Time to Control the Changes we Want to be in our Lives

Today is Sunday and our speaker today at the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta was the Reverend, David Barrett. He talked about the changes we are all growing through these days. The economy is going through changes and challenges. Most of us are having to take a look at our thinking and how we spend our money - as well as how we make it.

Change is guaranteed in life. Many people, as he brought up, want things to go back to the way they were. When we were going through water shortages during the recent drought, we were told to stop wasting water, conserve, and do things differently. Many people made some conscientious changes. Many people believed that things would improve and they could just go back to the same old habits and wasteful behaviors. And those are probably the same people wanting to go back to the way things were with their jobs and the economy.

But you can't go back. Changes are here. Wake up.

I was moaning one day how I hated getting old. And a woman younger and at that moment, wiser than me said, "Consider the alternative? If you don't get old, you are dead." We are making changes. We are shedding the old ways and ideas. We are creating waste products that when spread around are like manure on the garden. Quoting David again, "if we spread the manure and create fertile ground to grow something new, what do we get if we don't take control of what goes there? We get weeds and more chaos."

We are at the opening to grow something new in our lives. It is up to us to choose what we grow and take control of our growth. If we focus on lack and struggle, what are we going to grow? If we focus on love, abundance, gratitude, and a new economy, that is what we receive.

Let's take control of our growth and from the fertile ground let's grow something wonderful and beautiful. It's time and it's up to each of us to create the kind of world we want today and tomorrow.

Katherine Ari

A Squirrel Story

Yesterday, my son went out into the yard to sit and think about what he wants to do next with his life. He discovered an injured squirrel who seemed to have a broken back and a small puncture wound. He and his dad decided to see if they could rescue it and at least protect it from the dog and cats in what appeared to be its dying process. They put on leather gloves but that wasn't enough. The little rodent bit through to Doug's finger and hard. Bleeding stopped and the squirrel was put in a wagon with a screen on top. At first we left it on the patio but our little part Russell terrier is a hunting dog - probably what happened to the squirrel in the first place - so they moved the wagon outside of the fence in the driveway as it was safer.

They gave it some water and our figs are ripe. Kyler put some figs in there with it. Later one was gone and the half moving squirrel had moved the others into a pile in the corner. Got up this morning and went to see if it was still alive. Although there was a screen tight on the wagon and towels on it to shade it and conceal it, the little guy was gone. It had taken one bite from each of the other figs and had somehow squeezed through a gap in the window screen. It is nowhere to be found.

I suppose the message it came to give to Kyler was complete and so was his presence. Did he go somewhere to die or climb up the tree? we don't know. Maybe figs are healing - for squirrels.

Intro to Numerology

Numerology by Katherine Ari July 30, 2009

[Quotes/information from NUMEROLOGY by Juno Jordan]

Over the years I have studied both Astrology and Numerology and I have come to like Numerology more. For one thing I do like math. but it is also because I find it easier and much more accurate to understanding personalities and determining answers to the life questions. Astrology gets much more attention from the media. I think it is maybe because it is less definite and means the interpretations can be more individual – and harder for the customer to find out for themselves. And I think it is because of the fear of math. It really isn’t hard math – just addition.

In numerology there are several numbers attached to you. They are determined by assigning numbers to the letters of our alphabet and then taking your full name at birth and those letters’ number and adding them together. The vowels are added to determine one thing and the consonants determine another. The numbers are reduced to a single number. These are the most dominant numbers along with your Birth number that is determined by your birthday. They include Destiny/field of opportunity, Birth from your birthday, Heart, Personality, and Reality numbers.

Then there are some more number combinations that are a explanation of your daily personality and challenges. If there is a missing number anywhere, that is your personality challenges or karma number meaning the things you need to overcome in your personality. A person with several missing numbers has more challenges, perhaps a more intense personality where as NO missing numbers in the personality may indicate an easier time with issues. You can take these numbers further and determine your influences yearly and even monthly but that is not part of this explanation.

