Ballad of the Dreaming Soul

“Dream Dancer 

Wave Rider

Sleek hounds of the Sea 

We course 

before Manannon and Fand 

hunt the Lands Between

wind and wave 

dream and deed 

rainbow and sand

Guiding storm-tossed souls 

through Transformation 
with velvet hands

We teach how to 

slip from fur to skin 

and back again 

Gliding 

Twirling 

Waltzing from one world 

to the next 

Whether Guiding yourself 

through reef and rocks 

or relationships 

Listening to the Inner Song 
is best

Balance and flip 

bright spheres of thought 

Feed upon elusive schools 

so quick with creativity 

deep wisdom 

fortune 

fertility

But! 

Don’t get tangled in nets 
or succumb to siren song! 

Beware 

the Pale Huntress 

and the ravenous throng!

Never become slave 

to the clever tricks 

you juggle

Lest you lose yourself 

in fairy glamour 

or Life’s grand circus 

Honor your relations 

Know thyself 

Hold fast to your dreams, 

and you will live 
your divine purpose."

For those new to the game, each poem is inspired by a Teacher found in Nature; a star, stone, animal, plant etc that holds lessons of Wisdom of us. Can you guess who is singing today? Congrats to Poppy (O.R.M.E.), Shay and Windi (Jaguarwombyn) for naming this Teacher!

“To accomplish great things we must dream as well as act.” Anatole France

“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” Lao Tzu

“Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain. ~Carl G. Jung

There are about 33 different species of Pinnipeds broken down into three Families; Phocidae (earless or true seals), Otaridae (eared or fur seals and sea lions), and Odobenidae (Walrus). Perhaps the most recognized Pinniped is the California Sea Lion which is found in zoos, aquatic parks, and circuses around the world. While not considered a “true” seal, I will be focusing specifically on this species as well as discussing general Seal Wisdom. 

Sea Lions are opportunistic eaters whose diet includes: over 50 species of fish like salmon and mackerel, squids, octopus, occasional clams and lamprey. They either swallow their food whole or tear it into chunks. Sea lions are hunted by Great White, other large sharks, and orcas, but their largest fatalities are due to environmental poisons/stresses, fishing nets and a history of over-hunting by mankind.

Sea lions are roughly slender torpedo-shaped with larger fore-flippers and smaller flippered hind-feet. They have large eyes that see better underwater than on land. Unlike members of the Phocidae family, California Sea Lions have vestigial ear flaps near their ear holes. Male sea lions are larger than females, averaging about 700 pounds to the females average of 250. Males tend to be colored somewhat darker than females, with the traditional shades varying from dark gray or chocolate brown to near black. Adult males have a mane, although this physical aspect is not as noticeably pronounced as it is in other species. 

Sea Lion pelts often have a purple cast when dry. These seals reach maturity between 4 and 5 years of age, and sea lion lifespans average between 17 and 20 years in the wild, and 30 years or more in captivity. These coastal sea lions are found on the Western coasts of North America from central Mexico to British Columbia.

After reaching maturity, or after about 11 months of gestating for females who have already mated, sea lion cows will land and birth a live pup within a day or two of arriving at their mate’s territory. Usually there is only one mating and one pup per season, although cows go into estrus somewhere between 2 weeks and 28 days after giving birth. Females are, understandably, extremely aggressive during the first days after birth, and stay close to their pup. They will make progressively longer foraging trips after the pup’s first four days. 

Pups are gathered into loose pods where they play, socialize with peers, and begin learning life skills while their mothers are hunting. Alloparenting, common among pinnipeds, has been observed in the behavior of the California Sea Lion although whether this is “normal” or consistent behavior for this species is still debated. Alloparenting refers to males or females of a species that provide parental care for young who are not their own. In this case, pups are kept in the safer shallow waters and pod areas by several watchful females. 

This group of babysitters is often formed of older juveniles or unmated adult cows. Bulls also participate in this behavior by barking a warning to cows and pups about the presence of a predator, and occasionally physically driving predators away. Female sea lions have also been observed adopting and fostering a pup who has been abandoned by it’s mother or lost it’s mother to predators.

Whether or not our own mother was a positive, nurturing figure in our lives, this Teacher reminds us that this maternal love is always there for us, a free offering from our Creator, All Our Relations, and the Universe. We need never feel like we missed out, are lacking, unworthy or abandoned, and should work to reconcile any issues we may have with our literal mother rather than carry around poisonous baggage. Sometimes the only healthy thing we can do with the toxic people in our lives is remove them. Too many people stay involved in bad relationships, familial or otherwise, with the very best of intentions only to have more of themselves worn away by an unhealthy relationship.

“The mother’s heart is the child’s school-room.” ~Henry Ward Beecher

“Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.” ~Benjamin Disraeli

Sea Lion pups are born with open eyes and are capable of coordinated motor activities within approximately 15 minutes of birth. Both the pup and it’s mother will use unique vocalizations to call for each other when separated, after which the mother will examine the pup’s scent to determine whether or not it is actually her own. Pups nurse from 6 months to a year, and are typically weaned by 10 months. Pups and mothers can sort each other out by sound amidst 100’s of squalling seals. 

