the world. Scientists have discovered that turtle likely communicates using subsonic sound, in the exact way that elephants do. Elephants also live long lives and are heavy and strong creatures. One is a mammal and the other a reptile, but there is a strange sisterhood here that is worth contemplating.

Home Wherever You Go

Turtle’s shell is made of around 60 bones, some of which are actually the ribs and backbone. The bones are then covered by a skin of horny scales. Dome shaped shells successfully prevent predators from getting a firm bite around the shield. Other shells of aquatic turtles are streamlined for swimming.

Turtle cannot crawl out of her shell. She caries her home wherever she goes. Whenever danger threatens, she retreats inside this effective shelter. Spirit animal turtle beckons us to recognize our own inner sanctuary as well as our home, Mother Earth.

If turtle has meandered into your life, consider reflecting on what “home” is to you and how that idea has evolved over time. Then take some time to offer gratitude to the places on the outer and the inner that provide you with the safety and security of home.

There is no need to hurry, no need to seek shelter elsewhere… It is a time when you are ready to let go of any expectation you have had about yourself or other people… There is not need to do anything but rest in the fullness of who you are right now… Savor this quality of slowing down, of coming to rest and recognizing that you are already at home.” – Osho in the Osho Zen Tarot

Learn more about the science of turtles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/science/12turt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

 

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Spirit Animals: LADYBUG

The name “ladybug” is actually an American name for members of the insect family Coccinellidae. Ladybugs also known as ladybird beetles or lady beetles. There are over 5,000 species of these typically red beetles often with black spots found around the world.

Ladybugs are Good Luck for Farmers

The meaning of ladybug spirit animal is closely associated first and foremost with good luck, but where does this idea come from? Ladybugs are well known amongst farmers and gardeners for their preference for dining on aphid and scale crop pests. Legends of ladybirds saving an entire crop from pest decimation abound. These stories were passed down through the centuries, resulting in a general association with good luck. Now simply seeing a ladybug is considered good luck for anyone, and the ritual of sending wishes off on a ladybug’s wings is commonplace.

Beetles of Our Lady the Virgin Mary

Originally, it is said that in the Middle Ages farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help to save their crops from a plague of harmful pests. A swarm of ladybugs came, ate up the pests and saved the day. Thus, they became known as the “Beetle of Our Lady” or Lady Beetles. The most common species of lady beetle in England is the 7-Spot Ladybird Beetle. Many came to link the seven spots to the seven joys and sorrows of Mother Mary and the red of the ladybug with her red cloak.

Ladybug is a messenger of the divine feminine and goddess energy. So often we prize action, logic and strategy, but ladybug spirit animal brings us closer to our intuition and our ability to open up to receive the gifts of the cosmos. Ladybug spirit animal opens up her wings, lifts off and carries us into the heart of the mother. Her red and black protective outer skeleton (known as an exoskeleton) opens to uncover her transparent wings showing how the goddess bestows protection over all of our freedoms, including the freedom to wish and dream.

 

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Complete Transformation

meaning of ladybug spirit animal larvae

Ladybug larvae, also known as an “alligator”

Like butterflies, ladybugs undergo what is called a “complete transformation”. Dragonflies, on the other hand, only undergo “incomplete transformation“. This means that ladybugs have a pupae stage during which they completely transform from one form (a crawling larvae) to a drastically different form (a winged beetle). With butterflies the pupae stage happens in a cocoon. Ladybugs undergo this stage in the open attached to a leaf. Ladybug spirit animal shows that the last, big step of your transformation will result in a quantum leap from one way of being to a brand new one. You will have a gap or quiet, inactive time when this shift is happening in you, but others will be able to see it taking place.

meaning of ladybug spirit animal pupa

Exposed ladybug pupa attached to a leaf

When you see what you know to be a ladybug you are actually only seeing one aspect of the beetle’s lifecycle, the culmination of all growth. We forget oftentimes that the beetle is the finished product and we expect as much from ourselves and our dreams. We grow impatient to reach the end without delay.

The ladybug spiritual meaning speaks of going through a number of transitions in the beginning because the crawling larvae (informally called “alligators”) have to molt four times before reaching the pupae stage. The larvae between molts are called “instars”. The larvae are little stars to farmers because they are voracious eaters of aphids and scale pests. This reminds us that even though we may not be complete, we are well underway in our development and we can be of great service along the way.

Does the Number of Spots on a Ladybug Mean Anything?

You may remember hearing as a child that the number of spots on a ladybug indicated the age, in years, of the beetle. At a young age, I realized quickly that insects don’t live that long, but I still wanted the number of spots to mean something with ladybug spirit animal. Science tells us that the number of spots usually tells us what species of ladybug we have in hand, which is useful albeit sort of bland.

Looking at the spiritual meaning of ladybug, we can discern more by counting dots. By using numerology, we can understand the meaning of the spots and how this speaks to a process of transformation we may be going through in our lives right now. The spots may tell how many stages there are to our process or by looking up the numerological significance of the number of spots we may learn more about the theme of our transformation.

Here is a VERY quick list to give a sample of the meaning of the numbers one through seven carry: 1 –  union; 2 – duality; 3 – transcending opposites; 4 – cardinal directions, elements; 5 – center; 6 – love, perfection; 7 – completion, center, eternal life. I encourage you to do your own research to learn more about the specific number of spots the ladybug you saw had. You can always ask in the comments below and I’ll let you know about your particular ladybug.

