Deer as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

It may not seem that deer need our help to be able to survive on this planet because they live everywhere, however, there have been a few extinct deer species, such as the Irish Elk who perished about 8 million years ago. Closely related to the Fallow and Red Deer, scientists are currently studying the Irish Elk to find out the reasons for extinction. Was it because of the weight of his enormous antlers which — in this sample they found in 2005 — spanned across 12 feet? Answers will help other deer species to remain stable.

The Pére David’s Deer, aka Milu, indigenous to the river valleys in China, is endangered in the wild and won’t be moved to the lesser but still highly dangerous ‘critically endangered species’ status until their numbers in the wild stabilize. They experienced hunting, floods and war which left them in this state. At one point, there were only 18 left in captivity and due to diligent conservation and breeding efforts, there are 2,000 in China and an estimated 8,000 worldwide, making it one of the most successful reintroduction projects in history.

Many of the endangered or threatened deer species live in tropical forest areas and so are now losing their homes due to deforestation for agricultural development.

Everyone can help save wildlife in the forest. It’s not only the deer who are suffering, Many species of animal, human included, is affected by deforestation. It’s a global human-made problem and so, we all have the ability and responsibility to help curb deforestation.

I wrote about deforestation in the ‘Get Active‘ section where I introduce the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for Nature, namely #13: Climate Action, #14: Life Below Water and #15: Life on Land.

Our own survival on this planet we call home depends on how we treat our environment and animals, so I hope with this mini-series, you’ll feel a calling to take action because we can’t rely on our governments to reach these goals by 2030, which was the plan. We’re seeing that corporations and industries aren’t doing enough to clean up their supply chain. Many are still committing ecocide which is defined as “mass damage and destruction of ecosystems – harm to nature which is widespread, severe or systematic.”

And so, it’s up to each individual to pitch in to help save all life on Earth, including our own. It’s not overwhelming either. I wrote several easy, actionable tasks that will help you save money and species!

Power to the people!

What we can learn from Deer

• Innocence, grace & peace: Deer exudes feminine energy of pure goodness and grace. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child — with their ‘doe eyes’. Deer symbolize innocence and with it, invite others into their soul. Sometimes, that’s not good, i.e. when they invite the wrong souls in, but with their highly sensitized instincts and sense of smell as well as their deep intuition, they’re a hard prey to catch for natural predators. That’s why wolves hunt easy prey like sheep first. Use her gifts to draw in the right people!
• Play & wonder: Deer are teachers of wonder and play. This may be a sign for you to stop being so serious all the time and reactivate the child within you to have some fun! 
• Creativity & innovation: This full moon brings with it intense life-changing energy. You could have this urge to jump and create something completely new which sounds amazing, but I feel with this moon, reflecting, letting go of something that’s ‘burning inside you’ and forgiving are at the forefront and need to be attended to first. And that’s one reason why Deer showed up right now to help you do this in a creative way with ease and grace, and with lots of heart. This could mean letting go of or mending a relationship or part of one before moving on with starting a new project at home or in your business.
• Gentleness, love & compassion: With their kind and gentle spirit, their energy is most felt in the heart chakra. Deer help us lead with compassion, even in difficult situations. ‘Kill them with kindness’ comes to mind when dealing with a bully or challenge within a relationship because who can be angry with or harm a deer (excluding hunters)? This is deer energy! With their majestic antlers, the males stand proud and lead with their hearts which makes them the true King of the Forest whom others enjoy following. Be that kind of a leader.
• Caution & alertness: Deer are always on alert. If you spot one in the woods, they usually freeze and hold eye contact with you. If they sense danger or aren’t used to many humans, they will quickly leap away the moment you cut eye contact with them and within milliseconds, they are out of sight. Just like that. They know every inch of their forest and can navigate it with grace, speed and skill. They are a bit color blind and can’t see reds and oranges which is why tigers go unnoticed. They have to rely more on their sense of smell and sound. This invites you to listen to your intuition and not only rely on what you see. Your intuition will give you the answers, especially when it’s a warning to not get caught in the headlights. If you sense danger or something negative in any situation, move on: don’t sign that contract, start a relationship with that person or make any major changes if it doesn’t feel right. Reflect first. Beware of those predators and listen to your heart and intuition instead.
• Naive fearfulness: Their cautiousness could also initiate attention focussed on your fears. Are you scared of ‘being in the spotlight’ or becoming someone’s target? Deer warns you this could happen, but reminds you that your internal gifts are so much more powerful and will help you to stand up tall and proud and look at your fear head on.
• Forgiveness & self-sacrifice: Deer know they may get hunted and killed. But it doesn’t make them hide or revengeful. It is what it is. Simple as that. This is a lesson for you to understand your value and worth and when you do that, you will realize that sacrifice for the greater good is not considered a loss but rather abundance in simplicity. This does not mean you should sacrifice your own worth or forgive to please others. This is inspiring wisdom to view your worth as a gift of incredible power. Forgiveness is one of the first steps to embracing authentic self-love needed to value yourself and for that, you must sacrifice your ego and these old stories telling you to always put others first. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s considerate and more helpful. “Put your mask on first in case of an emergency in the airplane before you can help your child.” Simple rules that when broken, will be more harmful for everyone involved.

Questions to ask yourself

• Am I blind to the danger of this particular situation or relationship?
• How can I lead and communicate in a mindful and heartfelt way?
• What is my intuition telling me about this particular situation?
• Who do I need to forgive? Myself perhaps?

