Animal Spirit Teachers

by Linda Heron Wind, Ph.D.

     There have been so many times since I first met them that they have come to the rescue with a story.  Rarely do they tell me the answers outright and rob me of the opportunity to figure it out for myself.  They just tell me the story and wait until the understanding begins to rise in my heart.  I vaguely remember some of these critters from my childhood, but my formal introduction did not come until I began meditating and doing shamanic journeys. 

     The first to arrive was Eagle.  He sat on my shoulder while I walked or let me ride on his back if we need to move quickly to other dimensions.  Then there was Otter, Horse, Tiger, Bear, Humming Bird, and Owl.  Others have come at various times for specific purposes - Wolf, snake, Buffalo, Coyote, Turtle, and Rabbit.  These spirit animals are my best teachers and loving friends.

     The purpose of my writing here is to share some of their stories.  While the stories were told to me by the animals to convey specific lessons at various points in my learning, the teachings are timeless and universal.  Tell these stories to children, adults, and elders, for stories never grow old and there is always something new to learn in the re-telling and the re-hearing.  So tell them and talk about them, then honor the animals who offer them.

Seeing Great Spirit—Eagle

     When I was younger I had heard that Eagles were special because they could fly high close to Great Spirit.  I decided that I wanted to fly the highest so I could actually see Great Spirit.  I practiced everyday, catching the thermals off the mountains and soaring as high as they would take me.  Then I used my wings to take me even higher.  But as high as I went, which seemed higher than any other birds around me, I still did not see Great Spirit. 

     I decided to go to see Grandfather Eagle, who was old and wise from living many years.  Surely he would know how high I needed to fly to see Great Spirit.  I found him on the mountain top and said, "Grandfather.  My wings are very strong from much practice in flying high, but as high as I fly I cannot find Great Spirit.  Can you tell me how much higher I need to go?" 

     Grandfather smiled and said, "Sky Dancer, you will never see Great Spirit if you only look up.  The next time you fly high, look around you." 

     Excited with this new information, I set out early the next morning before sunrise to fly as high as I could.  I caught the warm thermals off the side of the mountain and soared higher and higher.  When I was as high as I could get, I looked around me.  In the East the sky was a beautiful golden color as Grandfather Sun's first rays began to peek over the horizon.  In the West Grandmother Moon was a huge orange ball, sinking slowly behind Earth.  Below me was a huge circle bound by the horizon in all directions.  On it were mountains catching the sun's first light in their snowy tops.  Directly below me was a clear mountain lake reflecting the morning stars in its depths. 

     As my eyes took in this beauty I slowly circled downward toward the lake, which now reflected the mountain tops as well.  And as I got closer yet, the lake reflected a beautiful Eagle with strong wings, a magnificent Eagle circling above it.  I landed on a rock at the edge of the lake to ponder all I had seen.  I realized that Great Spirit is in everything that is, including me.  And that everyone can see Great Spirit.  We Eagles only have the advantage of flying high enough to see it all at once.

Trust and Fear —Turtle

     My Great Grandmother Turtle told me this story about a time long ago when the rains came.  It rained for many days and the waters rose covering much of the land.  Now the Turtles had no problem with this because we are comfortable both on the land and in the water.  Some of the land animals, however, were stranded in trees and small hill tops and they did not know how to swim.  The Turtles saw their predicament and devised a plan to help.  They filled their shells with air and joined their hands and feet, forming a large raft.  The stranded animals could sit on this Turtle raft and ride to safety.

     It so happened that Rabbit was stranded on the top of a bush.  When the Turtle raft came by, the Turtles called to Rabbit to jump on.  "Oh, I am so frightened that I will drown," said Rabbit.  Finally the Turtles convinced Rabbit that it was safe to jump on and Rabbit closed his eyes and leaped into the air.  He landed right on the edge of the Turtle raft and one foot went into the water.  That scared Rabbit so much that he jumped again, landing on the other side of the raft, with another foot in the water.  Rabbit was so scared that he started jumping wildly around until he was all wet. 

     "Rabbit," said one of the Grandmother Turtles, "when you are frightened you need to sit perfectly still, not jump around.  That is what we Turtles do.  We go into our shell and are very quiet, trusting that we will be protected."

