Badger Aggressiveness The very thought of a badger causes many smaller animals to run. It's loud hissing, sharp claws, and aggressive behavior can frighten another animal out of its way. Badger is quick; a moment’s delay may mean death or injury to another animal. Badger survives by clawing the earth in search of food. Medicine women with Badger medicine are familiar with the therapeutic properties of roots and herbs. They are said to be among the most powerful healers because they can get right to the "root" of the problem. "Action" is the badger's message.

Bear Dreaming & Gentle Strength The brown bear, common to areas of the Southwestern State in the US can grow from 4 to 5 feet and weigh as much as 450 lbs. Although they have great strength, their gentleness makes the bear's behavior almost "human like". They are relatively good-natured, but, don't get foolish and plan on making them mad. They have a very serious side!! Bears hibernate in the winter, which explains their association with "dreaming the Great Spirit" or retrospection. The symbolism of the bears cave being like returning to the womb of Mother Earth, also suggests a strong feminine aspect, one of nurturing and protection. Bear cubs, born in the early spring can spend up to as many as 7 years with the mother bear before reaching full maturity. People with "Brown Bear Medicine" are considered by many as self sufficient, and would rather stand on their own 2 feet than rely on others. They are often considered "dreamers". Many have developed the skill of visualizing new things, but as a result can get caught up in the "dreaming" making little progress in "waking" reality.

Cougar Power, Swiftness and Balance By watching the swift movements of the cougar, one becomes keenly aware that no movement is wasted, no footing unplanned, in their quest for the item they desire. The cougar never wastes anything, but the grace of this hunter provides the young with nourishment and security. Cougars mark their home range, which differs from a true territory because the home ranges often overlap. The juveniles may establish a home range of from six to ten miles away. Within that area, the cat maintains a small resting range for its exclusive use while sharing the remaining hunting area with its neighbor. The cougar scrapes together a pile of leaves along well-traveled trails and marks them with urine. Any wandering lion respects the "No Trespassing" sign and turns away to avoid conflict. Someone with "Mountain lion or Cougar Medicine" is likely to be very sure of his/her purpose or goals. They often prefer solitude, and have little regret in taking the easiest prey.

THE MOOSE Consider the poor moose. Long gangly legs supporting an awkward, oversized body topped by a rack of antlers that looks like it will topple him over. What a poor sight. Well, Mrs. Moose doesn't think so, and none of the animals of the forest who know moose think so either. Moose medicine teaches us the value of self-esteem, and of rewarding ourselves and others for a job well done. Moose walks with a measured and regal gait with his head held high for he knows he has value and dignity. Moose people do not hesitate to encourage others to learn and grow for they are not threatened with the thought that someone might get to be better at a thing; the student surpassing the teacher as it were. Moose will not only encourage others to learn, he will jump in and help teach, and will show by example. Moose people will never ask others to do what they will not do themselves. Moose knows how damaging unkind criticism and nitpicking is to the spirit of someone trying to learn and do their best. Moose will look for any excuse to tell the world about something that has been done well, and he sings it forth for all to hear. People work hard to please moose because the rewards of his pleasure are great. Moose does not suffer from false shyness or inhibitions or the tendency to make light of his own accomplishments. He is not coy about his successes. Moose says, "I worked hard to do this, and I did it well. I'm proud of myself". When you acknowledge that your own acceptance of a thing well done, and satisfying your own standards, really is important to you, you are on the road to building a bedrock of solid self-esteem. Remember that "self" esteem comes from the inside out -- not from outside sources. If you do it well, admit it and enjoy it. Praise from others is good, but praise for yourself is more important. If someone else does something well, praise them. Be as generous with your praise as you are your criticisms. Bring joy into the world -- and shout about it.

