S6EP2: Another Day by Day

Hey, gang! Welcome to my life – where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. I’m Freedom and I’ll be your host, coming at you from within the depths of Geistopia.

DOC: Velcum To My Life ees a prochect, un experiment in Life unt ART. A living storyboard, if you will. Its premise ees zat life ees experiential, unt zat you can, unt do, experience ze life you choose. It ees based on Ze Veel of Life unt Ze ARTs for Ze New Millennium as life building tools. Ja, it’s true!

WALT: Welcome to my Life is an I T.V. Studios/Geist…House Players Production, in association with the Center for Creative Inspirationalism. JustUs Productions, the parent company, would like to give a ‘Shout-Out’ to the following for their ongoing, and oft-times unknowing, inspiration and support:

Princess Cuddlebug

Princess Sunshine

Company

The Shaman

The Pillar

F’n Bob

The Entire Putt-Putt-Putter Clan

The Warden

FaeriePrincess

Professor Siggy Chong

Sparky Wentz-eclaus

The VanMan and General Ralph Glossop, and Craze (may they R.I.P.)

The Messengers of The Galactic Federation

Looch

The Bassett Hound

Bert-On

The Baker of the Cornbread

Andy Pandy

The Mudder

Zason

St. Diane & You (3)

Brother John

Spooky Queen

Boom-Boom Snuffbox

The Nameless One

Tim-Bo

The Cousins

The Rox

PDT

Sir Richard Slouch

The Wix-ians

The Socialite

The Village of Idiots

Piz-Niffer

Dancing Queen

Downtown Encyclopedia Brown

Chicken Witch

Dick Pointer

Soup, the Son

The Legendary Pink Elephants

Baby-Mama Rabbit

Wisconsin Belle

The Babes

Aaaand, of course, a very generous sponsor who (not-so-much) wishes to remain anonymous.

It is…Sunday, July 24, Two-Thousand and Twenty-New. Time...Elongated

Theme – It All Looks Good on Paper

I’ve said this for a very long time. Every plan looks great when you write it out. Its so clear and it all makes sense. But never have I ever seen a plan that has gone as planned. Once you institute the plan reality sets in. There are factors not considered and shifts in this or that. All you can do is use the plan as a guide and run with it.

Lesson – G-d Wants to Hear How You Feel

I subscribe to an email – What G-d wants you to know. It is just an occasional little message – sometimes cute little phrases, sometimes deeper rhetoric. This was a recent one. It was basically a reminder to pray. G-d wants to know what you’re thinking and feeling. How else can he help and support you? [Ask & It Is Given.] so I have an example of this from the week. Not one I am particularly proud of or pleased with but an example nonetheless. Sunshine called and asked if I could give her and her friends a ride to the movies. This sounds simple enough but it’s not. First it means driving to her house, driving them back up here, taking them back after the movie [each to their respective home] and then get back up here for sleep. Taking more than 2 other people in the Rocket means taking everything and putting it in the back. This, of course, all has to come out of the back again so I can sleep. Factor in the extra gas expense and of course I would pay Sunshine’s way. I’ve been working so hard every week to push myself ahead [kinda] and it has been taking working all 3 shifts every day. This would have me missing a shift. All of this in a day when I already have something g else to work in. [It will pay but not as much as driving. It’s just something I need to do.] I felt cornered. I didn’t want to tell her no but I didn’t know how I was going to make it work. I cracked h dee pressure, had a small break. I flipped on G-d. I told him I’m tired. Tired of bending over backwards to make things work for everyone else, meanwhile, it takes a toll on me and I pay the price for it to work. Such as The Theatre. I went I out of my way to help them out this past year, and I lost money doing it. I just wanna focus on me for a while. Still, I texted her and told her what I could do for her and when. A little while later she messaged back and told me her friend couldn’t do Tuesday and one of the moms was going to take them to a different theatre on Monday. G-d Wants to Know How You Feel.

Observation – It’s Hard for Me to Say No

I don’t know how I feel about this. It’s why I was at The Theatre so long. It’s how I got so stressed over Sunshine’s movie adventure. It is so hard for me to say no. First, I feel bad. That’s kind of the negative side of things. It’s that people pleaser part of me. On the other hand, I have always sort of prided myself on my ability to bend and be flexible and do all the random things I do. It gets overwhelming sometimes. But, I do not know anyone else that can do it. So, I feel honoured to be able to do it.

I do have to work on saying no though – for my own well being.

The Post

7/17/2021

What a curious day. I didn’t have a whole lot of money to make to round out my week, and I was running on a limited gas budget. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. I made my money and still have enough gas to run The Rocket off and on through the night for air.