Final words from Deer

Some people reject Deer energy because they consider themselves to be rough and tough and with ‘innocent’ feminine Deer as a guide, it may seem like a misfit. If you are having thoughts about this too, let this full moon energy help you cut chords with your ego. Stand proud and think of the mighty King of the Forest. Deer is listened to, loved and respected. Gentle-souled Deer is a mighty and powerful guide, not helpless and weak! She reminds you to lead with the most important connection you have, your heart.

Call upon Deer energy to help you lead with vigor.

Spider as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

Why should we even discuss conservation efforts for spiders? Aren’t they super abundant and just plain everywhere? Well, yes, and no. Or rather, who knows?

Not only do people not want to think about them, neither do scientists. Out of Europe’s 4,154 spider species, only a few species have received national protection. In the United States, 12 spiders have been listed as endangered. Out of a total of 341 spider species (IF I counted correctly) who have been assessed by the IUCN Red List, 8 are extinct (EX) and 31 critically endangered (CR). Being on this list doesn’t grant protection, but it will help conservation groups seek protection. With over 40,000, that’s a lack of representation.

We know so little. All I know is that if we lost spiders, we’d have an insect plague and I’d probably have 500 mosquito bites instead of the 17 on my leg that have been harassing me all week! That’s my prediction, because there’s no real evidence out there to know what would happen because the work has yet to be done to figure this out. We know we need pollinators to survive on this planet and we know how we react around harmful bugs and we know what pesticides do to living beings and our environment, so it’s important that we don’t lose our grip with spiders and allow them to become extinct.

That said, it certainly isn’t easy finding and counting spiders, but I think it comes down to human perception. More funding will go towards a more compassionate-feeling animal as for an arachnid. I get it. But they are amazing and help us so much with more things than we realize.

If you’re interested in finding out more about these amazing and vital animals and want to help in some way, please look at these websites: 

• International Society of Arachnology
• European Society of Arachnology
• Australasian Arachnological Society

What we can learn from Spider

• Creativity: The main symbol of Spider is creativity. Call upon this intricate design-maker when you’re in a creative rut. The next time you spot a spider’s web, look at it closely. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch her in the act. Just watch her mastery, it’ll be meditative and maybe you’ll get a sign while watching.
• Connection to the natural world: Spiders are crucial for the chain of life and therefore, play a very important role for Mother Earth. I picture them guarding her cave, like in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Follow the spiders and you will find the answers. Sorry, Ron, butterflies will appear another time! Use Spider’s position to help ground you and connect with Mother Earth.
• Weave your own reality & truth: Spider gives you the power to create your own destiny. Your truth may be different than the norm. Spiders are also seen as ‘different’ which makes others fear them. Spider is telling you to own your uniqueness and design your own story. She does this by giving you the gift of effective communication and shows you how to find solutions to your challenges in a mindful way.
• Mindfulness: While weaving your truth, there is possibility of thinking too much about what others may think or say. This is not about them, your life is about you. Who are you? Why are you here, right now? No matter what the answer, it’s YOUR answer, however, Spider is also telling you to be mindful and smart when weaving your life. Spider has 8 legs and the number 8 symbolizes infinity. The possibilities are endless. This gives you many choices and many paths, so take the time now to explore those choices and once you’ve chosen one that feeds your soul, then take responsibility for it.
• Patience: Just like Alligator, Spider waits for her prey to either fly into her web or finish walking past so that they have the perfect opportunity to eat lunch without much effort. Often, they prepare their prey for later. There’s not always a need to devour lunch right away, you can enjoy it for dinner. There’s even a species called Common Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) who changes her color to blend in with a flower so that she can attack pollinators. This teaches you to wait for the right moment to strike, be it start that project, buy that new house, get married, have a child, etc. This full moon especially will send off ‘LET’S GO NOW!’ vibes and this may just be a message to make sure you know what you’re doing before making any crazy decisions you may regret later. Always keep mindfulness and patience at the forefront in your web weaving activities.
• Loneliness: Of the 40,000 some odd species, only about 24 of them live in groups and share communal responsibilities. Otherwise, they are solitary animals. With their fear-inducing aura in many humans, this could mean that you may be considered intimidating for others. Spider people — those with Spider as their power or totem animal — are challenged with being in big crowds and feel more comfortable in their own element. This could be a problem when you crave interaction, especially during this pandemic. Learn to lure in the right people who will raise your vibration with your spidery seduction skills.
• Freedom & ease: A spider lets the wind carry her, from tree to tree, or window sill inside the house to the ground safely below. Take their gift of free-falling and ease and let things happen as they come.
• Self-sacrifice: As with Deer, Spider also symbolizes self-sacrifice as a tool used for the better good. The female Stegodyphus dumicola, native to South Africa, allows babies to eat her alive. This species live in a large community and share nests and childcare. Since only 40% of the females are able to reproduce because of their slow maturing process, the virgins will allow her sisters’ babies to eat them! Wow. And we all know about the male Black Widows, who by the way, don’t ALWAYS get eaten. In fact, there’s only one species of the many black widow genus Latrodectus who always indulges in male cannibalism and she lives in the Southern Hemisphere. Many times, the males are allowed to mate again. To bring this self-sacrifice symbolism into real terms, no, this does not mean you need to sacrifice yourself to make someone else happy. It means that the entire collective will be better off if you change something you may feel is a sacrifice. In our world today, this could just mean riding your bike instead of driving, eating more vegan meals, making your own soap or deodorant instead of buying these products in plastic. These things may ‘sound’ like a sacrifice to you (‘where’s the beef?’), but Spider doesn’t see it that way. She knows that it will benefit everyone and so is more than willing to do her part. Mother Earth needs every individual to do their part as well.