     "That is easy for you," said Rabbit, sopping wet and shaking with fear, “you have a shell to protect you.”

     "It is not the shell that protects us," said Grandmother Turtle, "it is the beautiful spirit light which surrounds us.  You have this light too Rabbit.  You will see it if you stop hopping around and remain very still and focus on your center."           

     Rabbit was so frightened at that point he was willing to try anything.  So he remained as still as he could and focused on his center.  He was amazed when he found himself surrounded by a beautiful white light.  "Wow!" he exclaimed.  He felt so calm and peaceful.  He was no longer afraid!

     "When you learn to trust your own center, you will not be afraid ever again," said Grandmother Turtle.

     And so to this day, Rabbit remains very still when frightened until he knows which way to jump, and Turtle is known as the teacher of trust.

     When I was just a cub, I had a dream that I was a powerful Medicine Bear - a very Magical Bear.  This dream led me to search for how one becomes so powerful, so magical.  I knew there must be much to learn.  This was in the back of my mind as my mother taught me the usual Bear things to do - how to fish and gather berries.  I did those things but did not practice much, because there were more important things for me to learn. 

     Every Bear I met I asked how I could learn what I needed to know to be a Medicine Bear.  They all gave me the same answer, "Sweetwater, if you are meant to be a Medicine Bear, all the knowledge is within you, just listen to it."  That answer did not satisfy me as I did not know how to do that. 

     Then mother said it was getting closer to the time that we would hibernate for the winter.  I would need to eat a great deal and then find a cave to dream in.  Oh, I thought, that is how I will learn - in the dreaming cave.  So then I became obsessed with finding the right cave to dream in, a cave worthy of a great Medicine Bear. 

     I found many caves, but none seemed quite right.  I occasionally managed to catch a fish or find a patch of berries, but my mind was on finding the right cave.  Soon it began to snow and the berries were gone and the streams covered with ice.  All the other Bears had gone to their caves and I had not yet found the right one.  I was very hungry and thin also. 

     As another snow moved in, I found a cave high on the mountain - not at all an ideal cave, but I knew I needed to stay there.  I covered over the entrance with branches to keep the wind from howling through and curled up in the back corner.  It was hard to fall asleep with my stomach grumbling, but I knew it was my only chance to survive the winter.  At long last I fell asleep and began to dream.  Grandmother Bear came from the sky into my dream.  She was made of stars and shimmered with Wisdom. 

          She said, "Sweetwater, my Magical Medicine Child, you must learn to listen to the voices inside of you.  You can never figure out the mysteries with your mind.  You must feel them with your heart.  Pay attention to that inner voice that calls you to fish, to eat, sleep and rest.  The greatest medicine is when you surrender to that flow of feeling in each moment.  Let your mind aid in supporting what the inner voice calls you to do.  Then magic will happen." 

     I awoke, still in the middle of winter, weak from hunger, but strong in my inner knowing.  I left my cave, and with my inner feeling guiding me, I broke the ice on the pools where the fish were sleeping.  With my inner eyes guiding my paws I found them in their winter beds and scooped them out to eat.  Deep under the snow I found the roots of plants which nourished me.  When I had eaten enough, I allowed my inner feeling to guide me to a warm cave to continue my dreaming, this time with the dreams of a Medicine Bear."

Finding Wisdom—Owl

     When I was young I wondered why I was here on Earth and what gifts I had to give, so I went to see Grandmother Snowy Owl to see if she knew.  She seemed so wise that I was certain that she would know why I was here.  I found her sitting in a tree far to the North and I asked her about my gifts and purpose. 

     She said, "Only you can find your gifts and you must travel around the Medicine Wheel of Life to discover what they are.  First, you must go East to meet with Grandfather Eagle to find your vision.  Then to the South to meet with Grandmother Turtle to learn about trusting your vision and to the West where Grandmother Bear will teach you about nurturing your vision.  When you finish your journey you may come back to the North to share your wisdom."

