In Part 2 I introduce my life time animal spirit guides and the directions that they occupy on my personal medicine wheel.  I honored each one of them with a hand decorated animal spirit guide egg I can only hope they like them.

North is the direction of winter- wisdom and intellect – mind -the adult self – Element is wind/breath –Human kingdom

Animal Spirit Guide – Spider

Spider teaches me about the balance between past and future, male and female, and the webbing that connects my spiritual body to my physical body and mental body in this lifetime. She teaches me about weaving my different creative skills in different ways to create something new that combines the ways of the ancestors with those of today. Her influence allows me to look at things, not as individual parts but the interconnections that make up the larger picture of existence. Through her, I learn about the ancient symbols that carry across cultures like the circle, the egg, and the great spiral. 

North East– Design of movement/energy- the choreography of energy – moon dance-

Animal Spirit Guide – Beluga

Beluga guides me from winter to spring and the sometimes wild weather in between. Beluga tells me to keep a positive attitude even in difficult situations. A sense of humor goes a long way in dark days. Sing, dance, be creative I will experience an incredible lightness of being if I trust and I realize things will happen as they are supposed to. Swim with the current rather than against it. Beluga as a healer uses the power of words, music, song and voice. She is not afraid to be the class clown. Her joy allows others to laugh with her and not at her. 

East is the direction of spring – a place of illumination, creation and wonder – SPIRIT -represents the wonder child self – Element is fire – animal kingdom

Animal Spirit Guide – Eagle

Eagle is the animal spirit guide that occupies the Eastern direction on my medicine wheel. He is one of my big medicine guides. I first met him years ago when I began to practice shamanism. He delivers messages to me from the upper realm of the shamanic world. He teaches me about wisdom, knowing the difference between my ego and actual messages from individual animals. Whenever I begin to doubt my true sight and clairvoyance, he immediately intercedes and steers me back in the direction I need to go. He is also the messenger between me and my deceased father. When I see him fly through it means pay attention I have things to show you that you should not ignore. His most important message to me is the reminder that spirit is all around us, and we are participants in the magic of it all. 

South East– is the direction of self-concept – place of your ancestors past and future

Animal Spirit Guide- Pike

Pike in this position on my personal wheel teaches me that I must embrace a more simple life without any complications. In doing so, I have a better chance of not only honoring my truths but the truths of my ancestors both past and present. Avoid drama, don’t overthink, strike at opportunities that present themselves and be patient. Allow others to find their truths and don’t expect them to bend to your way of thinking. 

South– is the direction of summer – trust and innocence – emotions – the child self – Element is water – plant kingdom

Animal Spirit Guide- Flamingo

Flamingos get their beautiful pink coloring from their selective diets. They use their beaks to filter organisms like shrimp and algae from the water. Both organisms are high in pigments called carotenoids. The build-up of these pigments in the flamingo’s feathers is the direct result of this diet. Flamingo teaches me to filter through the many emotions I may have in a day, sort them out and let go of the ones that are not relevant to me. The ones I keep and cherish will light my heart and help me to heal myself and others. She teaches me that strong interpersonal relationships are important and I need a sense of community in order to thrive. We are strong as individuals, but we are even stronger when we unite in common causes and offer each other support. She shows me I do not need to lose myself in the process, and it is okay to be flamboyant, whimsical, affectionate and beautiful inside and out. 

South West– The place of the sacred dream

Animal Spirit Guide – Frilled Lizard

Frilled Lizard is my only life time guide from the land down under, “Australia”. He is the guardian of my sacred dreams. His frightening appearance is to protect him from predators. If this display fails, he will run and leap to the nearest tree to protect himself. He is capable of running on all four legs but can also lift himself up and run on two legs. I learn from frilled lizard the importance of being self-confident even when I am not. “Fake it till you make it” is this guide’s biggest lesson for me. He can also show me when deception may need to be used to protect myself. Violence is not the answer when there are other forms of defense. Frilled lizard as the guardian of sacred dreams represents my connection to the collective unconscious, dragons, magic and earth medicine. 

West– is the direction of fall – Introspection and Intuition – the physical body – manifestation- Element is earth – mineral kingdom

Animal Spirit Guide – Cougar

Cougar teaches me that I need to move through life believing and feeling confident in my own personal power. My leadership skills are based on guiding others through example, expertise, and experience. I may do so in an unconventional way, but I can still be effective. Power and leadership do not come for me through aggression and force but by using my intelligence and intuition. The best way to lead is also to know how to follow and to be willing to come down from the mountain and work alongside others. She allows me to observe an environment and remaining in the background and only pounce when the right opportunity comes along. Cougar’s grace and beauty should be the example I emulate here on earth and the value of my own physical body and keep it in the best of shape. If I have no body, no life in this middle world place of learning. 

North West– the laws of patterns and cycles of all natural and physical laws – the future

Animal Spirit Guide – Manta Ray

Manta Ray medicine is one based on grace, maneuvering and movement. His presence in my life comes at the beginning and end of cycles.   In my healing work manta ray heals on a global level balancing and realigning any place’s energy patterns at the molecular level. Manta teaches me what needs to stay and to go in every area of my life and lays out the path which I must take in order to accomplish the learning I mapped out for myself for this lifetime before I was born. He is silent and does not reveal much, and this is a lesson I should very much take to heart. 