Rather social animals, sea lions will form smaller groups, or rafts, as they live out their lives in yearly wanderings from sea to land. Being born with open eyes typically indicates that those called by such a Teacher are born with their Inner Eye already open. Such people often experience brief childhoods packed with life lessons, and often see things with amazing clarity. Highly intuitive and creative souls, Seal people need to channel their creativity, remember the importance of staying grounded and always keep their ears keenly tuned to their Inner Voice.

The Sea Lion’s earthy coloring, small earflaps, and their continual return to land reinforce the need to stay properly grounded and in tune with Intuition. Issues with abandonment or parental figures, particularly with one’s mother, and relationship problems are all indicative of unbalanced Seal energy. Seals often appear to ask us if we are ready to really commit, or are giving/getting what we really need from a relationship. Their appearance often indicates the end of a relationship, or the clashing of masculine and feminine within a situation or person.

Our ears, the centers for our balance and hearing, are important in both physical and metaphysical ways. Just as we must find a harmonious Balance within our selves and lives, we must also remember the need for Listening, both to our Inner Voice, and to the people in our lives. Their keen hearing is what allows a mother to find her own pup amid hundreds of loudly complaining youngsters. It is important for people called by this Teacher to take time each day to enjoy some rejuvenating Silence and Solitude, particularly mothers!

The easiest lies and excuses are the ones we tell ourselves, and no one wants to believe the worst in any given situation, others, or in themselves. This makes it even more important to stay grounded, to use all our senses and skills to ensure that we are listening to our inner guiding voice and seeing reality for what it is, rather than what we would like it to be. This important Sea Lion lesson reminds us not to get caught up in illusions, to look beyond the surface of things, and not to get so enamored of our own cleverness that we end up juggling too many responsibilities or living in denial of reality. This aspect it what makes these Teachers such excellent counselors for troubled relationships.

Amazing survivors, these Teachers can show us how to stay Balanced during the turbulent moments in our lives, allowing everything to flow around us as we navigate. Sea Lions are more adept at moving about on land than the “true” seals, placing an emphasis on a need for grounding for those drawn specifically to the Sea Lion. This Teacher’s connection to the land-bound Lion should not be overlooked either, as well as other potential Balancing Energies. 

Seals and Sea Lions, like Otters and Dolphins, have a wonderful reputation for play. Remembering the importance of, and the proper boundaries for Play throughout our lives are great Seal lessons. We all need joyful fun, and we should all act positively upon our duties and goals every day. Are you having too much fun or not enough? Do others criticize you for being a stick in the mud, for never being “serious”, or carrying playful moments too far? Seals and Sea Lions are excellent Teachers to turn to for guidance for the proper measure and boundaries of Play!

In ancient Celtic/Scottish/Welsh and Icelandic tales, Selkies, Phocaii, or Seal People, are kindly Faerie folk from the sea who can slip their seal skins and come ashore as beautiful people. Like Swanmaidens, Selkie tales are often ones of romantic tragedy where a fisherman steals a Selkie’s skin and traps her as his wife for a number of years until she steals back her enchanted seal skin and returns to the sea. A wonderful example of focusing too much on the Dream rather than Reality, especially within a relationship, which is a major Seal/Sea Lion lesson! 

This strong connection to Faerie energy/wisdom is only reinforced by their ability to slip with relative ease from Land to Water, their common appearance at dawn and dusk as they feed on schools of fish, as well as their understanding of body language and soulfully expressive eyes. This connection also marks these Teachers as Shapeshifters and Masters of Transformation, which makes them excellent guides in all such matters. In other tales, these Teachers guide souls through water to the Underworld, disguise gods and goddesses, the cattle or kin of sea deities, or messengers, often carrying prophetic information.

Sea Lion asks us if we are feeling out of Balance? Are we listening too much to others and not enough to ourselves? Are we listening only to our own desires, and making light of the needs of others in our life? Are we so lost in the vision of our dreams that we aren’t focusing on real needs? Are we spending more time dreaming about our goals than putting in the action necessary to bring them to fruition? Are we making our friendships or relationships too complicated to distract us from what we are really lacking? Are we fearing commitment unnecessarily? How does this slippery, charming and powerful Master of Transformations appear in your life?

