Fox speaks of winter II

Yes, I have a lovely fur coat, but that is only my surface beauty.

Inside, I am confident, I know I belong here, I have what it takes to survive and thrive. I am resourceful. I know what I want and how to get it. I follow my nose, follow what humans call instinct to draw in what I need for sustenance.

Let fox teach you his ways, his grace, supreme confidence, resourcefulness, his intelligence gained from innate instinct, street smarts, animal wisdom, observational skills.

Photo by Birger Strahl on Unsplash

Sustain yourself in winter of your life, when there is a chill on your mind and in your bones. Warm yourself with the spark of spirit that never burns out. Go inward to rekindle and nurture your inner fire. The world may be full of snow, bare trees, and sub zero cold, but deep inside, the cycles of life, ever turning, will carry you through to spring.

Your spirit has chosen to live in this body in this place that experiences winter, so hibernate for a time, rest, recharge your spirit, body, and emotions.

Honor the seasons, the cycles of your life and mind. Go inward to tap into the wellspring of spirit and life force which sustains you through it all.

Fox speaks of winter

Betty’s note: Dear friends, As I practiced mediumship, and invited fox to speak, he came through for me in a very insistent way, wanting humans to know and understand his perspective. I have interpreted the impressions, feelings and telepathic messages I received from fox into words. My next three posts are all channeled from fox.

I am fox! I survive and thrive in your human-centric world in all seasons, all conditions.

Why do humans fuss about winter and cold? This is an integral season in the cycle of nature on our planet, a time to go inward, rest, live off the fat of the land, hibernate, relax, plan, play.

If you resist and disparage the cold and harsh winds of winter, you resist reality. If you resist reality, you resist your life.

Photo by Amanda Frank on Unsplash

Do you wonder why life is so hard? What if you did not resist the unchangeable conditions of your life? Would your life be easier?

Just as our physical bodies require us to wake and sleep, the larger cycles of life on earth give us day and night, sunlight and shadow. Winter follows fall, then spring and summer – every. single. year. if you are ready or not!

You are alive and rooted here on this Earth for now, so if you wish to thrive, learn to be at peace and relax into the cycles of nature beyond your control.

I say, follow your nose, your senses, the quiet inner voice within that leads to the sustenance you seek in mind body and spirit. Find sustenance for your life even in the deep snows of winter.

I am a creature with confidence. I do not question my existence. I do not question my right to live, to feed myself and my family. I do not resist the reality of freezing cold in winter or steaming heat in summer. I live within the parameters of my life as a fox on this planet in this year you call 2023.

Can you do this as a human?

Meeting and working with your spirit guides

Do you need higher level help solving the baffling problems of your life? Do you know that you are never alone? Have you ever felt the presence or received the guidance of your spirit helpers?

We are all surrounded by compassionate loving spirits that offer us their support, advice, and guidance, protection and wisdom. I’ve learned as a shamanic healer that no one is ever alone, that we are constantly encircled and supported by these loving beings, and that they will provide help and guidance if asked respectfully. Our spirit helpers and angels will share their wisdom and show us what we need to know for healing, empowerment, and peace of mind.

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Dragonfly

All human beings have the capacity to connect with the spirit world and receive help. We have been doing this since before recorded history. In the words of my teacher, it is “in our DNA”.

Shamanic healing is based on our human relationship with the spirit world. You can connect with your helping spirits when you let your body and mind relax and settle down, let go of the busyness, stress and constant chatter, the monkey mind of everyday living.

To Connect:

Create sacred space in your home. Make it relaxing and inviting. Clear all clutter, clean away dust, strike a chime or bowl to clear the energy of your space and set the tone. Make yourself comfortable.

You might put on soft instrumental music and close your eyes. Now sit comfortably and ask inwardly to meet one of your helpers. When you begin to relax, you might see a scene unfolding in which your guide appears. You might hear spoken words, you might feel their loving presence.

Your guide may appear in human form, or as an angel, a mythical creature, a beloved grandparent or ancestor who has crossed to the light, an animal, bird, insect, a bubble of light, a plant or tree… Be open to any possibility and accept who comes to you without judgment.

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My Grandparents, both spirit helpers for me

Greet your guide. Ask them a question you’ve been mulling over. Thank them for their presence. Feel the emotions they radiate.  Even if you see or sense nothing, act as if your guide is there and hears you. (If you meet a being who appears to be a guide, but is mean, nasty, demeaning, it is not your spirit guide. Stop the exercise and try again when you are feeling better.)

