#we saw 4 BEARS!!!! and a moose and a porcupine!! and coyotes and foxes and so many squirrels oh it was so epic

[1ovestay]

ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ☆

[whenerosmetpsyche]

Life Calling to Us

An astrologer I avidly follow and study closely is Ernst Wilhelm whose philosophy of astrology includes the practice of observing “life calling to us” by observing the symbols and energy around us. Astrocartography and local astrology move towards this idea, but Ernst has always claimed it to be much simpler. He sees astrology living with us on earth, in our environment, and our day-to-day lives. So while a solar return foretells the year, paying attention the day of your birthday can outline it just as well. Likewise, while a horary chart can answer a question, a read of the landscape at the right moment can too. One example Wilhelm gives seeing a hawk fly by as you ponder when you’ll hear back from a friend. The hawk is the messenger and you’ll have your answer soon. 

Per Wilhelm’s philosophy these events are entwined with you and your natal chart and your location on the planet. 

To me it sounded akin to the way I try to intuitively move through life by reading the currents of life, but the details felt like a reach. And although Ernst was able to operationalize the process of reading the world in a way that made sense to me, in practice, I remain doubtful of my daily interpretation of life’s events. But I’ve been trying. 

A Solar Return in a Day

This Aquarius season I have been attempting to read the world like Ernst. To start I took up his recommendation and purchased these cards, called Medicine Cards (created by Jamie Sams and David Carson) and I’ve been watching for animals. Coincidences. Events. So now the crow that routinely uses the gutter hanging over my corner bedroom window as a birdbath is no longer just a bird. It’s nice to know the house I lived in years ago was actually protected by the countless neighborhood raccoons that would greet my return, and not haunted by them. Or that the summer hummingbirds in my garden portend joy. Even the cobwebs are encouraging. And because my birthday passed by recently, I thought I would document the day to observe how closely it aligned with my solar return. Here is roughly what happened:

1) so very little sleep and late to everything 2) weird technical outages in public situations 3) waited in the wrong line at the DMV for nearly 45 minutes 4) almost failed my vision test due to a misunderstanding 5) rare successful shopping trip (I am super picky about clothes) 6) so many chatty people around me everywhere all the time 7) felt strangely chatty myself 8) one of the more lovely evenings in recent memory 9) an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love 10) some encouraging financial news

Based on this day it would seem the year will be stressful, frenetic, busy, not as planned, bureaucratic and delayed due to miscommunications. The second half looks social, encouraging and optimistic. 

In comparison my solar return looks like a lot of communication work (school crap) and a lot of behind the scenes work. Perhaps the clothes are all about finding the right fit with my research? Jupiter is in my solar return’s second house so maybe my income looks like it could increase this year. And I ate salmon for dinner which I hope symbolically means more inner wisdom to come? I’m crossing my fingers.

The Symbolism of Animals

Sadly I saw few living animals during the day, but I did use the Medicine cards to identify the animal totems that walk beside me so I’ll know their meaning when I see them in the future. For my left side of nurturing I pulled a butterfly (meaning transformation -- and Psyche!), and for my right side of fatherly protection I pulled a dog (loyalty), and horse (power). Above I linked to a blog which has posted the contents of the book so you can read about the animals that routinely come into your life and their meaning. And although I did not notice any butterflies, dogs, or horses on the big day, a friend of mine reported being attacked by a mountain lion on hers. The symbolism of the mountain lion is a call to leadership -- which I guess technically she had been fleeing much like the lion that chased her down the hill. And I did run into a horse in the city during my jog a few weeks ago while feeling particularly empowered. I remain unconvinced for the most part, but it has been fun looking at the world with this lens for a bit. And I’m still wondering what the stink bug invasion of my house indicates. My partner informs me we just need better insulation.

Here is a breakdown of animal meanings from Sams & Carson’s Medicine Cards.

EAGLE - Spirit

HAWK - Messenger

ELK - Stamina

DEER - Gentleness

BEAR- Introspection

SNAKE - Transmutation

SKUNK - Reputation

OTTER - Woman Medicine

BUTTERFLY - Transformation

TURTLE - Mother Earth / Nature Energy

MOOSE - Self-Esteem

WILD BOAR - Confrontation

SALMON - Wisdom & Inner Knowing

PORCUPINE - Innocence

COYOTE - Trickster

DOG - Loyalty

WOLF - Teacher

RAVEN - Magic

MOUNTAIN LION - Leadership

LYNX - Secrets

BUFFALO - Prayer & Abundance

MOUSE - Scrutiny

OWL - Deception

BEAVER - Builder

OPOSSUM - Diversion

CROW - Law

FOX - Camouflage

SQUIRREL - Gathering

DRAGONFLY - Illusion

ARMADILLO - Boundaries

BADGER - Aggressiveness

RABBIT - Fear

TURKEY - Give-Away

ANT - Patience

WEASEL - Stealth

GROUSE - Sacred Spiral

HORSE - Power

LIZARD - Dreaming

ANTELOPE - Action

FROG - Cleansing

SWAN - Grace

DOLPHIN - Manna

WHALE - Record Keeper

BAT - Rebirth

SPIDER - Weaving

HUMMINGBIRD - Joy

BLUE HERON - Self Reflection

RACCOON - Generous Protection

PRAIRIE DOG - Retreat

ALLIGATOR - Integration

JAGUAR - Integrity & Impeccability

BLACK PANTHER - Embracing the Unknown

[our-wandering-casa]

Wildlife Abounds

As we followed our trek along with our “Milepost” there was often notations cautioning to watch for moose, elk, bear etc...

True to these cautions we saw wildlife of all types, shapes and sizes. Not always being quick with the camera we did not get pictures of many but I did keep a list:

Red Fox - 2

Coyote

Porcupine. - 2

Black Bear - 4

Grizzly Bear

Mule Deer - many

Elk - many

Caribou - 4

Bison - many

Sandhill Cranes - 2

Ravens - many

Eagles- many & different sort

Trumpeter Swan

Here are some pictures of a few we did manage to catch or the animal was gracious enough to stay around long enough.