Questions to ask yourself

• Am I designing the most effective life for myself?
• What can I do for the greater good without giving up too much?
• Who can I lure into my web to nourish my soul and help others?
• What is my truth? What makes me unique?
• Am I ready to create this new thing or do I need to tick a few more boxes first?

Final words from Spider

Fear not the Spider. She is an extremely beautiful and powerful guide. Spider is the master ingenious creator of prosperity and intricate design. Use her gifts to find the right moment to start creating your masterpiece and find those who will support you during every step of the way. 

Call upon Spider energy when you need a boost in creativity.

Polar Bear as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

The poster child who inspires climate action is Polar Bear!

He’s not only losing his habitat due to global warming though. That is the biggest threat, yes, but other threats and concerns include toxic pollution, disturbance of maternal dens, oil spills and overhunting of subpopulations.

There are many different kinds of conservation projects to help save polar bears, from monitoring populations, reducing conflict with humans as they are forced to migrate inland to engaging in climate action activities, etc.

If you would like to help save the polar bears, please search for an organization who works locally and has a track record of good work and communicates in a transparent way so that you know exactly where your money is going. Get to know the organization before investing money.

If you are able, consider volunteering your time. This will give you valuable experience in a new field of work which could open many opportunities as well as give you much joy, something that money can’t buy.

What we can learn from Polar Bear

With Polar Bear being the main poster child to inspire climate action in the human world, he wants to share his many lessons with you to help you keep your focus on what’s most important.

What can Polar Bear teach us?

• Endurance, perseverance, adaptation and energy conservation: As the ice melts in the Arctic, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances. In January 2011, it was reported that a polar bear swam 426 miles in nine days in search of food. When you watch them swim, they do it very slowly, often only using their front paws to tread the waters while letting their back legs drag. This helps them utilize their energy to the max. Since polar bears are solitary animals, cubs are being left to forage on their own at an earlier age than decades ago. Let this be a reminder to stay the course for your chosen path in life. Even though your situation may not be a matter of life and death as it is for the polar bear, embrace his energy and attitude of ‘die trying’ to help you endure extreme situations and conditions.
• Call on your resources and camouflage: The skin of a polar bear is a dark bluish/black with hallow white/yellowish fur which keeps him warm and invisible to prey, specifically seals. Use what nature gave you to your best ability to survive and live your best life. They also lie on ice to reduce their shadows.
• Transformation and introspection: While the typical bear hibernates, only pregnant polar bears hibernate. This is a symbol of going within during the transformation of becoming a mother. This inspires you to look within yourself during your own period of transformation.
• Patience and peace: Seals are polar bear’s favorite meal. With his camouflage body, polar bears remain still and quiet until they’re ready to appear out of nowhere to catch dinner. Just like Alligator who waits until the moment is right, the message is to not rush into things. Success is not something that can be rushed. Although seals are getting harder to hunt as the ice depletes, Polar Bear does not blame humans. This is life and they know they have to adjust. Polar Bear is forgiving and nurturing, the perfect symbol for finding peace within your own soul while giving you the knowledge to embrace acceptance and self-love.
• Self-reliance and independence: As solitary animals, except during breeding times, polar bears are fiercely independent. Living against all odds, let Polar Bear energy help you to take care of yourself.
• Surrender: Another message from Polar Bear energy is to not resist the conditions you have to live under. Conserve your energy and make the most of each situation because what you face today will not be your last quest. Let things flow as they were meant to be.
• Grounding magnetic energies: The magnetic north pole is massively migrating towards Russia. Before the turn of the century, this was a gradual shift, but in the past 21 years, the speed of the north magnetic pole has increased from 10 km/year to 50 km. Although not fully understood in this scientific field, the Earth’s magnetic field constantly moves and its poles are not stationary and move independently of each other. Polar bears ground these energies so that all beings on Earth are able to prepare for this shift of a higher consciousness. They are not concerned with the climate per se, they will endure until they can’t anymore. This is their harsh reality and they accept it as such. They are more concerned about soul awakenings for the benefit of all life on Earth.

Questions to ask yourself

• How can I become more independent?
• What do I need to focus on to allow myself to move into a higher consciousness?
• What do I need to accept about myself?

Final words from Polar Bear

Polar Bear is the perfect guide when respectfully approached if you’re facing a dramatic transition in your life, especially when entering the next level of your soul.

He is guiding you to adapt and surrender so that you can find peace and joy within chaos and catastrophe.

Call upon Polar Bear energy to receive the gift of encouragement to find peace and calmness in this intense world.

Swim as cool as Polar Bear in the sea of serenity.

Dragon as your Animal Guide

One of the most legendary creatures and powerful totems showing up in films, books, artwork, etc., Dragon, with her many emotions and qualities, is well respected and honored, and equally feared and misunderstood.

As with other mythical creatures such as Griffin, Unicorn, Phoenix and Ouroboros, Dragon exists in the spirit world just like Gorilla, Tiger and Bear.

