Animals offer communication to other animals as we do when speaking.  If we pay attention the Animals will also give us messages.  This isn’t anything new.  Back in history in ancient Rome there were officials ( augur ), who were in charge with observe and interpreting natural omens.   They used this information for guidance in public affairs.  Nature speaks everyday, but are we listening ?

There are many resources out there for coming to understand the meanings behind Nature’s messages.  One I would recommend is a book called Animal Speak written by Ted Andrews.  If your seeking to learn how to interpret what animals are saying and to develop your own ability for augury,  he will explain how to lay a foundation for relating to Nature.   The book is a wonderful resource that gives you easy steps to follow and then offers a dictionary of animal totems for you to use as a resource.

However, there is one step that must be taken prior to Nature speaking to you.  You must make a conscious effort to align yourself with Nature.  There are several methods on accomplishing this.  One suggestion is to meditate outdoors.  Ask Nature to teach you how to communicate it’s language.  You can suggest that your first method of communicating willbe receiving messages from the animals.  Ted Andrews suggest ten steps to opening the doors to communication with Nature:

1.  Be out in Nature firsthand.  Take walks in the woods, go to the beach or park.  When walking pay close attention to the animal sounds you hear, animals that call to your attention.  Get to know the different trees as they are necessary for the animals to survive.

2. Understand your own environment.  Learn what plants, trees and animals are in your own neighborhood.  How do they survive.  If you live in the city, how does an animal get it’s water, food and where is their shelter.

3.  Orient yourself to your own specific landscape.  Who lives in your yard, what does the shape of your space say within nature.  Is there a form or pattern to the terrain, does it offer natural shelter and food for the animals to use as a resource for survival. 

4. Pay closer attention to the physical signs that are presented by Nature. The three most common signs read by ancient augurs were: appearances of birds and animals; the specific characteristics of the animals type of fur, feathers tor any specific physical fetish; and lastly their chatter,  calls they make to other animals.  Take notice of when they are noticeable to you and where were they at this time.

5. Take notice of what catches your attention.  Some days you may notice frances from the flowers, where on another day you may hear the calls of a crow.  Take notice of the sign, greet it and acknowledge the sign.  Then go do some research.

6. When you begin to notice Nature and are beginning to apply your experiences by understanding their meanings, pay close attention to the colors.  Is there a specific color that catches your attention more than others. What color is the animal that you see allot.  The colors of animals can provide insight into the qualities and energies manifesting within your life.  The color reflects the totem’s energies and how it applies for you.  For example, the crow refelcts mystery and the color can reflect the ability to bring light out of the dark.  Where a red fox reflects an awakening of the kundalini. With each color their is a positive quality and a negative.  Refer to page 50 in Animal Speak to the meanings of the colors.

8. In addition, to the physical characteristics you want to notice the numbers of the animals.  Perhaps today you saw a mocking bird three times.  The numbers can assist you in the best area(s) to apply your energies of your totem. Three is the number of creativity and new birth.  As you begin to develop Nature’s vocabulary (colors, numbers, animals, plants); the more Natue will speak to you. Perhaps you will leave your house today and you heard a birds song and later you will find yourself humming a particular rhythm.

In addition, you want to pay close attention to appearances of animals that you don’t see very often.  I recommend you keep a journal to see if there is a particular pattern that you notice.  For example, within a week you saw a fox.  The foxes movement may be demonstrating qualities that can be applied to your life at this time. One example is the number six. It may state that you need to focus more on service, family and your home that you may also be experiencing some jealousy and worry.

8. Directions. As you begin to develop a relationship with Nature you will want to focus on the direction where the sign is coming from. Each direction has a characteristic and energy for that particular direction.  There are guides out there to help you with this but you can also meditate and ask Nature to apply your own meanings to specific directions.

9. The nineth step deals with the activities or movement from the Nature’s sign.  Is the bird your noticing singing or is it still. With practice you can learn to see the relationships between animals and your own life.  To practice, take notice of your pets behaviors when your around.  When your pet wants to be alone where do they go, or when your pet wants to be social with you where will they sit and get your attention.

10. The last technique for developing the ability to speak with nature is what I described at the beginning.  You must make the conscious effort to align yourself with nature.  Put out into the Universe your desire to understand the signs from Mother Nature and take notice of what is being presented to you each day.

I continue to try and apply these steps as I communicate with nature.  It’s a work in progress and one in which I have to practice every day.  Please leave your comments on how Nature is making you take notice.

