You guys!

The other day as I was jogging near the edge of a gravel road, I heard a rustle. Then it started to rattle! My foot was about 8 inches from a rattlesnake!

A couple of weeks earlier, on retreat, our guide, Melissa, found two little snake skins only inches apart.

Then on a group call, one women mentioned having seen rattlesnakes and another mentioned preparing to shed her former personas and grow into the wise woman within.

That did it! I finally started paying attention to the snake medicine all around me.

Animal Wisdom

Ancient folks believed animals that cross our paths might have messages for us. Modern folks, too. Whether or not you’re a believer, animal wisdom and medicine can be lots of fun.

When I notice beasties around me, I receive such good medicine. I like to think about the animal, insect, reptile, fishy, or even mythical creature, and what I know or observe about it. Then I imagine how those observations and behaviors might inform me.

For instance, foxes seem to be everywhere, too. Just last evening one was right outside our front door. I make it a habit to check on the fox kits at two nearby dens, as well. I know the fox to be playful, so fox medicine reminds me to bring a playful approach to my work, my health, my relationships. Instantly, I feel more present, playful, and energized. Isn’t this fun?

So, back to the snakes.

What do I know about snakes?

Welp, they shed their skins. This makes me think of transformation, just like my friend mentioned shedding her old self to grow into something new.  What limitations am I ready to shed now?

They eat their prey whole. What projects might be best “eaten whole,” rather than approached in small increments or tentatively? What opportunity, no matter how intimidating, should I commit to?

In the case of the fearsome rattler, they rattle a warning. To me, that speaks to strong boundaries, as well as a willingness to warn first, bite second. Where can I enforce better boundaries? Where can I trust my own power such that I don’t need to use it, but could warn instead?

What if you’re not sure what it means?

I recommend you consider the beastie and it’s message to you based on what you observe or know, first. Then, if you’d like to dig deeper, google the animal and learn more about it. How might that new knowledge apply to your life or an opportunity?

Then, if you’d like support interpreting it, look up animal totems and their meanings. There are lots of online resources, like whats-your-sign.com. And one of my friends, Sarah Bamford Seidelmann, recently published a delightful Book of Beasties: Your A-to-Z Guide to the Illuminating Wisdom of Spirit Animals. She talks not only about how to interpret animal messages, but also how to determine guests beasties from your core beastie and build an even stronger relationship to your animal wisdom.

Sarah’s chapter on snakes adds that snake medicine is all about healing, empowerment, sensuality, and reinvention. She includes these “Aligning Affirmations: Reinvent Yourself (Shed limitations, Upgrade. Grow.), Sexy is a Form of Intelligence (Your body knows. Serve. Sense. Enjoy), and Be Willing to Dance (It’s time now. Lift yourself into the air. Rise).” Isn’t that fun, in addition to what we’d already considered?

I talked about this a little bit more in the following #goodmedwed video and Sarah jumped in to the comments to support the conversation.

So tell me, dear reader, what kind of beasties have you encountered lately? What do you observe or know about them? What kind of animal wisdom can you receive from them?