“You can’t wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.” ~Navajo Proverb

“He whose soul is pure is never deceived by his dreams, whereas he whose soul is blemished is continually deluded.” Arabic saying

“There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it.” ~Elizabeth A. Behnke

Potential Balancing Energies: Other seals, sharks like the great white, fish like salmon or sardine, cephalopods like octopi and squid, clams, oysters, lampreys, seaweed, orcas, dolphins, whales, otters, bears, dogs, seagulls, osprey and other birds, crabs and other crustaceans

Key Concepts: Inner Voice, Balance, Dreams, creativity, intuition, balancing imagination and intuition with intellect, transitions, messages, prophecy, shapeshifting, relationship issues, sexuality/fertility, balance between masculine and feminine

Associated Gods, Goddesses: sedna, selkies, underworld/faerie world, manannon maclir, lir/llyr, neptune/poseidon, Aegir, Amphitrite, Nereids, Nereus, O-Wata-Tsu-Mi , Mat-Su, Yamm, Proteus, Varuna, Samundra, Triton, Tritones, Pontos, Nammu, Aphrodite, Branwyn, Creiddylad, Don, Dylan, Ran, Nerthus, Njord

Love's Knight Errant

Love's Knight Errant

Muttering and mumbling

like the White Knight

of Wonderland

a new voice begins to sing…

“We feed upon

the bread of the Sea,

In turn

we give of ourselves

to feed others…

but does anyone

ever listen to me?

Poseidon

Llyr

Varuna

Kū-hai-moana

We push along

sheltered by our armor,

yet with grit in our eye,

harried,

we grumble…

‘Til a gem of wisdom

forms within our head.

Then, oh yes, then

they’ll pry us from our bed!

Therefore, Remember!

Each of us contains a

shining form of excellence

Wisdom

Perfection…

Luminous and Serene

From our own trials

Magically spun

Within our roughened exteriors

It forms, waits for our attention.

Amphitrite

Penarddun

Varunani

Kanekua‘ana

Yemaya

Aphrodite

We protect this emblem,

The Queen of the Sea, like all secrets, with silence

We serve Wisdom on a half-shell,

passive yet potent

Trust your intuition

Ride the ebb and flow

of Nature's rhythms

Thus will you find

Harmony twixt body

Mind

and Soul

Sensitive to the smallest changes,

We will teach you how

to find your Balance

To set a firm foot

on solid foundations

To filter out anything

unnecessary or harmful

These are truths

that will set you free

None until All

as streams run wild

eventually 

to our home the Sea”

For those new to the game, each poem is inspired by a Teacher found in Nature; a star, stone, animal, plant etc that holds lessons of Wisdom for us. Can you guess who is singing today? Congrats to Mark P. Henderson and Jaguarwombyn for naming this Teacher! 

“From the oyster to the eagle, from the swine to the tiger, all animals are to be found in men and each of them exists in some man, sometimes several at the time. Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls. God displays them to us to give us food for thought.” Victor Hugo 

“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography.” Federico Fellini 

“There is nothing in Christianity or Buddhism that quite matches the sympathetic unselfishness of an oyster.” H.H. Munro 

Mollusks were, understandably, a more prominent Native American Totem in coastal areas, especially in the Northwest America or island areas. This probably holds true to most cultures. I remember reading about the enormous middens found in the Pacific NW areas as a young girl in history clas,s and wondering what the peoples lives were like. Such middens have been found all over the world though. Oyster is one of the 112,000 species of Mollusks found in our Seas and rivers. So many creatures feed upon them, that they are considered a keystone species, and they can be found in the history and lore of many cultures. 

They are filter feeders that draw water in through their gills, breathing very much like fish, and over their cilia. Plankton, and other particles get trapped by the mucus in the gills and transported to the mouth. They prefer warmer waters, temperatures above 50 degrees F increase their feeding activity, and healthy oysters consume algae and other water-borne nutrients, each one filtering up to five liters of water per hour! Oysters filter pollutants too, and either eat them or shape them into small pseudo-feces that are deposited on the bottom where they are harmless. 

Bodily, Oysters consist of two rough shells held together with a muscular hinge at the narrow end. The shell is generated by the mantle, a thin layer of tissue that separates the shell from the soft body. Mouth, palps, stomach, intestines, cilia, small three chambered heart, hinge (abductor muscle) anus and gills are all found within the soft body. Oyster’s typically live at depths of only 8-25 feet and stay in one place their entire lives. They breathe in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Their hearts pump oxygen and colorless blood to all parts of their body, while their kidneys under the abductor muscle purifies the blood of any wastes or, hopefully, toxins. Red Tides, dangerously toxic algal blooms, and other such pollutants endanger these filtering creatures. 

They can change their sex many times throughout their lives and one cannot tell from the exterior if an Oyster is male or female. Typically they start out as male and end as female though. They are protandric, which means that during their first year they spawn as males and will release sperm into the water. Over the next couple of years they will grow larger, become female and release eggs into the water. An increase in water temperature will trigger a few initial oysters to spawn. 

This begins a spawning ‘chain reaction’, which clouds the water with millions of eggs and sperm. A single female oyster can produce up to 100 million eggs a year! The eggs are fertilized in the water and develop into larvae, which eventually find suitable sites on which to settle. Those that attach to another oyster’s shell are called “spats” and never get much larger than 25mm. In the tropics it is rather common for them to develop on mangrove roots which will become exposed during low tide. Hence it is commonly said there that “oysters grow on trees”! The organs responsible for producing both eggs and sperm surround the digestive organs, and are made up of sex cells, branching tubules, and connective tissue. Oysters are usually mature at one year. The largest oysters can be up to 3 feet long, but most span only a few inches. 

