Fox on a Sacred Life Sunday

Red Fox Sitting, originally uploaded by The Roaming Ranger.

Two weeks in a row now fox has darted in front of my car on the way home from my Wednesday night creativity group. Teacher and storyteller Christina Baldwin says to pay attention to "call and response" or what I think of as omens. Foxes are rare enough in this area for me to perk up and take notice.

Crafty. Clever. Also hiding in the shaddows. Of course I like the sound of the first two but the last one I am wary of because I don't readily recognize the places I may be hiding. Then there's the idea that one should venture out of hiding whenever feasible. Well, OK...

I differentiate between totem animals I have chosen like bear, otter and wolf, and ones that I have been given by the animals themselves like mouse, swan, crow and now fox. What totem animals have you been given?

Know-how vs. Inspiration

In the bookstore today it occured to me that I don't look through all the self-help books and books on getting organized because I need the know-how. I realized I have all the knowledge I need. What I look through the books for is inspiration. That feels very freeing.

Where do you find inspiration?

Sacred Life Sunday - Before and After

Before...

I've been trying to do a post about my own set of Story-Beads since February when I first made them on my birthday, but I never did. It's strange because it's such a special set this year. They are made with specially saved beads and the handmade beads made specially for me by Kara who infused them with special intentions when she worked with them. They are made of story-teller clay from New Mexico - I mean, how perfect is that?

But not only wasn't I posting them on the blog, I was avaoiding the set itself. Finally I had to ask what was up.

Settling in with my set before bed I listened to what story my Story-Beads had to tell me - I listened with that inner knowing and with my fingers as they ran over the beads. They are so very different from my set from last year that were a hard, tough ceramic. These story-teller beads have a softer feel, not only physically but in their energy. I need to slow my own energy down when I handle them.

I know this. I've set the intention to slow down this year and heed the learnings that take time. I am learning about listening to the wisdom of my body. I am setting a foundation for my business, which is currently being tweaked. My Story-Beads keep me honest and remind me, not just in the symbolism I've given them but in their own innate energy, that this is a lesson I need to learn.

I knew there was more and I realized what it was as I felt the owl bead that I put on but couldn't really remember why except that I love the bead and owl turned up in a card reading some time ago. There were a couple beads on the set that I couldn't clearly identify. The set of Story-Beads is undeniably rich and varied, just like my life. I realized, however, that I tried to cram too much into it (kinda like my life!) In an attempt to show how full and rich my life is I ended up with a set (and a life) that had a certain inflexibility and so much stuff that I lost much of the clarity that I should have had around the major symbols.

I was time for a change. All Story-Beads eventually break, releasing their energy back into the world. I have even ritually cut a set apart to symbolically surrender to what it was Spirit wanted of me. Today's act was much less dramatic - a little snip, a few less symbols, some bone disks as spacers. Most people wouldn't even recognize the difference but I felt it right away, not the least of which was the "ahhh" in my body that said I was on the right track at last.

Now the set has flexibility and the little frog that symbolizes the work I'm doing in learning to be in my body is the base of the piece, just as being in my body is the basis of what I am trying to achieve this year. I didn't do either of those things "on purpose" but the truth of them is plain nonetheless.

... and after.

Subtle but important differences symbolize a willingness to not force it.

My mouse represents my writing - mouse (for me) is about perspective and writing is all about perspective and how you look at things. "Toady", on the right, symbolizes the body work I've undertaken, including my wonderful cheerleader nutrition counselor, Coleen!

What story could a set of Story-Beads tell you about your life?