Once again, I basically made my weekly budget. It wasn’t quite as much as I wanted but all of the really important stuff is taken care of. It feels good to actually be pulling money aside. I’ve never done it before. For 25 years I haven’t really had an income to support such a notion. But in the past 2+ weeks I have managed to put some aside. It’s not a lot, less than $1,000 and, honestly, it’s all ear-marked for something – time with The Princesses, paying a bill, vehicle maintenance. Still, it is enough to cover those things. I have it and I am not stressing over where it is going to come from.

That’s all very new to me.

Anyway, I got my day in and finished rather early. I’m not used to that either. I got a post finished and rounded out my daily administrative work. I budgeted out August, including the beach getaway. The sun has yet to set and I have been about as productive as I can – or need to – be. At this point I am just killing some time and looking forward to a good, long nights sleep.

I have quite the week ahead of me.

07/19/2021

It was not the day I had planned and I find myself quite a bit behind my financial Goal at the moment. However, at the moment, I am quite okay with that.

Today was the day I did the weeding. I’m not going to lie – I didn’t really want to do it. I only agreed to do it for two reasons and money was not one of them. I knew it was going to screw up my day and that I wouldn’t quite make my quota. Of course, I far under-estimated that.

The day itself was interesting. I wasn’t sure I was going to do the weeding this morning. I hadn’t gotten a confirmation but then I got one at about 0730. So, I turned around and headed off to the site. It was a very ‘In-Between’ experience. As I said, I didn’t really want to be doing it but agreed for two reasons…then of course I got side tracked and for got to tell you what they were, Fellow Travelers. [I’ll fix that now.]

First, I had just thought about these folks – their whole family – just a couple of days before they reached out to me about the weeds. I worked them fifteen years ago. I started shortly after Sunshine was born. As with almost all of my jobs it was a pleasant ending. But, I never harbored any ill-feelings towards them. Anyway, the synchronicity of the contact was enough for me to consider things.

I went to the house a few days later to see what I was getting myself into. It was a lot and I really wasn’t looking forward to it. I would have thought about just saying no but the entire time I was there a hawk was perched somewhere in the woods and would not stop calling out. I have heard hawks call out before but never like this. It was constant from the time I arrived until I was leaving. That’s the kind of thing I can’t ignore.

Nonetheless, I can’t say that anything important or significant came of it. So, I can’t imagine what could have been worthy of a heralded such as the hawk.

It was a rough morning. I have not subjected myself to anything like it for over three years, not since I left Olde Geistopia. It was very hot, even at 0800. It was not overly humid but it was humid enough. I laughed to myself because I was downing water [which anyone who knows me can tell you I desperately need] but it didn’t really matter because I was sweating it out as quickly as I could swallow it.

The flowerbeds were large and overgrown. It was a lot of work. A lot of pulling and pinching and bending and up and down from my knees. My first realization of the day? I am getting older. My second realization? I am one bull-headed mother fucker.

I knew within an hour that this was going to work me over hard but I still pushed at it. Somewhere around hour two I thought about giving up. I felt like I was making very little progress and I was starting to hurt.

I did take the occasional break. Just little moments to do things like drink water, scope out my next area…breathe. But, I am stubborn so I kept on pushing. I committed to it and now I wanted to see at least the front beds completed. It took me four hours I pushed through even when I thought I might be starting to have a minor heart attack.

I enjoyed it though. I’ve said repeatedly over the past few years how much I have missed that kind of task. It was nice to be outside and active and in nature. My mind easily drifted in and out of meditative states as I piddled away. I gave thanks.

The day worked me over though. I finished and could barely function. My muscles are all still sore. I headed to Olde Geistopia to visit with Sunshine bf have a daddy/daughter talk. It was a good talk and we covered a lot of ground I think. One thing that came of it is that Sunshine said we could save the Salem trip for next year when she turns 16. I knew there was something weird about that trip because I couldn’t quite ‘see’ it. It may still happen, depending on how life twists and turns along the way.

I also stopped and chatted with The Putter and Sparky for a while. After Sparky left, I was talking to The Putter about one of those things that is currently on the table [which I still will not name.] I was telling him how badly I want it and why. He made a suggestion and it is one that was made previously so I began to consider it.

It was only about an hour later that I learned this very thing may have been taken off the table. At first I sighed [almost cried.] Just as I was starting to feel hopeful that I could make it happen…POOF!

