Some of My Favorite Allies
For many years, I have been developing a closer relationship with Nature. I actually uprooted my family from our home in the suburbs, to this beautiful rural bedroom community several years ago, because I knew that it was time for me to have more direct access to the natural world. And that has brought enormous blessings and happiness into my life.
My kids love it here also, but are not yet at the age where the gifts of nature seem like anything special. My son Luke, who is now 15, has a favorite way of imitating/making fun of me by saying ‘Look, a Hawk’. My kids also buy me metaphysical books on holidays and birthdays, and refer to these as “mind-control” books! Sigh… not easy for teenage boys to have a mother with non-mainstream beliefs. I tell them they can tell their therapists about it all when they are older. Anyways, hope you like today’s article.
Today’s Article: Some Of My Favorite Allies
I would say my spiritual beliefs have begun to resemble some of the old pagan religions in some ways. I feel the Divine all around me in Nature, and believe that every living thing has a spirit. And that some things not necessarily considered alive do as well, stones for example. And houses. Some people can sense vibrations in other objects.
For many years, probably twelve, my primary animal “totem” has been the Red Tail Hawk. I started to notice hawks everywhere, especially one day in my former backyard when an enormous Red Tail perched on a branch just outside my kitchen window for close to an hour. I felt so connected to it- and it was truly a magnificent creature. I found myself doing some reading on totem animals, how to know which yours was, how to make use of the connection and how to use in prayers and otherwise.
I found Ted Andrews book, Animal Speak, which I use as a reference regularly. I happily claimed the Red Tail Hawk as my primary totem. I continue to see them everywhere, and the cool thing is that usually when I see them, their appearance serves to underscore my thoughts or insights in that moment. My husband is always amazed at the frequency and varying locations of these sitings. I have learned to trust that they are indeed a “messenger” for me- that I need to pay attention to what is going on when I see them. Having such a strong connection to my Hawk totem makes life more mystical, beautiful, and meaningful for me.
I have also studied the Native American traditions through my clairvoyant teacher, Sharon, for many years. The Native Americans believe that each animal can offer us its individual “medicine”- its special powers and way of living in the world. When we see them or dream of them, we are meant to also consider how that animal’s medicine may be coming to our aid at that time.
For example, several times in the last year I dreamed of giraffes. This seemed a bit bizarre to me, and I could not make a clear connection. When I looked up Giraffe as a totem and learned more about its medicine, things made more sense. Giraffe is associated with vision, clairvoyance or sight- and my own intuitive sight was coming in and developing to a new level at the time. The dreams and Giraffe taught me to be aware of these new gifts and to take time to use and honor them.
Another wonderful place to connect with your spiritual allies is in the plant and tree world- there is even a branch (oops, unintended pun) of healing called “plant -spirit medicine” which also came from the Native American and similar cultures and traditions.
We have two enormous and ancient willow trees in our backyard. They have incredible energy, particularly in spring and summer. I (of course) read up on the medicine of various trees, including the willows, and learned many of the ancient ways that each tree or plant was honored and what gifts they held for us. I often pray beneath the willows, it feels like holy ground to me, and to be underneath the canopied graceful but strong branches is magical – it is like a natural sanctuary. When I say my prayers there, or offer blessings to the Nature Spirits and Elementals, I feel complete peace and wellbeing. Sometimes I simply rest my forehead against the bark of a tree, if I feel called to, and I can feel energy of the tree connecting with my own- sometimes complete with dreamy visions inside my mind. I know that my most powerful and joyful moments of connecting with my own spirit come through Nature.
There are countless ways to meet the Elementals, Animal Totems, Nature Spirits and Devas. I have read many books on all of this, it brings beauty and magic into my life on a daily basis- sometimes I feel like a Disney character with all the birds and bees and flowers and trees that visit our land. I also feel clearly the presence of other spirits, like the picture I always receive of the Native American male warrior who I sense standing by our stone wall at the back edge of our property.
Angels, faeries, nymphs, gnomes, sprites, sylphs, and all of the other nonphysical allies that we can explore and try to connect with, make life rich and connect us to the world of spirit and Nature. They and the others I mentioned are powerful allies. You can ask to be connected with them via meditation, simply getting quiet and asking that they make themselves known to you however they choose.
You can also make tiny altars for them in the yard- I have friends who leave little crystals or gifts in trees for the Tree Spirits, and I have had altars by my grapevines at various times to send love and appreciation to the Grape Angels that I feel so connected to and who imbue our yard with incredible beauty of the grapes, vines, and the very feminine and ancient energies they seem to bring. This stuff is creative and fun- a chance to use your imagination and create magic.
If this is not your thing- don’t worry. Take any ideas you like and toss the rest. But if you want to connect more to any of the allies we have talked about, there are tons of great materials online and bookstores. I will let you see which ones call to you specifically- it sometimes works out the best that way.
Sending you big hugs, much love, and every blessing,
Lisa
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