turkey’s soul adventure

Based on the Native American Totem, each and every person has nine power or totem animals that represent the medicine they carry in their Earth walk. These animal or creature beings emulate each person’s abilities, talents and challenges. For instance, if a person is connected to Wolf as a power animal, that person is a born teacher, pathfinder, innovator and self-starter. This does not necessarily mean that the person has acknowledged those gifts and is using them to the fullest. It can mean that Wolf is there to bring that person to an understanding of the talents that need developing. A person can choose to ignore those talents as they have free will and choice.

Badger – Aggressiveness.
Badger…badger…badger…Until you reach your goal know the inner power that lives in your soul.
Aggressive, healer, energy conduit

Badger is vicious and attacks with powerful aggression. Badger is quick to anger and quicker to pounce. The power of Badger’s medicine is aggressiveness and the willingness to fight for what it wants. The very thought of facing Badger makes other animals run for cover. Like Skunk, Badger’s reputation precedes it. Its hissing fangs will tear less aggressive opponents to shreds.

Badger is the medicine of many powerful medicine women for Badger is also the keeper of the medicine roots. Badger sees all the roots of Mother Earth’s healing herbs hanging in its burrow home. These roots are a key to aggressive healing.

Roots can ground negative energy into the Earth by allowing illness to pass through a body into the ground as neutral energy. Badger medicine people are quick to act in a crisis and they do not panic.

If Badger is a part of your medicine, you are quick to express your feelings and you do not care what the consequences are. Badger people oftentimes insist on carrying the ball for the touchdown. This attitude, however, does not endear them to their teammates.

Badger medicine may also point to the aggressive healer who will have the courage to use unconventional means to exact a cure.

Badger people can be vicious gossips or may exhibit a “chip on the shoulder” syndrome if they are out of balance. You can be sure that people with Badger medicine will be aggressive enough to make it to the tops of their chosen fields, because they do not give up. They are also the finest healers, because they will use any and all methods to ensure healing and will not give up on the critically ill.

A Badger person is often the “boss” and the one that everyone fears. That same boss will surely keep any company afloat. Badger gets the job accomplished. Badger’s certainty is a source of strength.

In this medicine, the key is to become aggressive enough to do something about your present state of affairs. Badger is teaching you to get angry in a creative way and say, “I won’t take it anymore.” You must follow-up by keeping your eye on the goal. Honor the healing process as you express those inner feelings.

Be aggressive, but don’t cut others to ribbons on the way – that is too much aggression. Badger is a powerful medicine when properly used for self-improvement.

Badger teaches us to go after what we want, to be assertive in claiming what we want. It is strongly associated to healers, to the use of medicine plants. Also, in Native American lore, it is the keeper of stories. Stories are also powerfully healing. Hence badgers are associated with healing and creativity. Badger medicine brings a strong awareness of the physical as well as the emotional body. They teach us to pay attention to what our physical body is telling us at all times. Intuitive, they are able to sense others; people who carry badger medicine have an uncanny ability to sniff out the roots of disease (emotional/physical) in others. Badger people have a tendency to be somewhat withdrawn – loners. They can be very aggressive when they feel their personal space has been invaded.

The badger is a member of the weasel family. They range is length from two to three feet and are about twelve inches high. Family members often mark each other with scent for recognition since their sight is poor. Their senses of smell and hearing however are excellent. Those with this medicine would do well in professions that incorporate sound as a healing tool. On a personal note, badger medicine people need to develop clear sight, both psychically and physically and not just rely on their other senses for survival.

Badgers have solid muscular bodies. Its outer skin is loose which gives it a deceiving appearance. Because of this it is often associated with illusion. What you see is not always what you get! Its strong powerful jaws represent discrimination of speech. Words can cut, tear and crush or encourage, teach and compliment others. Those with this medicine have the ability to do both.