I am going to share some very general information about me, about my husband Doug, about my three birth children. Most of my readers know one or more of us. This is information for anyone with these numbers for these areas and you can think about how you know us - and see just how accurate (or not) the analysis can be.

Katherine Ari

Destiny/Field of Opportunity – 7 “Educator of the World”

Birth Number – 3 - Creative with good imagination, power of inspiration and deep feelings. Depends on “vision” and “creative imagination”.

Heart Desire Number – Is Selective and discriminating and desires the best Life has to offer – perfection.

Personality 9 – Should never wear black (haven’t I told everyone that?) Gains through use of color in business and to express personality (Do you see why KALEIDOSCOPIC AHA FITS ME?) – A “good fellow”.

This number is the part that shows to the general public.

Reality Number – 1 – Talents, abilities, interests and individuality is supported later in life. Independent, clever, originality of thought with opportunities for leadership.

This number tells you about what you will be like in your adult later years.

Katherine Ari is missing 6’s – This is a common missing number and so, many people do not have strong senses of duty. Luck may support endeavors or they get help from others. May indicate a life with interesting situations and happenings.

Doug Dannels – my husband and father of my children

Destiny/Field of Opportunity – 2 – “Peacemaker”- Life’s Trouble Shooter”

Birth Number – 5 – Independent, happy with many projects. Sometimes restless and impatient

Heart Desire – 4 – Practical, Appreciates Law and Order, Systematic. Want things to be “Correct” and likes concentration and good management.

Personality – 7 – Gains when well-dressed and groomed; Likable, friendly, good talker but sometimes aloof. Correct personality means much.

Reality – 7 – In adult life later wants right to retire and follow mental interest, specialized knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and to write or invent or do unusual endeavors.

Missing number personality challenges – #8 – Not much self-control. Dependence on others for help and luck.

-Missing # 9 – Lack of broadness, tolerance, and compassion. Gives and is kind but lacks universal forgiveness. May have limited accomplishments but should study religions for help.

Miko Dannels –

Destiny – 3 –Creative Destiny, optimist, cheerfulness, Inspiration to arouse imagination and spirit and faith in others, Popular

Birth number – 3 - Creative with good imagination, power of inspiration, and deep feelings. Depends on “vision” and “creative imagination”.

Miko has a Destiny and a Birth Number 3 which means that the characteristics of a 3 are doubled and intense – REALLY strong. He also has the same Birth number and Heart Desire number as Mom, Katherine Ari which shows how they are similar. A psychologist might say that their similar personalities are because of environment but the same numbers say why he has certain of his mom’s characteristics and not others.

Heart Desire – 7 – Selective, Discriminating and desire best life has to offer – perfection

Personality – 5 – Is up to date at all times. Versatile but can go to extremes to be daring and in the limelight. Personality (how he acts) should fit the occasion.

Reality Later in Life – 6 – Endeavors for humanitarian services for love and protection for others to receive the best in life.

Miko has no missing numbers.

Kyler Dannels –

Destiny – 8 – Dynamic for position, authority, money, and recognition. Success comes through “knowledge of life” and its spiritual relationships and balance.

Birth – 4 – Practical type. Need to be sure. Serious and fixed in your ways. Naturally honest, sincere, and conscientious, strong likes and dislikes but naturally friendly, dignified, and confident.

Heart Desire – 6 – Loyalty and desire to do good, sympathetic, sense needs of humanity, Idealist. Faithful to loved ones. Like family traditions and may sacrifice your self. Firm in what is right and wrong. Blunt but inspirational because of your passion.

Personality – 2 – Needs to be neat and clean. May be fussy about details. Pleasing personality and gentle manner. Should not be plain or colorless.

Reality – 3 – Later life – True self-expression comes. Growth and development come. Don’t scatter your talents.

Kyler has no missing numbers.