Innocence and Childhood

Children’s songs and stories abound about the ladybug and children’s toys, clothing lines, and room decor continually incorporate the image of the ladybug. I recall being squeamish about picking up any insects as a child, except for ladybugs. Ladybugs could crawl on my hands and arms for days as far as I was concerned. There is an intangible connection between ladybug spirit animal and kids. Ladybugs are easy to find and accessible, giving children their first intimate chance to relate hands-on with a wild and truly free being.

Ladybug spirit animal can be the spark of a child-like wonder in the natural world, waking the nature child within us all. She reminds us to go outside and crouch down to come eye to eye with the flowers. So much of the weight of the world can be forgotten in a moment of childlike communion with the natural world. This is how the healing energy of ladybug spirit animal works.

 

 

Spirit Animals: EAGLE, YOUR GRACE

Eagle Spirit Animal

The meaning of eagle spirit animal remains the same no matter where we look. Eagle spirit animal is the messenger of the gods and the lord of the birds. There are sixty species of eagles around the world and copious legends in every culture to match. Eagles are synonymous with the freedom, vision and enlightenment.

Eagle Eye

Eagle has a number of adaptations to his vision that allow him to see anywhere from 4 to 8 times better than humans. There are five times more light-sensitive cells in eagle’s eyes, one million cells to be exact, than in a human’s. He sees five basic colors when we see only three. He has two or three deep fovea at the back of each eye that act as telephoto lenses, which enable him to judge the distance to an object (stereoscopic vision) as well as discern details at great distances. We only have one shallow fovea per eye. Studies have shown that eagle can see a rabbit up to two miles away. Eagle also has a well-developed supraorbital ridge that shades his eyes from sunlight, reducing glare.

Eagle spirit animal offers you an opportunity to practice seeing your life differently. We all have our own perspective on things which, in relation to eagle, is short-sighted. Perspective is personal and limited by what we experience and the knowledge we gain.

Eagle symbolism teaches us how to catch a strong breeze, surrender to the will of the Divine and gain the gift of perception. As eagle soars high in the sky, he can see for miles around taking in the landscape through his senses, perceiving all. When we tap into, or merge, with The One, we no longer are limited by our own story and we see the interconnectivity of all things. This is what it means to perceive and to embody eagle medicine.

A Godly Bird

As a messenger of the Divine, eagle spirit animal has taken many forms, including those of the gods themselves. The Greek god Zeus turns into a golden eagle to wield thunder and lightening. Both Zeus and the Roman God Jupiter employ golden eagle as their emissary. In Hinduism, the great Lord Vishnu has for his favored mount the divinity “Garuda” who has the body of a human and the head and wings of an eagle. Garuda is the enemy of evil which are represented by snakes.

In the Egyptian alphabet, eagle represents the sound A, or aleph, which shows his predominance over all other birds. Garuda is also known as the king of the birds. Eagle even has his own constellation called “Aquila”.

When an animal shows up playing the same role in countless cultures, we know we’ve come upon an archetype. There is no mistaking that eagle is representative of divinity itself and harkens a time of communion with Source for those who come into conscious relationship with the eagle animal totem. Eagle spirit animal teaches us how to trust in the currents of grace to hold us aloft and how to carry lofty values with dignity. Remember not to get too caught up in the path of enlightenment.

Eagle must come to Earth to feed and rest. Dependence on the mundane existence will keep you humble and is necessary for the spiritual path. Care for the body in your soul and the soul in your body. Eagle will help show the way, uniting in you heaven and Earth.

 

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Eagle Spirit Animal & the First Shaman

The first shaman was said to be an eagle and eagles play a pivotal role in the cosmology in shamanic traditions around the world. According to the author Mircea Eliade in Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, the Buryat people of Siberia tell this story:

“The gods created man, and he lived happily until the time when the evil spirits spread sickness and death over the earth. The gods decided to give mankind a shaman to combat disease and death, and they sent the eagle. But men did not understand its language… The eagle returned to the gods and asked them to give him the gift of speech, or else to send a Buryat shaman to men. The gods sent him back with an order to grant the gift of shamanizing to the first person he should meet on earth. Returned to earth, the eagle saw a woman asleep under a tree, and had intercourse with her. Some time later the woman gave birth to a son, who became the ‘first shaman.’ According to another variant, the woman, after her connection with the eagle, saw spirits and herself became a shamaness.”

The message that eagle spirit animal brings is more than a mere edict stated in words. It should mean something to us that eagle doesn’t have a complex vocal language. The “message” eagle brings is more akin to what the story of the first shaman indicates. The eagle bestows spiritual gifts that allow us to come into service of others, the heavens, and the world. Eagle, like Garuda, helps us dispel evil first within ourselves and then in the world.

Possibility

The meaning of eagle reminds us of possibility, the kind of possibility that opens up when we rise above earthly concerns and open our minds to Source. The eagle is a symbol of freedom and courage because you need both to find God.

The reality is that, by its very nature, existence cannot have any boundary, because what will be beyond the boundary? – Again another sky… Skies upon skies are available for your flight.” – Osho Zen Tarot

Astronomers know this truth. As we develop stronger and stronger telescopes we continue to see that beyond each universe is another. Now is the time to take flight and break free from the imaginary boundaries that hold you back. There is nothing on Earth that eagle cannot soar above. Join him and know the same is true for you.