As with all mythical creatures, if you believe in their spirit and messages, you have an advantage over others who are skeptical. You know that nothing’s impossible, especially when it comes to your own abilities and strengths, regardless of what anyone else says or believes.

Dragon is not an easy animal guide. She offers challenges and confrontations every step of the way. It’s up to you to use your strength and disrupt the inner voices that enable doubt to come into your life. If you’re in a state where self-sabotage, doubt or lack of love are blocking you, Dragon may not be a pleasant guide to help you through this time. It’s only when you’re ‘ready to slay that dragon’ are you able to benefit to the fullest.

This does not mean that when Dragon shows up in your life, you should try to kill her. No, this is a message telling you that when you are ready to stand in front of the fearless Dragon with courage, you will be able to face your fears in order to move forward.

And if you purposely call upon Dragon energy, make sure you’re prepared for obstacles.

Just remember though that Dragon chose to guide you during this new moon in Taurus, not the other way around. She did so for very good reasons, which you will discover below. 

What we can learn from Dragon

• Magic: When Dragon shows up for you at any given time, this is a sign to tune into your psychic nature so that you can view the world with wonder and mystery.
• Peace: Dragon invites you to look deep within your soul so that you can unearth your true powers. When you are able to do this, you will find peace. 
• Strength: Dragon is not only physically strong, Dragon is fearless which adds more to her strength than physical strength. Confidence is strength. Knowing you have the ability to conquer your enemies is strength. Tap into this energy when you are preparing for a difficult challenge without wanting fear or doubt to get into your way.
• Wisdom: The Dragon sees all and knows all. Firey Dragon energy is like a light igniting within us which gives us the insight and knowledge to tackle something big. 
• Mastery and balance: Dragon is the master of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Balancing all four elements to the point of perfection. This lesson is to master the physical realm in order to experience life to its fullest. Avoid avoidance, face your fears head on. Invite them in but don’t let them drive.
• Transformation: As with Polar Bear, Dragon is a symbol of transformation, however related to physical and emotional shifting. This could mean for you that you’re changing jobs, moving to a new location or shifting your mindset. Understand the misunderstood and look at things from a different perspective.
• Richness: When thinking of dragons, you may have this image of Smaug in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Smaug was a fire dragon who hoarded the treasures earned by the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. This does mean you are to hoard your pennies and become unapproachable like Smaug. This means to appreciate the wealth that you have, a balance between financial and emotional. Smaug had financial wealth, but he was lonely and misunderstood. His ‘treasure’ wasn’t his and so corruption led to his aggressive behavior. Take this time to observe your relationship with money and what power and abundance really means for you. Money itself is not ‘dirty’ or ‘corrupt’. If you’re avoiding stepping up into your own power for fear of becoming corrupt, let Dragon remind you that you can only inspire others and become successful if you stand your ground and look at your fears. Let Dragon help you bring true wealth into your life.

Questions to ask yourself

• What are my hidden fears I need to work through?
• What is the magic inside me and how can I truly unlock it?
• What it is I’m truly grateful for?
• How can I communicate more effectively so that I’m not misunderstood?

Final words from Dragon

When the essence of Dragon energy is awakened, you are courageous, strong and visionary. With Dragon as your guide, you have the ability to manifest a higher dignity and intellect. That is, IF you surrender and truly let her in.

If your totem or power animal is Dragon, you will be awarded with brilliance and enlightenment.

Listen to the teachings of Dragon so that you can find the courage to express your views to be heard and understood. 

Bear as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

Of eight bear species, six are listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Many bears are victims of horrific wildlife crimes such as having to live on bear bile farms where their bile, a liquid stored in their gallbladders, is continuously extracted for false medical healing purposes. They are used to entertain us, are imprisoned in small spaces or hunted to be displayed as trophies while their habitats in the wild are being depleted due to deforestation and climate change. The mascot for climate action is the Polar Bear!

There are many different kinds of conservation projects to help save the bears, from educating the public to tracking efforts, restoring native habitats to exposing bear bile farms in Asia, etc. If you would like to help save the bears, please search for an organization who works locally and has a track record of good work. Get to know the organization before investing money or time in volunteering. 

 What we can learn from Bear

For spiritual purposes, these lessons from Bear below come from the Grizzly, Black and Brown Bears. As I mentioned earlier, Polar Bear and Giant Panda are special in their own right and because of this, they offer different lessons and messages for us.

So, what can Bear teach us?

• Nature’s Manager: Balance between gentleness and ferocity. Bear plays a major role in keeping nature in balance. They spread seeds, keep pests under control and maintain order in nature’s daily life. They do this with the right mix of nurturing care and ferocity. For the most part, bears are gentle, especially with their young, however, when threatened, they will turn into a beast in a heartbeat. Many animals carry this protective trait, but it’s ferocious Bear energy that truly paints this picture. For the most part, use your gentle side, but bring on Mama Bear energy when truly needed.
• Personal transformation. Hibernation is a symbol for rebirth, spiritual re-alignment and emerging in the spring as changed and balanced. Coming out of hibernation is a somewhat clumsy process with fogginess, weakness and obstacles. At first. Bear’s message tells you the beginning of your spiritual journey will be tough, but each step will get better and it’s worth the struggle. When your time arrives, like spring does for Bear, you have no choice but to embrace it and begin your journey. If, however, you miss this chance and stay in hibernation forever, you will not grow. Your action will turn into numbness.
• Take a break and only do what’s necessary. Listen to Baloo in Jungle Book right before he sings ‘Bare Necessities’: “Lemme tell you some’m, Li’l Britches: if you act like that bee acts, uh-uh. You’re working too hard. And don’t spend your time just looking around…. for something you want that can’t be found.” Bear is telling you to only spend time on what’s important and don’t overwork yourself. Of course, what Baloo didn’t say is that bees are very important and their work is needed for all of us to survive, so if your work is helpful and needed, work smart, not hard.
• Introspection. Look within yourself for answers. Bear always knows to trust her intuition and instinct because both are important. Bear is a solitude animal, except when raising young and that’s what helps her strengthen her intuition. Spend time with yourself in your own personal bear cave to find the answers you are looking for.
• Do your thing. Bear is Bear and doesn’t listen to anyone telling him what to do. Just be you.

