Exercise to Meet YourAnimal Guide/Totem

Relax, Take a few deep breaths. You will find yourselfgrowing lighter and lighter.. Your surrounds seem to be fading around you, andyou are wrapped in the warm darkness of your inner self, your own energy andmind. It is safe, warm and comfortable.

You begin to see a very soft light, and slowly thepicture opens. You find yourself by a clear pool of water. The sky above isblue, and there is a soft haze in the far of distance.

Above you, you can see the Sun and Moon together in thesky. You are not sure if it is Dawn or Dusk, but you know it is one of thosepowerful “Between Times” a time in which there is a thinning of the veilsbetween the physical and the spiritual.

To your right, at the end of this clear pool of water, isa waterfall. The spray from this waterfall is a cool, refreshing mist. Andwhere it touches the pool, water ripples outward, distorting all of the reflectionsin the pool.

You look about you at the green grasses and the distanttrees, and all is quite. It is as if Nature is in a state of Quietness.

You look back at the waterfall, and you notice that thereis a cave behind it. You step carefully behind the Falls, into a dark, mutedcave. You are surprised, because the cave is lit by soft, glowing torches,which gives the cave a sense of warmth and security. You slowly begin to traveldown the path of this cave, still feeling safe and warm.

You feel happy, and a small childlike laughter slips out.For the first time in a long time, you feel like a child, about to explore thewondrous treasures of the world.

The walls of this cave feel warm as you touch them. Asyou go further into the cave it begins to widen and grows taller. The torchesare fewer and more distant, and you pass a few that aren’t even lit. You cansee the glowing of the sun at the end of the cave.

You walk out the exit of the cave, the sun feels warmagainst your face. You also see a river before you, and lush, green grass.

Across the field is the edge of a rich, deep-greenforest. You pause only for a minute, and then you burst through this beautifulmeadow, feeling the warmth of the sun against your face. You feel very happy.

The grass is soft beneath your feet, and you can smellthe rich fragrance of honey and wildflowers. The air is sweet, and you tiltyour head back and stretch your arms wide.

Next to the river is a large, ancient oak tree.Surrounding it is the lushest, and greenest grass you have ever seen. You runto it and sit down beneath it. You stretch out, and roll in its softness, andyou inhale its sweetness.

You sit up and notice a stone near the tree that looks asif it were almost a chair. You sit down on it and you find that this stone fitsyour form perfectly. You breath deeply, and from this chair you look about you.

It is quiet and peaceful, and you know that this meadowis a place where wildlife must come, and for a moment you envy the Animals andthe Birds for having such a place of beauty.

You sit quietly and enjoy the beauty of this meadow. Itis as if with each breath you become more and more a part of it, and it becomesmore and more a part of you.

Suddenly you see a movement out of the corner of your eyenear the edge of the forest, your breath catches. You think to yourself, thatmaybe you will see some wildlife after all. Then from among the trees comesmovement. It may soar above you or it may step out into the meadow. You sitquietly, and very still.

Watching, as an animal appears in your vision, don’tforce it. Allow it to show itself to you. And as it does, its eyes seek you outand hold your gaze. Never have you seen anything so wonderful, so unique. SuchAnimals have always seemed so wild and out of touch.

There is no fear as the animal draws closer, onlyrecognition and wonder. Surely you think that this must be a dream! Then, as ifin response to your thoughts, it makes a sound, a movement, a gesture and youfix your eyes upon it.

In that moment, you begin to understand. You catchglimpses of memories of how it has helped you in the past. You know now, whyyou have always been so fascinated with it.

And then it begins to move toward the cave. It pauses andlooks back at you, as if telling you that it is time to go. You stand up andbegin to follow it. As you approach the mouth of the cave, it waits. It is soclose to you that you can almost touch it.

Carefully, and gently you extent your hand out to it, butbefore your hand gets close enough to touch it, it jumps and runs back to theedge of the forest. It pauses, looking back at you once more, and thendisappears into that lush, deep-green forest.

You understand, that it will take time to develop arelationship with it. There is much you have to learn from each other. Untilthen you must be patient. You smile a sweet sadness, and then follow the caveback to the waterfall.

You step from the cave, and out behind the waterfall. Youlook into the clear pool, and see your reflection rippling. And then behindyour reflection you see the form of your Animal Totem. You catch your breathand you laugh, thanking it for opening to you. As you do, the image disappears,and the scene around you begins to fade.

You are again in the warm darkness of your own mind. Theimage of your Totem is strong within you, as you breathe deeply and allowyourself to come back to your surrounding.

Source:

BearToe Corner