 

 

Spirit Animals: MYSTICAL WHALE

When exploring whale meaning it is important to understand that there are two distinct suborders of whales. There are the toothed whales (Odontoceti) and baleen whales (Mysticeti). There are 26 species of toothed whales including the famous orca (or killer whale), beluga, narwhal, and sperm. The 10 species of baleen whales includes the humpback, gray, blue, right, and bowhead whales. Determining if your whale spirit animal is toothed or baleen will help immensely because they carry differing symbolism.

Paleontological records and molecular data indicate that all whales lived on land and migrated into the sea over 50 million years ago. Whale is a mammal like us. She must come to the surface to breathe air through her blow-hole and nurse her live-born young. Whale evolved spindle cells in her brain as long as 15 million years before us. These cells relate to self-awareness, compassion, and linguistic expression. As a warm-blooded animal living in cold oceans, whale relies on a thick layer of blubber as insulation. Legends say that whale spirit animal carries the history of the world, remembering back to the time when she was on land.

Magnetic Meaning of Whale

Whale is known to have a substance in the retinas of her eyes called biomagnetite, which causes sensitivity to the electromagnetic field of the Earth. She reads the electromagnetic field like a map and this helps her migrate across oceans. Whale symbolism speaks of the ability to find your way through the abyss using the pull of your soul’s compass. Others may think that somehow you magically “see” the way, but you know the map is coming through a different channel. You may not know how to explain this pull, but it is there.

True practitioners of the law of attraction don’t have to think of where to go, they are mysteriously drawn. Whale spirit animal brings a time of being “in the flow” with the law of attraction. She is where she needs to be when she needs to be there.

Generally, the electromagnetic fields follow coastlines, but in some locations these fields turn directly into the coastline. A significant amount of whale beachings occur in these locations. If you feel like you’ve followed your guidance onto the beach and now you’re stuck, wait. Either the high tide will come to haul you back in or you will experience a time of letting go. You are now at the mercy of fate. Before the rebirth must first come a death. Dive into the mouth of the whale to move through this process.

Belly of the Whale

[ct_focus color=”light” background=”lightgrey” style=”normal”]”Allegorically… the passage into a temple and the hero-dive through the jaws of the whale are identical adventures, both denoting, in the picture language, the life-centering, life-renewing act.” – Joseph Campbell[/ct_focus]

The motif of the hero entering the belly of a behemoth is so prolific in mythology, that Joseph Campbell dedicates an entire chapter, titled “The Belly of the Whale,” of his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces to it. When a transformative process begins in our life we often expect that our outer world will shift. We think we’ll move to a new town, start an exciting new career, or meet someone who sparkles.

If whale spirit animal is with you, now is the time to adjust your expectations. This metamorphosis is going to happen inside the dark, wet belly of the beast. There is no use to fighting the process. You’ve already made it past the rows of sharp teeth. Like Jonah, put your time to use in quiet contemplation. The rebirth will come.

Sonar in Toothed Whales

Here is where we begin to make the distinction between the toothed and baleen whales. Toothed whales are closely related to dolphins and porpoises, and like their cousins, they use echolocation. The whales emit sounds, possibly using a nasal plug or their larynx, and then focus the sounds using a bulbous-shaped melon on their foreheads. The melon “points” the sound. This sound travels through the water until it hits a solid object and bounces back. The toothed whales then receive the sound in their lower jawbone and inner ear. Based on how quickly the sound returns and at what pitch, the whales can tell what is in front of them. Echolocation is so accurate that it can replace sight all together for navigation and hunting fish.

If you are working with a toothed whale spirit animal, bouncing ideas off of others may be a useful strategy. The ideas from your mind are like sounds coming from the whale’s melon. Putting your ideas out in the world to see how they are received will help you make sound decisions. Be sure to wait for the response before acting. Don’t get greedy with your ideas. Sound them out. It is not the ideas that will bring a reward, but the response to them that will tell you what opportunities are swimming around you at this time.

Sonar pollution from military activities is thought to interfere considerably with whales’ abilities to echolocate and, thus, efficiently hunt. This is one major environmental crisis among many threatening the lives of these beautiful animals.

Songs of Baleen Whales

Baleen whales have huge, flexible keratin plates in their mouths in the place of teeth that are used for filtering krill and small fish from mouthfuls of seawater. All whales have complex languages via which they communicate over long distances, much further than elephants. Sound travels efficiently through water, so animals who appear to be traveling solo are often coordinating their movements with other whales over thousands of miles of open ocean. Baleen whales go beyond chirps and clicks to songs.

[ct_message type=”info”]”The rhythms and refrains of the humpback whale, with a million information-carrying changes of frequency, represent the single most elaborate vocal display in the natural world” – N. J. Saunders in “Animal Spirits”[/ct_message]

Humpback whales are likely the most famous of baleen whales because of their elaborate, beautiful compositions. I had a tape recording of humpback whale song that I listened to as I went to sleep as a child. I still remember every note. There is emotion in their songs of many stanzas. There is something that calls us back to the origins of who we are, to love, and expansiveness.

The meaning of whale is getting caught up in the flow of a moving, uplifting work of art. The scientific name of the suborder of baleen whales is “Mysticeti” containing the word “mystic”. This speaks to the knowing that being moved by song is a mystical experience.

 

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meaning of bear spirit animal

Spirit Animals: MOTHER BEAR

There are 8 species of bear around the world that live in everything from tropical to arctic habitats. Bear behavior varies from aggressive, as with the grizzly and polar bear, to passive, i.e. the panda bear. The meaning of bear spirit animal is closely tied with the archetype of the cave. Every species of bear uses a cave or den during their lives be it for hibernation, bearing young, or retreating from stormy weather.