Above – UP – the direction of Creator, the sky, Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon

Animal Spirit Guide – Horse

This animal spirit guide is one of the guides that transports me through the shamanic realms. He and Dog are the beings that have aided me the most in learning about interspecies (animal) communication. Without Dog and Horse, I would not be able to move between clairaudience, clairsentience, clairvoyance, telepathy, empathy and intuition with as much as ease as I do after so many years. Individual animals communicate in different ways, and I am blessed to have Dog and Horse as instructors. Horse guide is also responsible for teaching me that emotional intelligence is just as important as one’s IQ in the grand scheme of things. He helps me to find the happy balance between having strong social ties but to live freely and easily on my own. 

Below– DOWN – the direction of Mother Earth

 Animal Spirit Guide – Pronghorn

            Pronghorn as a guide is responsible for using my other senses to orient in the middle world. Touch, taste, and scent can provide me with vital clues to fill in some of the blanks about a situation. He keeps me grounded and makes me pay attention to the many details in everyday life. Pronghorns can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour but unlike cheetahs who are sprinters the pronghorn can continue his speedy pace for miles he truly a marathon runner.   Pronghorn shows me through this that by pacing myself accordingly I will be able to run the marathon that is sometimes necessary in order to reach a long-term goal.

Pronghorn is an animal of the western grasslands and must communicate effectively with his herd in order to stay alive. His superior sight can get to the heart of a matter very quickly once this is accomplished effective communication will warn the rest of his herd. Being able to communicate effectively is an important lesson that Pronghorn I still learning. Sometimes I will see pronghorn appear in my shamanic work and in real life to warn me of impending danger. I have made the mistake in my past and ignored his warning so I can say I have learned my lesson in this regard.

Ahead- life force – guidance while living through a lifetime in the physical world

Animal Spirit Guide – Dog

Dog is the animal spirit guide that runs ahead of me towards the future. His deep compassion and love for humanity inspires me to look towards being a humanitarian and being in a position to help others and myself at every turn. Dog has taught and is teaching me that nothing will break my spirit and my capacity to love. Dog Spirit has come to me in a big way through two different breeds of dog that have blessed my life over the years. Greyhound was the first.

Greyhounds have taught me that conformation and bloodlines are not how someone wins any race. It is the heart that shows the way.   Greyhounds are a hunting breed. Humanity bred them to chase down swift, fast prey, kill it and return it to the owner. Because of this they are much more independent as a rule, and many people feel that they are not as intelligent as other breeds this is far from the case.   They are bright and can learn, but you may need look for different types of motivation then merely a pat on the head.   Greyhound heart and independence is what I look forward to as I move through my new life as a domestic violence survivor.

The other breed that has come into my life and taught me much is the Australian Shepherd. They are a herding breed and through them I have learned not only to run ahead with heart but to be able to gather my resources before I embark on a new venture. The Aussie is an intelligent breed that is works willingly alongside others to achieve a certain end. Aussie shows me that it is possible to work as part of a community, and it is not always necessary to do a job alone.   Both of these wonderful breeds have been my best friends, protectors, and ever vigilant companions and I owe much to them.

Behind– shadow – balance

Animal Spirit Guide – Okapi

Okapi is my shadow guide. He teaches me that sometimes the best camouflage is standing right in front of the person or situation in which you need to hide. The okapi was only speculated to exist until the year 1900. He is the only living relative of the giraffe, and he lives deep in the African jungle. He has taught me to wait for my animal spirit guides to come to me rather my actively seeking them. Spirit can be subtle, and they may only whisper in quiet truths and voices. Be ready for this. Oddly enough, the most important lesson this beautiful guide has taught me is that shamanism should not be treated as if it is a mystery. If you live a shamanic life, you will find that it can be a living testament to others about walking in balance with each other. No need to put anyone on a pedestal.  

Within– Self – inward – Learning to honor ourselves, and the spirit that exists within each of us-

Animal Spirit Guide – Heron

Heron is my within animal. I speak extensively about her in other writings included in this series of articles. She is graceful in spite of her ungainly appearance. She is the protector of my internal boundaries. Her ability to hunt for prey in many different aquatic habitats gives me my ability to be a jack of all trades better at some than others.   Heron’s ability to focus in water and catch her food she gives me the ability to have more of an emotional, intuitive intelligence more so than the cerebral.   Through her wisdom and guidance, I have been blessed to find my way and continue my journey in this lifetime.

The integration of all of these aspects and teachers in this lifetime will continue to be an ongoing process.   Medicine wheel work is a non-linear lifetime process. Shamanic practice and living one’s life is the same too. Learning to live a shamanic life has allowed me to see myself again, reintegrate after trauma and be joyful about my future while enjoying each and every single day. Working with my lifetime guides does not limit me to this chosen group either. Many other guides I am sure will appear throughout my lifetime and help me in ways I can’t even imagine.