“MY” Place at the Table

Imagine a place in your life where you sat at a large table with lots of other people.  It may be the family dinner table or maybe the conference room table at work.  Most of us will choose a position at the table where we feel comfortable, a place where we return to each and every time we sit at this table.  Silly as it is, we sometimes become territorial and protective because it is “our” seat.  Have you experienced a time where someone else sat in “your” place and you had to sit somewhere else?  Were you surprised at how different the table, those who sat around you, or even the room looked?  Did this new perspective change your inner perception?  Learning the medicine teachings from wheels assist us in changing “our seat,” our perspective, our way of thinking, and opens up different points of view.

Wheels or circles have been used since the ancient times as tools for teaching the ways of the Universe. Nothing is seen as linear for the idea of a linear existence is considered to be an illusion. There is no “beginning” or “end.” There is simply a change of reference points. Birth into physical existence is not the beginning of life (for spirit is eternally alive), but it is a different perception point through which spirit experiences its aliveness. It is simply movement in the wheel of life.

Learning of the Universe through wheels offers a way to perceive how one form of life is completely interconnected with all other life: flowing, changing and reaching out to touch all forms of all things with beauty. All the wheels of the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path spin and interconnect with one another in this way.

Wheels, Keys, Knowledge, Enlightenment

When we refer to circular logic, it often means chasing our tails or thinking and talking crazy.  We strive to connect thoughts in a line: first A, then B, which leads to C, D, E, and so on.  Logical, right?  Most of the time, we don’t actual think or process information in this lineal fashion.  One thought leads to a memory, while another takes us into the future, which then circles back to experiences, smells, relationship, and connections.

Circles are used in the Sweet Medicine SunDance path to take snapshots of knowledge in time and space to help us learn and evolve.  The knowledge is actually recorded and encoded on Wheels, which are multi-layered, comprehensive, and moves and deepens as we build our relationship to the knowledge. They are cognitive maps, tools that enhance understanding.

When we apply the Wheels and Keys in our own personal growth and change work, they are like weapons to conquer the enemy within. Some Wheels and Keys are like road maps explaining how to best maneuver through your everyday reality.  Some Wheels and Keys are blueprints outlining the greater picture of our spiritual reality.  Knowledge contained within the Wheels are Keys to enlightenment.

You are about to embark on a journey into the world of Wheels and Keys. If you are a linear thinker, you will need to adjust your thinking process and engage in the creative venture of circular thinking.

You will be exposed to new languaging and concepts. Familiar words will take on new meanings. New words are created to illuminate assumptions and mysteries. Some of the ancient magickal words when translated into English would take a sentence or paragraph to describe. They are written as they sound and spelled to contain the original magick within their letters.

The concept of the LAW OF ALL ENERGY IN MOVEMENT will challenge you. Do not try to figure it out! Let it be a Key that spins your mind into new places and new ways of understanding.

You are invited to study and learn these Wheels and Keys, work with them and apply them in as many contexts as you can until they begin to dance with you. These Wheels and Keys are alive and will breathe through you, awakening your memory of what it is to walk on this Earth in balance and harmony.

Invite the Wheel to teach you.

Use the key to unlock the door.

Be courageous and walk through the door into unexplored territory!

Make the unknown Known!

 

Knowledge that Works

For many ancient peoples, hair symbolizes knowledge. “Twisted Hairs” refers to those who take knowledge from all sources and weave it together to formulate what is true and valid for themselves. True knowledge is self-knowledge, tested, felt and integrated into a way of life that always leads to a change in one’s behavior and an effectual change in one’s substance health.

This knowledge is not linear, but rather circular in nature and aligned with the very structure of creation. It is knowledge that has been tested to ensure that it works regardless of person, place, culture or historical time.

Do not believe a word you read.

Rather apply these teachings in your own life

and test to see if it is knowledge that works —

knowledge that brings you pleasure and beauty!

Great Vision Quest of Life

Have you heard the call?

Are you seeking some way to become self-reliant and self-actualized?

Yes?!

You have embarked on the Great Vision Quest of Life. The teachings of the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path are presented to assist you in becoming a Rainbow Warrior. They teach you how to align with Nature and how not to be at the effect of anyone, anything, anywhere, at any time and in any way. They are an invitation to learn how to be at cause in the center of your own circle, awake, aware and alert to all that is around you. In this way, you will be able to make decisions that count. From this place, you will be able to choose how to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem we have created on this planet.

Snow Goose Totem Wheel

 

Within Sun Bear’s Earth Astrology, each of us are born with a birth sitting place animal totem.  This is just one animal from a wheel of eight animal totems that guide and teach us throughout our lives.