Oyster reefs form inviting habitats for anemones, barnacles, and mussels which in turn invite more creatures like striped bass, black drum or croakers (fish). When threatened, they will clamp their shell tightly shut with their strong hinge muscle. When a grain of sand or other irritating substance gets between an oyster’s shell and mantle it causes them to secret nacre which coats the irritating bit and forms a pearl. Most mollusks form pearls, but only a select few create the lustrous marketable pearls so prized by humanity, fresh or saltwater. Pearls carry their own symbolism and Wisdom which we will discuss later. 

Oysters can be eaten half shelled, raw, smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed, broiled (grilled) or used in a variety of drinks! They are low in food energy though, one dozen raw oysters contain approximately 110 calories, but they are rich in zinc, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. They have been considered an aphrodisiac by many cultures and were often eaten to encourage fertility. The many large middens found the world over testify to their popularity as a food source that dates back into prehistory. Over fishing and pressure from diseases and pollution have sharply reduced Oyster populations, but they remain a popular treat the world over and there are several places that celebrate them with oyster festivals. 

We can learn many things from the humble Oyster. The importance of remembering that it is only natural to protect ones softer side with a hard exterior. This in only a line of defense though and not meant to separate you from the society of your people. Taking reasonable precautions in protecting our selves is not only our right, it is our duty. The trick is learning when to open up and when to stay safe inside our shells. “Clamming up” is a common expression, and silence is another excellent defense.

There are many reasons for, and benefits to silence. When someone confides in us, we honor their trust by keeping their intimate details to ourselves and giving them our best advice. When remembering someone who has passed, a moment of silence is observed. Silence has many personal benefits too. When we are not talking, we are listening… increasing our odds of gaining Wisdom. Sometimes, difficult as it may be in a given situation, saying nothing, refusing to engage in an argument, or petty behavior is our most beneficial response.

Another equally vital piece of Oyster Wisdom is turning negatives into positives. Often times we learn more from that which irritates us than that which soothes us! Life is full of shell-cracking predators, and the vexations we find along our path are as numberless as grains of sand. Yet, Oyster alone knows how to turn a simple annoyance into a beautiful pearl. What a World it would be if we all followed this example! Easier said than done though, like much in life, but well worth the practice. I know myself that it is often a major struggle to lovingly coat the grit I find in my own life with something as beautiful as the nacre Oyster uses to create Pearl. 

When I find myself becoming frustrated or ungenerous in my thoughts or words, I make a point of going off by myself to sit in silence and let the heartbeat of the World carry away such petty annoyances. Then I look for the lesson, for there is always something to learn. What did I learn from the source of my irritation? Usually I learn that I’ve let something rub me the wrong way or upset me when in reality…it has no real bearing on my life.

Oyster’s protandric nature is very instructive too. Firstly, it indicates a two-spirited nature as was discussed in Buffalo Totem. The term “Two-spirited”, is new to me but highly useful and appropriate. It was derived from interpretations of Native languages used to describe people who displayed both characteristics of male and female. Traditionally, the Two-spirited person was one who had received a gift from the Creator, that gift being the privilege to house both male and female spirits in their bodies. Thus, such people were gifted with a greater vision, a more balanced view of the world as a whole. 

Much respected and sought after for their broadened perspectives, Two-spirits were considered a gift to society from Creator. There are many Singers in Nature that teach us the value of Two-spirited beings which is much at odds with the popular opinions of many people today. For a truly balanced perspective in Life, we should nurture, develop and honor all sides of our selves; masculine, feminine and divine. Each has their merits, each has their unique pitfalls and each is inextricably entwined with the others. 

 In one Native American tale people were released into this world by Raven when he was trying to crack open a tightly sealed clam. In another tale shellfish are banished to a life in the sand by a jury of animals for being a malicious gossip. Venus the Goddess of Love appeared upon the Sea in an enormous clam shell.

Balanced Mollusks tend to be homebodies who turn dirt into priceless pearls, learn when to be silent and when to open up, filter through life’s garbage to feed upon the smallest particles of wisdom, and are equally comfortable with both their masculine and feminine natures. Unbalanced Mollusks are constant complainers likely to spread gossip like a disease, improperly familiar, excessively bashful, or hermit-like in behavior, and quite possibly gender confused or facing a difficulty with either masculine or feminine identity. How does Oyster appear in your life? 

Potential balancing energies 

Sea Otter/Otter, Octopus/Squid Water/Ocean , Seastar , Earth, Plankton, Pearl, oyster drill snail, oyster leech, finfish such as drum, and birds such as Raven or the oystercatcher, Dragon, Snake, Turtle, Whale, Moon. 