Introspection in the Cave

A naturally formed cave or den dug in the ground symbolizes the womb of the mother. Bear meaning speaks to us of retreating into the womb of the Great Mother, the earth, for rest and protection. Creativity is born during this time of retreat as we see when the mother bear emerges with her bear cubs. We think that maturity happens when we leave the womb, but bear symbolism teaches different. Going back into the great womb, the void, where all of creation is born actually brings maturity. If we are constantly out in the world doing, doing, doing we never turn our experience into wisdom. The meaning of bear is to turn inward for moments of silent retreat, meditation, and contemplation to synthesize ideas and reflect.

This coming into the core of who we are to find the infinite knowing of the cosmos is the essence of bear spirit animal. People with the archetype of the hermit will understand how fruitful and critical this “cave time” can be.

Hibernation

There are actually only three species of bear that hibernate, the black bear, grizzly/brown bear and Asiatic black bear. If you are exploring the symbolism of these species, now is the time to consider what pace you are going at. These bears can go up to 7 ½ months without eating, drinking, urinating, or defecating. All of their energy goes to turning inward and slipping away into a trance. Bear spirit animal may be asking you to drop all worldly concerns at this time. They will adjust the length of their hibernation based on climactic factors and in the winters of warmer zones or years they may emerge multiple times during the winter to feed.

Now may be a good time to consider either slowing down if life has been fast-paced or waking up and emerging from the den if your retreat is near an end. It is important to remember that the bears do not instantly fall into deep sleep nor do they jump right out of the den and go straight about living.

 

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Transitioning

There is an intensive period before hibernation called “hyperphagia” which is a period of excessive eating and drinking way past the point of hunger to fatten up for hibernation. The bears may eat five times as many calories as needed to survive. Bear spirit animal doesn’t suggest you run to the kitchen and start stuffing your face, rather that you gather as much knowledge and experience as possible before turning inward.

When hibernating bears emerge from the den, they go through a “walking hibernation” for 2-3 weeks. Those of us that have taken an intensive spiritual workshop know this as “re-entry”. This is a time when the bears eat less and move slowly. When we return home from retreat,  we have to gradually come back into the mundane concerns of the world.

Whether going into contemplation or coming out, the meaning of bear is to do so gradually and with thoughtfulness.

Mother Bear

Bear symbolism is linked to the “mother bear” archetype around the world. Even the less aggressive species are still known for their tender and highly attentive treatment of their young. In the Greek story of the princess Atalanta, Atalanta is left in the woods by her father, the king, because she is not a boy. The Goddess Artemis is said to have sent a mother bear to take in Atalanta as her own. When Atalanta was grown, a party of hunters discovered her and the mother bear came to her defense. Similarly, the Wabanaki Pueblo people have a story of an abandoned boy who was adopted by a mother bear that later came to his defense.

Grizzly bears are famous for attacking and sometimes killing humans that get between them and their young. If you are a mother, you likely have had the experience of protecting your young. For others, the mother bear meaning is symbolic and you can work with the mother archetype. What creative projects or innocent beings are you in staunch defense of? Bear spirit animal teaches about using aggression as a healthy defense of the weak or abandoned parts of ourselves.

The 8 Species of Bears

Black Bear

Known as an adaptable generalist, the black bear is the most abundant and conspicuous of all bears. Once corrupted by the taste of human food, black bears can become obsessed. Think of your own associations to the temptations of the “civilized” world (digital gadets, TV, coffee, sugar, etc.) and ways you can remain one-in-yourself. The cave time will be an especially important retreat for those with this spirit animal.

Grizzly/Brown Bear

People with the grizzly bear spirit animal as a guide should study the mother bear archetype within themselves and be sure they are utilizing their aggression judiciously. This bear is found in wild places and does not coexist well with humans. What aspect of you is still wild and untouched? How can you protect that aspect?

Asiatic Black Bear

Known as the “Moon Bear of Tibet”, this bear has a distinctive crescent moon on its chest. The moon is related to feminine and intuitive qualities. This bear spirit animal can help you curl up around this part of yourself in the cave and find much needed nurturance in the darkness.

Sun Bear

The sun or honey bear lives in the warm, tropical climates of Southeast Asia and is a forest dweller. It is the smallest and rarest of all bears. Forests are commonly seen as the realm of our unconscious, our inner “wilderness”. In the tropics, the forest is abundant, moist and rich. The sun bear naps in nests it builds in trees and adores eating honey. The sun bear spirit animal brings tidings of your own inner riches.

Spectacled/Andean Bear

The spectacled bear lives in the Andean Mountains of South America and has distinctive white spectacles over its eyes. An inhabitant of the cloud forest and other uninhabited places, this bear teaches about what we can see and what vision we can bring back from a foyer up the hero’s mountain and into the dense forests of our inner landscape.

Sloth Bear

A lesser known member of the bear clan, the sloth bear lives in humid forests in India and Sri Lanka. These bears are nocturnal, sleeping in trees during the day and seen hanging from trees like sloths. The meaning of bear here involves moving at a slow pace all of the time and maintaining a gentle mindset.

Panda Bear

Distinctly different from all other bears, the docile and glamorous panda bear speaks of seeing the world in black and white. Quiet and reclusive, the panda symbolism teaches about a detached, gentle way of contemplating the polarities of the world without judgement or irritation.

