Animal Spirit Oracle: Susan Boulet

Animal Spirit Oracle, Susan Boulet

A friend of mine did a mini-reading for me using the beautiful Animal Spirit Knowledge Cards Oracle, created by Susan Boulet. (Boulet died in 1997.) I fell in love with the deck and ordered one as soon as I returned home. They arrived the other day, and I've been enjoying exploring this deck.

Crow, Susan Boulet

Some readers feel  that the deck is not used for "divinatory" purposes but  more for personal use. I haven't tried using them in a reading for another, but I will try that just to see. I've had good readings using other animal decks, the Medicine Cards in particular. I'm also curious about using these cards in a multi-deck reading, maybe with the Angel Dreams oracle. (Doreen Virtue.)

The cards are on the smaller side, with full picture on the front, and the meaning on the back. I like the fact that there isn't any text on the front. Just the image, there for you to meditate on without words. The slightly smaller than usual size for tarot or oracle cards doesn't detract from the artwork. There are 48 cards in the deck.

Back: Animal Spirit Knowledge Oracle
Source: Aeclectic Tarot

One slight criticism: I would have liked more diversity in the key words with the descriptions, and some of the images are sideways or "landscape" while the majority are vertical. I found that to be a little distracting.

Feathers; Crow and Raven

This image popped up on my Facebook page:

I was reminded of a dream I had the night before last. So much going on in that dream! Including my smudging my home with sage. But part of that dream involved Crow and Raven:

I'm standing in front of our house, which is on a little hill. Lots of grass and small plants all around. The city is below us. Twinkling lights. Very peaceful, yet very energized at the same time . Looking up at the active, beautiful sky. No UFOs, but a sort of UFO vibe. The stars are alive. So energizing and beautiful!  I was telling the person I was with about the differences between crows and ravens, and how, in this area, ravens aren't usually seen. A crow appears; with a beautiful violet streak of color on some of its feathers. Now, a raven appears! The raven has the most glorious peacock kind of blue color streak on its feathers. The birds are glowing. I have the distinct impression the raven came because it knew I was talking about it. As with the crow. The two are aware of each other. Not enemies, not at all, but they keep their distance from each other. The raven seems to be telling me to delve deeper, closer. To what, I'm not sure. I awake with such an energized, positive feeling. 

From Tarotize - Holistic Tarot: The Totem Tarot Spread

I found this recent blog post from Lisa Frideborg at Tarotize on totems inspiring and timely. I've posted several dreams and waking life moments involving Dog, and have been working with this recurring imagery. Without much insight, so far. I can't wait to try Lisa's spread.

Tarotize - Holistic Tarot: The Totem Tarot Spread: These days, it is quite easy to just Google the meaning of totem animals. However, no matter what they mean in general, you may still not find the exact message they have for you at this point in time... There are a couple of ways of resolving this: you can either keep trying to connect with the spirit animal in your dreams or in meditation until the message becomes clear... OR you can do a Tarot reading on it with the Tarot spread I created specifically for this: (Lisa Frideborg, Tarotize blog)

Rabbit: Supernatural, Synchronicity and Strange

On my blog Animal Forteana, a new post about rabbit synchronicity. Last night's episode of Ghost Adventures explored the Bell Witch haunting, which includes the supernatural apparition of a hybrid entity that has the head of a rabbit and body of a dog. Bunny coincidences ensued. . . 

(By the way, just how many blogs do you have Regan, one might ask? About a dozen, I'd say. Check back for an updated blog list.)