Then I realized that I knew that. I had actually seen it. I was told it would happen. I was also told what to do next – wait. If it is meant to be it will be no matter what happens along the way. My original instructions were to wait until closer to my birthday and then approach the situation. I had just even said that today. Now is not the time, but soon. I had told The Putter I didn’t want to disrupt any energies or blessings for the other person that would be involved.

It would seem irrelevant now but then it isn’t my birthday yet either.

I never did get out on the road today for working. It was my plan to do the dinner shift but I just had nothing in me. The truth is, after The Putters I got dinner and coffee and came to the park. It then took me almost two hours of just sitting and staring at whatever I was streaming at the time before I could move enough to try to type. My body was just wiped.

So, it is time to turn in another day. I need to get up and go for a shower in the morning [especially after this morning.] Then I need to focus on working. I am behind in my projections and I need to try to catch up.

With each passing day this path becomes curioser and curioser.

I suppose I should take a moment to mention that Big ‘D’ and I had a rather lengthy conversation. That was part of what kept me from getting out on the road. I figured that was the first time we had really talked like that in…well…ever…so maybe I shouldn’t rush my way through it.

It was a nice enough dialogue that ended with a hug – one she initiated.

07/22/2022

I’ve been wanting to write for a day or two now. It’s just really hard to find the right time to sit and focus. [It’s not quite 0600 right now.

07/24/2022

And, just like that, it is Sunday. That’s how it goes in my life. On Thursday, I thought perhaps I would turn on my driving apps while I was writing. The early mornings are fairly slow. Such was not the case on Thursday morning. It started almost immediately and did not let up. I pushed onward to Friday which lead directly into Saturday. By Saturday, I was trying to round out my week and get ready for house sitting and my time with The Princesses.

Let’s see if I can get us caught up and still have something make sense by the end.

So, my week was really all about making money – excepting for the visit to the emergency room with Cuddlebug and my morning of weeding. I still don’t know what that was all about but I also still firmly believe it was precisely what I needed to do, and, though my body may disagree, I do not think it was the last time I will work there.

Monday, I go a call from Sunshine telling me that they were taking Cuddlebug to the emergency room. She was having serious pain in her abdomen region. Of course, we all thought appendix. From what I understand now, no one is really sure what it is or isn’t. In fact, tomorrow morning I have to take Cuddlebug to the follow-up appointment to her follow-up appointment.

Cuddlebug did tell me that the family doctor says if not the appendix the nodes around it and he just wants to cut it out. This is an issue we will deal with when the time comes. I’m not really a supporter of surgery, especially if it is unnecessary or worse unwarranted.

Anyway, I took time off that afternoon and I ended up not doing anything after the weeding on Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I drove my ass off and watched my finances closely. I had several Goals and it was important that I meet them the best I could.

I did.

My plan coming into this week of house sitting was to be able to take some days off. I’ve worked every day for just over a month and I wanted to take some serious downtime with The Princesses. To do this, I needed to first make sure that I had the budgeted funds set aside to cover our activities and such. Then, I needed to make sure I had my bills and expenses covered for the better part of this week. I’m not really sure how I managed either, let alone both.

It All Look Good on Paper and All is an Illusion.

My income was down. My expenses were off course. Yet [assuming my calculations were correct,] I managed to cover my bills for the week and all my gas and food expenditures. I managed to pull the money to cover my bills for the upcoming week. They are not much and they all happen at the beginning of the week. But, now, they are covered and worry free. I also pulled enough funds to cover two gas fill ups along the way. I even came out something like $16 over my needs. All of this and I still managed to pull aside the remaining funds for the Activities Budget.

So, not only can I come into this week feeling comfortable and relaxed, but I am also managing some extra time off. I was originally going to work last night. I didn’t have to and so I chose not to. I’m glad because The Princesses went away with my sister this afternoon. So, we shared that time last night.

It was good time, too. I picked them up and we hit the grocery store first. Then we came back and they settled in while I made a good dinner. After dinner we had some ice cream and TV time. But, we also had this long ass conversation. We talked all sorts of things – religious, political, the environment, social stigmas, Roe Vs. Wade. We were just all over the place.

Now, with most of these things my generally viewpoint is – no matter what side of a line of belief you may stand on, you are correct in what you think. [That does not mean the other side is incorrect.] However, as I tried repeatedly to demonstrate to my daughters last night, There is no Easy Solution.

It matters not what is the issue. Rarely is there a solution that is fair, just and works for all. So, though I may respect your viewpoint. Quite frankly, I do not care – unless you can show me a solution that is fair, just and works for all…and does not create greater problems down the line.