Polar Bear

You can read all about this bear by going to the article on MASTER POLAR BEAR

Some great information on bear behavior and biology is available here:
http://greatbear.org/bear-species/
https://bear.org/bear-facts/black-bears/hibernation/
https://survivalmag.net/bear-safety-guide

 

Go deeper into your relationship
with the mother archetype…

The “Nurturer Archetypes” Online Class

All three archetypes love to care for others and pour their energy into giving. They reach their full potential once they complete the journey through the self and into their unique form of service. The divine mother aligns with the cycles of life. The loyal companion softens the hardened heart. The humble servant embraces service to all.

 

snake symbolism

Spirit Animals: SUPREME SNAKE

Every single culture of man has more than one myth about a snake and most societies have a creation myth including a snake. Snakes and us, we go way back. Few animals reign supreme like the snake in man’s psyche. To complicate things further, there are nearly 3,000 species of snakes in the world. They live in a wide variety of habitats from jungle to desert and can offer helpful pest control and carry deadly venom. The symbolism of snake is considerably different depending on the species.

If you’ve done any research at all about snake symbolism, your mind is likely twisted up in knots. One reference will call the snake spirit animal a bearer of good luck, rain, fertility, intense power, and abundance. The next will warn against bad fortune, liars, sin, and great suffering.

The reverence of serpent is universal. No culture remains untouched.
– Jessica Dawn Palmer in Animal Wisdom

Snake Symbolism & Transmutation

Everyone agrees on one thing, snake symbolism is the embodiment of transmutation. This is best exemplified by the shedding of a snake’s skin. Depending on the age of the snake, this happens one to four times a year, and serves to renew the scales and remove lice. When we say, “I’m going to crawl out of my skin” we are tapping into the intelligence of snake medicine.

Many people feel an overall energetic tingling in their bodies, just under their skin, during a time when they are ready to shed an identity. Aligning with snake spirit animal will help ease the discomfort and antsy-ness that accompanies this transition. Snakes rub up against rocks, bushes, gravel, or whatever they can find to help remove the skin. It comes off in one long piece, like a sock turned inside out. Now may be a good time for a massage or movement such as dance or yoga. Shedding one’s skin is an active process enacted through the friction of rubbing up against events. Conflict and contradiction can be helpful allies.

Initiation of the Venomous Snake

Approximately one-tenth of all snake species are venomous and a smaller portion of those are deadly to man. When considering what does snake mean for you, you will need to at least determine if the snake spirit animal you are working with is venomous or not. If not, the snake will act as a benevolent companion for you teaching you about the origins of life and the cycle of death and rebirth. Also, consider the meaning of snake symbolism in relation to healing and medicine.

If the snake spirit animal you are encountering is venomous, the snake will be a galvanizing guide through a fierce remaking of your life. Venom is meant to inflict pain and you may now very well be enduring a painful process. This is an initiation meant to wake up the primal life force within you and help you learn your mettle. You will need to dig deep to find the power to transmute this suffering into a blessing.

Often the suffering is not induced from the outside, but is internal. Anger and resentment fostered over time create an unhealthy buildup of venom in our systems. As Buddha says, “Being angry with another person is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” If you are hearing the warning “hiss” of a venomous spirit animal snake in your ear, turn your efforts to transmuting the poison in your words and in your mind. Prayer can be incredibly helpful during this time as forgiveness is a holy power we need assistance with.

Healing, Death, & Rebirth

In one myth about Asclepius, the Greek God of healing, he learned how to bring the dead back to life from a snake. He killed a snake and watched a companion snake bring herbs that brought the dead snake back to life. Temples built to Asclepius were hospitals that hosted non-venoumous snakes that traveled the floors among the infirm.

The Rod of Asclepius is still used as a sign of the medical profession. The symbol of a snake entwined around a staff is an earlier image first seen with the protective Egyptian goddess Wadjet and later referenced in the bible when Moses raised the brass/brazen serpent in the wilderness. Anyone bit by a fiery serpent for speaking against God would live by looking upon Moses’s brass serpent. Blood from the left side of a Gorgon, a Greek monster with a head made of serpents, is lethal, and blood from the right side restores the dead to life.

We find that snake symbolism reminds us that the carrier of death is also the one to deliver cure. This is a very homeopathic viewpoint in that “like cures like.” It may look like a misfortune is simply meant to cause you harm, but the cure is included in the misfortune. This is where we see the true nature of the cycle of death and rebirth as a hallmark of snake symbolism. The snake eats its own tail.

Insight from Snake Adaptations

Real-life snakes have poor vision and no external ears, so they sense a lot in their environment by picking up scent molecules on their tongues and pulling them into their mouths to “taste” the world around them. This is why they slither about flicking their tongues. Taste is connected to nourishment. Snake spirit animal helps us determine which environments are most nourishing for us and helps us seek out that which “feeds” us.

Snake fangs are oriented backwards and their jaws are unfused so they can swallow their prey whole. This means they can eat fewer, larger meals. Snake symbolism signals a time in your life when you come into a time of abundance, more than you think you can take in at once, that will be followed by a long digestion period.

Cool, calm and collected, this cold-blooded animal helps us distance from the drama of life.

Instead of eyelids, snakes have transparent “spectacle” scales, which always protect and cover their eyes. Snakes have no way to close their eyes. Eyeglasses are about putting things into perspective. With the help of snake spirit animal, we can learn to protect our perspective and always keep our eyes open. This speaks of not falling prey to illusion or being caught unaware.