Key Concepts: Silence, Creation, Love Eternal, Feminine and Masculine energy, Two-spirited Wisdom, Wisdom, Knowledge, Fertility, Purity, Excellence, Beauty, Innocence, Chastity, Lunar Energy, Bliss 

Associated with: Venus/Aphrodite, Raven, Maat, Ho Hsien-Ku, Kwan Yin, Lakshmi, Maha Sarasvati, the Moon  

Bonus Teacher Post Script~ The Pearl

’Til a gem of wisdom forms within my head. 

Then, oh yes, then they’ll pry me from my bed!

Therefore, Remember! 

Each of us contains a 

shining form of excellence, 

Wisdom, 

perfection… 

Luminous and 

Serene 

From our own trials 

magically spun.

Within our roughened exteriors, 

it forms and waits for our attention.

We protect this emblem, 

the Queen of the Sea, 

like all secrets, with silence

“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” Ralph Marston

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Winston Churchill 

“There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, 

And that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all.” Ogden Nash

Luminous, miraculous, and delicately tinged with mysterious colors it is no surprise that Pearls have been so long admired by humanity. They have represented many things over the course of time; the Moon, a pure soul or simply the state of Grace, Wisdom, Elegance, Serenity, Truth, Innocence, Dignity, Love, Luck, Purity, Honesty, Integrity, and the Sea itself have all been represented by this gemstone. Perhaps more than any other concept though, the lustrous Pearl represents Excellence, Perfection. Pearls are a tangible reminder to create a miraculous life of Beauty around the ever-present irritations we will find along the way. Pearl teaches us to live every day striving to be the best that we can be, for we all carry the potential for perfection within us.

Pearls are considered to be feminine receptive stones, and have been given to women in countless cultures as a visual flag to alert others that here is a woman of Queenly or even Divine Grace. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.

There are many types of pearls: natural (made without human interference), cultured (when a foreign substance is intentionally inserted into a living oyster, a method begun in 1893), baroque (irregularly shaped), freshwater (those that form in freshwater mollusks and resemble puffed rice), Biwa (irregularly shaped freshwater pearls from Lake Biwa), blister (pearls that become attached to the inside of the shell), Mabe (cultivated blister pearls), black pearls (gray-black in color, very impressive), and seed (tiny pearls used commonly during Victorian era for jewelry and on clothing).

The largest pearl is currently known as the Pearl of Lao-tze, and was recovered from a giant clam on May 7th, 1934 by an unknown diver off the coast of the Palawan Island in the Philippines. The Pearl of Lao-tze is 9.4 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs. The San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued it at $40 million dollars. Interestingly enough, modern pharmaceutical industries continue to use pearls in medicine. Pearls which are of inferior quality, unfit for jewelry, are ground into fine powder and used to make high-quality pharmaceutical calcium! 

Myths, beliefs and legends about pearls can be found just about anywhere. Medieval Europe, Arabia, China, India…almost every culture have used pearls for a wide range of medicinal purposes ranging including aphrodisiacs, cures for insanity, memory loss, insomnia, liver ailments, snake bites and even as proof against lies! 

Hindu culture associates pearls with the Moon and are symbols of love and purity. It is said that Krishna found the first pearl and presented it to his daughter on her wedding day. Pearls are still a common feature or gift at weddings of many cultures. The Koran speaks of pearls as one of the great rewards to be found in Paradise and is a symbol of perfection. The Parable of the Pearl remains an important symbol to Christians the world over. 

Pearls are also said to symbolize tears, to provide love and fertility, to symbolize purity, and to ward off evil. Pearls are the official birthstone for the month of June according to the American National Association of Jewelers as of 1912, and is therefore closely associated with both Gemini and Cancer sun signs. Pearls symbolize all the best within us, and their Lesson/Wisdom is to use the hardships we face throughout our lives to fully realize and become the best that we carry within us; personal excellence. 

They remind us to Walk in Beauty, to live with Dignity, and honor even the hardships that allows us yet another lesson or opportunity to live this way. Pearls can lift our spirits, evoke calm, beauty, femininity, or any of the many qualities that they represent. It takes time to form a Pearl, which is a reminder that our own growth and transformations take time too. 

A large part of accepting ourselves is being patient with ourselves and allowing a proper amount of time for the changes we wish to bring about in our lives. Sacred to all Sea and Water deities, pearls are also very useful in stimulating and balancing various Chakras. Pink pearls, for example, are especially useful to the heart Chakra. A momentary irritation transformed into amazing Beauty, the Pearl inspires us to live up to the best potential we have within us.

