In certain spiritual traditions or cultures, a spirit animal refers to a spirit which helps guide or protect a person on their life journey and whose characteristics that person shares or embodies.
To find my spirit animal, when I was young, I went to a very remote place and in a ceremony, ate a sacred plant, and then waited alone for a vision.
In my vision, I sat at the top of a tall mountain. I felt no cold or wind, even though it was nighttime and the moon was full. I became aware of a large animal sitting beside me on my left.
I looked over and saw the largest grey wolf I had ever imagined. It was almost as big as a pony. It’s fur was as beautiful as water, and it’s teeth were pure white. Canines will have a relaxed posture and open their mouth slightly with their lips relaxed when they “smile”. The wolf beside me was smiling but not really paying attention to me. I know that I was fortunate enough to see the wolf god. I felt a happy feeling and at that moment found my spirit animal.
(Or rather, it found me because I invited it in.)
So. Ask yourself. Do you share the following personal characteristics?
- Rather be free than rich.
- Love moonlight.
- Like your beef a little too rare.
- Occasionally suffer from itchy palms.
- Tend to snap or growl at people.
- Go where you want and are happy wherever you find yourself.
- Constantly searching.
If so, you may have the spirit of the wolf inside you. We wolves always love to run around with other wolves and we know our own kind when we meet them.
It’s the ears…
Sixteen
Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind rest at peace.
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return.
They grow and flourish and then return to the source.
Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature.
The way of nature is unchanging.
Knowing constancy is insight.
Not knowing constancy leads to disaster.
Knowing constancy, the mind is open.
With an open mind, you will be openhearted.
Being openhearted, you will act royally.
Being royal, you will attain the divine.
Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao.
Being at one with the Tao is eternal.
And though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Translation by Ray Burgess