In the context of card oracles, what messages does Rabbit bring? Depends on the system:

RABBITFertility and New LifeThe Rabbit is known for its ability to procreate, its fleetness, and its movement is by leaps.People with this totem may find that their endeavors go in leaps and bounds also.If a Rabbit totem has appeared in your life, it may indicate a need for more planning or to check those plans already set in motion.Do not box yourself in a corner.This totem may also bring a need to examine the kinds of foods you eat.Perhaps a vegetarian diet, if only for a short time, can help you strengthen and heal.Rabbit is associated with Eostra, the Celtic goddess of Spring, and therefore associated with Ostara (or Easter).This is the reason we celebrate with Easter eggs.Rabbit is also sacred to the moon goddess Andraste, the Norse goddess Freya, and the Greek god Hermes.The Hare is associated with the moon in many cultures including Native American, Hindi, and China. (from Medicine Card Meanings/Golden Mousedeer)

Medicine Cards tells us that Rabbit signifies FEAR:

The keynote here is: what you resist will persist! What you fear most is what you will become.
Here is the lesson. If you pulled Rabbit, stop talking about horrible things happening and get rid of "what it" in your vocabulary. This card may signal a time of worry about the future or of trying to exercise your control over that which is not yet in form - the future. Stop now! Write your fears down and be willing to feel them. Breathe into them, and feel them running through your body into Mother Earth as a give-away. (Medicine Cards,David Carson, Jamie Sams.) 

Medicine Cards oracle, David Carson and Jamie Sams

Medicine Cards: 4 Directions Spread

Medicine Cards oracle; 4 Directions spread

Stay Positive: The Cosmic Tarot and The Star

This was on my Facebook page from Tarot.com:

Cosmic Tarot

This is the Major arcana card The Star, from the Cosmic tarot deck. I'm not familiar with the deck at all -- this is the only card I've seen from the deck. I just love this! The colors are so peaceful and soothing. It gives me a magical realism sense of things. I find the flamingo delightfully surprising, reassuring, humorous. Tropical and pleasant. The woman belongs there, is confident in a quiet, meditative way. The blue color of both the woman and the water and surroundings makes everything a whole, she is part of nature, they are one. In and out of the water. She is pouring water from gold cups into the lotus. Very spiritual and magical.

The message Tarot.com put with this card was to "stay positive."
And that has been the consistent message I've been getting lately. That message came through very strong in a reading someone did for me, and yesterday I did a 12 month reading for myself. Both readings told me to stay positive, not sink into negativity, panic, and fear, but to focus on the positive (what I want, not what I don't want) and expressing gratitude. When I feel myself going down, or, when things are moving as fast as I'd like, stay positive. (and be patient.)

On my list: Wild Wood Tarot

It's that time, when the urge to acquire a new deck is so very strong. I've been wanting a deck -- a tarot deck, not an oracle deck -- to use with more witchy-pagan type energies and realms. So far, it seems that the Wild Wood deck might be the one. Truly beautiful. I haven't had the opportunity to work with this deck yet but I love the images. Druids, nature, pagans, deities, shamanism, … feels very much where I want to go these days.

The deck was created by John Mattews, Mark Ryan and Will Worthington. 

Reviews of the deck at Aeclectic Tarot, among other places.

Black Cats Tarot: Inner/Outer Spread

Black Cats Tarot, Inner/Outer Spread

Top row: left to right the usual past present future but remember, it's not so linear, not black and white, not clearly divided. The past doesn't stop where the present begins and the future is movable. The inner of you. What others may not see or what you don't always show.

Bottom row: the same, focusing on the outer. What's happening around you, to you, and what others are participating in with you. Or, you with them. . .

The card stands alone. This is what you can use, where you can go, what you can activate. This is where you can be.

Far right row: top card. You inner future. Spiritual, meditative, personal, intimate, private if you like, to be shared if you choose.

Bottom card: Where your social/career/family outer life might find you.

Nothing is written in the stone wall of apathy. You can ignore it, change it, climb over it, recarve it.

Panther

Panther came to visit me last night in a dream. 

I look out my bedroom window; in the yard is a huge black panther. She is beautiful! And very large, as big as a car. She is not aggressive, just lying there, up against the white picket fence.  A collar is around her neck, and a rope -- more like a ribbon, which is also white -- attached to the collar. But the leash of ribbon isn't attached to anything. She can go wherever she wants. She seems content to just be where she is.

I go out there, she is aware of me. No danger and yet, I am cautious. Awed, and so grateful I am so close to this wonderful creature. I am happy she has decided to come to my yard! But I am worried, for her, and others. If she's someone's "pet" well, she shouldn't be! No one should own an animal like that! But if she's on the loose, is she a danger to humans? I don't know. She doesn't seem to be.  

