Titus contemplating with me on the fallen tree

Hiking in your own neighborhood is possible in DC and I enjoy taking Titus, my dog…Isn’t he cute? Here we are in Rock Creek Park today sitting on a log contemplating life 🙂 Off the beaten path. In between fence lines to hold us out of some unknown. Sitting on this sloping tree that fell down this steep hill observing all that is going by. Leaves flying in the breeze while the sun shines down onto our skin. He sniffs while I practice three part breath. Enjoying the beauty and the moment of solitude.

After awhile it is time for us to take the descent back down. Due to the fences it isn’t an easy as it seems. Long path up even longer path down. Titus and I try to go near the fence and quickly learn the leaves piled up mask the true depth of solid ground from the height of leaves. Changing our direction we come across beautiful crystal type stones. I stop and we pick out one together. I know he likes it because he tries to put it in his mouth to walk home.

Walking slowly now staring at the ground I take another two steps and think, maybe a stick for the altar at home as well. Then popping out of the leaves I see it, this bone. “No way! Oh my god…” I whisper out of my mouth. It is…Deer antler! Seriously?!?

In an instant my dream this morning comes rushing into my mind!!!!!! These deer antlers are a physical representation, a confirmation of my dream having a true importance in my reality.

Deer antler that found me today.

Waking up this morning, dreams fresh in the mind. Walking up this snow covered mountain I came to a clearing with minimum trees around. This black mother bear and baby cub are walking up the hill beside me in amazement I look around. A mother deer and baby calf are also walking beside me in between the bear and myself. I feel a slight amount of fear for seeing the bear. The deer and her baby start walking towards me and surround me staring deep into my eyes letting me know I am okay. I remove my fear and then the mother bear turns around and her mouth opens wide with jaws and comes towards me. I release fear and allow myself to be swallowed by the bear.

Wake UP! I am up instantly. I do not feel fear. I feel calm. I feel myself laying safely in my bed, warm and snuggled. I fall back asleep. Dreams of snow and trains until I wake again.

I remember! I dreamt about the bear and the deer. If you don’t know or want to READ sometime ago in the summer I intuitively realized that deer are my spirit animals. I am questioning what is the importance of the bear. Can you have two spirit animals? Can you have a totem? I researched the importance of the bear, the deer, and if you can have more than one animal.

Bear

• The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength and confidence
• Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership
• The spirit of the the bear indicates it’s time for healing or using healing abilities to help self or others
• The bear medicine emphasizes the importance of solitude, quiet time, rest
• Bear spirit animals bring strong grounding forces

This part I found is the most interesting:

The spirit of the bear as healer and teacher

Interestingly, in Siberia, the name used to designate women shaman is the same as the word “bear”. In Northern America, in the Inuit tradition, the bear spirit animal is also connected to the shamanic tradition and women.

For the Inuit people, the bear is a strong power or totem animal. In some beliefs, it is said that if an Inuit hunter accepts to be eaten by a bear, he may reincarnate as a shaman and carry the spirit of this animal. The polar bear is considered as the “Wise Teacher” as it shows how to survive in harsh conditions.

Deer:

• Gentleness
• Ability to move through life and obstacles with grace
• Being in touch with inner child, innocence
• Being sensitive and intuitive
• Vigilance, ability to change directions quickly
• Magical ability to regenerate, being in touch with life’s mysteries

I know at this moment there is healing in my heart, my soul, my surroundings, and the world but to see this dream and find the antlers…profound.

Observing, aware, compassion, healing,

APRIL RAMEÉ