Written by: Mindy Schrager, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
How often do you see an animal, a reptile, or another wonder of nature, and consider that it may have some wisdom to offer?
I recently had two unique experiences with nature, and each offered a clear reminder of resiliency and standing firm.
The first was a hawk perched on the top of a clock tower turning its head from side to side while two smaller birds kept pecking at it. Hawks always remind me to stay connected to my vision. The message I received was to stand firm – even when external influences attempt to knock me off my foundation. That hawk stayed firmly in its place even while it was “annoyed” by external factors.
The second was a gecko who decided to hide on my parked car. It scurried from the car cowl once I started driving, moving from the hood of the car to the window and back again. Running from the left side of the hood, then to the right, it held on tight. I was hoping it would jump off when I stopped at a light but it just held on. Once I started heading to the highway, I decided not to test its tenacity further and pulled into a parking lot where I used a stick to place it on the grass. Another reminder of the power of standing firm.
These two experiences had a common message – a pattern of tenacity and resilience. How do you take messages from the animal kingdom?
4 things to explore
1. Consider the metaphysical meaning
My awareness of birds increased when I saw a black vulture on the wall of a drive-thru ATM. I looked up the metaphysical meaning for black vultures and one was – take your time and think things through. It served as a great reminder to practice patience when I was feeling things were taking too long. Now I notice them all the time. When a bird or other animal crosses your path, take a moment to research the metaphysical meaning or look it up in a book about animal symbolism.
2. Look for a message
I still remember doing a family constellation where the person had several animals. We were looking at whether a particular situation was relevant and were using small felt footprints to represent it. Suddenly one of their cats grabbed a felt footprint and ran with it into another room, followed by another cat doing the same. Their behavior in the context of the constellation served as a message indicating the situation was not relevant. Consider stories you see in the news about animals alerting their owners to danger. Reflect on the different ways animals communicate and then contemplate if there is a message they are trying to convey.
3. Sense if there is a connection
I have heard many people share stories of how birds, butterflies, and dragonflies, among others, appeared after a loved one’s departure. Shortly after my dad passed away, I had a crow fly next to my side view mirror while driving on the highway. The day my mom’s house sold, I saw a bluebird for the first time and now sense her presence whenever one appears. While not everyone believes in this type of connection, for those who do, notice if you sense a connection when a particular animal appears in your world.
4. See if there is a pattern
What struck me about the recent hawk and gecko experiences were they both reflected a pattern – one of resilience, of holding on. When you see an animal cross your path, consider the circumstances and see if it mirrors a pattern you need to transform. Other examples I’ve seen are a cat being terrorized by another cat mirroring a pattern of bullying and nine black vultures appearing during an Aura-Soma consultation evoking the question – what are you picking at. Take time to reflect and see if there is a pattern being mirrored or highlighted by an animal’s behavior, then thank them for helping to uncover a pattern that needs to be understood or transformed.
Conclusion
Animals can point us in the direction of patterns that need transformation, acting as a mirror. Another way that patterns are mirrored is by looking at our shadows (what triggers us). I am offering another series of Meeting the Shadow starting in August 2023. More information can be found here, and if that timing doesn’t work, you can sign up for the waitlist to indicate your interest.
© 2023, Systems of Change, LLC
Mindy Schrager, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mindy Schrager is an ICF PCC credentialed coach, Systemic Facilitator, Aura-Soma practitioner and founder of Systems of Change, LLC. Mindy’s focus on and passion for transformational work is built on years of experience creating strong, well-balanced teams, combined with a powerful personal discovery journey. Her experience and training have been focused on creating positive change in life and business experiences working with individuals and groups. Mindy loves to shine a light on hidden patterns and the root cause of dysfunction and then help create new pathways to growth.