The birth sitting place animal totem sits in the south of this wheel and teaches us how to be in balance and write a life story of power.  Each of the twelve totem animals do this differently.  Snow Goose are bringers and keepers of the earthly, personal and tonal dream.  They bring clarity to our awake dreaming.  They also keep the mirrors and masks of both our selves and our Book of Life.  With this connection to our dreaming and our Book of Life, Snow Goose translates the screenplay (story) we wrote in our Book or Life.

The complement totem animal of the Snow Goose is the Flicker, who sits in the North of the wheel.  All compliment totem animals provide an opposite reflection and helps you coordinate how to actualize your intent.  The Flicker, who is the compliment of Snow Goose, does this by awakening our unconscious knowledge. This teacher of self-concepts knows the healing medicine of all bundles, connections to the world of ancestors and the little people, and alignment with ecological balance (especially via the insects).  Flicker is also known as the Creator of beauty or Little Artisan.

The Clan animal identifies which animal clan you belong to and guides you to see your greatest weakness as a strength and your greatest strength as a weakness. Its focus is your physical mastery and sits in the West of your wheel.  For the Snow Goose, their Clan animal is the Turtle, who is the keeper of the teachings of shields and carrier of teachings of humanity.  The turtle teaches the sacredness of the Earth Lodge (including our bodies) and is the protector of the lodges of women, keeping both our home and womb sacred. The turtle also brings alignment with the mineral world, especially that of the crystals.  The astrology signs that have Turtle as their Clan Animal are Snow Goose (Sagittarius), Beaver (Taurus), and Brown Bear (Virgo).

And in the east, sits the Spirit Guide who guides your spiritual self-growth and development. The Buffalo, Keeper of wisdom and logic, guides this development for the Snow Goose through its ability to teaches pure science and natural law. It is the great provider, the give-away to the people.  S/he teaches survival, alignment, harmonic resonance, wisdom, and balance.  They are the protectors of Earth Mother, the spiritual energy of the plant world (i.e., water, earth and plants). The astrology signs that have Buffalo as a Spirit Keeper are Snow Goose (Capricorn), Otter (Aquarius), and Cougar (Pisces).

These four animal totems, sitting in the cardinal direction of this wheel, stabilize the energy.  The next four totem animals, who sit in the non-cardinal directions, move the energy.

The Southeast animal provides insight into your self-concepts and how you see the world while reflecting a proper attitude and approach to life.  Within the Snow Goose’s wheel, it is the Snake who provides this through their knowledge of the nagual (spiritual) enemies of fear and death, as well as the secrets of spiritual sexuality, of Quodoushka. Snakes are the protectors of all the teacher plants and the healing herbs and the teacher of the Twenty Count. They communicate telepathically with other animals and are very sensitive to energy.  With their close connection to the Earth, Snake has the ability to warn us when you are out of alignment with the plant and mineral world. They are also Keeper of alignment with Grandfather Sun as s/he sheds its skin yearly.

If you are looking for guidance about the symbols within your dream, look to the animal who sits in the Southwest of your wheel.  In the case of the Snow Goose, Cougar does this brilliantly.  Cougar teaches how to have balance in movement and change, how to awaken the aura, increase orende (life force energy), and make death an ally. They help us keep our balance and harmony, as well as, design and bring in what’s needed on our Path with Heart, our spiritual path.  A supreme survivalist, Cougar teaches us to stabilize and learn how to do any physical act without injury.

The Northwest totem animal helps us know Sacred Law and our own Sacred Image (our true nature or authentic self).  This animal helps us to discern the patterns that are working and are good to keep and the timing to change the patterns that no longer work.  The Brown Bear, keeper and teacher of the everyday, tonal or personal dream assists us in balancing the moving parts of our day to day (tonal) world.  Brown Bear also help with introspection and teaches you to step into the silence of your inner stillness, where most answers can be found.

And, the final totem animal, sitting in the Northeast, teaches you how to relax and focus while assisting you to design and choreograph your life.  The Beaver, who is comfortable on land (physical) and in water (emotional), helps us to know who we are (self-concepts) as a feeling, physical body.  Beaver is the protector and teacher of all watches or circles, keeper of the purification lodge, and the teacher of the medicine of women.  The Beaver can also awaken the power of women’s spiritual sexuality (their Quodoushka potential).

If you are born under the sign of the Snow Goose or know a Snow Goose, take a moment and add your knowledge of how each of these animals guide you or the one you know.

For your Snow Goose viewing pleasure, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppO_t8KGYDI

 

 

Elk People

Happy birthday to those of you who were born under the Earth Astrology sign of Elk (Sagittarius sun sign).  Within Sun Bear’s Earth Astrology, each of us are born with a birth sitting place animal totem.  This is just one animal from a wheel of eight animal totems that guide and teach us throughout our lives.