The Sacral Chakra is located right in the center of the womb area.  In this area we naturally are connected directly to our fertility, creativity and it’s a place where we store wounds.  Life-energy (Chi) is like a stream and it must keep moving.  Once it stops moving, your going to feel the affects whether it be in your energy level, pain in a particular place, lack of creativity, slow in responding to others….the list can go on and on.  When your life-energy is blocked then your unable to give to yourself and others.

Flowing in harmony with our own energy and with our surroundings requires a level of flexibility as well as the ability to change focus~to let go, when necessary, of things that are no longer useful or helpful to us.

There are several methods to help unblock the Sacral Chakra one method is to see a Reiki Practioner , Bellly Dancing is an ideal activity to balance the sacral energies and it will strengthen the abdominal muscles, Tai Chi and Chi Kung stimulate the flow of chi, another is to participate in Hatha Yoga.  Baddha Konasana is an exercise known as the Cobbler’s Pose.  It encourages energy flow in all levels of the Sacral Chakra.

Steps for this exercise: Sit on the floor, bending your knees and keep your back straight.  Turn the soles of your feet to face each other. Then place the fingers of both hands over your toes, allowing your knees to fall outwards. To the best of your ability draw your feet in towards your body.  Don’t try to force your knees nearer the flor. The more you relax your pelvis, the more the muscles will allow the knees to fall.  Stay in this position for a few moments before moving on to another activity to relax.

Happiness and enjoyment are important factors in maintaining that smooth feeling in our lives.  I believe everyone has an inner awareness to want to be in harmony with ourselves and the environment.  The Sacral Chakra maintains this flow of communication between body and mind through sensation and emotions.  Flowing in harmony with our own energy and the surroundings requires a level of flexibility and an ability to change focus , when necessary.  If your find that your having over sensitivity or emotinal dependency on another person, then you may try some of the above activities because most likely your Sacral Chakra is blocked and not balanced.

Herbs are considered food for the body. Herbs are valuable sources of natural medicine, vitamins and minerals which have a remarkable history, when used in the proper way.  Every plant on this earth has a purpose. Look around you, do your research. If you have an ailments then herbs may be another way to find answers.  The more research I do on herbs the better appreciation I have for our Great Spirits creations.Keep in mind that all drugs which are extracted from plants are not used in their natural states.  This is why we have so many side effects from prescribed medicines.  Every drug has a possible side effect and that is to include herbs.  Understanding what the herbs can contribute to your system is important and it takes time to understand. Please take the time to read about what you plan on putting into your system.

Herbs will be introduced but please don’t stop here, continue to learn and consult proper individuals who have qualifications on herbs. I’m just here to give suggestions/share what I’m learning. No one should follow blindly old tales when it comes to the use of plants in medicine. To fully understand your symptoms and possible cures I recommend you consult a Herbalists or Homepathic physician.Have fun and remember “science is discovering the wonderful properties of herbs, and their value to mankind. I believe the day will come when herbal remedies will be able to fill all the needs of mankind. 

I wrote this several years ago for a Forum I belong to www.HippyMom.com.  It reminds me on how long I have been using herbs.  It wasn’t until I was in my mid 20′s and I was trying to conceive that I  turned to herbs for help.  I went to the local “Herb Lady”.  She was a very gifted person who knew alternative methods of healing and I was desperate to understand why a healthy woman in her 20′s couldn’t conceive.  I had been trying to conceive for four years, even took the step of fertility testing and drugs and none of it worked.  A friend suggested I try an alternative route and took me to Joan Tinker.  She was a very dear woman who listened to my story and directed me to initially cleanse my body to eliminate  toxins .  I then proceeded to get  muscle tested  for herbs that my body was needing to heal.  After a year I became pregnant and couldn’t turn off the faucet. Today I am blessed with four very healthy boys and still actively using herbs for myself and my family.  It’s a choice I made and one I continue to make and will encourage others to consider.   

Just tonight my 11 year old son was asking me for some “tummy herbs” and we rubbed Lobelia on his stomach and added some  chewable papaya. 

There are many choices in the world for western medications and I’m not here to say they are wrong;  I’m just writing to say there are choices  out there and you should consider what nature has to offer….I did and I believe it gave me the solution to my infertility and now it gives me solutions to the runny noses  to migraine headaches.  If you find yourself in a situation where western medicine isn’t working,  I hope you will consider the other choice~herbs in addition to many other alternative methods of healing.  I use Natures Sunshine products and highly recommend them !!!!