Everywhere I go, there she is. Not following me, but just there. Quiet, calm. Yet as I peer into her her glossy fur, and see the even darker spots beneath the blue black of her coat, her fur, her skin, begins to ripple. There is immense power within.

I also worry about this incredible and beautiful creature. Is she okay put here by herself? Doesn't she need to run free, in open spaces? What about food? She can't survive out here, what is there to eat? She seems okay now but . . .
I try to tell people that she needs help, or at least, contact someone who can assess her situation, like animal control. But no one seems to notice her. When they do, they just shrug and move on. They don't appreciate the gift of her presence at all.

 I wake up feeling both comforted and happy at having this visit from Panther, but also a little sad.

Image: public domain, RWS deck

The Tarot image that came to me large and vivid  when reading this dream: The High Priestess. This came to me before I found the following -- I did a little searching and found this: "Black Panther's Power Includes astral travel, guardian energy, symbol of the feminine, death and rebirth, understanding of death, reclaiming ones power, ability to know the dark, aggressiveness and power without solar influence, reclaiming Power." (Black Panther, Power Animal, Symbol of Astral Travel, Feminine Energy, Death and Rebirth By Ina Woolcott)

The High Priestess has to do with the subconscious, dreams, intuition, power, and the sheer membrane between realms. The High Priestess knows how to journey through these realms. 

Interesting about the feminine, and reclaiming power. I've been having some health issues lately and yesterday had to take care of some of these issues; on pain pills, which I do not like to take at all and rarely do, and meditating on the karmic cycle of these issues.

Zuni Fetish, panther. Image: Regan Lee

Woolcott also writes: Panthers are generally loners, extremely comfortable with themselves and are often drawn to other solitary people. … People with this power animal can develop clairaudience, the ability to hear communications from other forms of life or dimensions. They must trust their thoughts and inner voice/visions as they are based in reality. This is an animal guide to assist you on your path, sometimes in the form of a real person such a mentor or teacher. The Black Panther is endowed with great magic and power, which will increasingly be experienced.

I am definitely a solitary person or "loner" but not lonely. 

The following gave me goosebumps; remember I said as I walked closer to Panther and looked at her fur, I saw her skin rippling:

Panthers possess acute sensitivity. The hairs that cover their lithe bodies, especially on the face, pick up subtle vibrations. This is symbolic for those with this guide. It is an indication of a need to pay attention to their feelings and honour the messages those feelings transmit. (Woolcott)

I've been doing work with ancestors and animal guides, and have had the zuni fetish of a panther shown here on my altar for awhile now.

Another image that strikes me: the juxtaposition of the stark black and white in the RWS card, and the black of the panther against the white fence in my dream.

Related links:
Wolf in the Dark
Ancestor Altar

"Ms. Wolf"

Having fun with the first graders in the cafeteria the other day; gently teasing a couple of them who couldn't remember my name. Everyone laughing; then I asked one of the students again what my name was. Student looks at me, very seriously, thinking. Then says "Ms. Wolf!"

"Ms. Wolf!" I said, in mock horror at his getting my name wrong. (More laughter.) Then I said "Well, wolves are cool, I like it! From now on my name is Ms. Wolf." More laughing. And many of the kids agreed that the Wolf is, indeed, a very cool animal.

I told this story to my husband and he said "That child saw something in you. The wolf is your spirit animal, your guide, your totem. He knew that." That didn't occur to me. (The school does have an animal mascot, but it's not a wolf or in the canine family.)

Unicorn Synchronicity and Exercise

I started a new kind of journal a few days ago. I'm not sure how I came to the idea; it was sudden inspiration. I have no doubt the angels helped with this one. But a simple daily list, which is an idea I abhor, seemed the thing to do. If I want to accomplish things, maybe this will help, was my thinking.

I decided to include whatever came to mind, no matter how silly, small, seemingly trivial -- or, huge and crazy and impractical. Just jot it down for the day. Try to keep it at ten items. At the end of the day, cross out what I had done, and begin anew the next day. The list changes; some things remain, while other items might go away for that day.

