August 9, 2011
Oossum at my front door in early am
August 10, 2011
Both a opossum and a raccoon crossed my path within minutes of each other on this morning, the opossum at my front door, the raccoon on the drive to work
Opossum Medicine
*Jamie Sams & David Carson/Medicine Cards:
Diversion - Opossum medicine uses a great deal of strategy to confuse the oppostition.
If Opossum has turned up in your cards, you are being asked to:
--- use strategy in some present situation.
--- rely upon your instincts for the best way out of a tight corner.
--- expect the unexpected and be clever in achieving your victory.
--- use your brain, your sense of drama, and surprise.
--- beware of getting caught in the drama of life
--- beware of making excuses for your actions or inactions
--- beware of “defending” yourself and who you are
--- ignoring your problems is a surefire method of building a time bomb under yourself --- vigorous positive action is the only safe road to relief.
--- stop turning things around" to suit self.
The proper use of diversion is to know when you do not need to use diversion at all. You owe no one an excuse for how you feel or what you choose to experience.
Opossum teaches us how to use appearances. Sometimes it is necessary to "play dead." Sometimes it is necessary to put up a particular front to succeed most easily and effectively. This is what the medicine of opossum can teach. It also can show you when others are putting up false fronts and deceptions. Opossum has an archetypal energy that helps us to use appearances to our greatest benefit and that helps us to recognize when others are creating false impressions. Opossum can help us learn to divert attention or to get attention any way we need.
Sometimes it is necessary to behave or act in a strategic manner. We may need to appear fearful or fearless in spite of how we truly feel. We may need to show submission or aggression. We may need to be apathetic or extremely caring. Opossum is the supreme actor, and those in the acting field or that need to learn something of it can do no better than to work with the opossum.
The opossum is a nocturnal animal. It is the only marsupial on the North American continent. Marsupials are animals that raise their young in a pouch on the abdomen. When the young are born, they are blind, but they are still able to climb up into the pouch immediately after birth. There they stay for about one month.
In the pouch are located the nipples. Most opossums have 13 nipples. In a litter, there can be many more than thirteen young, but only thirteen will be able to survive. This number is very symbolic. Although many associate it with bad luck, it is also a symbol for the one great sun around which the twelve signs of the zodiac revolve. It is a symbol of the sun within.
The pouch, especially in regards to the opossum's defense of "playing dead," links it to the ability to help us draw from our own bag of tricks that which will most benefit us. It can show you which appearance to draw from the pouch to use for the greatest success. The milk of the mother is rich in calcium, as young opossums need high concentrations of it. Those with this totem should examine their own calcium levels.
When opossum shows up as a totem, ask yourself some important questions.
--- Are you acting or about to act in an inappropriate manner?
--- Do you need to strengthen your own appearance?
--- Are others putting up false appearances in front of you?
--- Do you need to divert attention away from some activity?
--- Are others trying to divert your attentiojn?
--- Is it time to go into your bag of tricks and pull out some new strategy?
--- Learning to pretend and act in ways and with realism is the magic that opossum teaches.
Raccoon Medicine
The raccoon is one of the most adaptable animals, and in spite of encroachment on its natural habitat, it is even able to live within the city.
Raccoons are fascinated by water. They like to slosh their hands and their food in it. This has given rise to the belief they never eat anything without washing it first. Actually, water increases the sensitivity of the raccoon's hands, and they can feel their food better.
The raccoon will eat almost anything available. It will capture small prey but it usually eats mostly vegetables and fruit. This is something that those with this totem should keep in mind.
Raccoons are extremely curious, which is partly why they often get into things they shouldn't. They love to explore. Their nocturnal excursions can be likened to mini-adventures. They can be very curious about new realms and will examine anything that fascinates them.
One of the most striking features of the raccoon is the mask that it wears. Although some associate this with thievery, it actually gives the raccoon a very powerful mystical symbolism. The use of masks to achieve altered states and for other healing and ritual purposes has been a part of every society. Mask making is an ancient art employed all over the world for ceremony, celebration, and in magical practices. Concealed behind a mask, people could become something or someone else. We can become whatever we want by wearing masks. Masks are invested with mystery. They are tools for transformation. The hidden aspect, the secrecy, helps promote the transformation. It helps us to change what we are to what we want to be, giving us magic.
Just as there is with the raccoon, with masks there is ambiguity and equivocation. When we wear a mask we are no longer who we thought. We make ourselves one with some other force. We create a doorway in the mind and in the physical world a threshold that we can cross to new dimensions and new beingness. This is the magic of raccoon. it is an expert of disguise and secrecy. It knows how to wear masks for a variety of purposes. It can teach you how to mask and disguise and transform yourself. Each must develop their relationship with the raccoon in their own unique way, but raccoon medicine can teach you how to become dexterous in the masks you wear. It can show you how to wear a healing mask or show you the face you shall become. The raccoon holds the knowledge of how to change our faces.
