Wildspeak Article - When Totems Go Missing
Jan. 1st, 2005 12:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonvoiceWhen animal guides or totems go missing.
There are a few reasons why a totem or animal guide may suddenly become absent, but don't assume that it's because you've offended them! Totems and animal guides are teachers, but we are also taught as much when energies are perceived as being absent, as when they are there. Many of us know that when we are alone, it feels horrible and frightening, but we also know that if we come through the other side we feel stronger, refreshed and better able to look after ourselves and the people around us. Since spiritual teachers share with us the wisdom of self-empowerment, it is only natural that animal teachers will sometimes deliberately make themselves absent, even if it is a time of need.
This the most common reason in my experience that I've found that animal guides and totems go missing. You might meditate, visualise, give offerings and pray until you can't pray anymore, but if the higher energies around you think you will learn more by taking responsibility for yourself, they won't show. It's a hard lesson, one that many of us learn more than once in our lifetimes. But take comfort in the fact that your guides never really leave you.
Animal guides can also leave because you have finished learning the lessons they have been teaching. If that's the case, then it's a time for celebration! If you must, mourn the relationship you had with your animal guide, but take the time to experience the true joy of knowing that you have made a connection, learnt something, and actually progressed on this sacred path of life.
It does happen sometimes that someone offends their totem or animal guide, but it's not common and you have to behave in a pretty extreme, and consistently disrespectful way. Yet consider this, many animal teachers often come into our lives to help us to unlearn negative behaviours or unhealthy habits, so if our unhealthy habit is disrespecting that which seeks to help us, do you think a teacher is going to turn tail and run? No, spiritual guides are just that, and when we act atrociously, they might not be happy, and they might even be downright furious or punitive (whatever gets our attention and helps us to learn), but they don't tend to leave us and never return.
Animal guides come into our lives and deserve respect, but even when we forget about them, get angry at them or act terribly towards them, they are usually patient enough to wait it out until we learn how to become stronger, healthier people.
There are a few reasons why a totem or animal guide may suddenly become absent, but don't assume that it's because you've offended them! Totems and animal guides are teachers, but we are also taught as much when energies are perceived as being absent, as when they are there. Many of us know that when we are alone, it feels horrible and frightening, but we also know that if we come through the other side we feel stronger, refreshed and better able to look after ourselves and the people around us. Since spiritual teachers share with us the wisdom of self-empowerment, it is only natural that animal teachers will sometimes deliberately make themselves absent, even if it is a time of need.
This the most common reason in my experience that I've found that animal guides and totems go missing. You might meditate, visualise, give offerings and pray until you can't pray anymore, but if the higher energies around you think you will learn more by taking responsibility for yourself, they won't show. It's a hard lesson, one that many of us learn more than once in our lifetimes. But take comfort in the fact that your guides never really leave you.
Animal guides can also leave because you have finished learning the lessons they have been teaching. If that's the case, then it's a time for celebration! If you must, mourn the relationship you had with your animal guide, but take the time to experience the true joy of knowing that you have made a connection, learnt something, and actually progressed on this sacred path of life.
It does happen sometimes that someone offends their totem or animal guide, but it's not common and you have to behave in a pretty extreme, and consistently disrespectful way. Yet consider this, many animal teachers often come into our lives to help us to unlearn negative behaviours or unhealthy habits, so if our unhealthy habit is disrespecting that which seeks to help us, do you think a teacher is going to turn tail and run? No, spiritual guides are just that, and when we act atrociously, they might not be happy, and they might even be downright furious or punitive (whatever gets our attention and helps us to learn), but they don't tend to leave us and never return.
Animal guides come into our lives and deserve respect, but even when we forget about them, get angry at them or act terribly towards them, they are usually patient enough to wait it out until we learn how to become stronger, healthier people.