Questions to ask yourself

• How can I make it a habit to spend time with myself?
• What is my intuition telling me?
• How can I relax more?
• What skill do I need to strengthen to grow?
• What do I need to lay to rest in order to balance my Self?

Final words from Bear

With this intense full moon energy, Bear just wants you to chill, look inside and find the answers within yourself. You can listen to others, but it’s your own intuition that knows best. You may feel this sudden urge to make a life-changing decision with this supermoon energy. Tune into Bear energy and take the time to really listen to your Self, your intuition before making such a decision.

If, however, you have been preparing for this change and you just need a final push, then this could be the right time to go for it!

Use his spiritual hibernation energy to realign your own energy and bring balance to your body, mind and soul.

Call upon Bear energy to listen to your intuition and find your inner balance.

Ouroboros as your Animal Guide

Ouroboros is one of the oldest symbols of all time and originated in ancient Egyptian mythology. The first appearance being found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb from 1323 BC.

As a mythical creature, Ouroboros appears as a snake or dragon consuming her own tail. As with other mythical creatures such as Griffin, Unicorn, Phoenix and Dragon, Ouroboros exists in the spirit world just like Lion, Tiger and Bear.

This goes for all mythical creatures, if you believe in their spirit and messages, you have an advantage over others who are sceptical. You know that nothing’s impossible, especially when it comes to your own abilities and strengths, regardless of what anyone else says or believes.

What we can learn from Ouroboros

• Infinity. The head and tail of Ouroboros are connected, just like beginning and end, good and bad. Neither is better or stronger or competing with or overpowering another. The two sides meet and are joined together, both important for existence of the whole. Ouroboros isn’t cutting of her tail because she does not like this part of herself. She is eating it, consuming it, becoming one with it to continue the cycle of life. To continue moving.
• Regeneration. A symbol of infinity, rebirth and regeneration, she is a master of destruction and creation by continuously devouring herself in order to be reborn from herself. The Greek name, Ouroboros literally means: ‘devouring its own tail’.
• Endless circle of life. Ouroboros also symbolizes the permanent fusion of sulphur and mercury which creates the Philosopher’s Stone in order to make the elixir of life.
• Integrating the dualities of existence. Ouroboros is also a symbol of the duality of existence: Yin + Yang, light + shadow, masculine + feminine where, in each case, neither is superior or inferior or good or bad. This is not light consuming dark otherwise dark will consume light because it’s never-ending. You need both light and dark in order to survive. Ouroboros supports you in the unity and healthy integration of your own dualities and teaches you to understand and accept your own light and shadow sides, your masculine and feminine, all dualities that lie within you.
• Not knowing when it’s time to end, going around in circles and never moving forward. Challenging times with working with Ouroboros spirit is to know when to end. Be aware of this in you and know when to stop, whether it’s with a project, or a relationship, or an idea. Know when something no longer serves you. Not everything circles back around to something positive. Sometimes you just need to end something in order to start something new.

Final words from Ouroboros

The perfect guide when fear comes into play because her message is that everything is an endless cycle of life and if you accept this, fear is unnecessary.

As a purifying symbol, call upon Ouroboros to help you prepare for a spiritual journey of release, liberation and the unification of the conscious and unconscious realms.

Call upon Ouroboros energy to understand your shadow side .

Zebra as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

Zebras are in danger! Only 3,000 Grevy’s Zebra are living in the wild and therefore, are listed in the Appendix I in CITES meaning, they are threatened with extinction and trade must be subject to particularly strict regulation. The most endangered species of plants and animals are listed under
Appendix I. This listing does not save them from illegal trade.

Zebras are killed for their beautiful skin, meat and trophies. They are also threatened with habitat loss due to expanded farming and increased domestic animal herding as well as civil unrest and war. Community conservation efforts are underway to help keep them alive and well.

Grevy’s Zebra Trust works with Samburu warriors, especially young men coming of age, to teach them about conservation, habitat and water management, rebuilding, education for the youth, etc. to sustainably preserve the zebra’s environment and existence.

