On My Mind: Animal Speak

Even though I grew up in a rural area, had plenty of outside time, spending hours riding my bike through town and down country roads, and had access to animals in all sizes and shapes – the kind that show up on farms -  I am not sure that, as a child, I was aware of the richness around me and how fortunate I was.

I was very aware of where food came from… I saw it first-hand and eating fresh food from a garden was not unusual.  It was what we did.  I knew where eggs came from, too – before they ended up in a carton in the grocery store.  I have vivid memories of my grandmother showing me how to reach under a hen and gather the eggs.  This was definitely not something I wanted to do on a regular basis – invade the space of a cranky mother hen.  No thank you.

I also remember the very first time I milked a cow – before the new machinery came in to do the job and magically transport the milk to a pasteurizer.  My grandfather showed me how – just applying the right amount of pressure and tugging the right way, and viola…there it was!  Even more special was when a stray cat or kitten would be standing by to take advantage of a squirt pointed their way.  Such vivid memories.

And then life came along and I belonged to the cities I lived in like Houston, Washington, Charlotte and Baltimore – and being in nature seemed something I did on weekends if I had time or on special vacations to magical places like the Grand Tetons, Montana and Vermont.

Over the past several years though, I have connected with nature in my very own back yard – no matter what time of year, because there is always stuff going on. This “connecting” happened when I started having breakfast on my patio on nice mornings where I would read, do some journaling, and complete my gratitude list.  On mornings that don’t allow that because of weather conditions, I sit in a room with two-story windows that faces the backyard, and make the connection.

It’s amazing what shows up from the different plants and trees in all of their states, the wind, the blue sky, the rain, the snow, and the animals and birds.  The animals and the birds!  We have an incredible amount of them in our backyard – and we don’t even live in a rural area.  But they are here and if I pay attention during my morning time, I see them and connect with them and it feels magical.

The other morning when a beautiful healthy red fox showed up on the patio to pause before she took off to take care of her “to do” list, I was in awe.  I immediately got one of my favorite books, Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Power of Creatures Great and Small, by Ted Andrews and checked out the message my visitor could be sharing, and here’s what Ted had to say:

“Fox Keynote:  feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting, and invisibility…

The fact that there are 21 different kinds of foxes found throughout the world has great metaphysical significance.  Card 21 in the tarot deck is The World.  It is a card that reflects a new world opening up, that the process of creation is beginning.  It reflects that the world is growing and shapeshifting itself into new patterns that will be beneficial.  For those with a fox totem, meditating upon this card can be of benefit to understanding how fox energy will be helping with creation.  It can reveal what is growing and shapeshifting (or needing it) within your own world.”

Since that day, that beautiful fox has shown up two other mornings – it must be her morning commute route and each time she feels even more magical and her message rings true.  So, I plan to take advantage of her teaching as I create my future.  I also plan to pay attention to the other messages I receive from all of the other visitors and stay connected with nature this way.  It’s so grounding and so real.  It feels exactly like what I need in my life right now.

And, you know I would love to hear your stories and experiences with nature and animals  – the sacred blessings that are available to all of us.