I realized something early this morning: that for every day, I have "exercise" on the list. And every day, exercise is something I did not do! Later this morning, my daily spirit card reading arrived in my email. The card was from Doreen Virtue's Unicorn oracle deck. Specifically, the exercise card!

Doreen Virtue Unicorn oracle deck

Later this morning, at work, I walk into the classroom to see, written on the board, a little story about unicorns the class had made up.

Ancestor and ArchAngel Metatron Altar

My new bedroom altar arrangement. I've been working with Arch Angel Metatron and ancestors meditations. The right side is archangel Metatron, left is ancestors. They aren't clear in the photo but in front of the votive are skull bracelets. Will have to do until I can afford a skull. I love using a simple snifter of water for scrying, as well as the black mirror in the silver frame. Both different with very different effects, but both enjoyable to use. Food offering and water are also on the altar, behind the votive on the right. I've been doing this for a few days now; I'll post more on some results in the near future.

Pit bulls, cats and raccoons . . . and a dove

As I've been writing about, I've been having a lot of dreams where Dog has visited. A few nights ago I had a dream: one of my recurring dreamscapes, where my guide -- the white haired woman -- appeared. This time, she was wearing blue hooded cloak. There was a little white dog running around, and she gave the dog to my husband, telling him she had a job for him. That she would pay him to take care of the dog. She seemed to believe that it was a done deal, and that of course he was going to take care of the dog, whether or not he'd be paid for it.

Sunday night, at approximately 8:50, we heard the most awful banging and thumping against our front door -- we opened it to find a pit bull attacking our cat, who was on the shelf on the porch where we keep our wood. It all happened so fast; the dog and cat screeching, in a ball, then our cat takes off. He went a good twenty feet up into the large apple tree. Here we are, trying to get him down, but of course he wouldn't come down. My husband tried to get him, but no use. Poor cat stayed out there all night and Jim was able to get him down the next day.

We thought Mango was going to be all right; we didn't see any external injuries and the cat seemed okay. But then he started to breath funny and wasn't moving much and was obviously not only depressed and freaked but in pain. We took him to the vets where he is now; x-rays, oxygen, overnight, etc.

This morning, walking the block and half from my car to work, I hear a dog bark. I look over and there in an unfenced yard, is a large pit bull. It isn't growling but barking at me, looking right at me, and taking a step or two towards me. I found that I was literally frozen, I couldn't move. I didn't know if I should go back to the car or keep walking towards my building. I was shaking and then I saw the owner; who was just standing there. I said "Is that your dog?" and he grumped "Yes," and reluctantly took the dog into the house. Then I saw another pit bull, also unleashed, who was standing there, looking at me. I looked at the man with a "Really? You're going to leave that dog out here while you're int he house?" look, and he took that dog in as well. When I glanced back as I walked towards my building, he gave me a dirty look.

I have walked past the house many times -- every morning just about since September -- and have never heard or seen dogs in that yard. This morning was the first time I had come across those dogs.

Just as I was nearing my building, I saw what I thought was a dog at first, then a cat (because it was small and moving oddly) then saw that it was a raccoon. The raccoon was walking slowly and then it stopped, looked right at me, and didn't move. I stood watching it -- there was something strange about the whole thing -- then it turned around and climbed up a tree.

By the time I got into my building I was almost crying. The interactions with those two pit bulls really got me.

One more pit bull synchronicity: a pit bull rescue and rehabilitation place has opened literally around the corner from our house, not even a block away. Coincidentally, I know the owners, having met them through a previous job.

So Dog again, and pit bulls. (It was a pit bull mix that killed our cat Roswell almost exactly a year ago.)

As we pulled into our driveway after leaving Mango at the vets, we saw a dove at the fence where the bird feeder is. The only time we have seen a dove around here was within the first few weeks we moved into this house over twenty years ago. A dove hung around for a couple of days then left. We never saw it again. While there are pigeons around in parks, etc. we have never seen pigeons around here in the neighborhood. However, both doves -- the one from years ago and today's -- were definitely doves and not your typical city park pigeon.