Anyway, afterwards, Sunshine thanked me for acknowledging and respecting her viewpoint instead of treating her like it didn’t matter because she “is a kid.”

We had a lot of fun and laughs along the way and I do so love when we spend time like that. Our fun is not over though. Nay, the adventures are just beginning. The week has many more twists and turns than we could have planned for but the integrity of our plans is still in tact.

Tonight we are just going to relax and hang out. I believe there was talk of a fire and s’mores.

Tomorrow I now have to take Cuddlebug to her appointment. Then we need to eventually pick up her boyfriend. We are all going to play mini golf and get some damn good ice cream. Then we are coming back, ordering Chinese food and after dinner we are going to The Drive-in for a double feature.

On Tuesday we are getting up and heading out early. We are dropping the boyfriend off at home and then heading off for a day trip to one of our favorite quaint towns.

Wednesday, Sunshine has Drum Line in the early afternoon. That was unexpected but we can work with it.

Thursday, they both have dentist appointments in the morning. I am going to drop them there with their mother since their brother has an appointment as well. I have then offered, if she wants to bring them to this new candy shop, to treat everyone some candy.

At that point they are off back to their lives. I’m not sure what I am going to do yet. I could work. Perhaps I even should considering the amount of money I need to make over the next few weeks. Or, I could take just one more night all to myself.

I am so interested in seeing how the week plays out financially. First, I have to repeat once more that I have never really been able to do any of this before – pulling money aside, getting bills covered slightly early, having ‘free’ money for vacation-y things. It is such a thrilling experience for me and it makes the fact that I am still living in my vehicle slightly easier to deal with and tolerate.

I tried to budget out this week the best I could. And now I have a budget to meet for the ‘50th Re-birthday Beach Get Away.’ When I budget I try to budget on the high end of realistic. I figure if I go too low then we are surprised and disappointed along the way. If I go too high then I am setting a Goal that I might not meet and that is also disappointing. So, I try to look at what it is we want to do and focus on covering it [And Then Some.]

For this week we are already slightly over the budget just in groceries. By slightly, I’m talking like $28. There were candles in there, so that’s almost half of the difference right there. However, we may make some of that up along the way.

I budgeted both the mini-golf and the ice cream fairly close, but I may be able to get 20% off the ice cream order. For dinner, I did figure on the higher end of realistic [all things considered,] but I have something like 20% a DoorDash Delivery through my CashApp. I should mention that my CashApp has become the Official Miscellaneous Spending account. I can pull the money aside so that it is not intermixing with money for bills and gas and such. Plus, I have a Debit Visa to use when we are out and about. Easy peasy and I get to monitor the budget at the same time.

So, not only might we spend less on dinner but there is the added bonus of a discount to boot. This leaves the Drive-In. I budgeted our admittance pretty exact. It was in the food department I tried to go a little higher. I mean we are going to eat before we go and I’m sure we will take some snacks and drinks of our own. But I wanted to be prepared for people to want things from the snack bar – like Funnel Cake. Mmmmm. We may still come in under budget there as well.

My biggest budgeted item is the day trip. I budgeted $200 for that. Now, we don’t really do much. I just wanted to make sure. There’s a French Bakery we go to immediately upon arriving in town. Then to Starbucks across the street for coffee-ish drinks. We may get the random drink or treat along the way, but our only heavy expense is lunch and we should have more than enough for that – even if we splurge a bit. Honestly, even after you figure in the obligatory road trip snacks we should come out a little bit ahead. This is good because now I have the candy extravaganza to take care of on Thursday.

I would like to come out of this week with some money left in the Fund but I do not really see it happening. Even if I do it won’t be a lot. I have a short period of time to pull aside a good deal of money.

The Beach Getaway is three weeks from right this moment. Three weeks from today we will be on the middle day. Between now and then I need to continue to cover my bills and food/gas expenses as well as get about $130 aside to cover another oil change and a cheap and quick changing of the brake pads. They were a bit low at inspection. I drive a lot and they have been getting fairly squeaky. So, I just want to make sure they are good to go through the trip. On top of all of that I need to pull aside an $800 Activities Budget.

This seems like so much…and it really is. There is at least one week it looks virtually impossible for me to make the budget because I need to make way too much each day. However, the weeks have been strange like that. I never seem to hit the budgeted numbers completely. There is always a little give and take in both the expenses and the income. Still, I have managed my goals all along the way.

All is an Illusion.

So, I’m hopeful.