Badger dens are extremely clean and well organized. They change there bedding often, backing into their dens with straw, so as not to make a mess in the process. Fastidious about their surroundings they will correct any disorder quickly.
The badger brings the gift of tidiness and organization. If badger has come to you in some way it may be saying that you need to concentrate on maintaining an orderly environment to better facilitate your day-to-day living. . It can also teach you how to manage your time more efficiently.

Badgers will fight to their death if cornered. Bold and ferocious they are unsociable animals. Those with this medicine have difficulty relating to others. They will shun authority and stand their ground in any situation. Expressing themselves in a concise balanced way is one of their greatest challenges.
The badger is a remarkable digger and can get beneath the surface easily. This ability ties the badger to the mysteries of the underworld, where the magic of life and creation is stored. It also symbolizes a strong connection to plant and animal spirits and can teach those with this totem how to align with life both above ground and below it.

Eagle – Freedom/Connection
Eagle…fly high, touch Great Spirit. Share your medicine, touch me, honor me, so that I may know you too.
Divine Spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator

Eagle teaches us leadership, courage, balance, truth, integrity, grace, speed, power, timing observation and how to fiercely attack when necessary. Eagle medicine is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the divine. It is the ability to live in the realm of the spirit and yet remain connected and balanced within the realm of Earth. Eagle soars and is quick to observe expansiveness within the overall pattern of life. Its nesting place is higher than any other birds, hence from the height of the clouds, Eagle is close to the heavens where the Great Spirit dwells.

The feathers of Eagle are considered to be the most sacred of healing tools. They have been used for centuries by shamans to cleanse the auras of patients coming to them for healing. Within the belief systems of Native American tribes, Eagle represents a state of grace achieved through hard work, understanding and a completion of the tests of initiation which result in the taking of one’s personal power. It is only through the trial of experiencing the lows in life as well as the highs and through the trial of trusting one’s connection to the Great Spirit, that the right to use the essence of Eagle medicine is earned.

If this is part of your medicine, Eagle is reminding you to take heart and gather your courage, for the universe is presenting you with an opportunity to soar above the mundane levels of your life. The power of recognizing this opportunity may come in the form of a spiritual test. In being astute, you may recognize the places within your soul, personality, emotions or psyche that need bolstering or refinement. By looking at the overall tapestry, Eagle teaches you to broaden your sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible. In learning to fiercely attack your personal fear of the unknown, the wings of your soul will be supported by the ever present breezes which are the breath of the Great Spirit. Feed your body, but more importantly feed your soul. Within the realm of Mother Earth and Father Sky, the dance that leads to flight involves the conquering of fear and the willingness to join in the adventure that you are co-creating with the Divine.

If Eagle has majestically soared into your cards, you are being put on notice to reconnect with the element of air. Air is of the mental plane and in this instance it is of the higher mind. Wisdom comes in many strange and curious forms and is always related to the Creative force of the Great Spirit. If you have been walking in the shadows of former realities, Eagle brings illumination. Eagle teaches you to look higher and to touch Grandfather Sun with your heart, to love the shadow as well as the light. See the beauty in both and you will take flight like the Eagle.

Eagle medicine is the gift we give ourselves to remind us of the freedom of the skies. Eagle asks you to give yourself permission to legalize freedom and to follow the joy your heart desires.

Hawk – Messenger (one of my power animals)
Hawk…Messenger of the sky, Circle my dreams and teach me the message as we fly.
Messenger, intuition, victory, healing

Hawk medicine is akin to Mercury, the messenger of the gods. Hawk medicine calls on you to be observant, to look at your surroundings. Observe the obvious in everything that you do because life is sending you signals.

Life is the initiation. If you have Hawk medicine, then right now a clue about the magic of life is being brought to you. This magic can imbue you with the power to overcome a currently stressful or difficult situation. The test is your ability to observe the nuances of power lurking nearby. Is power the talent you have and are not using? Are solutions always hard to find because you have lost the broader vision of the Hawk? Or is the Great Spirit displaying a gift that you need only to receive.