The birth sitting place animal totem sits in the south of this wheel and teaches us how to be in balance and write a life story of power.  Each of the twelve totem animals do this differently.  Elk are guardians of the gateways into the unknown (the nagual or spirit world), and as such, their ‘medicine’ awakens the unconscious and helps to bring us from fantasy into the light of knowledge.  Elk teach us to hear the lightning and see the thunder.  Also known as a master of rules and laws, Elk guide us to resolve our karma circles.

The compliment totem animal of the Elk is the Deer, who sits in the North of the wheel.  All compliment totem animals provide an opposite reflection and helps you coordinate how to actualize your intent.  The Deer, who is the compliment of Elk, does this by teaching us magick, magickal law and alchemy.  Deer also teach natural law and the power of swiftness.  The more we are aligned with nature , the worlds, the elements, and powers, the easier it is for us to accomplish magick in our lives and become awake as we walk towards enlightenment.

The Clan animal identifies which animal clan you belong to and guides you to see your greatest weakness as a strength and your greatest strength as a weakness. Its focus is your physical mastery and sits in the West of your wheel.  For the Elk, their Clan animal is the Thunderbird, who is the bringer of thunder, lightning and rain, the awakener of the voice of our Hokkshideh (higher self), and keeper of memory. The Thunderbird is the over-soul of all winged ones and thus is able to communicate with all the winged ones. It teaches mastery of elemental alchemy.  The astrology signs that have Thunderbird as their Clan Animal are Elk (Sagittarius), Red Hawk (Aries), and Sturgeon (Leo).

And in the east sits the Spirit Guide who guides your spiritual self-growth and development. The Grizzly Bear guides this development for the Elk through its ability to teach us to know ourselves through introspection of the dream and teaches us to sleep dream and actualize our reality.  A great dream interpreter, the Grizzly Bear teaches us how to survive turmoil and trauma, how to protect our home, loved ones and possessions. S/he teaches us to stand and walk tall, how not to give power away to tyrants, and how to pace our physical body.  The astrology signs that have Grizzly Bear as a Spirit Keeper are Raven (Libra), Snake (Scorpio), and Elk, (Sagittarius).

These four animal totems, sitting in the cardinal direction of this wheel, stabilize the energy.  The next four totem animals, who sit in the non-cardinal directions, move the energy.

The Southeast animal provides insight into your self-concepts and how you see the world while reflecting a proper attitude and approach to life.  Within the Elk’s wheel, it is the Raven who provides this through their knowledge of Sacred, Magickal, and Natural Law.  Ravens are incredibly clever, work through problems to find solution, and are always on the lookout for the shiny bits.  They also have the ability to eat many things that other animals would not go near and transform it into nutrients.

If you are looking for guidance about the symbols within your dream, look to the animal who sits in the Southwest of your wheel.  In the case of the Elk, Red Hawk does this brilliantly.  Red Hawk is the communicator and interpreter of language that helps us to hear the inner dialogue between our higher and lower selves.  Red Hawk also teaches us to see our own circle (that is, our patterns) both from nearby and far away, giving us a different perspective on what is reality.

The Northwest totem animal helps us know Sacred Law and our own Sacred Image (our true nature or authentic self).  This animal helps us to discern the patterns that are working and are good to keep and the timing to change the patterns that no longer work.  The Sturgeon, the oldest of all living clean water fish, known as the Keeper of Old Age, guides us to cleanse the depths of our emotional waters.  It is only through being able to see the patterns through clear, clean waters that we can acknowledge what patterns are working and what patterns need to die.

And, the final totem animal, sitting in the Northeast, teaches you how to relax and focus while assisting you to design and choreograph your life.  The wonderfully playful otter accomplishes this by teaching us how to play in our child shield and give with our heart.  The Otter also cleanses and purifies the sacred waters, that is, all emotional states of humans.

If you are born under the sign of the Elk or know an Elk or two, take a moment and add your knowledge of how each of these animals guide you or the one you know.

For your listening pleasure, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSpGd9p17n0

 

 

Eagle Parents – Live Cam

Very few of us are present to the birth of baby eagles…

With patience and tree-mounted cameras, we have the opportunity to potentially witness this process!

Happy Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for all of the teachers that have made and make it possible for us to find our own internal authority and the courage to make a difference in this life dream dance.

Many blessings to you and yours today and every day.

From our hearts, wado!

Compliment to Your Birth Totem Animal

As we build the Sitting Place Wheel of Allies of each earth astrology sign, we now know that your birth totem animal sits in the south of your wheel, your clan animal sits in the west, and your spirit keeper totem sits in the east.  The North animal on your wheel is the COMPLEMENT TO YOUR BIRTH animal.  As you look across the wheel of birth totem animals, you receive an opposite reflection of who you were born to be.  This opens us up to multiple viewing points and assists us in evolving.

   

If you are a Snake (Scorpio), your Opposite Reflection Totem Animal is the Beaver, and vice versa.