Again, with the Beach Getaway, I tried to cover all my bases and factor in a larger cushion. I calculated the miles and estimated gas and then tolls and even some parking. I budgeted $400 for food for three days. I figured $50 per meal, 3 meals per day. Then I took a little off because we got a room with a kitchenette. Most of our eating will happen in house. At best, we may splurge on a nice Re-Birthday dinner. Beyond that I budgeted $200 for miscellaneous things, such as boardwalk activities. [The room is already paid for.]

We’re not really going for any of that. This is my trip and I merely decided to let them join me. I need to touch the beach and the ocean at least once a year and I have not yet this year. I need the recharge. Plus the last two years experiences were both so very intense and I have seen great shifts in the last year. Beyond that I simply need to walk along the boardwalk and soak in some of that energy. I am slowly becoming depleted and I could use that kind of a boost.

Our plan is to visit three different towns. One is a small town named Avalon. There’s really not much to it. Big ‘D’s family vacationed there for years. So we are going to check it out when we first get down there while we wait to check in. That night we will most likely visit the second town – Stone Harbor. It is a retail/restaurant town and is the neighboring town to Avalon. I’ve only been through it once a very long time ago.

Town three is Wildwood and that is mostly for the boardwalk. So on Day 2 we will hit the beach – somewhere – and then freshen up and head to Wildwood for some nighttime fun.

Day 3 is our day to come home. But, the plan is to take our time checking out and then hit Stone Harbor one more time [during the day] before heading home.

I’m probably repeating myself and I am giving you a lot of information because I do not know how writing will work for the next few weeks. As demonstrated, I try to get ahead of it all and somehow end up behind the ball. So, I am trying to cover all of my bases while I can.

Things are happening.

One thing I do know about the writing is that I need to make adjustments in the ‘Seasons.’ Ive been switching with the passing of each of my Holi-Days but that is just too frequent. I am going to narrow it down to the major ones – the ones on which the seasons change anyway.

So, the next Season of WTML will begin on August 7th, following the day of Lammas on August 1st. That season will run through October 31st, Samhain. Every 12 [ish] weeks.

I know that my Re-Birthday [and/or its weekend getaway] hold some importance. I do not know what. I only know that I cannot take certain actions [if available] until after that weekend.

I also know that August 26th is the last of the three markers I was given while still living at The Nest. Again, I do not know its significance. I only know it is.

Needless to say, I cannot ‘see’ beyond that point. I know my year continues and life goes on. I just don’t really know anything beyond that. I sense shifts and changes. I sense the possibility of different work focuses. I sense something more grounded and settled and appropriate. [In general, not just with work.]

I do not know what any of that means and all we can do is wait to find out.

I wanna talk a little bit about one of those random things that has come across the table. The one that seems to have been removed for the time being.

It’s an important thing. It is not necessarily new nor random. It has come around before in its own ways. This time around is slightly different. The timing is intriguing. The importance is heavy. To be able to attain it, achieve it, would completely shift my life. It would do so much good for the lives of The Princesses. I do believe it to be true and right, I just don’t know how to make it happen at this juncture.

Still, it would seem as though it is all very unimportant, seeing how it seems to have been taken off of the table again. The thing is…I knew that. It was shown to me. And that is what I want to talk about.

I remember being shown because I remember thinking, “Well if it is just going to go that way then why put energy into it in the first place?”

“Because we all need a little test of Faith, so…why not,” is the response I received.

If Not This Then Something Better.

This is a phrase I haven’t heard nor used since many, many years ago on my journey. It is a reminder that, yes, Ask & It Is Given, but we are not always given exactly what we ask for. However, what we are given is equal to or better than that for which we asked.

“You seem happy with this option but if we could offer you something better, would you still settle for it?”

I found this to be a rather odd question. I actually had to think on it quite a bit. I even discussed it with Cuddlebug. Our responses were fairly similar. I just don’t know. I mean, it would have to have some serious wow factor. It would really need to leave me impressed because both Cuddlebug and I feel this option is pretty damned perfect and it would be hard to top it in any way.

So, no matter how it may seem at the moment, that part of the story does not seem to be over. I know you would like to know more, Fellow Travelers. But, I cannot say more until it is concluded – one way or the other.

I think that is everything for now. There are still some miscellaneous pieces to the puzzle of my life floating around. I do not know where I stand with work at The Theatre at the moment. I may return to help from time to time but I do not foresee returning as regular as this past year. I still need to try to get some work in at The College. Though, honestly, I would be happier if I could just volunteer that time. Someone has asked me if I would assemble some bee boxes for him. I may need to return to The Weeds.

I do not know when nor how any of it comes into play.