Potential Balancing Energies: Oyster , Otter , Seastar , Water , Elephant , Earth, Amber, Amethyst, Fish like Salmon, Frog/Toad , Dragon/Snake , Whale, Dolphin, Shark, Turtle , Moose , Crow/Raven , Peacock, Swan , Bison/Buffalo , Lion , Wolf , Fox , Owl, Crane

Associated with: Venus/Aphrodite, Kwan Yin, White Tara, Heqet, Fand, Ambaji, Gemini, Krishna, Water elementals/faeries, Sky Nation especially Rain, Ho Hsien-Ku, Lakshmi, Maat, Manat, Salacia/Amphitrite, Thalassa, Poseidon/Neptune, Artemis/Diana, Athena/Minerva, Pontos, Leto, Selene, Cailleach Bheur, Branwen, Mari, Tiamat, Manannon, Lir

Key Concepts: Excellence, Feminine Wisdom/Power/Excellence, Balance, Beauty, Love, Knowledge/Wisdom, Exemplary Living, Immortality, Spirit, Soul, Lunar energy, Purity, Perfection

Manannon's Hounds

As we travel along 

Laughter 

chuckling like a brook, 

becomes a joyful song… 

“Slide along 

the Mother’s muddy sides 

Dive and splash 

into the healing 

waters of Life 

Drink from the eternal 
Fountain of Knowledge

Laugh 

in the face of strife! 

Coursing hounds 

of the Sea gods 

Ancient and skillful souls 

Faerie kings 

Healers of her wild waters 

Enchanted mystics 

with a pirate's smile 

Hunting through 

each reef and wave 

for elusive sagacity 

true sustenance 

to compliment 

our audacity 

Sisterhood 

will harbor you 

through lean times 

through darkest tempests. 

Dream deep
Dream true 

Learn 

Heal 

Laugh 

as you dream 

Tuck yourself 

into strands 

of Mother's 

waving green hair 

Most importantly 

heed Her wise warnings 

Her nurturing requests 

Hand in hand 

with your Sister 

Float in leisurely ease 

Down the gentle River 

into the ever-flowing Seas 

Fear not the Waters 

Stormy or Deep 

Cradled 

in Her rocking embrace

Sleep 

and 

Dream Deep! 

All work is but Play 

in disguise 

Frolick 

T’wixt the Land

the Wind 

the Wave 

Life is too short 

to be angry or grave 

When cracking shells 

under the glimmering Sun 

Admire the Pearl, yes, but 

Remember… 

Tis the Shell’s sacrifice 

that feeds you. 

Be Grateful! 

Laughter 

joyous and often 

is our goal 

for Laughter is Medicine 

that multiplies in the giving 

and heals 

more than one soul!” 

Wisdom shining 

from every brow 

Who Sings Now?

For those new to the game, each poem is inspired by a Teacher found in Nature; a star, stone, animal, plant etc that holds lessons of Wisdom for us. Can you guess who is singing today? Congrats to Shay and Jan Neavill Hersh for naming this Teacher!

“I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity. " Eleanor Roosevelt

“In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.” Friedrich Nietzsche

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – SNAP – the job’s a game!” Mary Poppins

“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. " Woody Allen

Otters are carnivorous aquatic mammals of the family Mustelidae which includes weasels, badgers, and polecats. As always, those drawn to Otter should also take a good look at their closest relatives. There are 13 different species of Otter and they can be found just about anywhere in the world where there is a habitat to support them. 

http://otterspecialistgroup.org is an excellent place to begin learning about these fabulous frolicking “Old Men of the Sea” if you don’t know anything about them. Both Sea Otter and River Otter (specifically the North American River Otter) are referenced in this poem as I have been lucky enough to see both in my lifetime. I have a great love for this particular Teacher and it was one of my first “favorites” as a child.

Dolphin and Seal, also Children of Lir (the Sea), come close to Otter for excellence in Teaching us about the importance of Play and Laughter in our lives. The importance of Play and Laughter in our daily lives is the primary message of wise Otter. Sisterhood, the true balance of friend and helpmate without jealousy or distrust, is also Otter wisdom. Most Creatures that spend all or the majority of their time in Water, especially the Ocean, are strong carriers of Feminine energy, but it is important to remember that each of us have both a Masculine and Feminine side and both in balance are necessary for a good life.

I’m sure everyone has a favorite comedian who always makes them laugh, or perhaps even one of those special people in our lives who inspire us with their lively curiosity and playful nature. Those that never seem to loose that Inner Child are often Otter people. Perhaps my favorite example of Otter energy is the wonderful film, “Mary Poppins”. While Mrs. Banks is on the right track with her Suffrage crusade "Our daughters’ daughters will adore us and they’ll sing in grateful chorus, “Well done, sister suffragettes!”, her focus has left her children which is the most telling indication that her Otter energy is off balance. Mr. Banks who is so blatantly beyond such frivolous things like “fun” and “play” is a more serious case of unbalanced Otter.

Rosy-cheeked Mary Poppins “practically perfect in every way” guides everyone she comes in contact with into the wonderful world of Otter Wisdom. Fun-loving Bert the Chimney sweep is the perfect masculine counterpart to represent Otter energy and perched on a shelf in my living room as a daily reminder are two ragdolls made to look like Mary Poppins and Bert. When I’ve had a particular hard day, I’ll take them down from their place and share a comforting hug with them before letting go of whatever burdens I’ve recently found myself carrying.