Azure Dannels –

Destiny – Azure has many similar numbers to members of her family

2 – “Peacemaker” or Life’s “trouble shooter” (like her dad)

Birth – 4 – Practical type. Needs to be sure, serious and fixed in ways. Naturally honest, sincere, and conscientious, strong likes and dislikes but naturally friendly, dignified, and confident. (like Kyler)

Heart Desire – 3 – Dreamer at heart to be happy, have joy, and romance, inspiration, and imagination. Use these intelligently for best from life. Have urge to be kind and help others. A romantic but artistic and inspirational.

Personality – 8 – Be well dressed and appear successful. Friendly, persuasive, and positive.

Reality for later in life – 6 – Endeavors for humanitarian services for love and protection for others to receive the best in life. (like Miko)

Missing 7 – Missing some caution and analysis. May have more inner happiness. Is not inclined to look under the surface for motives or reasons things happen. Is open minded.

So what do you, readers and those familiar with each of us think? Are these findings accurate?

Mini-Spiritual Mind Treatment - #10

Abundance p.265 Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes

God creates everything to be healthy and thrive. God is happiness.

God in me creates a productive healthy person.

I am desirable and attract people and situations that honor and reward me for my value and talents, compensating me with more than enough money for all my needs and wants.

I deny ideas that I am unworthy.

I am worthy. I benefit others and am well compensated.

Life is good. Thank you. Thank you.

My Truth is Abundance and I claim it as mine. So it is! #10

Abundance - Mini SOM Treatment

Today's Mini-Affirmative Prayer - I seek to manifest some money abundance myself, how about you?

Abundance p.263 Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes

by Katherine Ari

God is present everywhere all the time.

God surrounds me and is in me and through my God self, I manifest all I need.

There is more than enough money to make my life happy and peaceful.

I do not allow anyone to sway me to thoughts of “not enough” or lack.

Money moves to me and I express life fully.

I thank God for money. I am grateful for the continuous supply.

God wants me to prosper and gives me ways to make it so.

I know how and I release this into manifestation. And so it is.
#9

There will be one on abundance every day this coming week. Tomorrow's is particularly good for those of us in business for ourselves.
K. Ari

Why Do People Want to get Rich?

Why do people want to get rich?

I think the main reason is:
1. People want to do what they want to do when they want to do it, buying what they want when they want to. And they want to pay someone else to do what they don't want to do.

The altruistic answer is:
2. They want to help others - but ultimately they still want #1

The self serving answer is:
3. They want "things" and "To Travel" - but #1 still comes first.

I'll be honest. I want to make money. I want to see 4 to 6 clients a day and get paid for my writing. I enjoy what I do. I love life and I am on a Spiritual path. But Spiritual people have to pay the same for food and utilities and gasoline and insurance, etc., pay rent or a mortgage, as everyone else. It's hogwash when someone says Spiritual people shouldn't get money if they are Spiritual.

Are you honest about money?
Can you say, "Yes, I want to make money."
It's okay, you know. We can enjoy life as much as we can envision and that can include money.
Think about it.
Why do you make money? Why do you want to make money?
It's on everyone's mind these days, so let's take a honest, straight forward approach about it and work together to move forward.
It is an avenue of exchange. I can't grow my own food, make my own clothes and electricity and do what I do best.

Why do YOU want to make a lot of money?

What is a Spiritualist?

Spiritualist
by Katherine Ari July 24, 2009

As readers navigate around my blog, there is a section to the upper right about me. A storyteller is pretty obvious, but some ask what is a spiritualist? A Native American elder told me many years ago that being Native American meant being in harmony with Nature and being connected to God or the Great Spirit in everything you do. In the Bible of the New Testament, Jesus taught two great rules – to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, The Golden Rule, and to love the Lord thy God with all your heart in everything you do. Being connected to God in everything I do and to love God with all my heart is the same thing to me.