Before I sign off and list the Totems I want to talk about two in particular.

First, is Deer. I mentioned in the previous post, I believe, that Deer has been a very potent Totem of late. I live in a region that has a strong Deer population so encountering them is not out of the ordinary. But, for me, it has been the when and the how or what. For instance, the deer I hit with The Lil Red Rocket. [Everyone was OK.] Or, the mother and fawn I caught grazing in separate flowerbeds of someone’s home. Or…the two that happened across the yard at Brother John’s yesterday. I have been here many times – day and night. Never have I even caught a glimpse of a deer until yesterday.

The other one is Wasp. I do not know if I have a write-up for that one but we did look it up quickly this morning. It had come to me and Cuddlebug as we sat outside having our early morning Chat of Enlightenment. It was just hanging out but had caught her attention. After a bit I decided there was a message to be had so I looked it up.

Similar to Deer it speaks of new adventures or beginnings. It is a call to take some action. We both found the timing of the visit to be very interesting.

If you’re not already there, go to the Welcome to my Life Facebook page – WTML. Or the YouTube channel – WelcomeToMyLife08. You can also find me on Facebook under Rev. Matt.

Wherever you are and whenever you are – Like, Comment, and Share – we’re on a Journey and it takes you to get there.

So, without hesitation, for now and for always, from here in Geistopia, this is your beloved Rev…

WALT: And Walt…

DOC: Unt Doc…

JOHNNY: Aaaaand Johnny…

And those guys, saying, “Stay Tuned-In, Fellow Travelers,” and wishing you Peace, Love, Light…

WALT: And Freakishness, Baby.

The Totems & Archetypes

**from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak**

Deer – Gentleness and Innocence – Gentle Luring to New Adventures

They have been able to adapt to every sort of habitat. Buddha is often pictured with a deer. Antlers are symbols of antennae, connections to higher forms of attunement. Look for new perceptions and degrees of perceptions to expand for as much as the next five years. Can indicate that there will be opportunities to stimulate gentle new growth increasingly over the next few years. Leads us back to the primal wisdom. A deer’s senses are very acute. Find increasing ability to detect subtle movements and appearances. Begin to hear what may not be said directly. Time to be gentle with yourself and others. A new innocence and freshness is about to be awakened or born. There is going to be a gentle, enticing lure of new adventures. Are you trying to force things? Are others? Are you being too critical and uncaring of yourself? An opportunity to express gentle love that will open new doors to adventure for you.

Dog – Faithfulness and Protection

Different dogs will mean different things. Examine the qualities of your breed and the individual dog. It takes a lot to break a dog’s spirit. It’s ability to love, even when abused, is tremendous. It’s spirit and willingness to love and to be a companion is great. What is this saying about your need for or lack of companionship? Are you being faithful? Are others around you? Are you showing unconditional love, or receiving it? Do you need to be more protective of your territory? Do you need to play a little more? Does your spirit need bolstering? How about those around you? Examine your territories. Dog knows its own home ground.

Dragonfly – The Power of Light

Inhabit two realms – water and air. The significance of these should be studied. There must be expressions of the emotional and the mental together. You may need some fresh air in regards to something emotional. You may need to gain new perspective or make a change. May even indicate that you are neglecting your emotions. Are you being too rational about everything? Are you not keeping the colors of emotion alive?

Chipmunk – (from whatismyspiritanimal.com)

Chipmunks don’t really have a lot of enemies mostly because they’re clever enough to avoid troublesome situations; this creature is very adaptable and will live nearly anywhere that suits them, including under your patio. Being picky isn’t really in Chipmunk’s character makeup.

Similar to Squirrels, Chipmunk always prepares for seasonal shifts in food supplies by stashing some neatly away. They are diligent about preparing for the future and have more than one entrance and exit to their favorite hiding spots. Young Chipmunks depend on their mother for about six weeks. Even then, the energy level for Chipmunk is pretty perky. As Chipmunks eat nuts and acorns, they also have an important role to play in spreading seeds and spores.

Norse myths tell us that either a Chipmunk or Squirrel runs up and down the World Tree delivering messages to and from the Gods (Odin in particular). The symbolism here combines with the Chipmunk’s habit of chattering as if there is always something new about which to talk. Saga, a Goddess of history and bardic arts, also has a Chipmunk companion.

An Irish Goddess by the name of Medb is said to have this little guy as a sacred animal. Medb oversees matters of health, prosperity, sexuality, and fertility; this last attribute is one that fits Chipmunk very well. Females can have up to three litters a year with five pups in each.