What we can learn from Zebra

• Discernment. Be cautious, be on the lookout and conscious of your moves.
• Individuality within the herd. The stripes on a Zebra are like our fingerprints and even though there are hundreds of similar looking Marty’s in Madagascar, each Zebra is unique. While blending in provides you with safety, it also gives you the challenge of blending in too much and losing your Self in the herd. The lesson here is to keep your own identity and individuality. Appreciate your own uniqueness, even your flaws.
• Perfect harmony of opposites. Humans with Zebra energy have lots of friends, are highly sociable and loveable, yet reserved and quiet at the same time. Visible stripes of opposites.
• Cutting through illusions. Zebras all look the same, you say? From a distance perhaps. This illusion is how they survive in a herd, blending together.
• Freedom seeker. Unlike horses and donkeys, zebras are not domesticated and there’s a good reason for this. They can be unruly and fight to the death for their freedom. They have killed humans, not as many as humans have killed zebras, but the fact remains, they have a killer instinct when being threatened. It’s said that since both human and zebra species originated in Africa, they ‘knew’ us and our ways. Humans hunted zebras and therefore, zebra lost all trust! With Zebra energy, you value freedom and are encouraged to be true to your wild side. No need to be ‘broken’ or back down to appease someone. This will neither benefit you nor anyone else and could possibly end up causing more harm than good, especially to yourself.
• Determination. Zebra energy brings with it a sense of adventure, youth, beauty and joy. As one of the many herbivores who migrate in search of food each year, they travel with wildebeests and many other animals together from the Serengeti to Africa (about 500 miles), moving clockwise from the southeast. If you need inspiration for the long haul to finish a project, then call on Zebra energy to give you this strength. Zebra is showing you to stick with it through the long haul, not matter how challenging the journey may be because at the end of the trip, you will get your reward. For Zebra, it’s food, for you, it may be abundance, or love. Working hard always precedes a reward.
• Maintain balance. Zebra teaches you to maintain a balance in your life, even during crazy times. Yes, you should work hard, but rewards are extremely important, so don’t forget that.
• Agility. With Zebra on your side, you will not need to be the strongest, biggest, fastest out there, your gift of agility overrides all of those features. This surefootedness and confidence will help you along your journey and aid you in avoiding pitfalls and dangers along the way as well as recognizing life-changing opportunities.
• Creativity and Eccentricity. Zebra is a beautiful piece of art. Each of the three Zebra species have a different stripe pattern and therefore, easily recognizable. Tap into Zebra energy to create something extraordinary this week and whenever you want to feel creative.
• Visionary. Zebras have excellent eyesight and, in the savanna, where there are many predators, they’re a good ally to warn you of possible danger. That’s why you often see Zebra and Wildebeest together because Wildebeest has poor eyesight and rely on Zebra for early warnings. Excellent eyesight has a setback though. Relying too much on one sense will keep you from paying attention to another sense. In this case, your intuition, your gut feeling or the intuition of others. See with all your senses. Call on your Zebra guide to help you cut through illusion and connect with your inner wisdom.

Questions to ask yourself

• What is my intuition telling me about this particular situation?
• What creative endeavor can I take on?
• Does my self-confidence need a boost?
• What is my truth? What makes me unique?
• How can I accept this difficult period to be able to continue?

Final words from Zebra

With Zebra as your animal guide during this New Moon in Aries, you have the perfect guide to help you create something creative, no matter if you start a short-term or long-term project. She will give you the determination and energy for the long haul.

Call upon Zebra energy to give you the confidence and endurance along your journey.

Seagull as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

Because gulls help maintain a healthy marine ecosystem from their own waste, it would be a major disadvantage to all life on Earth not to protect them.

And even though you may not view gulls as being an endangered species, or even threatened because all coastal areas seem to be flooded with them, they are in danger, sadly enough. They received endangered species protection in North America and Europe after their populations drastically decreased to dangerous levels.

The River-Dwelling Black-Billed Gull lives in New Zealand and, of all the 50 gull species, is one of the most endangered.

Because gulls can become a nuisance in residential and urban areas, some licensed governmental officials use culling practices, both lethal and non-lethal, to control their population as they deem necessary.

According to the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), the number of urban roof-nesting gulls, such as the Lesser Black-Backed Gulls are increasing while the population of the Herring Gulls, for instance, is plummeting, putting them on the IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) Red List of Threatened Species which was founded in 1964 and provides the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.

What we can learn from Seagull

• Intelligence and problem solving. Seagull is highly intelligent and has the ability to learn new behaviors and pass them along to their young such as dropping mollusks on rocks so that they break open and are ready to eat, or following ploughs which upturn the earth, exposing many delicacies. Never stop learning! It’s only tragic when you don’t use or share what you learn.
• Communication, persistence. The communication skills amongst seagulls are highly complex. They use a range of vocalizations and body movements. You know what a flock of seagulls sound like, right? And I don’t mean the band. They are LOUD! What are they trying to tell you? Or are they just hangry?
• Versatility, adaptability. Being found on every continent on Earth, in urban as well as coastal areas, with humans or isolated from them, Seagull is a true symbol of versatility and adaptability. When you feel stuck and don’t know how to move forward, call on Seagull to give you the energy of being able to create the changes you need in your life to become successful and thrive.
• Laughter, joy. Allow Seagull to nourish you with joy and laughter with her carefree attitude while having enough intelligence to come back down and use your communication skills to help solve problems that will help you move forward.
• Perspective. Her graceful gliding above and beyond the horizon provides you with a new perspective and confidence to help you find freedom of mind and in doing so, release your fears and judgements while offering you alternative paths and creative solutions.
• Freedom, Carefree Lifestyle, Lighthearted Altitude and Ungroundedness. She will also gift you with the sense of freedom to not be bogged down by rules which can also cause fear and keep you from progressing. Beware of Seagull energy when you have the urge to soar all day though. This will only cause you to fly around in circles and not want to come back down to Earth. You won’t be able to nourish your body or soul that way. Seagull needs air, water and earth in order to survive and thrive.
• Resourcefulness. A Gull’s waste is used to keep valuable marine life intact. Gulls find food in human garbage cans. Your Seagull guide is telling you to be resourceful, not wasteful and to find and appreciate your hidden treasure within you as it’s more valuable than you or anyone may think at first glance.

