Animal Spirit Guides February 28, 2008
Posted by frootbat31 in animal, resource.Tags: animal, ego, guides, spirit
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An animal spirit guide is the spirit that guides and pokes you into the right direction in your life. From many cultures, you can find a number of beliefs that encompasses this very thing, where an animal is your protector and teacher, generally through vision quests and dreams. Some might argue that the animal spirit in question is an aspect of the human psyche. This makes sense if you consider how many people view the animal they choose.
People always want the ‘cool’ animals, such as wolves, bears, hawks, and panthers, but few find their guides in the form of lizards, snakes, or even insects. No one picks the naked mole rat, or the cockroach, but if we perceive that all living things have value, why wouldn’t these creatures be just as valuable as teachers as the ‘cool’ ones? I’ve also found that people can be incredibly biased about the animal of choice.
The tribal peoples accepted animals as teachers because animals often taught them the necessary skills in which to hunt and find shelter. Wolves work together in order to take down larger prey. They could watch how they formed their packs, and how they worked as one to attain their goal. For people too far from the natural world, the meaning and significance of animal guides is shaded by what we learn on nature shows.
People tend to also think the best of their animal, ignoring the attributes that might contrast to what they hope to infiltrate into their lives. Wolves do not murder, one woman told me. But wolves do kill their own kind; not often and not without reason, but they do. Owls will eat their own siblings in the nest. Cougars will kill their own young, as will bears. Even animals long thought as being monogamous are now discovered to be cheating on their mates.
But we need to let go of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. In the great Web of Life, all creatures are an equal part in the balance of life. Take for instance, the Vulture (a bird in the ‘birds of prey’ category that includes raptors). Most people grimace when thinking of this bird, and yet it flies with as much grace as the hawk or eagle. Many people don’t realize that hawks, eagles, and owls are as much carrion eaters as they are hunters. Vultures simply specialize. They are able to eat rotten meat that might otherwise kill another animal. They can actually eat anthrax, cholera, and Botulinum toxin.
We have to stop thinking as the vulture as some hideous disgusting bird that eats carrion when in fact the bird is essential to cleaning up the dead. In the Buddhist belief, the ’sky burial’ is when the dead is cut up and given to vultures. In ancient Egypt, the vulture was seen as a splendid mother due to the strong bonds they have with their young. The Egyptian hieroglyph for mother is the vulture.
Another bias is held against the Dung beetle. Gross, you might think, of this beetle that rolls dung balls and feeds this to their young, yet it is the Dung Beetle that is the sacred Scarab of ancient Egypt, rolling the sun across the sky. Without these important insects, we’d be up to our eyeballs in dung.
The lesson here is that even within our selves we need to accept all aspects of the Self, even the less desirable for it completes us and makes us human. We need to recognize and master the weaknesses and fears, in order to better understand ourselves. We need to throw away our egos in order to strip away the junk and see the truth within ourselves.
Letting go of ego February 24, 2008
Posted by frootbat31 in learning, resource, wicca.Tags: boast, ego
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Wicca and other pagan religions often teach more about ‘empowerment’ than ‘power’. One might consider the two closely related, but this is far from it. Its the idea that even if you had the Goddess/Divine touch you, or you developed untold gifts of prophecy, empowerment (not ego) allows you to feel strong without arrogance; strong willed without being stubborn.
And to do this begins with letting go of your ego.
The Ego, according to Freud, mediates between the ID (basic drives), that of the Super Ego (conscience), and that of the external world. The word derives from Latin, meaning “I myself”, or ergo, meaning “The I”. In modern terms, the ego represents self esteem or one’s self worth. In Buddhism, the ego is illusion which helps perpetuate all illusion. This is not to be confused with self pride. After all, ego has more to do with one’s perception of self, not how others see you. In others words; you don’t have to allow other’s opinion build or even deflate your ego. Ego also ties into comparing oneself to others, which is another falsehood of judging oneself.
What this entry is about, however, is letting go of the perceptions of self ego and that which holds us back from seeing ourselves as how we truly are, or how we see others. A witch learns to ‘know thyself’, and this is impossible if the ego gets in the way.
Some examples of ego can be compared to the food chain. Obviously a food chain shows what’s on top (which is good because who wants to end up being someone else’s dinner?), and someone inevitably must be on the bottom. (the ones getting eaten). But a food chain is an illusion. It only illustrates part of a food web. Even the top predators can fall prey to other creatures. Lions, for instance, considered to be ‘K=king of the jungle’ are often attacked and killed by Hyenas, as lions will also attack and kill hyena. Hyenas have numbers in their favor, while lions have sheer strength. Even with that, lions have been kicked, their jaws broken, by zebra, which ends up killing them. Even the lowly jackal now gets to feed on the king of the jungle. So there really is no one on ‘top’.
Humans like to think we are on top. We have the mastery of thumbs, after all, right? Fat lot of good that does if you’re thrown into the wilds of the Antarctic with nothing but the clothes on your back and facing down polar bears. Not so top-of-the-food-chain now, are ya?
Comparison becomes the main tool of establishing ego, but does making someone less or more make us less or more? Certainly not, but you can experience the illusion that somoene is better or worse than you are. This leads to unhappiness and even depression.
Take for example the typical belief that being more intelligent makes one better. I have above average intelligence, even having a coworker once admit he felt ’stupid’ when we chatted about things. “Why do you feel that?” I was aghast he felt this way, being I never once considered him stupid at all. “You know so much” He replied. “I don’t know about all that stuff.”.
First of all, he didn’t need to know all ‘that stuff’. I tend to love learning, reading, and exploring new things. Life is fascinating. Its a hobby of mine. However, I don’t have much in the way of common sense, especially in the sense of money matters. He had that, as well a marvelous sense of humor. He was a great story teller, while his timing of jokes make the long work shifts move right along.
I assured him in no way did I consider him stupid. He had, I also explained, natural curiosity which is a mark of intelligence.
But ever meet someone who is intelligent, but they make sure you knew about it too? Not so impressive then, is it? There are, after all, a number of different types of intelligence from people skills, to spatial, to book knowledge, and not one of them rates higher than the other.
Ego is then only an illusion of our self perception.
Letting go of this; letting go of comparing oneself to others, and all the conflict it brings, not only opens you up to a happier life, but also begins the process of touching with the Divine within. (or without…depending on your belief). Buddhists believe you must let go of ego to reach enlightenment. Shamans release ego (even temporarily) to travel between the worlds.
How to do this? The first step is accepting is that you are an individual, yet also part of a larger community of mankind. You’re a part of, but not defined by the community. This is your responsibility to define for yourself the person you are. Also accept that we are not perfect. Perfection goes against Nature for Nature is the balance between Order and Chaos, both of which are crucial for the world’s survival.
Remember also, that you’re letting go- not destroying. Even letting go of things like Anger doesn’t mean you can’t feel anger. Its there, but you learn to let it go. A Zen story goes where a student tells his master. “I have nothing in my mind now. What shall I do next?” The master replied, “Pick it up.”
You are also not destroying who you are as a person. The concept is that the ego is preventing you from truly seeing who you really are. Beneath the fears, anger, weakness, bravado, and other perceptions, the real you is there.
Here is an interesting article on letting go of ego, and of mediation.
A Zen Koan concerning ego and ‘emptying your cup’;
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!”
“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
