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updated: 2/2/16
A
human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe," a
part limited in time and space. He experiences himself,
his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the
rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to
our personal desires and to affection for a few persons
nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from
this prison by widening our circle ofcompassionto
embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its
beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but
the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the
liberation and a foundation for inner security.
Albert
Einstein (1879
- 1955) Mathematical
Circles
Love
alone can unite living beings so as to complete and fulfill
them... for it alone joins them by what is deepest in
themselves. All we need is to imagine our ability tolovedeveloping
until it embraces the totality of men and the earth."
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
"Humans were as much a part of the natural world as the natural world was a part of them."(254)
This quote reminds us that all things come from nature, including humankind. Human evolved from a more primitive state and although we have become technologically savvy, we still all came/come from the earth and what the earth supplies to us
.
I choose this picture because it depicts the evolution of mankind from their ape ancestors, but it also shows the evolution in a piece of nature that was essential to our ancestors for survival then, and our survival in the present as shelter and a fuel for warmth...."Tori
You can use selection process you like but the emphasis should be on the animal choosing you rather than vice versa. Then you can then draw on your memories and/or
the scientific observations of others (worth extra points) to establish the traits of the
animal that interest you.
Here are three contemporary
guided meditations that may help you find a power animal in the Native
American tradition.
EMMA: "If you find yourself encountering fear and resistance, think about your favorite pet, and imagine taking it along with you in the exercise. This will calm you, and its energy is always loving and protective to you on the inner realms." 261
CAROLINE on shadow totems: "That which we fear the most is often something we must learn to come to terms with. When we do that, is then becomes a power. Some shamans believe that fears will take the shape of animals, and only when we confront them without fear do their powers/medicine work for us instead of against us. Such an animal becomes a shadow totem," (258).
This quote stuck with me because talking of a spirit animal in this sense is so relatable to the obstacles we come across in life. Many of the most popular and widespread fears in our society are fears that we must learn to overcome in order to learn from our experiences and improve as a member society. Such fears often include feats such as public speaking, taking risks, learning how to do something alone, going new places or trying new things. Even the fear of failure. Only by confronting these fears are we finally able to use them to our advantage, instead of being held against us.
I thought that this image was the perfect representation of the quote and my interpretation of it. In this painting depicted of the classic fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood, you see a small, hooded Little Red Riding Hood face to face with a terrifying wolf in an ominous setting. The quote placed on top of it seems fitting to the topic at hand. As with all fairy tales, the flawed characters must face and overcome some villain - often a mythical creature or animal who is a physical manifestation of their fears or shortcomings - in order to achieve their end goal, learn an important lesson, and develop into a worthy member of society. Little Red Riding Hood is one of these infamous characters who learns an important lesson and becomes all the more wiser after facing the wolf she so feared. Perhaps the wolf was her then spirit animal, placed in her life at that particular point in time in order to teach her a lesson that she needed to learn.
LUYOU: "What animal most frightens you? ... Some shamans believe that fears will take the shape of animals, and only when we confront them without fear do their powers/medicine work for us instead of against us. Such an animal becomes a shadow totem." (258)
"I am glad that this was included. I had questioned on whether this sort of thing would appear in the text. I was once attacked by a pair of pitbulls and was afraid of them growing up. Now, I understand that it was the owner, and not the dogs, that made them behave in this way. I have met a lot of other pits since and they've always been friendly and affectionate. Though I didn't call it this, I overcame my fear of pits and have grown to love them, and plan on fostering them when I get to grad school (pits are some of the most euthanize of all domestic dogs due to people being afraid of them).
"
CONNECT,
HAMMER INTO UNITY:Your
Head and Your Heart
“Stress Recess” Stressed by papers? Tests?
Relationship issues? For these and other
stressors, take a few minutes to check out a
new interactive website called “Stress Recess”
at http://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess,
a component of the UT Counseling and Mental
Health Center. This site is loaded with
videos, animation, video games, body scans,
quizzes, clickable charts and graphics and
practical information tailored to YOU. Learn
what causes stress, signs of stress and—most
importantly---what you can do to manage stress
in healthy ways!
