(I am posting a lot lately, but it is a turbulant time for me right now )
This morning, I was reminded for no particular reason of the medicine card reading I did only the once – to find my 7 “totem” guides. I found them interesting, accurate, but never really have ‘used’ much of the medicine from them. The animal I have for the “inner” card was Elk, and I just thought this morning that I may well need some Elk medicine right now. Something with some stamina and a bit more regality and patience that wolf. Wolf is an echo of me, in fact I’ve never really thought about using medicines from other animals deliberatly before.
Well.. I just found a great page on the elk totem here. And…well, it is certainly what I need to hear right now, and is accurate in so many ways to the situation (including relationships and business)
I think when I was a child I almost intuitivly understood animal medicine, or at least the idea behind it. I was happy to ‘be’ a whole number of animals and birds, in my mind and in my games. For some reason I fixed this into ‘wolf’ around the age of 14, after being obsessional about foxes for many years. Thinking back over it now, my interest in wolves and the many wolf-games I played may well have incorportated ‘wolf medicine’ into my life – or maybe it just relfected an aspect of who I am. For certain, something about that animal ressonates with me, and for certain, I have learnt a lot and had a lot of guidance from my experience and interest in it.
Despite this, my interest in animal -totems- and medicine has been a more recent development, only the last couple of years. Crow still strikes me as a teacher who I have not quite grasped yet, and is often a reminder for me of my beliefs and ideas, a little like Christians and their crosses perhaps? But I’ve not really tried to play any other ‘animal games’ since deciding and forming myself around wolf. I’ve also spent much more time trying to figure out what it IS and how it WORKS than actually trying to live the experience.
A few months ago I did feel a lot of ‘cat’, although I felt like I was keeping it blocked out from my life somehow and ignoring much of what I could have learnt.
Still, maybe it’s time I explored some ofther ‘aspects’ of myself, expanded on some areas which need work, as much as social skills, intuition and leadership and finding where ‘me’ is, were developed with the help of wolf.
I would like to develop my integrity, or at least act with the integrity I feel. Patience, able to commit to something and take small steps towards it if I have to. Stamina; a bit of solidarity to mix with the spontaneous and flakey nature. Be a bit more cautious as well. When I visualise Elk in my mind, I can feel a lot of these things – really, I would say it is symbols more than spirits which are helping me, but perhaps the two are not so distinct. I suspect our way of accessing what ‘spirit’ is there is through symbols, and it can take as many forms as our mind comes up with.
———–Elk details for future reference
(last bit, about future is particularly relevant)
“The Elk spirit shows that you are noble, wise and are contemplative in nature. You seldom allow yourself to get to close to anyone, preferring to interact with those that are of family, and a few close friends or aids you rely upon. To these you are a true and loyal friend. Confidences will be held, weaknesses ignored and the open hand extended.
You are a humanitarian, yet you stand apart from your fellow man as much as night is different than day. You are always on guard, hyper-vigilant, protective, and some say even paranoid. You are sensitive about the truth. You are a member of a privileged class and you know it, and whether by brains, gifts, talents, marriage or connections you feel the need to fulfill the obligations of whatever station you are placed in. Because of this, you’ll leave this world a better place, and many will be much the better for it.
You are usually insulated and protected from the harsher aspects of life, and even when you are struggling, you weather the storms in a better style than most. You do things right almost all the time, and you believe that those you care for should benefit from your experiences.
Sometimes the far away look in your eyes tells of other worlds, paths, solutions, or opportunities.
You’re the behind the scene advisor and are usually kind and thoughtful down to the littlest child or the least employee. You are cautious compassionate, steadfast and stubborn. You put others before yourself, and that is a major reason you withdraw and withhold from others. Truth be known, you have major difficulties saying no.