Dog Totem/Dream Guide

     

      A disturbing dream in many ways last night, and I didn't realize it was Dog visiting once again until later in the day. 

     One of my dreamscapes, this one is an area that is very run down, large open lots where houses once stood, now many abandoned or dilapidated, lots are weedy. I know the ocean is just a few blocks away but can't see it. Some parts of this little town are still viable, barely, a downtown-ish kind of place.      Over the course of many days, I observe a homeless man (I assume he's homeless) roaming around the place. He is very dirty, filthy clothes, and appears to be in his forties. With him is the largest and ugliest dog I have ever seen that the man keeps on a leash.  This dog doesn't' even look like a dog. I don't know what it looks like -- a small bear, or a … who knows. It too is filthily, and gray. Not gray from the dirt, that's it's normal color. Shaggy gray ugly filthy dog.      Neither one of these beings are happy. I wonder if they're crazy, psychotic, dangerous, mentally ill, mean or what. I can't decide if it's safe to approach them. Every time the man sees me he just glares. And the dog -- hasn't growled or shown any aggressive signs, yet, but he isn't warm and fuzzy either. I want to stay away from both of them, and yet, they are both obviously in need. They are so dirty and hungry and clearly not being treated with any compassion by anyone. So I decide that these two creatures need food and care and so what if they turn out to be crazy or mean? I don't have to be their best friend, just see that they don't suffer.     I leave them some food, and some clothing. They're suspicious but then I realize that I'd be angry and surly and suspicious too if I had to live like this. They have every right to be full of anger and fear. It's not their fault.      They don't do anything at all to me, either way. They don't attack me or make me feel afraid, nor do they give me the time of day. They do accept the food and clothes and that's all that matters.     My work calls me, they're upset that I've been taking care of these two. The whole town gets in on the act. Some side with my place of employment, others with me. I think anyone who has the audacity and lack of compassion to criticize me for doing this can go to hell, and I tell them so. More uproar from citizens. More of me saying "Go screw yourselves." I continue to leave food and items for the man and the dog.

     Usually Dog appears either by itself, or with a woman. I think this is the first time Dog appeared with a man. 
     Sometimes Dog talks to me, or is downright friendly and sweet. Other times Dog is a guide, silent, leading the way, often on a leash, with its/my Guide, which is usually a woman. This time Dog was again silent, but waiting, not exhibiting any emotion, be it aggression or playfulness.

   

Review: Black Cats Tarot

I wrote a review of  Maria Kuara's Black Cats tarot, published by Lo Scaraeo, on Amazon awhile ago. I like the deck and don't think it's "cute" as some think, but as always, to each their own when it comes to decks. There is no right or wrong, simply what works for you. 

Daily Oracle Sites: Wisdom of Avalon

There are lots of sites that offer free, daily oracle or tarot card readings. Here's one: Colette Baron-Reid Daily Oracle cards. These oracle cards are new to me; I chose the Wisdom of Avalon deck, beautiful! My card was OWL, which is synchronistic, given my UFO interest and experiences. (The owl is an image that repeats throughout UFO, enitity and abduction encounters; from synchronistic moments of seeing owls frequently in nature as well as popular culture, owls appearing just before or during contact, on the astral realm, etc.)

My question had to do with my reading/intuitive counseling career path. This is what OWL has to say:

The Owl

deception, wisdom

The Owl lends you eyes that you need in order to see in the dark around you. The Owl can cut through the shadows to illuminate the real truth. Someone may be trying to camouflage his or her real intentions. Deceit, lies, and unclear intentions are exposed with Owl energy.The Owl also reminds you to be honest with yourself and snap out of any lies or denial inside you. Lying to yourself is the way that you’ll remain lost in a prison of your own making. The Owl appears to ask you to seek the truth in the darkest places within yourself. This will set you free and restore you to wholeness.All is well with the Owl to guide you. Deep wisdom into human nature is gained through the ability to recognize untruths. This is an important marker on your path.