For most of my adult life, I have been studying religions and spirituality. The most important thing I have found is that in all religions or belief systems there are common truths. These truths are interpreted differently by different people, and different dogmas or religions evolve. The problem arises when one group decides their understanding is the one and only way to understand God. We have separatism and wars and hatred and judgment – all things completely in opposition to the basic teaching to love God in every thing we say, think, or do.

For that reason alone, when I say I am spiritualist, it does not mean dogma. It does not mean that I subscribe to a particular set of rules or requirements. I am not going to preach at anyone or judge or condemn. I believe if you have a chosen religion or church that makes you happy, then that is good. If you have a church but don’t always agree with what they say or find yourself going but coming home angry or feeling guilty, then perhaps you should find another spiritual home.

Yes, I use this blog to talk about my own ideas and interpretations. I have a traditional upbringing and know a lot about scripture from the Bible though. And as you can find any scripture in the Bible to back up your beliefs, you can also take anything I say in my way and go to the Bible and find it says what I say. I do NOT believe in literal Bible. I believe in the metaphorical meanings of scripture as well as teaching or writings from other religions. Again, Truth is Truth.

Everything I do and everything I think and everything I say is Spirit led. Even when I write animal stories or essays, the decision to write that story or post that story is because of an inner prompting that I consider my inner God voice. For some reason I am compelled to share that on that day.

What is God? God is Love. God is the Creative Force in the Universe that is the beginning and end of everything. It is everywhere in everything. In the Science of Mind, those three sentences in some form are the first step of a Spiritual Mind Treatment or Affirmative Prayer. They are also Truth and rarely would any positive religion disagree with those words. The argument starts when the next thing another group says is that God is angry, vindictive, biased, spiteful, conditional, and condemning. For me, God is Love and anything fear induced is NOT God. You cannot feel God if you feel fear.

I do believe, I know, that we are all here on a spiritual journey. We are here to learn and to grow. We are here to feel Love and to give Love. I suppose the atheist would disagree, but then I really don’t know. I must admit that because I have always had some kind of belief in a power that created the universe – something had to get things started somehow – that it is really hard to understand atheism. The ones that make it on the news are usually very angry, argumentative, and stressed out because the reasons that ARE on the news is because they are fighting for their rights. I am open to discussion about the subject because I would like to know what that means to the atheist.

My “About Katherine Ari” column also includes Life Coach. My approach to coaching or guiding is first and predominantly Spiritual. I love to work with young adults and older as well helping them find their path and making decisions that will help them fulfill their reason for living. That is always a spiritual journey to me, and most of the time, when I am working with someone, they feel that way too. Sometimes I get intuitive impressions. Sometimes I use Oracles, Tarot, Spirit Guides, Hypnosis, Past Life Regression, Celtic or Shapeshifting, or Numerology to add to my directions or suggestions. Ultimately, the answers are within each individual. I am NOT a guru or Know-All teacher. My goal is to help others find what is inside. I don’t have all the answers and I am still learning myself.

I ask, “What are you looking for? What do you want to learn? How can I help you on your life journey?” I am a Wise Woman Spiritual Guide and I draw from several different techniques or modalities – whatever works for the moment and time. When there is a next time, the client’s dreams may be the focus and the next, a profound contact with an animal or bird. And maybe I just need to let you talk and process.

I remember one time over 30 years ago going to my own therapist and spending the whole time talking, over two hours. I ended saying I didn’t feel like I did much work that day, just rambled on and on. She said, “No, you were processing a lot and I am impressed with what you are learning on your own. You are doing great.” I left and drove home thinking about what I had been talking about and realized she was right. I was beginning to see the “light at the end of the tunnel” and it really felt good having someone to listen and let me do what I needed to do for my own healing and growth.

I have been very fortunate to work with other spiritual helpers and teachers. But then since everything I do IS spiritual, then everyone I meet brings me a spiritual lesson – even when I don’t think that is the case at first. There is always a spiritual lesson.