“If animals play, this is because play is useful in the struggle for survival; because play practices and so perfects the skills needed in adult life.” Susanna Miller

Mary Poppins: "Our first game is called “well begun is half done”

Michael: “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Mary Poppins: "Otherwise entitled, “let’s tidy up the nursery.”

Michael:" I told you she was tricky."

Work is necessary to a good life. Even if we had everything we needed, we would still need profitable daily employment. Daily chores, gardening for food and pleasure, helping family and friends with their tasks, tending children, and whatever pursuits we like turning our hand to (I like to embroider my clothes) are the most basic kinds of work, but without an element of “work” in our lives we would soon loose our healthy sense of balance in idleness, boredom and apathy. But no one ever said that work had to be torturous or a burden! 

Otter’s endless curiosity reminds us that work engages us in Life, and that everything is interesting and worthwhile if we only look at it the right way. Her eternal childlike senses of wonder and play teach us that approaching our tasks with willing cheerful hearts united in purpose will turn even the most daunting endeavor into a game between friends.

This sounds lot easier than it actually is in practice! There are a lot of destructive behaviors out there, a lot of distractions and we are most definitely living in a time where we are feeling the consequences of the downward spiral that our society has been in for many generations now. While this makes it that much more difficult to summon up these positive and empowering Otter attitudes, it also makes it that much more vital that we make the effort! 

There are many days when I just want to snap at the next person who gets in my face with their attitude. There are many days when my own worries seem so overwhelming that I feel as if I am being crushed by their weight. Every day is a struggle to reach down and pull a reason to simply laugh, or better still, find a way to make someone else laugh. Some days I yell, even though I know it’s the wrong sort of energy to spread and therefore the very last thing I want to do. Most days I feel frustrated, sad or worried at least 50% of the time.

I spend a lot of time lately trying to find my center. To force myself to think positively, to laugh, to pretend all these positive things even if I don’t actually feel them simply because I know that this is the first step towards truly manifesting these things in my life. If I can’t imagine it, how can it appear? Besides, who knows, tomorrow may be better, and nothing lasts forever. Recognize when you’ve slipped off of your good road, but forgive yourself for it too. Even Mary Poppins wasn’t perfect, just “practically perfect”. We all make mistakes, we all get overwhelmed, we all have moments we aren’t proud of, or have “reacted to” a situation instead of “deciding” on it. It happens, but we make mistakes in order to learn.

Instead of being angry with yourself when something goes sour, take positive action. Apologize to those you've yelled at or wronged,and apologize to yourself too. Everyone needs comfort. One of the best ways to avoid these types of situations before they arise is making sure that you take time for yourself. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we get sick. If we don’t take the time to do those things that refresh and revitalize us, we become worn down. Sick and worn down means less able to stand under pressure, less able to respond appropriately or bounce back. All those many things that “must” be done or that we want to give our energy to, whether kids, job, schooling, or errands, will never receive our best attention if we are sick and worn down.

Beyond the things that everyone needs like good sleep, proper food and attention to our health needs, what makes you happy? What makes you feel centered and calm? What makes you laugh? For many years silence and solitude spent outdoors was my biggest rejuvinator, and while this is still important to me, it has become more important for me to write and to reach out to others with these thoughts I’ve carried around all these years. It is not uncommon for me to neglect things like housework in favor of writing lately because I know that the housework will still be there. The opportunity or inspiration to write or share with others might not be. What you do with what I share is, of course, entirely up to you. We all need to find our own balance between Work and Play, and these things can change over time. Flexibility and adaptability are important to Otters.

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” Leo F. Buscaglia

“I was like a boy playing on the sea shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” Isaac Newton

In the Sea and in Rivers, Otters feed primarily upon fish, shellfish, crustaceans and other hard-shelled invertebrates but have been known to make a meal out of amphibians, birds and their eggs, muskrats, or berries and fruit depending on what is available. Otters are very flexible creatures, not only in their skeletal structure but in their attitudes too. Some Otters are solitary, others pair off or form loose groups, and all are pretty open to opportunity when it comes to grabbing a meal. Otter mothers usually have From this we learn that Otter people have a craving for knowledge, wisdom, dreams, bounty, new beginnings, new ideas, and all the other things that are represented by those creatures and plants that they eat. We feed upon these things and they are essential to us in ways that we don’t often think about consciously. Curious by nature, we are drawn by the new and unknown, wishing instinctively to learn and expand our consciousness.

Otter people tend to be very creative, ingenious, adaptable and sociable people with a hunger for knowledge and wisdom. Deep dreamers, they often swim through their dreams as if it were the Waters that feed and shelter the four-legged otter. Sensitive to the needs of others, sentimental even when they try to hide it, and sensitive to the World around us. Otters do a lot of learning and healing while they sleep. Sea Otters sleep floating on their backs in the Ocean and will often sleep in a kelp bed using this “bread of the sea” as a cozy comforter. River Otters sleep onland in dens called holts or pretty much anywhere they feel like sleeping. Serene Otter has very few predators on land or sea, and isn’t too particular about where he sleeps.Keeping a dream journal is especially important for all deep dreamers, but so is simply noticing and appreciating the World around us, so make time for that too!