So I did as Grandmother Owl directed and set off to the East to find Grandfather Eagle.  When I saw him sitting high in a tree, I said, "Grandfather, how can I find my vision?" 

   "Just climb on my back and I will take you up high where you can see your vision better," he said. 

     Riding on the back of Grandfather Eagle was such an awesome experience!  We went way up above the highest trees and even above the mountain tops.  We circled over lakes and oceans, deserts and jungles.  While viewing all of this from high above I was struck with how beautiful our Mother Earth is.  There are so many different animals, plants, people, and landscapes and it is this great variety that makes it all so beautiful.  But we also saw places which were polluted and areas destroyed by war and mining.  As we came gliding back to the place we had started from, I realized that I had my vision.  I would dedicate my life to creating harmony among all the different beings of the Earth so we create more beauty instead of making messes out of the beauty which is already here.  With my vision clear, I thanked Grandfather Eagle and set off to find Grandmother Turtle in the South.

Grandmother was sitting in the shade on the bank of a pond when I saw her.  I told her my vision and asked what I need to do next.

  "Oh," she said, "that is simple, although not always easy.  You simply need to trust your vision so much that you believe it is already here."

   "But Grandmother," I said, "how can I believe it is here when there are still wars and pollution?"

     "I said it would not be easy but it is a matter of what you focus on.  In your vision you saw so much beauty and you felt what it might be like if all beings were in harmony.  That is what you focus on, even if you are the only one on the planet who can see it."

     "Well," I said, "you are right that will not be easy but I will do my best to see the beauty in everything and look for the harmony which is already here."  With that I thanked Grandmother Turtle and began the journey to the West to meet with Grandmother Bear.

  I found her picking berries near the entrance to a cave.  "Grandmother," I said, "I have seen my vision and learned about trusting it no matter what anyone else says or does.  What do I need to do next?"

     Grandmother Bear put down her berry basket and sat back to take a good look at me.  "I believe you are ready for the next lesson," she said.  "A vision must be nurtured and held like a mother holds a baby.  And that means more than just focusing on beauty and harmony on the outside.  You must also focus on beauty and harmony on the inside."

     "How can I do that?" I said.

     "You must come with me and I will show you," she said motioning for me to climb on her back.  Then she entered the cave and walked with a slow and steady pace into the darkness. 

     I was frightened at first but then I remembered that owls can see in the dark and felt much better.  Soon I began to see a light ahead and we came to a chamber that seemed to glow with a golden light.  Grandmother told me to explore the chamber.  As I entered I saw the most magnificent, incredible, huge snowy owl in the center of the room who looked like a goddess owl.  "Who are you?" I said in awe.

     "I am your spirit," she said in the most beautiful voice. 

     "How could you be my spirit, I'm just a little owl girl.  You wouldn't even fit in me," I answered.

     "Everyone has a spirit like me," she sang.  "You fit in me.  I am behind you, in front of you, beside you and within you all the time.  Anytime you need direction on your journey or a little advice about what to do next,  just think of me and listen for my voice.  I will always be there to guide you.  I will help you choose the path of harmony and beauty and always let you know with your feelings when you have gone astray."

     I was so excited to know that there was such a powerful spirit guiding me and helping me bring my vision into being.  I thanked the owl spirit and she smiled and sent such love my way that I could not help feeling loving toward myself!  I climbed on the back of Grandmother Bear and she made her way back up into the daylight again.

     "Now you must live your vision by holding it clear in your mind, trusting it with all your heart, and creating beauty and harmony within you so it will radiate out where ever you go," said Grandmother Bear.

     I thanked Grandmother and began to wander in my life, doing my best to live my vision.  Many years later I came back to the North to see Grandmother Snowy Owl.  "What have you learned about your purpose and unique gifts," she said.

     "My gifts," I said, "are to bring beauty and harmony where ever I go.  I understand now that by creating peace within myself, I can create Peace on our Mother Earth."

     "You have learned well," Grandmother Snowy Owl said.  "You have earned the place of wisdom in the North.  Now you will guide others by watching over them when they sleep at night and sending them dreams of the harmony and beauty you have seen in your vision and created in your life.  From this time forth, this will be the wisdom of the Owl and the North."

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