Chipmunk is prolific as a way of offsetting a rather short lifespan of only about three years. As we observe Chipmunk Spirit in nature, it becomes evident that they are very curious. There is little that goes undetected by our forest friend. They also seem fairly determined to do things in their own manner and time. When courting or feeling threatened, they may let out a little chirp that sounds bird-like.

For the most part, Chipmunk is not aggressive. The only time they really seem to fight among themselves if there’s the perception that food lacks. As long as edibles are in ample supply, they get along with each other very well. Greed is a term that seems to have been left out of Chipmunk’s vocabulary.

Chipmunk Spirit Animal comes into our lives for various reasons. One might have to do with the way you communicate. Chipmunk is a chatterbox, but as a Divine emissary, his words are chosen carefully. It may be time to assess how much of your discussions with others are filled with “fluff” rather than meaningful meat.

Another lesson from Chipmunk Spirit Animal deals with the element of surprise and an awareness of our environment. If you watch, Chipmunks seem to be able to appear as if from thin air, then duck away again into another realm. He knows his pathways intimately and rarely gets lost. It may be that Chipmunk advises laying low and not showing your hand too soon. He also reminds you to have sound exit strategies.

If your life has become rather dull, Chipmunk Medicine will definitely pick things up. Chipmunk is always ready for an adventure and loves exploring. When he is part of your life, it’s most definitely time to come out of your shell and find new ventures or discoveries; this need not be a huge thing. Sometimes the simple wonders are the most exciting! Chipmunk’s excitement is very contagious. And if you haven’t been very social lately, prepare for a BIG change.

Chipmunk also represents energy and activity. You will never get anywhere in life by just standing still. It’s time to get up and engage life fully. Use this season as an opportunity for changing things up so that your personal spaces are light-hearted and comfortable in every way possible. Living joyfully is one of Chipmunk’s core virtues as is playing and having fun.

When it comes to your resources, Chipmunk sometimes appears as a sign that you need to better prepare for a period ahead when finances become tight. Set up a rainy-day fund. Make sure it’s safe and secure so you can use it come proverbial bad weather.

Finally, if you are starting on a particular magical study, Chipmunk may have been attracted to you because of that emerging energy. Chipmunk is a Spirit of wish fulfillment and will power; this Guide can help you move toward greater knowledge in your arts.

Butterfly – Transmutation and The Dance of Joy

The process of metamorphosis should be studied closely. Make note of the most important issues confronting you at the moment. What stage of change are at in regards to them? You may have to examine and determine what you wish the outcome to be, and how best to accomplish it. Was a symbol of the soul. Was a symbol of conjugal bliss and joy. A symbol of change, joy, and color. There has long been an association in folklore between those of the Faerie Realm and butterflies. They remind us not to take things so seriously within our lives. They awaken a sense of lightness and joy. They remind us that life is a dance, and dance, though powerful, is also a great pleasure. Can be reminders to get up and move for if you can move you can dance. Look at how much or how little joy is within your life. Lighten up. Look for change. Don’t forget that all change is good. Reminds us to make changes when the opportunities present themselves. Transformation is inevitable. Growth and change does not have to be traumatic. It can occur as gently, as sweetly, and as joyfully as we wish.

Cardinal - Renewed Vitality through Recognizing Self-Importance

They remind us that, regardless of the time of day or year, we always have the opportunity to renew our own vitality and recognize our own life roles. Whistles are often reminders to listen closely - to pay attention to what is blowing on the winds. Reflects that we should be listening to the inner voice (the feminine) more closely for our own health and well-being. Almost always reflects a need to assert the feminine aspects of creativity and intuition more strongly. Can reflect a need to b more careful about your diet, that what you are eating may be injurious to yourself and affecting your overall vitality. Reflects the rhythm of 12 that is going to become more predominant within your own life. Reflects lessons associated with responsibility and the recognition of the task at hand. May reflect past-life connections with the church, or even a reviving of more traditional religious beliefs, regardless of denomination. Remind us to add color to our lives, and remember that everything is of importance.

Fox - Feminine Magic of Camouflage, Shapeshifting and Invisibility.