Everything I do is Spirit Led.
I do not subscribe to any dogmas or set of do’s and don’ts.
I take a spiritual approach with my clients and my writing but do not try to convert anyone to my beliefs. I share them and listen to their beliefs.
There is One Great Universal Power in the Universe and everything is connected to that. This Power is everywhere all the time in everything and it is so magnificent that it can “speak” to me in my ways and I am open to receive the message of the One Power, but I do not believe it is a man out there in the sky.

I am a Spiritualist.

Abundance - Mini SOM Treatment

Abundance p.263 in Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes
by Katherine Ari

God is All there is.

God is in me and all I do is a success and manifests abundance.

God leads me to success and God-led constructive projects. I work from the God in me, whether the ideas are great or small.

God knows no hard, no easy. It’s All God.

I move forward with God awareness and know what I do is worthwhile.

I thank God for helping me create Good and for the realization of the Presence of Spirit.

I know, really know it is True.
And so it is.

#8

What's not in Parenting Books

Parenting – What’s not in the Parenting Manuals July 21, 2009

The subject today is parenting and the subjects missing from the parenting books. I have long expressed the plan to write a parenting book with the prospective of metaphysical or new thought philosophies. Most parenting books are either written by psychologist or behavior specialist (frequently who have not been parents) or are written by someone whose agenda is their own religious dogma filled with morality and rules based on Judeo-Christian beliefs.

There are” shoulds” and “should nots” and theories based on statistics and averages in books. The personal core ideas of the writers are injected into the book as if those ideas are the gospel, set in stone, or hard clinical facts. I think that is BS. But then my own beliefs are going to show through in any parenting books I write. So what I want to present are some new ideas or different ways to look at things, or think about differently.

It isn’t that I haven’t been writing this book. It is in progress and my research continues. I noticed the other day there are some subject that are not in any traditional parenting books. The books don’t tell a superstar celebrity parent how to give their children normal childhoods (whatever that is) or why they need to. They don’t explain to the rest of the world how hard it is to be in the spotlight 24/7 and then have “down” time. And if the star is the kind that gives 1000 plus into their work, what they will be like as they crash. It doesn’t mean they are bad parents, just don’t know how to be a star parent.

The books don’t have any answer for a superstar that wants kids who has the money to get them in whatever way he wants (surrogate mothers or foreign adoptions) and then the superstar dies leaving the children without a parent. Or they are a couple and adopt and then the adopted orphan has their world upset and destroyed once again when the two parents divorce.

Yes, Michael Jackson has biological family but the tabloids continue to bring it up. Are they really his biological children? The damage these papers are doing to his three children in order to sell papers is hard to determine. And there is no standard to measure any of this by, nor any way to shut them the _____ up. Johnny Depp has his own island and keeps his children totally away from the media. But he is an incredibly talented actor and children tend to inherit some of the parents’ talents. Are they going to be sheltered away from acting when it is possible that they have similar talents? The books don’t tell any parent how to keep their child actors stable and able to cope with the fame. How many child actors grow up and have drug problems and have to go into some sort of rehab? The psychologist can’t claim they know what is “normal” for celebrities unless they are celebrities themselves – but that still doesn’t mean they know what is best in each situation.

And how does Cher deal with birthing a daughter that wants to be a man now? If you are a parent, how would you deal with that kind of change? I am not passing judgment on Chastity’s life path decision. I am just thinking about my children (four of them) and how it would be to be standing in the same room looking at them as the opposite sex from what they were when I birthed them. It does something to your mind. It’s very hard to grasp. And I am a very non-judgmental tolerant and loving mother.

Here is another subject missing from the parenting books, TV and the movies. The mother-in-law story has been shown a million different ways – all negative. She is possessive and won’t let her child leave and get married. She interferes and tries to run their lives. She goes to her child and new spouse’s house and rearranges things and injects her ideas of what is right on her children. And the new daughter or son-in-law resent it. There is never a really good relationship portrayed. What about the mother who is tolerant, not controlling, loving, and accepting?