What is called for here is an ability to discern the message carried within the cry of the Hawk. The shrillness of Hawk’s call pierces the state of unawareness and asks you to seek the truth. The ancients recognized the Hawk as being a messenger that brought messages from the Divine. If Hawk were to cry, it was a sign to beware or be aware. Hawk’s cry signaled the need for the beholder to heighten awareness and receive a message.

Hawk medicine is a totem that is filled with responsibility because Hawk people see the overall view. Hawk medicine people are aware of omens, messages from the spirit, and the color of the calling card you gave them 3 months ago. No detail slips by them unnoticed.

Lizard – Dreaming

Lizard…will you dream with me? Travel across stars? Beyond the place of time and space, there live visions from afar.

Lizard medicine is dreaming. Dreaming is going into the future. Lizard medicine is the shadow side of reality where your dreams are reviewed before you decide to manifest them physically. Lizard is the medicine of dreamers. Pay attention to your dreams and their symbols. Make a dream log and record all that you remember. Be sure to pay attention to each individual symbol or recurring pattern. If you do not remember your dreams, you could try setting a music alarm for 2:00am or 3:00 a.m. Dreams are very important. Pay attention to them.

Lynx – Secrets
Lynx…you know secrets so very well, the Dreamtime and the magic, but you’ll never tell. May I learn to hold my tongue, observe like the Sphinx, powerful, yet silent, the medicine of Lynx.

If is said that if you want to find out a secret, ask Lynx medicine. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get the silent Lynx to speak. To be confronted by the powerful medicine of Lynx signifies that you do not know something about yourself or others.

Lynx is not the guardian of secrets, but the knower of secrets. The problem lies in getting Lynx to instruct you. Lynx medicine is a very specific type of clairvoyance. If this medicine is strong in you, you will get mental pictures concerning other people and the exact things they have hidden, either from themselves or from others. You will see their fears, their lies, and their self-deceptions. You will also know where they have hidden the treasure, if there is any. You never speak of these revelations – you simply know.

If you have pulled the Lynx card, you can be sure that “secrets” are afloat. If this is your personal medicine, you should listen to your higher self. Be still and pay attention to the revelations you receive either in the form of mental pictures or a voice in your inner ear. Perhaps you will receive information in the form of omens. You can be sure that Mother Earth is signaling to you in some manner.

Otter – Woman Medicine
Otter…so playful! Coquettes by the stream. The medicine of woman, the Realized Dream.
Playful, friendly, dynamic

The medicine held by otter is a set of lessons in female energy. It represents balanced female energy. This applies to both men and women, as all of us have female sides. The Otter’s hide is very often used to make medicine bags for powerful women because it represents balanced female energy.

Otter is very caring of its young and will play for hours, performing all types of acrobatics. It lives on land, but always has its home near water. The elements of Earth and Water are the female elements. At home in both of these elements, Otter is the personification of femininity: long, sleek and graceful, Otter is the true coquette of the animal world.

Otter is always on the move and is very curious. Unlike other animals, Otter will not start a fight unless it is attacked first. These character traits are the beauty of a balanced female side, the side of us that creates a space for others to enter our lives without preconceptions or suspicions. Otter teaches us that balanced female energy is not jealous or catty. It is sisterhood, content to enjoy and share the good fortune of others. Anchored in the understanding that all accomplishments are worthwhile for the whole tribe, Otter people express joy for others.

Otter medicine teaches you to become the playful child and to simply allow things to unfold in your life. Don’t worry! Otter also teaches the importance of not hanging onto material things that would bind you or become a burden. Become Otter and move gently into the river of live and flow with the waters of the Universe…this is the way of balanced female-receptive energy. Honor it! In doing so, you will discover the power of women.

There are two kinds of Otter, the river and sea. Delightful creatures to watch in the wild otters have a strong curiosity exploring every nook and cranny they can find just to see what’s there. Their curiosity reminds us that everything is interesting if looked at from different angles. They know how to float on the currents of life enjoying the beauty that it holds. Their relaxed attitude reminds us to laugh with life and not take things to seriously. They offer us the gift of laughter, trust and playfulness.