Questions to ask yourself

• What new skill will benefit me when learned?
• What rules can I break or bend to move forward more easily?
• What is wasting my time?
• What is my truth? What makes me unique?
• What things can I reuse, recycle or repurpose?

Final words from Seagull

Working with Seagull energy will give you the freedom to put new ideas to fruition without wasting time or resources and being able to get your message across to be heard.

Call upon Seagull energy to aid you in communicating effectively and persistently to get what you want.

Gorilla as your Animal Guide

Conservation Efforts

All four Gorilla subspecies are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix I of CITES.

Gorilla’s only natural predator is human who hunt them for bushmeat and cause considerable damage by depleting their territory from mining, deforestation, disease (Ebola) and war. Their reproduction rate is extremely slow, meaning, every gorilla lost takes ten years to ‘replace’.

The World Conservation Society is working together with the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and other NGOs, national and local authorities to:

• Develop action plans for all large ape species
• Monitor populations
• Help protect them from poachers
• Implement educational programs for children and adults
• Improve land use
• Set up a surveillance network and laboratory in Brazzaville, the capital city of Republic of the Congo, to help combat Ebola

What we can learn from Gorilla

• Conscious leadership. Gorilla is the true ‘King of the Jungle’, not Lion as Lion does not live in the jungle, but the savanna. A natural born leader, Gorilla notices the inner beauty of each individual, displays acts of kindness, patience and compassion and allows others to play while he protects. He is sharing his gift of nobility and inspires you, in times when you feel powerless, to hold your head up high, breathe in deep and stick out your chest and if it feels right, pound your fists to really feel his energy! You are a leader in your own right. Own it!
• Sophisticated communication. Gorilla energy knows that leading doesn’t mean hostility and as a strong communicator with the ability to learn 2,000 English words in sign language, he is teaching you to carry out your message in a gentle, fair, yet assertive way as this will inspire others to change more than aggression ever will, or common in our social media society today, with shaming and blaming. This approach inspires no one to follow, let alone listen. Beloved Dr. Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough didn’t achieve their respectful world leadership status from engaging in hostile confrontations with authorities. No, they lead with compassion and understanding as much as determination and firmness. Respectful in all ways. Gorilla sends you the valuable gift of conscious parenting and leadership.
• Experience. Gorilla is a kindred spirit who thinks and makes us think. I’m not sure if there are many species who actually reflect on the past and think about the future in a way that doesn’t only mean getting food and carrying on your legacy via reproduction but to also be happy and thrive. He wants his troop to do just that which is why the huge silverback leader allows the babies to crawl all over him and pull his hair. He knows they just want to have fun and understands that happiness in a vulnerable and depleting environment is crucial for his community. This is his gift to his family and with this gift, comes loyalty, respect and love.
• Wisdom. The wise Gorilla who’s been around for at least over 20 years understand what’s happening to the world today. They know how abundant life of Earth used to be and now, they fear the future for their children, just like we do. You can see this in their worrisome eyes and if they’re stuck in a zoo, you can easily sense their depression. They know what’s going on.
• Just Aggression. That said, Gorilla will fight and use all his might and power when threatened by another Gorilla. He only protects when he needs to protect, but it is not in his nature to be aggressive. Sometimes, you need to fight for what’s right and the key is to know when to choose your battles. Sometimes just pounding on your chest will ward off those who want to claim your throne. Other times, you may need to battle it out to the end.
• Arrogance. Gorilla loves attention and when he doesn’t get it, he can become egotistical. This is a message to remind you that you don’t have to always be in the limelight to make an impact. Just sitting there in your power is sometimes enough. So, let others have their day too.
• Moving too much, not being able to settle down. Usually on a daily basis, the Silverback leads his troop to a new place to get well-nourished and rest. If there’s enough food, he will stay until the supply reaches its limit. Gorilla’s nomadic ways allow him and his family to survive but this may also be a sign to not always be on the move to slip away from your responsibilities. Know when it’s time to move. Staying just a little longer may prove more beneficial than moving right away. He reminds you to remain grounded even when moving. Focus on what’s important. Use Gorilla energy to solve difficult problems with your analytical mind.

Questions to ask yourself

• What can I give others that will make them happy?
• What is my message to the world and how can I communicate this with compassion?
• How can you inspire others to follow me?
• Do I need to move to another place or project in order to get what I need?

Final words from Gorilla

As I was writing this, Gorilla asked me to send humanity an important message: Do something, please! His message was clear as day. If anyone else knows what’s really going on, it’s our closest relatives, the large primates.

Mature gorillas know how life was 20+ years ago and they mourn the environment’s abundance and beauty. With all the destruction we humans have done on Earth and continue to do at such an exponential rate, they fear the future for their children, just like we do.

If you look deep into the eyes of a gorilla at a zoo, you see depression and frustration. If you look deep into the eyes of a wild gorilla — you may not have this chance, but you can still do it by watching videos and documentaries — you see fear and worry. I do anyway. I can look straight into the soul of Gorilla and feel his emotions. It’s painful and very sad.