Raccoon holds the knowledge of transformation through masks and disguise. This knowledge can be applied to religious and ritual practices or within normal everyday life. --- Do you need to present a different face to people for greater success?
--- Are you hiding your true self?
--- Are others hiding their true self? .
It will help you develop dexterity in using masks to achieve new altered states and dimensions.Raccoons are very courageous and they can be quite ferocious. When they get older, they can become very surly. In the wild, raccoons are deceptive and agile. They are experts at self-defense.
Raccoons enjoy hollow logs, especially for their dens. They will have one to two litters per year, usually with 2-7 young. At about 20 weeks a raccoon can live on its own, but they are very sociable, and where you find one raccoon, you will usually find another. They also live longer than most animals in the wild--around 10 years.
If a raccoon has shown up, you may see its influence for an extended time. If you are trying to make changes or endeavoring to hide changes you are making from others until you are in a better position, plan on using about a 20-week cycle. You will find it more effective. For longer and greater life transformations and such, when raccoon shows up you may want to make longer plans.
Raccoon is a good sign. He is a good protector. He is intelligent, cunning, clean, and very helpful. The Raccoon can also be used as a HEALING power, hunting power, and protection power..
:
Getting into things that you're not supposed to. A curious demeanor, eager for exploration are common traits of the raccoon.
The racoon's mask represents privacy, ambiguity, or secrecy of some type. What's being hidden and from whom?
Native Americans called the raccoon the "black-masked little bear." It is ingenious, curious, and playful. It's home is usually around water courses, lakes, and marshes where it hunts at night.
Magickal Attributes:
--- Creativeness when faced with new problems.
--- Be curious about the world around you.
--- Seeking guidance and confidence for a new job or schooling.
--- To be presented with new ideas.
. Magical Influences:
--- Physical or mental dexterity, skill with hands, makes one fastidious
Personality:
--- Raccoon illustrates an industrious personality
--- Raccoons hate secrets; they want to know how and why everything works.
--- They are friendly people who have no fears about approaching strangers for conversation.
--- They often live for the moment and find time each day to celebrate ife in their own way.
--- Raccoons are tidy and modest but can also become overly fastidious.
--- They can be fussy about the food they eat.
Oossum at my front door in early am
August 10, 2011
Both a opossum and a raccoon crossed my path within minutes of each other on this morning, the opossum at my front door, the raccoon on the drive to work
Opossum Medicine
*Jamie Sams & David Carson/Medicine Cards:
Diversion - Opossum medicine uses a great deal of strategy to confuse the oppostition.
If Opossum has turned up in your cards, you are being asked to:
--- use strategy in some present situation.
--- rely upon your instincts for the best way out of a tight corner.
--- expect the unexpected and be clever in achieving your victory.
--- use your brain, your sense of drama, and surprise.
--- beware of getting caught in the drama of life
--- beware of making excuses for your actions or inactions
--- beware of “defending” yourself and who you are
--- ignoring your problems is a surefire method of building a time bomb under yourself --- vigorous positive action is the only safe road to relief.
--- stop turning things around" to suit self.
The proper use of diversion is to know when you do not need to use diversion at all. You owe no one an excuse for how you feel or what you choose to experience.
Opossum teaches us how to use appearances. Sometimes it is necessary to "play dead." Sometimes it is necessary to put up a particular front to succeed most easily and effectively. This is what the medicine of opossum can teach. It also can show you when others are putting up false fronts and deceptions. Opossum has an archetypal energy that helps us to use appearances to our greatest benefit and that helps us to recognize when others are creating false impressions. Opossum can help us learn to divert attention or to get attention any way we need.
Sometimes it is necessary to behave or act in a strategic manner. We may need to appear fearful or fearless in spite of how we truly feel. We may need to show submission or aggression. We may need to be apathetic or extremely caring. Opossum is the supreme actor, and those in the acting field or that need to learn something of it can do no better than to work with the opossum.
The opossum is a nocturnal animal. It is the only marsupial on the North American continent. Marsupials are animals that raise their young in a pouch on the abdomen. When the young are born, they are blind, but they are still able to climb up into the pouch immediately after birth. There they stay for about one month.
In the pouch are located the nipples. Most opossums have 13 nipples. In a litter, there can be many more than thirteen young, but only thirteen will be able to survive. This number is very symbolic. Although many associate it with bad luck, it is also a symbol for the one great sun around which the twelve signs of the zodiac revolve. It is a symbol of the sun within.