In business this is a time to lead follow or get out of the way. You may feel that you or the company are in a rut, and it is no longer acceptable to you. Paying attention, you see that things need to change and that you can wait no longer. You know this is the time to get a situation or yourself out of the muck. Chances are you will be handling and resolving problems of a long standing nature. Some of these you did your level best to avoid. By chance, can you recall asking, pleading, begging and praying for some of these things to change and work out for the better, yet have seen no resolution? Well, here is your chance. In reality you have been looking forward to this time, knowing it to be a time of harvest and change for the good, and you have determined that you will brook no opposition in making it last as long as you can.
You will have no patience for the truculent, tolerance for the inane or mercy for the incompetent. You probably will view some person as being an obstructionist and will feel the need to see them gone or removed. An emotional entanglement, or a disturbed employee may interfere with your own or others work productivity. You no longer have the patience to deal with them so you’ll probably suggest to them that they get it fixed with the caveat that you will be more than glad to do so. Often an employee will move or leave because of family troubles, or health matters.
If you are new to the job you will probably be overloaded and burdened to see if you can take it.
In love this is a time of stabilization, your relationship although not satisfactory is acceptable.
Often there are some major distractions in your own or your partners life. You may feel you are competing with other people or conditions for their time or attention. Don’t worry, the Elk spirit is a sign of fidelity. You must make an effort to share what is going through your mind instead of remaining aloof and distant. It often is a rough time for you or your partner. Reassure yourself and your loved one, become proactive and take concrete actions to making things better.
Demonstrate your love by service. Service is a language of love. Show them that they are appreciated, treasured and cherished. You may begin to see progress between the two of you and may end up feeling that you’re getting back to the same game plan and the same page. This is not a time of many words. So remember that only true love and true friends can be silent with each other.
Often the weighing of personal sacrifice for family and others becomes an issue. It is a time of introspection, and the crisis revolves around personal value and belief systems. You or they are trying to identify what success and happiness is. You can’t help them with that, but you can share a glass of water, a listening ear or some moments of your time. Besides, time is the only thing you really possess. And that is lost with each second.
Few are they that can find meaning and perfection in that simple offering.
If new to a relationship, it promotes feelings of consideration and respect. If the relationship is at a month or two, the distance requiring reevaluation will probably take place. Give the time and the space. Between you there are similarities of soul that would be difficult to replace. Chances are you are both a hard act to follow.
ELK = STAMINA, STRENGTH, NOBILITY
Past: Hopefully you have paid attention to your health and physical limitations. Elk medicine can teach you that pacing yourself can increase your stamina and can get you through tiring situations. You have been strengthened by the passage of the Elk Spirit. You chose to stand on your beliefs and principles and have paid a price long and dear. You should honor yourself for your integrity, stamina and your willingness to go through such hardship.
Recently, your attention was called to the balancing of your masculine and feminine energies. Balance is the key. Have you been spending to much time with the guys? And you gals, do you seem to be spending to much time with the girls? Is it time to exchange energies with the opposite sex? Is it time to change partners? The fact is, there are other people besides your mate. Do you ever get to go out with your friends? You should be able to. Use discernment and discretion. This does not mean to be unfaithful.
Present: Some situation, goal or objective may require putting in extra time. If your goal seems farther off then you desire take heart. It takes some trees many years before they produce fruit. Take a deep breath and relax. This is a time to pace yourself. Elk Spirit (medicine) can increase your stamina, and will see you through the long haul and assure you arrive at your goal. Check on your diet, eat lots of fruits and veggies. Lighten up. Remember, achieve balance in the sharing of your energy. Too much “mating season” wearing you thin? Have lunch with a friend of your own gender.
Future: If your ready to take on a new project or go in a new direction for your life, pace yourself. Stop and smell the roses. Remember, life is more about the journey than the destination. Cultivate patience because if not your impatience will run you down physically, emotionally and psychically. Vince Lombardi said “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Elk medicine can give stamina to help you see your way through to the end. Balancing relationships, friendships and/or family needs may become an issue. It is O.K. to befriend males and females. Our diversity is what provides us with growth. Enjoy life, but stay in balance or your energy swings will make you feel, think and take things to the extreme. You’ll know if things aren’t balanced.“