 

Elk – Deer

 

Snow Goose – Flicker

 

Otter – Sturgeon

 

Cougar – Brown Bear

 

Red Hawk – Raven

If you would like to learn more about Earth Astrology, visit the DTMMS bookstore or the Sweet Medicine Shoppe.

Birth Sitting Place Totem Animals

According to the teachings in the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path, each of the animal totems have their own give-away, particular gift or teaching, which is called its medicine. The following brief descriptions will assist you as you learn to establish your own relationship with your animal totems.

According to SunBear’s Earth Astrology, your BIRTH TOTEM sits in the South of your Wheel of Allies.

Snake – West Totem
The Snake, especially the rattlesnake, is the teacher of the nagual enemies of fear and death, the snake holds the secrets of spiritual sexuality, of Quodoushka. Protector of all the teacher plants and the healing herbs. Teacher of the Twenty Count (along with the raven and crow) in that the sigils of the Twenty Count and the four Worlds are carried on its back. Communicates telepathically with other animals. Protector of women’s lodges. Warns when you are out of alignment with the plant and mineral world. Keeper of alignment with Grandfather Sun as it sheds its skin yearly.

Elk – West-Northwest Totem
Master teacher and healer, the Elk is also the awakener of the unconscious. This keeper of thunder and lightning teaches us to “hear the lightning and see the thunder”. Helps bring us from fantasy into the light of knowledge. Master of rules and laws; teaches us to resolve our karma circles. Guardian of the gateway into the unknown (the nagual or spirit world). Master of physical sexuality and orgasm.

Snow Goose – North-Northwest Totem
Snow Goose is the bringer and keeper of the earthly, personal and tonal dream. Keeper of mirrors and the masks of self, our Book of Life. Translates the screenplay as we wrote it in our Book. Brings clarity to our awake dreaming.

Otter – North Totem
The Otter carries the ability to cleanse and purify the sacred waters, that is, all emotional states, blood, and lymphatic systems of humans. Teaches us how to play in our child shield and give with our heart; protects men as they learn to deal with the energy of women’s moon cycles.

Cougar – North-Northeast Totem
The Cougar, which includes all big cats like the puma, panther, mountain lion, is the keeper of balance and harmony on one’s Path with Heart. Teaches how to have balance in movement and change; how to awaken the aura, increase orende and make death an ally. Helps to design and bring in what’s needed for our Path with Heart. Balancer and healer of muscles, bones, joints. A supreme survivalist, it teaches us to stabilize and learn how to do any physical act without injury. Keeper of choreography.

Red Hawk – East-Northeast Totem
The keeper of relaxation and focus is the Red Hawk. Messenger of the tonal world and its organization as exemplified by how it builds its nest. Teaches flexibility within structure and form and is called the Architect of Spirit. Communicator and interpreter of language, it helps us to hear the inner dialogue between our higher and lower selves. Sees its own circle (that is, its pattern) both from nearby and far away.

Beaver – East Totem
The Beaver is the keeper of the sweat lodge; protector and teacher of all watches or circles; carrier of the rainbow and our concepts of self and life; teacher of the medicine of women. The beaver awakens in some women the power of their spiritual sexuality (their Quodoushka potential); healer of all physical health problems in women.

Deer – East-Southeast Totem
Keeper of magick, magickal law and alchemy., the Deer is the teacher of natural law and of swiftness. The mule deer is the image maze dancer as it knows how to enter our maze, where we are wandering around lost in our patterns; knows the earth and can identify danger as far ahead of time as twenty-four hours. The white-tail deer is the keeper of softness and the teacher of beauty, soft power and respect for feminine power (gentleness = strength).

Flicker – South-Southeast Totem
Similar to the woodpecker, the Flicker is the little awakener of unconscious knowledge, the creator of beauty, and the Little Artisan. This teacher of self-concepts knows healing medicine of all bundles, connections to the world of ancestors and the little people and alignment with ecological balance (especially via the insects).

Sturgeon – South Totem
The Sturgeon is the oldest of all living clean water fish and is thus known as the Keeper of Old Age. Teacher of longevity who dances with memories of the Water.  Cleans the depths of emotions.

Brown Bear – South-Southwest Totem
Because the Brown Bear usually has its tonal world in balance, it is the keeper and teacher of the everyday, tonal or personal dream.  Like the grizzly, it can help with introspection and teach you to step into the silence of your inner stillness.

Raven – West-Southwest Totem
The Raven is the keeper of magickal law and teacher of natural law. It dances with civil and social law in such a way as to teach us to see its foolishness. The raven cannot be deceived by religious law. The raven and crow both know the secrets of the Twenty Count, the power of light and our communication with nature. They are the messengers for sorcerers and shamans. They know Sacred Law.

If you would like to learn more about Earth Astrology, visit the DTMMS bookstore or the Sweet Medicine Shoppe.