The pouch, especially in regards to the opossum's defense of "playing dead," links it to the ability to help us draw from our own bag of tricks that which will most benefit us. It can show you which appearance to draw from the pouch to use for the greatest success. The milk of the mother is rich in calcium, as young opossums need high concentrations of it. Those with this totem should examine their own calcium levels.
When opossum shows up as a totem, ask yourself some important questions.
--- Are you acting or about to act in an inappropriate manner?
--- Do you need to strengthen your own appearance?
--- Are others putting up false appearances in front of you?
--- Do you need to divert attention away from some activity?
--- Are others trying to divert your attentiojn?
--- Is it time to go into your bag of tricks and pull out some new strategy?
--- Learning to pretend and act in ways and with realism is the magic that opossum teaches.
Raccoon Medicine
The raccoon is one of the most adaptable animals, and in spite of encroachment on its natural habitat, it is even able to live within the city.
Raccoons are fascinated by water. They like to slosh their hands and their food in it. This has given rise to the belief they never eat anything without washing it first. Actually, water increases the sensitivity of the raccoon's hands, and they can feel their food better.
The raccoon will eat almost anything available. It will capture small prey but it usually eats mostly vegetables and fruit. This is something that those with this totem should keep in mind.
Raccoons are extremely curious, which is partly why they often get into things they shouldn't. They love to explore. Their nocturnal excursions can be likened to mini-adventures. They can be very curious about new realms and will examine anything that fascinates them.
One of the most striking features of the raccoon is the mask that it wears. Although some associate this with thievery, it actually gives the raccoon a very powerful mystical symbolism. The use of masks to achieve altered states and for other healing and ritual purposes has been a part of every society. Mask making is an ancient art employed all over the world for ceremony, celebration, and in magical practices. Concealed behind a mask, people could become something or someone else. We can become whatever we want by wearing masks. Masks are invested with mystery. They are tools for transformation. The hidden aspect, the secrecy, helps promote the transformation. It helps us to change what we are to what we want to be, giving us magic.
Just as there is with the raccoon, with masks there is ambiguity and equivocation. When we wear a mask we are no longer who we thought. We make ourselves one with some other force. We create a doorway in the mind and in the physical world a threshold that we can cross to new dimensions and new beingness. This is the magic of raccoon. it is an expert of disguise and secrecy. It knows how to wear masks for a variety of purposes. It can teach you how to mask and disguise and transform yourself. Each must develop their relationship with the raccoon in their own unique way, but raccoon medicine can teach you how to become dexterous in the masks you wear. It can show you how to wear a healing mask or show you the face you shall become. The raccoon holds the knowledge of how to change our faces.
Raccoon holds the knowledge of transformation through masks and disguise. This knowledge can be applied to religious and ritual practices or within normal everyday life. --- Do you need to present a different face to people for greater success?
--- Are you hiding your true self?
--- Are others hiding their true self? .
It will help you develop dexterity in using masks to achieve new altered states and dimensions.Raccoons are very courageous and they can be quite ferocious. When they get older, they can become very surly. In the wild, raccoons are deceptive and agile. They are experts at self-defense.
Raccoons enjoy hollow logs, especially for their dens. They will have one to two litters per year, usually with 2-7 young. At about 20 weeks a raccoon can live on its own, but they are very sociable, and where you find one raccoon, you will usually find another. They also live longer than most animals in the wild--around 10 years.
If a raccoon has shown up, you may see its influence for an extended time. If you are trying to make changes or endeavoring to hide changes you are making from others until you are in a better position, plan on using about a 20-week cycle. You will find it more effective. For longer and greater life transformations and such, when raccoon shows up you may want to make longer plans.
Raccoon is a good sign. He is a good protector. He is intelligent, cunning, clean, and very helpful. The Raccoon can also be used as a HEALING power, hunting power, and protection power..
:
Getting into things that you're not supposed to. A curious demeanor, eager for exploration are common traits of the raccoon.
The racoon's mask represents privacy, ambiguity, or secrecy of some type. What's being hidden and from whom?
Native Americans called the raccoon the "black-masked little bear." It is ingenious, curious, and playful. It's home is usually around water courses, lakes, and marshes where it hunts at night.
Magickal Attributes:
--- Creativeness when faced with new problems.
--- Be curious about the world around you.
--- Seeking guidance and confidence for a new job or schooling.
--- To be presented with new ideas.
. Magical Influences:
--- Physical or mental dexterity, skill with hands, makes one fastidious
Personality:
--- Raccoon illustrates an industrious personality
--- Raccoons hate secrets; they want to know how and why everything works.
--- They are friendly people who have no fears about approaching strangers for conversation.
--- They often live for the moment and find time each day to celebrate ife in their own way.
--- Raccoons are tidy and modest but can also become overly fastidious.
--- They can be fussy about the food they eat.
