Showing posts with label animal wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal wisdom. Show all posts

Friday, August 30, 2013

Your Totem Animal



Creative Nudge Fridays is here!

When animal totems need to show up in your life, they find a way.

Right now I'm on a soul nourishing sojourn in the Upper Hunter (NSW, Australia). As those with me on Instagram (@jelenamrkich) and Facebook may know, I'm staying in a castle. I'm writing this in the tower room where earlier an eagle was flying directly overhead. This rather magical place is surrounded by wildlife. Thus a significant theme has been connection with the animal kingdom. So far I've connected with and seen; kangaroos, wild horses, wild deer, foxes, wombats, rabbits, bats and the bird clans including the eagle, ravens, tawny frogmouths, ibis', rosellas, currawongs, magpies, willy wagtails, swallows and blue wrens. Also bees, butterflies and dragonflies. And Bella, the cat of the castle.

As much as each animal has its own animal wisdom, collectively they also hold a message about one's own inner nature and wild self. Of course to receive meaningful messages from the animal kingdom it's not about how many creatures you see. It's about being open to the ones nudging for your attention now.

And this is the nudge. Notice which animal is asking for your attention now. Which creature is showing up regularly or which one are you strongly drawn to at the moment? What particular behaviours or characterises grab your attention? What about this creature is speaking to you? What might it be showing you about yourself? Open to receiving the message it has for you. If you like you can explore this further in your journal by asking 'what message do you have for me?' and writing down what comes to you. Or artwork out your response.

Working with animals as our guides can assist with our inner processes and help shed light on our current path. You may have a totem animal that has been with you most all of your life, while other totems show up with a specific message you need in that moment.

A note, when it's not possible or practical for an animal totem to show up in the physical, they can show up in symbolic ways too, such as via pics and imagery, the written and printed word or verbally say during a random chat or conversation. Alternatively you might choose to connect with the animal kingdom during meditation.

To remind yourself that the animal kingdom is always communicating with us, take a pic of your totem animal. Then use the pic as your screen saver or wallpaper on your phone or computer.

If you give the nudge a go, comment below or be a part of the conversation on my Facebook Page. If you share your nudge pics via Twitter or Instagram use the tag #creativenudgefridays so we can find you.

Create on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Monday, March 18, 2013

Angel Wings



Angel Wings was one of my littlest chickens.

I took this pic with her on Friday as part of Be Your Own Light, a photographic journey by self-love guide Vivienne McMaster. My prompt was to take a pic in the shade. I was outside with my chickens for their evening walk as the sun made its nightly descent behind the hills. Looking up I realised that dusk throws a soft blanket of shade over all things. It's a magical momentary in-between time when there is still enough light to see sans any direct sunlight. With my camera in hand I turned on the self-timer mode and had a photo shoot with my chickens.

As she had been moving slowly in the past week most pics were with Angel Wings. I had been spending more time with her recently as I could see she was needing extra care. Soon after this pic, the chickens made their way into their coop for the night. I instinctively placed extra straw on top of their nesting boxes, right under where Angel Wings was perched. The next morning (Saturday) as I opened the coop to let the chickens out for breakfast, I found Angel Wings with her eyes closed. She had passed away in her sleep on the extra pile of straw. As those who love animals know, our animal friends become part of the family. My heart panged at the loss of her.

Heart pangs at the loss of something dear to the self are not comfortable. Yet to feel them are a blessing. For it says the heart is present, open and feeling. 

Creativity is one of the most powerful ways to move through such feelings and life itself, including its ebbs, flows, ughs, ahhs, wonders and woes. Creativity helps bring things to light, and is a transformational way to honour all that moves, strengthens, shifts and uplifts us.

Thus, I find myself writing this and sharing pics of AW.



Angel Wings at three weeks old, on the first day in her new home. 19 April 2010.



Positively tiny in their new home, the seven sisters at three weeks old. Raised by Danny and I, next week they turn three years old. Top left and anti-clockwise; Starsky, Angel Wings, Hutchie, Meryl, Frankie, Titch (Chica) and Mama Coop. 19 April 2010.



Angel Wings getting her scratch on in the grass last week. 12 March 2013.



Angel Wings and me, unintentionally captured with see-through arms - reminding me of angel's wings. It's a happy memory to know she got to sit in lush grass on her last night. And fills me with gratitude that in my hunt for shade, I caught an adorable momento. 15 March 2013.



Our hand-carved memory stick by Danny for the feathery ones who have transitioned. 16 March 2013.

My turned-out-not-so-random photo shoot on Friday reminds the self that the key to meaning-making and memory-creating in life is in being present to each moment.

Whatever you are feeling right now in your own life, bless the full spectrum of your feelings. For their presence means your heart is breaking open to more of who you are.

Shine on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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