Otters are agile and fast in the water. They are often seen floating on their backs with their paws extended out of the water, sliding on their bellies playfully, or performing acrobatic maneuvers. Water has long been associated with the emotional energies in man. Otters glide through the emotional ups and downs of life with ease and can teach us how to do the same. They represent the creative, nurturing energies that live within us and show us how to honor them.

Otters are excellent parents and care for their young longer than most other marine mammals. They enjoy the company of other otters and are rarely seen alone. Those with this medicine benefit by living on or close to the water and find comfort in group interactions.

The otter is very talkative. When frightened their calls take on an eerie piercing sound similar to a baby screaming. They have few natural enemies and are not afraid of humans. During the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, otters were one of the few creatures that would allow humans to hold them without putting up a fight. As the oil was wiped from their bodies the otter would lie very still in the arms of the one caring for it, unafraid and trusting.

When otter appears in your life it is asking you to let go of worry and pain, lighten up and enjoy what life has to offer. Trust your inner knowing, develop trust for others and embrace the world with excitement and enthusiasm. Life is what we make it. The otter shows us how to create a joyful future. All we need to do is follow its lead.

Rabbit – Fear
Scared little rabbit, please drop your fright! Running doesn’t stop the pain or turn the dark to light!
Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility

Rabbit medicine people can be so afraid of tragedy, illness, disaster and “being taken” that they sometimes call those very fears to them to teach them lessons. The keynote here is: what you resist will persist! What you fear most is what you will become.

Here is the lesson. Don’t talk about horrible things happening and get rid of “what if” in you vocabulary. Stop now! Write your fears down and be willing to feel them. Breathe into them and feel them running through your body into Mother Earth and let them go.

Rabbit is the fear caller. Quit talking and thinking about horrible things happening. In balance, rabbit is alert, intuitive, knowing. It has often been associated with fertility, luck shape-shifting and rebirth. Rabbit is a gentle reminder to let go and let God.

Skunk – Reputation
Skunk…tell me a story, so I will know it well, of how to attract, and how to repel
Reputation, presence, strength

Skunk medicine! Go ahead and laugh. This furry little animal has a reputation that contains a great deal of power. Due to its distinctive behavior, humans give this tiny, smelly creature a wide berth. The key word here is respect.

Unlike other predatory animals, Skunk does not threaten your life, but threatens your senses. You know this to be true if you have ever been in the vicinity of its spray. In observing the habit patterns of Skunk, it is easy to notice the playfulness and nonchalance of its natural behavior. The “I-dare-you” attitude of this four-legged creature commands you, as the observer to respect its space on mere reputation alone.

People with skunk medicine command respect. By walking your talk and respecting yourself, you will create a position of strength and honored reputation. The carriage of your body relates to other beings when your sense of “self” is intact. As with Skunk, the resonant field of energy around your body is relayed through the senses. Self-esteem permeates the body’s energy and is instantly recognized on an extrasensory level by others.

Learn to assert, without ego, what you are. Respect follows. Your self-respectful attitude will repel those who are not of like mind, and yet will attract those who choose the same pathway. As the odor of Skunk attracts others of its kind, it repels those who will not respect its space.

Skunk medicine people have the ability to attract others and they are very charismatic. At the same time, the other side of their natural power is to repel those who seek to take energy from them without recycling the gifts they have taken. Skunk medicine people also know how to use the energy flows that will attract a lover. It can be dangerous to leak sexual energy if you are not looking for a mate. It puts you into a games condition that may feed your ego but not how others feel about you. If you are attracting others who have an interest in you, you are in a sense saying, “I’m available.” This can cause hard feelings when the truth comes out.

In Skunk medicine, it is good to learn how to handle energy flows. Modern psychologists call this body language. In tribal language, this is your personal medicine, which you are showing to others. Use your medicine well and know that you are known by your reputation. How you use your energy will attract either honor or disgrace.