I can’t say honestly that every boy or girl that has dated one of my children have been easy for me to befriend. I hope I did not come across as stuck up though if they were not right for my kids, I knew it. In my mind, I just kept my distance and knowing that they weren’t going to be responsive to me did not try to talk to them.

The really hard situation as a parent is when your child’s friends or romantic interest are really likable and you enjoy their presence in YOUR life. Then they break up and this person in your heart, is no longer there. The son divorces his wife. The former wife is still friendly to the mother-in-law who is in turn friendly to the former daughter-in-law and mother of her grandchildren – EXCEPT when the son comes around with a new girlfriend. This grandmother doesn’t know how to act around the former daughter-in-law. If she is friendly, will it make her son mad and the new woman jealous? If the split was unfriendly and he is bitter toward the old wife, does his mom have to take sides? If she doesn’t, that could make the son mad at her and feel she doesn’t love him. It becomes an uncomfortable situation and there aren’t any guidelines or in the media.

But the mother-in-law loves that woman who birthed her grandchildren. She isn’t mad at the former wife of her son. Yes, there are some women who can separate their feelings even if the wife DID do something like have an affair. There are those of us that don’t judge or maybe understand why the daughter-in-law might stray – just don’t project our own interpretations of what happened. It’s is not any of our business.

I have found myself in this position several times now. I opened my arms, my home, and my love to these children temporarily around. And when they broke up, it really hurt. It isn’t just about their romantic interest either. When one of my children has left home, I don’t get to see their friends anymore. I miss them. But it’s the break ups of the long-term relationships that hurt the most. I loved them and not just because they loved my sons or daughter. I feel their pain or hurt when my children move on and I don’t know how to be a friend to them. It becomes AWKWARD! And what happens? We end up having to sever our connection. Or we can only talk when the former romantic partner isn’t around. It’s a dumb social norm!

Parents – is it easier to find fault and get mad at the former lover of your child? Is it easier to keep your distance just in case they break up later on? If you always got along with the in-law, what did YOU do when they broke up? And if you carry on your relationship or friendship with your son’s former girlfriend, will he think you are trying to get him back together with her or just not want to be around her and he avoids you? Will she be hoping for a reconciliation if she stays friends with you? Or will the son think that is the case? Think about these things. They are real questions and how to deal with your feelings of loss are real. They are actually grief and it isn’t just because your child may be hurting because of the break up. YOU are hurting too if you had a good relationship with the girlfriend or boyfriend. And I don’t have the answers YET. This is a work in progress.

Animal Totems and Messages - how do you know?

Animal Totems and Messages

by Katherine Ari                                                                                    July 16, 2009 

I was in two of the big bookstores this week, Barnes and Noble and Borders.  I also surf the books online at Amazon.com and other book sites. I have several different Animal Card decks and books on animal symbolism and the messages they bring us.  As I look at what is out there, I see whole books on how to find your totem.  I want to sell my stories like the next person and would love to have them published and on the lists and shelves, but when that happens, I hope I have enough really informative and entertaining information that I don’t have to take five hundred pages to say what can be said in one page. 

By knowing the secret messages of animal behavior, they can help us in our lives.  A single animal or a group of animals may come to us to give us certain messages.  When you are paying attention, it may happen more often. 

I love animals and love nature.  I have many pets and I have a beautiful garden in my yard where I recognize the wild life inhabitants that live in harmony with me and my family.  I have other encounters hiking, traveling, and even unexpected ones at the grocery store or the mall.  I believe that the animals I dream about are real encounters just like the ones I have when I walk out the door. 

There are lots of ideas and theories and beliefs about what constitutes a totem or special message.  I know what is significant to me, and that is the key to answer the question of how to find your animal totems.  What does the animal mean to you? 