 

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elephant symbolism

Spirit Animals: EARNEST ELEPHANT

The Matriarchy

Elephant society is female dominated, what is otherwise known as a matriarchy. Each herd is lead by an elder female who is at once the older sister, the eldest aunt, the mother, and the grandmother. She travels with her sisters and all of their offspring. There is a deep sense of community among elephants and they mourn the passing of their loved ones. Mature males travel alone or in lose bachelor groups. They only join the females during mating.

Elephant symbolism speaks of the wisdom in the trinity of maiden, mother and crone. By encompassing all generations of females and venerating the matriarch, feminine wisdom is rich in the world of elephants. Elephants are known for their altruistic and compassionate treatment of each other. Whenever you’re feeling the need for empathy and nurturance, elephant spirit animal can help you come home.

Natives of Vibration

Elephants have the ability to hear low frequency sounds, known as infrasonic sounds, better than any other animal we’ve tested.  They can also communicate over long distances (at least 7 km and possibly up to 70 km) with their infrasonic rumble calls.  We cannot hear the sounds they make, but we can feel the vibration of the rumbles. Infrasonic sounds travel through air farther than higher frequency sounds, and this gives elephants the ability to coordinate their movements over long distances.

The law of vibration states that everything in our world is actually moving, vibrating at a molecular level. It is the rate of this vibration that determines what form the molecules will take. In a moment of Divine revelation, we have the opportunity to feel the vibration of all life. This experience is completely breathtaking. Anyone who’s fully entered the law of vibration is irrevocably changed.

Elephant symbolism brings us into contact with this universal law and opens us up to a life of service of the whole. Once you understand the grandeur of the world through the law of vibration you can’t help but come into service of it.

There is no evidence of territoriality in elephants and this may be because the family herds are in continual contact with each other over long range. In talking, they avoid going to the same area to graze when resources are limited. Elephant symbolism teaches us how to take our neighbors (both literal and figurative) into account when making decisions about how to obtain and utilize resources. So many of our decisions are short sighted and it is time we take into consideration everyone that is affected by what we do. With the help of elephant spirit animal, we have the opportunity to truly live our lives in a more “global” way not only taking our fellow humans into account but also the earth and all her children.

Studies have found that elephants call more at night when a temperature inversion makes their sounds travel farther. This shows an acute awareness of the density of air. The element of air is associated with our thoughts. Elephant symbolism brings us into knowing that even our thoughts have a frequency, a vibration, that affects everything around us. When we get busy thinking in private, in the dark, elephant symbolism says we may have the most wide reaching effects.

Elephants are in contact with vibrations in other ways. They may be able to detect seismic vibrations from thunderstorms through their feet. They can detect vibrations of running animals through sensitive nerve endings in tip of their trunk when they place it on the ground.

Complex Cognition

Elephants have a similar brain structure to primates (humans, monkeys, chimps, and apes) and cetaceans (dolphins and whales) and they have advanced abilities for problem solving and tool use. Their communication is highly intricate which is another sign of complex thinking. Scientists have discovered that elephants are able to recognize their own reflection in a mirror. Self-recognition indicates a very high level of awareness only found elsewhere in cetaceans, magpies and primates.

The meaning of elephant is therefore linked to self-awareness and heightened thinking. There are all kinds of intelligence in the world, but elephants have the kind of intelligence we most closely relate to. Relating with elephant spirit animal can indicate a time of heightened awareness and thought.

Tactile Trunk

The most distinguishing characteristic of elephants is their enormous trunk. The trunk is the nose and upper lip combined into a single appendage. The trunk is used for many, many things including breathing (70% of their breath comes through the trunk), smelling, sucking up water to deliver to the mouth, sucking and blowing dirt to cover their backs as a sun protectant, gathering food, snorkeling while swimming, communication (much like we wave our arms in gestures), sensing vibration, and manipulating tools.

The trunk is strong enough to uproot trees and refined enough to pluck a flower. The trunk in elephant symbolism teaches that with great power comes great responsibility

African Elephant vs. Asian Elephant Symbolism

There are a number of difference between the two species of elephants. To start, African elephants are much larger than Asian elephants. The African elephant’s ears are twice as large and shaped like the continent of Africa. African elephants have two fingerlike appendages on end of trunk used to grasp objects, while Asian elephants only have one. The males and females of African elephants both have tusks, while only the male Asian elephants have tusks.

Besides these obvious physical differences, there is a distinct difference in disposition of the two. Asian elephants are easily domesticated and have been beasts of burden for millennia (dating back to 2000 BCE). They help with logging, farming, building and transportation. They’ve also served in the less palatable role of war machine. Asian elephants are worshipped, richly adorned and elaborately painted for ceremonies and festivals throughout Asia. This is the species we see in our circuses. Like the horse, the Asian elephant has played a key role in the advancement of our civilization and has suffered immense atrocities as a result of domestication. The bond between an elephant and a human can run very, very deep both emotionally and archetypally. Our past is linked inextricably with theirs.

African elephants are not easily domesticated, so we rarely see them in captivity aside from zoos.

When exploring the meaning of elephant in your life it is worth determining which species of elephant speaks most to you. The Asian elephant will tell of a rich and tortured past of servitude full of the paradox of intense reverence and great trial. This very similar to the plight of the horse, but different in that it is mind boggling to consider that such a giant animal would so gently and generously submit to a small human’s demands. The African elephant will demonstrate a wild nature that cannot be tamed and has been left untouched.