New world opening up. The process of creation is beginning. Guide to enter the Faerie Realm. Unless a male can recognize the magic of the feminine - in himself or others - and learn to use it to Shapeshifting his own life, it will ultimately lead to destruction. The Kundalini, and the freeing of the creative life force. Practicing and using camouflage. Working to blend in with surroundings, to come and go unnoticed, moving silently about without revealing your intentions. Learning to control the aura. Adjust its frequency and intensity so that you harmonize more with others. Levels of energy and fertility. If the focus stays on the creative energies, any sharp turn in the individual’s life will be handled with ease. Fox people have the ability to insulate themselves from anything that may seem cold, especially in relationships. Can appear larger than they are - for personal protection or for making greater impressions. Establish a trotting pace. Ability to move into new directions. Call upon new resources instinctively. Excellent ability to hear what is not being said. The ability to hear spirit. Size people up accurately. Develop the ability to see spirit. Aromatherapy. Awakening of the Kundalini. Higher forms of discrimination and discernment. Capture any prize.

Goose - The Call of the Quest and Travels to Legendary Places

A totem reflecting a stimulation of the childhood thrill and belief in stories and legendary places. These stories either reflected an imprint for this life or they may have even imprinted you with certain seed ideas. Also be a totem to aid you in communication especially through the use of stories. Individuals wishing to write - be it stories or anything - can facilitate this process by working with the goose as a totem. It will stimulate the imagination and help move you through creative blocks. Also a symbol of fertility and marital fidelity. It may reflect a need for more vegetables in the diet, and maybe even becoming a vegetarian for a while. It reflects an ability to move forward or backward. It reflects movement, and a call to the spiritual quest. Stirs our imagination and makes us want to seek out new worlds and dimensions. Calling us to follow them on the great spiritual quest. It speaks of the fulfilled promises that great quests bring. Epitomizes the mystery of migration. Reminds us that as any one individual mass his or her quest, it becomes easier for others to do so as well. Reminding us that we should not undertake any quest in life without having a full view of what it entails. In this way the journey is facilitated for others. Reflects an opening to new possibilities. New directions and new possibilities. Reflects an openness to new ideas. Usually indicates we are about to affix ourselves to a new path. Reflects great fertility that should be acted upon if growth is desired. Greater vision, physical and spiritual, will occur. Can reflect that you are about to break free of old childhood restraints and begin to come into your own. You can expect to have the imagination stirred towards new travels to distant places - whether in the body or mind.

Groundhog – Mystery of Death without Dying – Trance - Dreams

The ability to get deep within an area of interest. A time when a new area of study is going to open up. Two years to come to full fruition. Important to give definite signals to the boundaries you wish to have respected in your life. Death without Dying. A time of initiation. A symbol of opening fully to the Dreamtime. Increasing ability to develop lucid dreaming. Clarity and power of altered states will be amplified. Dreams will become more significant. Opportunity to explore deeper states of consciousness. Lessons associated with death and dying. Revelations about its process. Knowledge of metabolic control.

Rabbit - Fertility and New Life

Often seen as an animal that can lead one unknowingly into the Faerie realm. A symbol for sexuality and fertility. Usually, you will begin to see a cycle of 28 days beginning to manifest in your life. Those with rabbit totems will see movement occur in their life in varying degrees of hops and leaps. It won’t be steady step-by-step movement. The leaps and hops do not usually take more than the cycle of The Moon (28 days) to occur. Plan for possibilities. May indicate the need to do some more planning or review those you have already set in motion. You do not want to box yourself into a corner. Important not to foreshadow your moves. Learning to shift from freezing to great speeds will aid in your success and enables you to take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves for brief moments. May need to examine the kinds of food being consumed. For the greatest health and well-being, a vegetarian diet, even if only temporary, will strengthen and heal. How to recognize the tides of movement within your life. This in turn will enable you to become even more fertile in your life.

Ant - Industriousness, Order, and Discipline

Symbol of work and industry. Wisdom and intellect in their endeavors is often acclaimed. Social. Community activity. Gathering, hunting, growing. May find that the cycle of industriousness and building of goals may increase over a period of twelve years. Cycle of twelve - days, months, years - will be of significance. Teacher of how to build, how to be the architect of your own life. Show you how to construct our dreams into a reality. Greatest success occurs with persistence. Examine your own industriousness. Are you disciplining yourself enough to accomplish the tasks at hand? Are you or those around you looking for the quick and easy way? Are you neglecting important activities? Are you laying a good foundation? Are you adding new structures to your life with each passing year in some fashion - education, jobs, hobbies, etc? Are you being patient with your efforts? Are you being patient with yourself? With others? Are you making things greater and more difficult than they need to be? Are you missing the opportunity to initiate new creativity and endeavors? Can teach how to harness your own power to design and recreate your life. Can show you how best to work with others for the good of everyone. Regardless of circumstances, if the effort is true, the rewards will follow - in the most beneficial time and manner. The promise of success through effort.

Wasp