Let’s take dreams.  If you dream about a snake and you are petrified of them, the dream animal means one thing.  I’m not upset by snakes and so if I dream of one, I pay attention to the kind and the circumstances around the dream.  I use books by Ted Andrews and Jamie Sams as well, and several others.  Sometimes, certain animals, especially particular birds, are not in the spirituality books like those by Andrews or Sams.  So I take the general information about birds or mammals and then go to a National Geographic book or internet site to find out more.  I take all of the information and write it down, study it and then combine the meanings with what is going on in my life. There are certain questions to ask yourself.  You must always be discerning when applying meanings to your own life.

This is VERY important.  No meaning is set in stone, and no animal encounter necessarily means the same for you as it does for me.  The following are some questions to ask yourself.  Are there animals, birds, insects, sea life, etc that you are particularly fond of and always have been drawn to?  My favorite pets as a child were cats and I always loved black panthers, played with frogs, dogs, and encountered snakes.  I am definitely a black panther person.  Today, I have regular contact with spiders, dragonflies, cardinals and robins, crows, frogs, cats, dogs, deer, butterflies and hummingbirds, and hawks and buzzards. I love parying mantises.  When I encounter an animal or bird that is not a usual encounter or just plain unexpected like in dreams, I look them up because they usually appear to tell me something about what is going on at the time.  And that is one page with an answer about animal totems and messengers. The way I can help you is if you write me about your animals or wildlife contact I can help you find the meaning that is for YOU. (Okay, that was an advertisement and invitation or request for you to write me; I admit it!)

Katherine Ari’s Wildlife Encounters July 15 - 17, 2009

by Katherine Ari

 

            It is a regular thing for me to have encounters with crows.  They do all sorts of things to get my attention.  We do not have ravens in Georgia, which are bigger crows, so if the crow is a really big crow, I get out my books and study ravens as well.  The other morning, I was awakened by a bunch of average sized crows in my trees over my bedroom raising a ruckus.  Sometimes such a commotion means there is a hawk, or owl, invading the neighborhood, or that that greedy Great Blue Heron is about to land in my yard to eat my pet fish.  They know I do not welcome that intruder and they do their best to chase him away or at least tell me his has landed on the roof of the house or garage.

I got out of the bed, slipped on some sandals and went ahead and let the dog out.  She would chase the heron away if it was in the yard.  I saw no hawk or heron but they were hopping around from tree to tree until they were sure I saw them.  Ted Andrews says in Animal Spirit Pocket Guide to expect unexpected magical help with obstacles or problems at hand.  My own magic is calling and I will answer the call AND with several crows, I interpret that to mean in several ways or a big way – lots of motion.  I do have some obstacles in my life right now that need some magic or unexpected help.

I was out in the yard yesterday walking the dog and two of my cats when I had this beautiful magical encounter with a black and yellow swallowtail butterfly.  It wasn’t just that there was a butterfly in my garden.  He flittered around everywhere I walked.  “New love and joy are coming.” (Andrews) I should get ready to dance the Dance of Joy as I easily go through a new transformation.

The last dream I had last night included three animals, though one was not exactly identifiable.  There was a dog or really a fat puppy that was also a baby that was dependent and needy but growing healthily very fast in the dream.  I was caring for it and it grew strong and wanted to get out of the box to play.  It could talk as dream animals often do, and it was more like a growing baby.  Babies for someone my age usually mean new ideas or projects that will flourish if I nurture and care for them correctly. 

A dog is about being faithful and protecting the new ventures.  I can have success by choosing the right companions or relationships for these ideas.

So then I was carrying the puppy to another space and found us riding on an elephant.  It was going around some body of water and we had to walk over some water that had a fish that was about 12 feet long surrounded by various sizes of smaller fish of the same variety. And of course water is about emotions and the life force itself.

