Fall Equinox is almost here!!! Do you listen to the messages animals share with you?

Happy Magestic, Magickal, Miraculous, Mischievous, Magnificent Monday!!!  Whoot!  Whoot!  

Fall Equinox (Mabon) is almost here!  I am wiggly, piggly, jiggly excited like a labrador puppy as I love this time of year and most certainly this celebration and the energy that comes with it.  Yummers!   In case you didn’t know Equinox or Mabon falls on September 22nd (my birthday!) and is a powerful time of abundance and celebrating the bounty you have.  

The Autumn Equinox is the 2nd of only 2 days through the year when the Earth is in perfect balance.  On the Equinox, day and night are equal.  But in autumn, the sun is waning and the days are now shorter than the night.  

Mabon is often referred to as “Witches Thanksgiving ” (no, it doesn’t mean you have to be a witch).  It means it’s the third harvest festival on the wheel of the year, a time to give thanks for the bounty in your life, to release the things that you may have outgrown and to be grateful and count your blessings!  Yes?  Counting our Blessings is a powerful practice and something I do every morning on the beach or in the woods!

Not only do we count our blessings, it’s also important to take time to reflect on our triumphs from the year and acknowledge what we’ve worked hard to grow and harvest.  We need to remember to feel proud of our accomplishments.  However, in order for new growth to occur in the spring, things must die in the autumn. 

Many of you have emailed and asked if there is going to be a Mabon Magick Manual this year, HECK YES!  She is quite lovely and the perfect way to guide and support you into breathing in the essence of abundance, the change of season and awakening to all its meanings.  Thus, if you are part of our wonderful email community you will be getting first access to it on Thursday!  

Also, as Equinox is my birthday, I will have a gift for you (as I love giving pressies it makes my heart happy).

So I have a question – do you notice the animals that cross your path, or fly over your head or appear randomly?  Or is that just a me thing?  

I ask, as everyday when I’m out and about, either with doggo, friends or just myself I revel in the birds and animals that appear for me.  Whether it is the wee hummingbird who dashes up over my head, the fat raccoon who chatters to me from an oak tree, or the large toad that hops across my path as I’m hiking.  

And each of them comes with a message.  For example hummingbird is Joy, Raccoon is inventor and creative, Toad is the balance between emotion and being grounded. (Just saying).  And I jot them down, every day on my phone or day timer.  

And you know the bizarre thing?  When I am experiencing a “similar situation”, or stuck in an old pattern – I can flip back and see that that bird, animal, mammal appeared at that time.  (When I say you seriously can’t make this shit up, you can’t!)

Many people have asked me how to find their “spirit animal” or “spirit totem”.  I will be honest, that is a level of shamanic journeying I wouldn’t be comfortable facilitating for someone else.  However, I have happily taken people out into the wild, or walking on the beach and all sorts of gorgeous beasties show up.  Seals, Otters, Bears, Frogs, Herons, Eagles and a myriad of others.  

So let me invite you to notice who shows up for you during the day and just take a note of what was happening for you and how you were feeling.  

Thus, being quite “animal message” aware, I was thrilled when I was introduced to a group of new, glorious guides.  

This is the Spirit of the Animals Oracle.  So in case you may have never met them, let me introduce you.  “Animal Medicine, Animal Totems, and Animal Mascots have had cultural significance throughout our history.  Europeans adopted animals as tribal symbols that were later incorporated into crests for nations.  China has an animal associated with every birthday.  The Romans celebrated the eagle as the symbol for the empire.  Our ancestors observed the appearance of animals as omens and signs.  Shamans and mystics rely on spirit animal helpers.  Native Americans have vision quests to discover their personal animal totem.  School sports teams choose animal mascots.  It is no wonder that the interest in animals as emblems and how they relate to us still persists.  Animals as symbols live in our deepest memory.”

So with all the chuntering, let’s crack on.  As you allow your breathing to slow down a tad, and come back into your body.  I invite you to just BE and BREATHE, allowing everything else to just drop away for this moment.  Then when you are ready ask your wise inner self which card to pick, which animal has a special message for you this week?

Then when you are ready – pick.

Let’s go see who wants to share with you this week.  

Raccoon

Raccoon is nature’s problem solver.  They teach us that if one thing doesn’t work, try something else.  Their curiosity, dexterity and intelligence helps them discover new ways to live and survive.  Raccoons are able hunters and know how to provide.  They are dexterous with their “hands” and very tidy and clean.  

Raccoon’s are clever, useful, fastidious, creative and confident.  You always find your way 

to your goal.  You are playful and love the night.  You can enjoy getting into a little trouble.  

However, when Raccoon pops into your life you are being invited to look at the masks you wear.  Raccoon energy is at play within all artists, to greater or lesser degrees. At best, it indicates talent, tenacity, and skillfulness.  It’s shadow side points to an unresolved issue around self-image and success.  Sometimes using a stage name or wearing a “mask” works in your favour.  Other times, it limits creativity.  Who are you behind the masks you wear?  What if you’re ready to grow into something more.  

Raccoon energy won’t let us off the hook until this creative ego fear is resolved.  

Decide on what you really want.

You have the ingenuity to claim it.

Avoid being the trickster and practice integrity.

You have many roles and can juggle them well.  

Lion

Lion is a symbol for royalty, mastery and power.  It is also a strong female archetype and the master of the Fire element.  A Lion personality dedicates their life to personal and spiritual growth.  This dedication inspires some and intimidates others, therefore the Lion is respected by all but known intimately by few.  

Lion invites you to use stealth and patience when pursuing your dreams for success.  If you are a Lioness you are responsible, a great leader and provider.  However, Lion personalities do have to look out for self-absorption and vanity.  

Some mistake the Lion as hard to access or aloof, yet those with a keener eye know better.  Lions are observant, stealth, and precise in their words and actions.  They do not waste energy or resources.  Call upon Lion for confidence, vitality and the power to stand your ground with confidence.  And remember – self mastery is available to all, no matter where our quest begins.

You have within you all the courage you need.

Let go of the past and reclaim your majesty.

You will find success and contentment

With those by your side.

Make noble choices for your life and your tribe.  

Black Bear 

The Black Bear is the consummate mother.  She cares for her offspring with devotion.  Woe to the one who gets between a mother bear and her cubs, her honey or her ideals!  Huge power can roar in Bear and demands our respect.  Their calm, gentle demeanor with their young is juxtaposed by explosive, primal, warrior ferocity.  This is the dual nature of Black Bear.  

Bears hibernate in the winter and when they reappear in the spring they are renewed with energy and wisdom.  They are revered for being shamanic messengers from spirit and dreamtime.  Black Bear brings you fearless power, hidden strength and access to your dreams and intuition.  This dualism of yin and yang, within and without, calm and ferocious is the balance and confidence.  

Bear also represents an individual on the cusp of new directions and personal transformation.  The initial weeks and months of this spiritual quest may feel tricky, cumbersome, and full of obstacles.  But you have no choice.  Call on the confidence and let your transformation begin.

Gentle and wise protector,

Give me your confidence and power.

Help me to protect the ones I love.

Awaken my intuition and guide me.  

What glorious guides!  How did your guide resonate for you?  So delicious one, wishing you a week filled with seeing the animals that want to share with you (even if it is a mouse), and remember the Mabon Magickal Manual will be released on Thursday and I have a gift for you next week for my birthday!  Big hugs and squeezes.