Owl There are very few Native tribes, (tribes and not Nations), that have a deathly fear of the owl. The Apache Nation is a perfect example. The Nation as a whole does not fear the owl and, in fact, some wore owl feathers on their clothing and headdresses. It is the Mescalero that fears the owl. I know a Mescalero medicine woman (a real, practicing medicine woman) who is so terrified of the owl she does a special ceremony if she even sees a photo of one. This apparently comes from the beliefs of these various tribes, few as they are, that the owl carries the spirit of the recently deceased to the Great Spirit. Thus, the death messenger. The sound of an owl makes these people stop in their tracks. The sight of one is enough to scare them and, heaven forbid, if one flew at them, they would surely die of fright. As a totem, owl medicine, as I said last night, is a feminine trait. It is at home, and comfortable, in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition; it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. It is a meat eater, which means it can be a fierce warrior if challenged, or if something dear to it is threatened. Owls come in all sizes from a tiny miniature that actually lives inside the cactus in the desert, to the great horned owl, which is the only bird that can out fly, the golden eagle. A fully-grown great horned is an awe-inspiring creature. Its talons are furry, and closely resemble the paws of a baby mountain lion with claws extended. Owl medicine is wonderful to have. Those who carry it cannot be conned because their vision shows them the truth of the situation.

Horse The horse has been pictured as an animal with supernatural power in many cultures. In the Native American tradition, Shamans fly other realms on mythical horses. Before horses were introduced by the Spanish, the life of the plains tribes was much more earth bound, having to carry all of their belongings from place to place. With the arrival of the horse, they were free to move and travel great distances with these beasts of burden. People with Horse Medicine often carry the burdens of other people. They are strong and able to "bare up" under the strain of difficult circumstances.

Hummingbird Love and Joy In many - even ancient - traditions, hummingbird feathers have been prized for their almost magical qualities. It is said that Hummingbird brings love as no other medicine can. Hummingbird is loved by the flowers and plants, for as it sucks the nectar from the flower, the plant reproduces and more of its kind are created. Its presence brings joy to the observer watching it move upward, downward, backward, forward or simply hovering in one place. Whatever its delicate antics, the Creator must surely be pleased with this magnificent creation.

RAVEN- MEDICINE Those who carry raven medicine also carry a heavy responsibility to Spirit. Raven is the messenger of magic from the great void where all knowledge waits for us. He is also the symbol of changes in consciousness, of levels of awareness and of perception. He carries the mark of the shape-shifter. He is the carrier of healing energy from distances. Those of you who have asked for messages of light and healing and prayer on this list have asked for raven medicine. What all of this means to us in the modern-day world is that raven medicine gives you the ability to get inside another's head and heart, and to understand them from the inside out, so to speak. You can "become" that other person because of the depth of your understanding of them, and it is not necessary to be in their physical presence for that to happen. Spiritual healers and counselors who are skilled in their abilities are using raven power for they have a depth of understanding and empathy not shared by all. Because of this power, they have the ability to actually alter another's perception and behavior. They are able to work real magic in bringing peace, healing and understanding to others. Here is the heavy responsibility, and the dangers, in raven medicine. As with all things, these powers can be used for dark purposes. It enables the carrier to manipulate and coerce others into doing their will to the detriment of the other. This medicine can be used for selfish and self-serving purposes for the ego and greed of the carrier. Because of the power of the levels in understanding others, a practitioner of the black arts can use raven for destructive purposes. If you carry raven medicine, you must always use it in the light for the highest and best interests of others. You must use it for the good and well being of others, and never for your own selfish motives even though you may be tempted when times are bad. Raven medicine demands that you walk in the light in all things. That's heavy with responsibility for your own thoughts and deeds. Work your magic in the light -- you are Raven.

Turtles And Tortoises The legendary strength of the turtle and the tortoise probably accounts for the central roles they play in the creation myths of many peoples. Chinese myth relates how the goddess Nu Gua used the legs of a tortoise to prop up the heavens, and in the Hindu account of the churning of the ocean, Mount Mandara was set on the back of the tortoise Kurma, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. The turtle appears in many Native American accounts as the "earth diver", the animal which retrieved mud from the bed of the primal sea to form the first land. The land grew so heavy that only the turtle could carry it on its back. In the cosmology of the forest peoples of northeastern North America, a Great Tree linking all the regions of the cosmos is said to grow from the back of a primal turtle. THE TURTLE

Snake  Transformation & New Beginnings It is said; many believe that Snake medicine people to be very rare. In some Tribes, to have Snake medicine means that tribal member has probably been bitten numerous times by poisonous snakes and survived. The power of Snake medicine is creative. It is being able to shed the old and create the new, just as the snake sheds its old skin and emerges as a whole new creature. As the snake crawls away, it leaves its old "life/skin" behind, never looking back and thus always creating a new beginning. This medicine can serve as a powerful metaphor for those wishing to break free

Spider Weaving, or Weaver Spider is another medicine that varies greatly from tribe to tribe. One tribe has associated the white man with spider medicine. Their prophecy says that when the white man (Spider) has connected all of his power lines and forms a great web over the earth, then his world will burn and he will be destroyed. Yet, another tribe speaks of the Spider Woman who weaves existence together like great strands of a web. Learning these stories of the Spider Woman can help one understand " that we are all connected". By dishonoring one, we dishonor ourselves.