A Note on Land Clearing

Being the largest land animals, long living (they live to 60 or 70 years), and invested in future generations, elephants must be aware of the impact they have on the land and their ability to shape their environment. In shamanic work, elephant spirit animals are brilliant helpers with land clearings. They have the power and strength to clear away what is no longer needed, the wisdom to use restraint and the foresight to prepare the land for future generations.

 

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Dragonfly symbolism

Spirit Animals: DARING DRAGONFLY

Dragonfly’s Gift of Agility

Dragonfly symbology is intimately linked with the ability to move quickly and swiftly in all directions. Like hummingbird, dragonfly is an agile flyer that can hover, go up or down, forward or backward, and left or right. This speaks of an ability to encompass all seven directions of the medicine wheel. He also has four different styles of flight from gliding to speeding through the air.

When studying the meaning of dragonfly, be sure to examine your own agility. Are you able to adjust the speed and direction with which you are moving through life? We can sometimes get stuck going forward 100 miles an hour only to find ourselves laid out flat with a cold regretting past decisions. Dragonfly spirit animal reminds us to experiment with different paces and directions as we navigate through life.

Small, Fierce Dragons

Dragonfly gets his name after, yes, the myth of dragons. When you learn that a prehistoric dragonfly once existed that had a wingspan of over 2 feet wide, you may start to imagine that dragonfly is the real-life counterpart of dragon energy.

Both as a young nymph in the water and winged adult, dragonfly is a fierce, ruthless predator that is known for eating more than a fifth of his own body weight in one day. He will sometimes kill more than he needs to eat. He grabs prey on the wing with his strong jaws and carries it with his legs. Dragonfly also staunchly defends his territory at a given pond. Dragonfly symbolism is about hunting out what you need and/or want and being a brave and courageous warrior in the process.

Some people shy away or have a negative connotation with predatory nature, but it is just as needed as any other way of the natural world. Without the help of dragonfly we would have an explosion of small insects like mosquitos. Dragonfly helps control insect populations that are overabundant. He teaches us that there is more than enough for everyone. Be brave, venture forth, and take the dragon’s treasure as your own.

 

Find your spirit animal workshop. Painting of red-tailed hawk.

 

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Dragonfly is often associated with transformation because his life cycle includes metamorphosis, but what many people don’t realize is that the dragonfly undergoes what is called “incomplete metamorphosis”. This means that he looks mostly the same throughout his entire life. The dragonfly starts out as a waterborne nymph and undergoes multiple molts (from 6 to over 12 molts depending on the species) out of one body size into the next. He literally crawls out of the old skin, known as his exoskeleton, already in his new skin. His final molt is into a more colorful, winged version of himself. Insects that undergo “complete metamorphosis”, such as butterflies, look completely different between larval and adult stages and must spend cocoon time as a pupa to make the one big transformation.

Incomplete metamorphosis of the dragonfly nymph shows us that transformation doesn’t have to happen in one big, grandiose gesture, but can be unveiled in a number of small shifts. The lack of need for a cocoon stage shows that we don’t always have a rest or time to consider changes in our lives and that’s okay. Now is the time to simply move ahead into the new. Like the dragonfly, you will emerge in your new skin ready for the world.

The Big Transformation

The change from a swimming, brown, wingless nymph to a winged, airborne, iridescent beauty is quite dramatic in dragonfly. The adult dragonfly emerges from the back of his own head. Dragonfly symbolism therefore relates to an intellectual (and likely spiritual) awakening. A birth to not only new ideas, but a more evolved way of thinking altogether comes with dragonfly symbolism. He goes from living and breathing in water to instead breathing and flying in the air. This drastic switch from the emotional realms of water to the intellectual realm of air shows how dragonfly symbolism is about shifting from emotion to thought and higher ideals.

Dragonfly spends most of his life as a nymph in the water, depending on the species and the conditions, a few months to many years. Dragonfly is only a winged adult for a short period of time.  This shows how our maturity may happen under the surface and unrecognized as we grow our capacity to handle the emotions of life.

As a nymph, dragonfly breaths through gills in his rectum. Although not poetic, this interesting adaptation allows him to expel air out his anus as a form of jet propulsion. The anus is symbolic of the way we release what is no longer needed. Now may be a good time to let out a big sigh of release and let go of what is stressful and unproductive in your life. A quick release can propel you forward.

A Bit on Intimacy

Dragonfly mates in a unique posture called the “heart” where the male grabs the head of the female with his tail and she places her tail just below his head. This speaks of a requirement for love and emotional intimacy before physical partnering occurs. This could be a need to get to know a business partner’s character before signing a deal and doesn’t apply solely to romantic relationships.

Dragonfly, Dazzling Illusionist

Dragonfly symbolism is synonymous with illusion. The combination of the dazzling way dragonfly’s body reflects light and the transparent beauty of his wings contribute largely to this association. His “iridescent coloring – created by the play of refracted light – teaches us the value of looking at life from different angles. From each new perspective, the world takes on a different spectrum of colors, reminding us of the illusive nature of reality.” (from Heart of the Ark Cards).

As we mature from watery creatures ruled by our emotions to more enlightened beings we start to take in the universal truth about the nature of reality. The majority of what we thought was “real” is just illusion. In the great teachings of Buddha we learn to not get attached to the spectacle. It is not until the end of dragonfly’s life as a winged insect that he takes on iridescence. This teaches us that it takes maturity and thoughtfulness to embody all the colors of life.

