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.