Eagle Bravery, Courage, and Spirit Eagles have long been associated with the highest pursuits. In 1969 a voice rang out to the world, "The eagl e has landed." There was no better symbology for a landing on the moon than the "eagle". From the time that the Persians and Romans carried eagles into battle, these majestic birds have always symbolized courage, strength and bravery. As arial hunters, eagles are the undisputed masters of the skies. Many tribes have identified the eagle as the one closest to the Creator. The wings of the eagle are an engineering marvel with feathers that can act as little winglets to reduce turbulence, increase lift, and prevent stalling at low speeds. With a grasp much stronger than a human hand, the eagle’s talons have legendary power. The Eagle uses its powerful back talon to kill small prey instantaneously while its front three grasp its prey securely. Eagle feathers, revered by Native American Indians Healers as having powerful medicine, are regulated by a "feather bank" insuring that eagles are not killed for their powerful medicine. Eagle Medicine is the power of the Great Spirit. It is the spirit of tenacity. People with Eagle Medicine often have "high ideals", and need space to spread their wings. It is no accident that men in many tribes adorned themselves with eagle feathers given for acts of courage and bravery, and that a healer gingerly wraps his eagle feather in his medicine bundle after a ceremony.

Wolf Our Teacher Wolves have been long regarded by Native Americans as teachers or pathfinders. Wolves are fiercely loyal to their mates, and have a very strong sense of family while maintaining individualism. In the stars, Wolf is represented by the Dog, Sirius, thought by many aboriginal tribes to be the home of the "Ancients." It seems to be through this connection that Wolf has come to be associated with ancient teachings. Wolves are definitely the most misunderstood of the wild animals. Tales of cold bloodedness abound, in spite of the their friendly, social and intelligent traits. They are truly free spirits even though their packs are highly organized. They seem to go out of their way to avoid a fight. One is rarely necessary when a shift in posture, a growl, or a glance gets the point across quite readily. Traditionally, someone with Wolf Medicine has a strong sense of self, and communicates well through subtle changes in voice inflection and body movements. They often find new solutions to problems while providing stability and support that one normally associates with a family structure.

Coyote Trickster Different tribes assign different meanings to each animal, but the association of the Trickster to that of the coyote is by far the most predominant popularized today. Studying the traits, habitats, and surroundings of any animal can give one an insight into its spiritual significance. Coyote is said to trick the learner into the lesson, almost giving one the notion that things are not as they seem, until the lesson is done and the wisdom gained. Coyote medicine is powerful. In moving from one disaster to the next, Coyote trick himself into moving through spiritual quests in such a way that lessons learned from his antics cannot be ignored. It has been said that humor is a great medicine; maybe that is why it is associated with Coyote. If we can learn to laugh at ourselves, then we have indeed been blessed with understanding Coyote medicine.

RABBIT (Fear ) How many times have your heard someone say the phrase "breeds like rabbits"? The story is told how Rabbit once was a brave warrior who was befriended by an Eye Watcher, a kindly spirit who gave it water to drink and food to eat. Rabbit followed the faithful friend up the mountain, glancing away for just a moment causing Rabbit to tumble down the mountain. When Eye Watcher ran toward Rabbit to see if she was hurt, Rabbit tried to hide for she was afraid. When Eye Watcher asked Rabbit why she was hiding, Rabbit said that she was afraid because following Eye Watcher had caused her to fall. Eye Watcher was furious with Rabbit and cursed rabbit to be the "caller of fear" who is often startled by its own shadow. Rabbit reminds us not to be afraid of Fearful thoughts reproduce (like rabbits) and bring the very thing we fear