How are you handling your emotions? Are you able to emerge from the illusion and take in the spectrum of life? Remember that the meaning of dragonfly is not just about rising above or shutting off emotions. He remains always over water and the eggs of his offspring are implanted under the water’s surface. The long experience gained in the emotional realms are the foundation for growth.

 

Find your spirit animal workshop. Painting of red-tailed hawk.

 

 

Spirit Animals: FLEXIBLE FOX

Foxes are versatile and diverse. Did you know that there are five species of fox in the continental United States alone and over 20 worldwide? Some species like red foxes cover many habitats and commingle with human habitation. Other species like the swift fox remain in a particular habitat. Let’s review a few species to get a glimpse of the unique power and symbolism of the talented fox.

Gray Fox Spirit Animal Camouflage

The most prolific and common fox native to North America, the gray fox, is a fairly secretive creature that prefers to stick to woodlands and rarely venture into the open. She is identified by the black stripe down her back and tail, gray and black peppered coat on her back, and black-tipped tail. Her coat does include other colors such as white, red, and orange and works as great camouflage. Gray fox symbolism speaks of disappearing into the background and the costumes we wear. If you are exploring the ways you go unnoticed, the gray fox is a great companion. There is power in being invisible.

Gray fox the only fox that can climb trees. Her strong association with trees reminds us that we need deep roots to climb to higher heights. As places that provide shelter and protection, forests can symbolize darkness and chaos or sanctuary and introversion. The gray fox blends right in to calm or chaos and helps us navigate the gray areas of our lives.

Red Fox Symbolism & Kitsune

The widest ranging of any fox species, the red fox is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced to North America by European settlers. She is distinguished by her red coat, black socks on her front feet, and bushy tail with a white tip. Red fox is the fox most commonly pictured stealing from the hen house and she is very comfortable in urban environments. Chances are if you saw a fox in your neighborhood that it’s a red fox.

Red fox is commonly the clever trickster in fairytales that makes away with some prize or another. Her clever and swift nature are so strong that she is the main focus of fox hound hunts. It takes an entire pack of dogs and herd of men on horseback to have a chance at tracking her down. If red fox spirit animal has made it into your life, now is a good time to examine your own cleverness. Who are you outsmarting today? Sometimes we are too clever for our own good and other times we need to think way outside the box.

Kitsune is the name of two species of red fox in China. In Chinese folklore, kitsune are magical beings who are extremely wise. These are the foxes that guard the temples of the goddess Inari and travel with her. There is the belief that kitsune shape-shift into beautiful women at the age of 50 years. There are fairytales of hunters who discover that their wives are actually foxes. These lady foxes exhibit seductive cunning that is associated with the Don Juan archetype.

Island Fox Isolation

Descended from gray foxes, the island fox is a rare species of fox that is making a comeback from the brink of extinction. She looks very similar to the gray fox, but like many island natives, she is smaller and genetically distinct. The island fox spirit animal teaches us how the camouflage we wear can cause great isolation. This is both beneficial and challenging. If you are feeling alone, now might be the time to drop all the costumes you carry and come out of hiding. If you need some alone time, camouflage is the perfect medicine. Isolation reminds us of our own uniqueness and brings us closer to our true self. This is the species of fox I write about in Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks.

 

Find your spirit animal workshop. Painting of red-tailed hawk.

 

Swift & Kit Fox Symbolism

The swift fox is native to the grasslands of North America and does not adapt well to other environments or human impact on the land. The kit fox is a close relative and is native to arid habitats such as deserts and chaparral landscapes. Such specialization in habitat makes the swift and kit fox examples of the power of getting specific. Both species live in open habitats, but are hard to spot because they are nocturnal and in remote areas.

Swift foxes are dependent on their dens as hiding spots from predators. In looking at the meaning of these foxes, the need to find sanctuary and hide away in the dark will be more prevalent. You will likely see one of these foxes on a visit to a national monument, state park or some other protected wild habitat.

Mixed Species of Fox

Different species of fox hybridize and create crosses. The fox pictured at the top of this post is likely a hybrid of a gray and red fox as she carries characteristics of both. This shows us that all of the qualities mentioned above may come in when considering fox symbolism. It is up to you to use your discriminating nose to determine which qualities most resonate with you.

Adaptability and Home

One of the most fascinating things I learned about foxes during my 10 month tenure caring for a group of them is that they are extremely adaptable in their diets. They eat everything from fruits to bugs to carrion to eggs to quail to mice and rabbits. One of the best parts of my day was making up different meals for them. This adaptability has contributed to their worldwide success and helps them fill an ecological niche apart from their close cousins the coyote and wolf. They are closer to skunks or raccoons in their eating habits, which makes them less dog-like than we might think. This shows that adaptability and the ability to blend into different environments leads to success. How can you cultivate your own adaptability?

Fox is in the canid (dog) family, but in many ways she is more cat- than dog-like. She jumps, leaps, and strides like cats in that smooth and agile way. Her similarity to cats reminds us to not get too entrenched one group or the other. The old dispute between cats and dogs is remedied in fox.

For all her adaptability, fox is usually monogamous and she sticks to a territory near her den the majority of the time. Fox spirit animal reminds us that no matter what costume we wear or shape we’ve shifted into that it is important to know and tend our sense of “home” whatever that might be.

 

Find your spirit animal workshop. Painting of red-tailed hawk.