A powerful guide when you need to slip into the role of a leader who wants to make a positive impact in this world, Gorilla has the experience, wisdom, patience, gentleness and assertiveness to get the job done with ease, pleasure and success.

He wishes with all his might that we will step up and save life on Earth because we must never forget; we are not above nature. We need plants and animals to survive on this planet. Mother Earth is resilient. Humans and many other species? Not so much.

Call upon Gorilla energy to help you lead with compassion and do what needs to be done for your community.

Leopard as your Animal Guide

 What we can learn from Leopard

• Finding peace with solidarity. During the COVID lockdown and the image of leopards resting in trees, the message to ‘hang in there’ gives us a little inspiration.
• Live with ease and simplicity. Sleek, poise and casual, look at how Leopard walks, jumps and ‘hangs out’. Take things with stride and pride.
• Take back your power. Leopard usually comes to you after tremendous suffering. She comes as a healer and counselor and when you think there’s no way out. When you feel you’ve hit rock bottom. She sends the message to look at your skills and appreciate them. And, to USE them. A Leopard can’t change her spots! They are hers! A leopard’s spots are unique, similar to our fingerprints. She is teaching you to show off your uniqueness and be proud! There is no more need to hide.
• Respect and love yourself and others. With this newly felt pride, you can view yourself in a more loving way which will give you the ability to view others in a similar way. Leopard is a power guide during your spiritual transformation.
• Protect what’s yours. Living alone may automatically give you a sense of protection and so use this to your advantage, however, there are warnings with this gift when abused, so read on…
• High adaptability in various situations and surroundings. You are ready for any situation that comes your way. Acknowledge your fears, but don’t let them take the driver’s seat.
• Balance speed and strength. Almost as fast as Cheetah, Leopard can help you cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time without burning out. They reserve enough energy for the destination – in their case, the kill. They know that sprinting is not sustainable for the long haul, so this is a lesson for you to make sure you have enough energy to finish a project, or possibly with this Full Moon in Libra, a relationship or a chapter of a relationship because toxic relationships are not sustainable.
• Wise Competition. Leopard competes for food with Tiger, Hyena and Lion. Both Leopard and Tiger want to show up to help guide us during this full moon means for me that it’s also important to look for collaboration opportunities with your competition. Leopard protects what is hers, rightly so and that should never change. However, there is enough abundance to go around and since this Full Moon is much about relationships, I believe Leopard is saying to notice your competition and see where you can work together successfully to share the same goal. Especially if you’re a purpose-driven social entrepreneur, you’re on a mission and you’ll have more success if you work with others who have that same mission.
• Being aware of Leopard’s challenges. If you’re too alone, beware of isolation paranoia (Gollum syndrome) as well as being too competitive and greedy, so during this full moon, seeking closure on those characteristics will open up new opportunities.

Final words from Leopard

With Leopard as your animal guide now or in the future, you have a powerful teacher for personal transformation. Working with Leopard energy will help you raise your consciousness and you will surely feel yourself growing in unexpected ways.

You will learn to move along your spiritual path in a more confident and independent way, in your way, guided by your own magic.

Take control of your life and your path and you will be shown incredible opportunities.

Her question for you is: What lights up your life?

Call upon Leopard energy to open up opportunities.

Tiger as your Animal Guide

What we can learn from Tiger

• Strength. The mighty Tiger is the largest of the felines and one of the largest land predators. He knows his strength and offers it to you when you feel weak, exhausted and ready to give up. His bursts of energy can give you the boost you need after a long struggle, such as to complete a long-term project or heal a toxic relationship.
• Patience. Tiger will show you when the right time is to make your move. Similar to Alligator, during the hunt, Tiger remains still and only strikes when he can almost guarantee success. With this gift, he teaches you strategy and will frown upon procrastination when the path is clear and all the signs point to ‘GO!’
• Willpower and adventure. Tiger gets what Tiger wants. With his ambition and sense of adventure, there is nothing that will get in his way. Proceed with this lesson with caution because even though you may be ready to take that leap, you must think of what’s at stake. Any selfish agendas may come with difficulties.
• Power and Passion. An ally to Leopard, Tiger’s stripes are unique and so in combination, this is a huge message to take back your power and show the world who you really are. Tiger encourages you to follow your passion because this IS who you are and when you accept that and communicate it loudly and proudly, you will gain your power back.
• See clearly. Tigers, as with most cats, can see in the dark, or rather, in spaces with little light. They are unable to see in complete darkness. With their sharpened sight, Tiger energy helps you see the truth, see through obstacles and blocks that are stopping you from moving forward. With his patience, heightened senses and deep intuition, he helps you make better decisions faster and with confidence.
• Blending in.Tigers see and want to be seen clearly, however, he is challenged with blending in to his environment. His identity and his stripes help camouflage him, which is good for the hunt, but not when he wants to mate. Also, with his vulnerability of becoming extinct, he is saying that he does not want to disappear completely.

Final words from Tiger

Working with Tiger energy will help you understand your raw feelings and be able to put these in perspective so that you can find the courage to work through difficult and emotional situations, now and in the future. He will also help you act fast when you need to avoid missing opportunities.

Call upon the Tiger when you feel like you are hiding or when you feel aggression towards a situation or someone.

His question for you is: In what aspect of your life do you need strength?

Call upon Tiger energy to help take back your power.