World Animal Day

Sunday was World Animal Day, an international day focusing on animal rights and well being.  Having stumbled over this fact somewhere on the internet, it took my head to the following tangents:
*Totem animals   * Animal energy    and the question *What are you doing to raise your awareness?

The word totem is a Native American word literally meaning brother or sister kin and is something regarded as a symbol. It could be a carving, an object, a plant, a natural phenomenon, but since we started off with it is World Animal Day, I was thinking more about animal totems.  An animal totem is an animal you feel connected with that is here to teach you a lesson. At first , I thought we would do a guided meditation in class to try to determine our individual animal totems, but then I realized labeling an animal as a totem is really not important.  It is the ego that likes labels; your Higher Self does not. It would be better to recognize and connect with an animal energy rather than worry about zoning in on the specific animal.  Of course, if a specific animal does make its way into your senses, you can then delve more closely into its messages.

So here's an example. I have always been drawn to doves, seagulls and hawks. I could stress out about which of those three is my totem animal or I could simply take them as a whole, which would be air animals. You also have land, water, insect and reptile.

-Air animals symbolize freedom and higher knowledge.
-Water animals link to our subconscious mind to reveal our hidden thoughts and wishes.
 -Land animals are grounded both mentally and physically, linking specifically to the root chakra.
-Reptile animals help us relate our inner Self to that of our external environment.
 -The Insect animal shows patience and indifference as it meanders on its way. Even as we were discussing this in class, a spider decided to make its way onto someone's yoga mat, unaware one down dog might squash its journey...

 “The energy of life entering and leaving your body flows evenly throughout the universe. With that current, the mind of the cosmos communicates with all things.” Ilchi Lee

“Our exclusive dependence on rational thought and language has obscured our natural ability to sense the flow of energy.”  Ilchi Lee, LifeParticle Meditation: A Practical Guide to Healing and Transformation

Again I ask, what are you going to do to raise your awareness? Your awareness of yourself, your energy and the energies all around you?

“Our ailing planet needs spiritual warriors, ones capable of standing up to the Western materialism machine, so we can create sustainable societies that care for their citizens, harmonize with the cycles of nature, and receive and honor the vast healing light that quietly connects us all.”  Jonathan Talat Phillips, The Electric Jesus: The Healing Journey of a Contemporary Gnostic