INDIANS OF THE SACRED LANDS

Native American culture is steeped in the belief of Spirit Guides, usually in their traditions as of animal form offering wisdom, protection and guidance. Spirit animals are symbolic guides that reflect personal traits, spiritual lessons, and life guidance. The spiritual animal is assigned according to birth dates much like the zodiac.

Native American spirit animals have guided their people for thousands of years with profound teachings from the natural world to the realm of human consciousness. These spiritual beings are not just merely symbols but are living connections to the earth, sky, and spirit realms hat they have honored since time immemorial. The relationship between Native American and their spirit animals reflect a worldview where all living beings possess consciousness, purpose. and sacred teaching to share. These guides my come through dreams, vision, mediation or repeated encounters in the natural world...each encounter carrying significances beyond coincidence. Native Americans traditions teach that there are nine significant animal guides that accompany you through Ife's journey.

Certain signs indicate that a spirit animal has claimed you as someone under their protection and guidance. You might have been drawn to a certain animal since birth. Dreams featuring the animal reoccur repeatedly or physical encounters with certain animals that are to the area you live in.

Your challenge this week is to think of a spirit animal that you are drawn to and create an art piece reflecting upon the natural lessons you have learned or the guidance you have had in your life. I have also posted free images for you to use in your artwork if you choose to do so!

A few years ago, I was staying the night at a friend's house and could not sleep, I was pondering over a situation in my life that I could find no peace to resolve, I stepped outside on the patio to smoke. There was a black wrought iron fence that surrounded the patio and as I was so deep in thought, I did not at first see the large white object leaning silently against the fence, It looked like a rather large dog and I thought I saw it as a white dog until the face of the animal morphed into that of the maiden with long flowing hair, She looked so very forlorn and unhappy. She sighed a long sigh, Just as quickly as I saw the sadness in her eyes, the face morphed back into the white dog and it leapt up frin its feet and ran across the back yard and disappeared! No trace of it nowhere! I never forgot that moment or what I had seen. Later as time progressed, I realized what had been shown to me was the answer to my dilemma, staying in the situation did bring me much heartache and great sadness that to this day I still carry. I knew that night what was presented to me was the answer, but I could not bring myself to accept that as truth and so the lesson had to be learned through living out the consequences. Sometimes we have to do that before we can really accept something we do not want to accept. I know now to pay heed to such phenomenon and read the signs given as a warning or as a clarification of the true meaning of something I should avoid or watch more closely over in my life. 

Digital art created from images from Wikipedia and Pinterest, Pixabay, Conjurer of Dreams Wolf Tatoo Floral Digital Download, and Miriam's Scraps.

SPIRIT GUIDES

 

WHAT ARE SPIRIT GUIDES?

Spirit guides are often described as non-physical entities which accompany us throughout our life while offering comfort and wisdom without controlling our choices. They give us guidance and support and help us grow spiritually and emotionally. Typical spirit guides are ancestral or deceased loved ones, angels and archangels, and spirit animals. Some believe that mythical or divine beings guide us with generosity, compassion, and support during life changing cycles. Others believe in elemental beings such as fairies or cosmic beings that bring to us creativity, harmony, and balance.

I believe in spirit guides in the form of angels and deceased loved ones that come to us in times of need to help us and comfort us when we go through days of indecision and confusion or facing certain trials in our life. I also believe that they do not always present themselves to us as themselves and sometimes show themselves as particular objects from the animal kingdom such as a bird, butterfly, or dragonfly. Maybe a beloved cat or dog, or sometimes in the form of a complete stranger...anything to catch our eye and help us realize we are being watched over and protected. I have heard that anything you see in a pattern of three is no coincidence and should be taken seriously for it is someone who is contacting you to let you know of their guiding protection and their love for you from the other side.

My parents passed way within a year of each other last year and so this year, their death weighs heavy in my thoughts and my heart. I know if either of them was to try and let me know of their presence it would be in the form of a bird. They both loved birds and were always caring for the birds throughout the year, especially during the winter months when food was so scarce for them. My mother had a birdcage hanging above her desk that contained two lovebirds that sang sweet songs to her every day. My father loved the hummingbirds and would always say that spring was not truly upon us until he saw the first bright, red feathers of a cardinal. A red breasted Robin returned every year to make her nest in an empty hanging planter basket that my mother kept especially for her on her front porch. We watched the busy mother bird flying back and forth with food when the baby birds hatched while the father hovered protectively nearby. All too soon the babies would grow strong and fly away to start their own lives, leaving behind a silent, empty nest. At dusk, we would go and sit out of the front porch and listen to the doves cooing to one another. There is a pool where I live and I go in the quiet of the evening to relax and swim. I have noticed a gentle dove that comes and sits on the power line in the parking lot beside the pool. I talk to her (of course when no one else is around) but she only sits in silence and seems content just watch to me. sometimes I wonder, if indeed, this beautiful creature is my mother appearing to me to let me know she is still a part of my life. Maybe?

Your challenge this week is to create what you believe to be your own spirit guide and interpret that image in your artwork. When you post your artwork, if you have a spirt guide story of your own, please share it with us. 

Remember...Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  

MY SPIRIT GUIDE CREATIONS

Thank you for having so much patience with me during the time I was absent! Looking forward to many challenges and seeing all of your amazing artwork!

Artwork created from Miriam's Scraps and Pinterest

QUIRKY VICTORIAN ANIMAL CHARACTERS CHALLENGE

 THE QUEEN OF CREEP IS BACK!

I am so sorry that I have not posted any challenges in such a long time! The summer was so hectic and so many things came up that I did not have time to post anything for you! I am back and in full swing and will be posting weekly challenged from here on out. 

I have missed all of my Dark Artist Friends so much and am looking forward to creating some dark art with you as we did before! 

I collaborated with Mia at http://craftartista.blogspot.com 

and she created these awesome collage sheets for us to use for this challenge!

Choose one or more images from the collage sheets to use in your art this week plus I want you too also create another one with your own images as well. You will be creating two art pieces for this challenge! You can create them with a Spooky Victorian Theme or even a Steampunk Theme or both! Remember that your imagination is your doorway to any world you want to create! Have fun!!!

Here are my Quirky Victorian Animal Character Creations!

Thank you, Mia, for the wonderful collage sheets you created for us. I really enjoyed playing with the images and creating art with them for this challenge. 

Digital art created from Craftartista Quirky Animals Collage Sheets, Art House Whimsey Haunted Houses, Pxaabay, Gecko Galz  Digital Collage Sheet Gothic Victorian Ladies, and Time Flies ATC Sheet.