If awareness and appreciation are the first steps, being grateful, and sharing with others are the next in our development. Otter lives in the lifeblood of the World and comes to us one of many emissaries that urge these Wisdoms upon us. Why have we resisted for so long? We learn best when work and play combine. Perhaps we have just been out of balance for such a long time that we’ve forgotten these crucial elements to a good life, but it is high time that we re-learn this piece of Otter Wisdom. All that we need is still there waiting for us, but until we learn to recognize, appreciate, show gratitude, care for and share the World’s abundance with All Our Relations…our downward spiral will continue to it’s inevitable conclusion.

“Mirth is God’s medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. " Henry Ward Beecher

“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. " Yiddish Proverb

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” Irish Proverb

Laughter, in my opinion, is not just Medicine but truly vital element in any Life. Laughter dismisses fears, banishes nightmares, heals wounds physical mental or emotional, lifts the heart and is completely contagious. Of course, it can also inflict embarrassment, distress or pain depending on the manner in which it arises. Laughter should never be used as a weapon any more than Love or any other constructive quality. 

As amusing as the antics or foibles of our fellows may be to us, we should always try to avoid laughing at another’s expense. We are, after all, one big family here on Earth and we should treat each other with the same respect, tenderness and consideration that we would like to receive. If you are laughing at someone you perceive is hopelessly offtrack…you may find yourself in a situation where the World is laughing at you!

Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have blubber, instead they depend upon a dense, water-resistant fur to provide insulation against the cold. Sea otter fur is very dense and has a greater number of hair follicles per inch than any other mammal. Otters can be overly sentimental, either openly or secretly, and quite often appear insulated from the quips and barbs slung about them. Otters can also be quite tactless for all their considerable charm, being too familiar, too forward, too direct, or too prone to laughter. Nothing can offend someone like laughter at what is considered an inappropriate time or place! 

You may have noticed that a great many people don’t feel that laughter is ever really appropriate. The best thing an Otter person can do is look for ways to start others laughing in a good way. Otter people could be anywhere along the spectrum depending on their own sense of balance, life circumstances, and whatever they may have had for dinner.

Balance is important for Otters, as they suffer greatly or die off when their environment is thrown out of balance. Otter people also need to actively seek balance in their own lives. It’s wonderful to have a thirst for knowledge, for example, but if we are constantly exclaiming “Ooooh! Look at this pretty new shell” we could spend our whole lives picking up and dropping everything without ever really diving down to the bottom and finding a true pearl. 

The eternal Fountain of Knowledge is wider and deeper than the Sea. While we cannot know everything, neither should we merely skim the surface. Otters share a lot of the same traits as the zodiac sign Gemini, although the birth time of Otter is said to be between January 20th and February 18th which makes them much closer to Aquarians. Of course, Gemini and Aquarius are close signs. It is certainly true that Balance is often a difficult issue for both signs.

If you’ve forgotten how to play or can’t remember the last good laugh that you had, it is time to get in touch with your Inner Otter. We Otter be grateful to have such fine Teachers willing to share their Wisdom with us. To every Otter who has ever made me laugh out loud…Thank you! I really needed that. I think of you every time I sign a letter “Wishing You Laughter”. How does Otter appear in your life?

“The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.” Bennett Cerf

“Right now I’m having amnesia and deja-vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.” Steven Wright

“May God grant you always…a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you, pray, Heaven to hear you.” Irish blessing

“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.” Albert Einstein

Key Concepts: Playfulness & Joy, Laughter as Medicine, Sisterhood, Primal Feminine Energ, Intuition & Psychic Awareness, Curiousity & the quest for Knowledge, Healing, Innovation, Balanced Friendship, Tact, Independence, Conservation, Nuturing and Parenting, Birth/death/rebirth cycle, Reincarnation, Trickster energy, Dreamtime

Potential Balancing Energies: Fish like Salmon , Mollusks like Oyster , Birds like Seagull or Raven , Kelp, Metal like Silver, Trees like Aspen, Willow, or Pine Pearl, Butterfly , Earthworm, Insects like Dragonfly , Crayfish, Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Frog , Sharks, Orcas and other Whales, Dolphin, Sea Lion, Seals, Eagle and other Raptors, Coyote , Bears from Black to Polar, Fox, Wolf , Rabbit, Raccoon, Turtle , Bobcat, Cougar, Muskrat, Fox

Associated with: Otr/Otter, Sea gods/goddesses, Kwan Yin, Mother and Maiden aspects of triple Goddesses, King Solomon, Taliesin, Cuchulain, Loki, Fafnir, Cerridwen, Gwion, Souls of Sailors lost at sea, Dreamtime