Formulate your questions:

Your asking for help and guidance is the key to receiving it. If you are skeptical, if you expect your helpers to know what you want without taking the time to form a relationship, without thinking seriously about your questions, you will be disappointed.

To get started, ask them about themselves and how you will work together. After you’ve set this groundwork, you can ask your guides anything. Ask for what you want. Go right to the heart of your dreams and desires and start there.

Ask respectfully and with humility. I like to use the phrases “Show me more about…” “Show me what will happen if…” “What is needed now to heal this situation…? If you keep your questions open ended, you won’t shut down the possibilities that might occur otherwise.

Try to avoid asking your guides to predict the future with pinpoint accuracy. Because you are a being of free will, your free will interacts with all possibilities in the universe and these possibilities can generate many different conceivable outcomes for you.

The compassionate guidance you receive is to be taken seriously and acted upon. Perhaps you receive guidance to have more fun, to lighten your heart. Now it is up to you to decided how to do this. Use your intuition. What ideas are flowing into your mind as you think about this? Consider them all, do not dismiss the guidance you receive.

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Orange butterfly on elderflower

Always express your thanks and gratitude for the guidance you receive.

Of course, if you are advised to make drastic changes, you must take it slow, test what you have been given against the conditions of your life, and move forward at your own pace within your comfort zone.

Connecting with your guides is like a prayer, a heart to heart conversion, or a soulful experience with a wise, loving, compassionate spirit that cares deeply for you and your well-being.

Working with spirit guides can change your life in amazing ways. Remember to take your guide’s advice to heart, open your mind to new ways of thinking and acting, and trust the advice you are given.

Tips for working with power animals

Has a power animal appeared for you? Why did that particular animal choose to work with you? What gifts and guidance do they bring you?

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Monarch butterfly

I thought power animals were the product of fanciful and wishful and maybe even loony minds until Horse appeared at my side one day. I was out for a walk several days before a healing touch class in which I would experience a life-changing healing. It seemed like a normal summer’s day. Suddenly, a chestnut brown horse was walking close beside me. He seemed so real, I thought I could lean against him and smell his horsey scent, feel the texture of his course mane, hear his soft nicker, and scratch around his ears. But he was in spirit form; sent to guide, comfort and support me through my mind bending healing experience that was yet to come. He’s been a helper to me ever since.

If you don’t feel connected to a spirit animal, a shamanic practitioner can do a power animal retrieval for you. Or you can learn to do shamanic journeys and retrieve one for yourself. Remember, the animal actually chooses you, so be open to whoever comes your way offering their services. It could just as easily be snake, vulture, spider, or mouse, as wolf, bear or eagle!

Power animals are compassionate spirit guides that have taken on animal form. Each creature has special attributes and powers (superpowers!) that can help you with your unique needs. No list or book of animal attributes can capture the full meaning your power animal has for you. Be open to listening, learning and building a relationship with your helper. You will be richly rewarded!

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Squirrel

To Connect: You can use journaling to connect, or go into a daydream state with a question ready. Do this at a time of day when you can be quiet for awhile.  Connect directly by learning to do shamanic journeys.

Ask the power animal what you can do for them. After all the relationship is a two way street.

Always be respectful of your helpers. Thank them for their presence, their support, their advice. They have chosen to work with you, and that is an honor.

Questions: When you first visit with your helper, ask how they can help you and what gifts they bring to you. Ask what they want from you. After that you can ask other questions. “Why” questions don’t usually work too well. Try to re-word them: (Can you help me understand…? Show me about… )

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Red winged blackbird

The answers may come to you in several different ways such as a picture or “movie” in your head, words, emotions, impressions, etc. Accept what comes. It won’t always be earth shattering. It might be quiet at times. It might take some time for the answer to become clear to you. The more you work with your helper, the easier it will be for you to know what they are communicating to you.

Follow the advice you are given if possible. Remember that your power animal will never ask you to do something that harms you or another person or living thing. If you get something like this, it is not coming from your power animal.

Disconnect: When you’re done visiting your power animal, thank them, say goodbye, open your eyes and take a drink of water, a bite of food, or dance around a little to get yourself back into this reality.

Above all, enjoy you power animal!  They can bring you humor and fun, spot-on guidance and serious healing if you are open to their messages.

Blessings,

Betty

Resources:

Shamanic journeying by Sandra Ingerman ; Sounds True, Incorporated. 2006

Animal Speak by Ted Andrews; Llewellyn Publications. 2002