The encounter with the fish was very brief but still significant. I cannot identify the exact kind of fish but I remember the shape and sizes.  In Andrews’ book, Animal-Wise he has a drawing of a Barracuda.  The mouth of my dream fish was not the same and I can interpret that to mean it was not as threatening as a Barracuda would be.  Its body shape was a lot like a Florida tarpon fish – but tarpons are not in that book.

The main meaning of the barracuda is to go my own way and not follow the group. The younger ones may school as they grow and then they break away when they are ready to hunt alone.  Then they put themselves in the position to take advantage of whatever presents itself – in my case, opportunities expected or unexpected.

I was looking at books at Barnes and Noble about starting businesses.  The book I was looking at was about blogging and the author had somewhat of an authoritative and judgmental attitude.  It was written two years ago.  I suppose that the whole blogging experience has many avenues and ideas.  What works for one kind of business or blog does not necessarily apply to another entry.  Across the board blanket instructions and proclamations apply to the writer’s own experience with his/her field of interests. I think the barracuda that was too big to be in the school of younger fish and needing to break away was a good image for me as I start these new ventures.  I just need to do what I think I need to do and follow my own way.  We could even say I need to break out of the box or the race consciousness of the “crowd”.

Then there was the elephant.  An elephant is not native to this continent nor is it something that most of us see on a regular basis.  When I was a child, I lived next door to two or three winter quarters for some circuses.  Two of them had elephants.  I DID hear and see them daily.  I remember always being impressed by their strength and gentle power. 

They may not live all over the world these days, but they have myth and stories about them in many societies.  In India, there are several of the Hindu gods that are connected to elephants.  They originate in India and Africa today.  My dream animal, as well as the ones at my neighboring circuses as a child, was an African elephant, large with ears different from those from India.

They have great sexual power.  They have a great sense of smell that tells us, “Do things smell right?”  My sense of smell can help me open other energies and otherwise inaccessible worlds. They use their ivory tusks to dig that symbolically means knowledge of plants and roots.  Part of our business is working with plants and rooting new cuttings but I also work with others to find the “root” of the challenges.

Elephants have lots of fantasy tales about them like they never forget.  Well, that isn’t true, but if someone harms them, they might not forget the offender and even seek revenge.  But one thing is true is that the elephant societies are usually females unless it is the mating season.  They travel with three ages of females, young, adult and wise old ones that are their leaders.  They take care of each other and do grieve when one dies. 

The final message for me is to own the Wise Woman status of my maturity and to be strong in my own unique self.  I can draw ancient wisdoms, strength, and power by reclaiming my primordial royalty (Andrews).

I am beginning this new venture blogging and striking out in new directions.  I have my faithful protectors riding with me (the dog).  I am ready to go my own way without staying with the younger “school” of fish (the big fish).  I remember thinking the big fish was 12 feet long which could mean             12 days, 12 weeks or 12 months.  It could also mean 12 something else.  I need to go my way and use my Wise woman knowledge.  I can expect transmuting joy (the butterfly) and magical energies from unexpected ways to help with the obstacles (my loyal crow friends).  I need to trust “what smells right” or doesn’t.  I am strong in my own self, my wisdom, my power and my primordial royalty, past life experiences and respecting traditions and others and doing what is best for everyone involved.  I put life coach on my new business cards, but I think Wise Woman Guide fits me better.  No, it is not a familiar in the world of advertising, but then, neither am I.  I am quite comfortable with who I am.  I DO feel a lot of joy being me.

AFTER THOUGHT - Do I need these messages to be successful or to know what to do next on my Life's journey?  No.  Do they tell me something I don't know?  No.  They reassure me and the confirm what I do know.  They encourage me to continue on in the direction I am going.  They tell me I am doing what is right for ME.  And I am aware that they are working with me on these experiences and challenges.  Sometimes, when I get so caught up in the process, I miss things.  They will usually tell me to remember the whole picture and maybe even show me some new or better ideas.  I am grateful for their signs and messages and glad to know "they have my back" because they do, they really do.