Bear in mind that what you believe about yourself is your ultimate protection. Project self-respect!

The skunk is a powerful totem with mystical and magical associations. Skunks are slow moving solitary creatures and spend most of the daylight hours underground. They dig their own dens but will also take over abandoned homes of foxes, marmots and rabbits. They hold an air of self confidence and can teach us how to develop self esteem and self respect.

Throughout history skunks have carried a reputation that is respected as well as feared. If a skunk feels threatened, it raises its tail and stamps its front feet. If that doesn’t scare off the intruder, it hisses, turns around presents its tail and sprays. A skunk can spray 10 to 14 feet with accuracy. This noxious liquid irritates the eyes blocking vision temporarily. Those with this medicine need to develop inner vision and use it to see beyond what the physical eyes perceive.

The skunk smell is one that everyone can recognize. Author Ted Andrew states that those with this medicine find the use of fragrances will elicit dynamic responses in those they associate with. People will respond to the fragrances you employ. A study of aromatherapy would benefit those with this totem.

Skunk teaches us how to comprehend a warning. Many times in life our instinct can foresee trouble ahead, but our mind gets in the way and inhibits this knowledge. By watching and learning from skunk, we learn how to honor that part of ourselves which like the skunk, gives us many warnings before an actual problem or disaster develops. When a skunk appears in our life it could very well be our intuition sending us a signal of imminent danger or caution.

The stripe running from the head to the tail of the skunk is linked to the creative life force within. When this medicine is fully developed those with this totem have the ability to direct their creative energy to manifest a desired result. If underdeveloped a need to awaken consciousness and look beyond the perimeters of ones immediate world is important. Skunks go about their business quietly and those with this medicine are advised to do the same.

Unbalanced skunk people have a habit of tooting their own horn looking for recognition. Because of the intense energy the skunk holds this can create problems in communicating with others. Those with this totem are either well liked or disliked. The art of attracting and repelling are inherent skills and can benefit us if they are mastered efficiently. Remember people are going to notice you. How they notice you can be controlled by you.

Spider – Weaving/Creating (my other power animal)
Spider…weaving webs of delight, weave me a peaceful world. Carrying creation in your web, waiting to be unfurled!
Creatrix, web spinner

Spider’s body is made like the number 8, consisting of two lobe like parts connected at the waist and eight legs. Spider is the symbol for the infinite possibilities of creation. Spider weaves the webs of fate for those who get caught in her web and become her dinner. Spider gives you the power to create! Create! Create!

The web of fate represents the wheel of life, which does not include any alternatives or solutions. It is typically human to get caught in the polarity of good or bad fortune without realizing that we can change it at any time. If we are not decisive enough about changing our lots in life, we may end up being consumed by our fears and limitations.

Also don’t become too involved in the weaving of your life plans to notice opportunity at the outskirts of your web. The most important message from Spider is that you are an infinite being who will continue to weave the patterns of life and living throughout time. Do not fail to see the expansiveness of the eternal plan. You weave your own web.

Spider silk is a fibrous protein secreted as a fluid which transforms from liquid to solid as the spider draws it out with its legs, becoming elastic and stronger as it is stretched. The liquid could be viewed as emotion and an example of how our emotions combine and repeat within ourselves individually and as a species. A spider web grows stronger as it is stretched. It is only through the experience of life that we grow stronger. When we are emotionally balanced, we understand the importance of being flexible, not being rigid and unyielding to thoughts, actions and emotions and that all things change.

Web weaving spiders typically eat their web every day or so, then rebuild their web all over again. Spider encourages us to examine what we are creating, to be unafraid to cast off old ways, to consume the experience of our journey, then to begin the cycle anew with a fresh outlook. With great patience, spider waits knowing the cycle of creation will provide what it needs. Many spiders rely on a sense of touch, being able to feel vibrations on the web or ground. From this we can learn how important our sense of touch and vibration are. We can feel the vibrations of emotion from others. In learning to pay attention to them, we empower ourselves to better understand any interaction.