It is Time to Listen Says the Bear!

"What is that outside in the yard?" I thought noticing something out of the corner of my eye.  I swung around to look and was shocked to see a giant brown bear lumbering through my back yard and coming straight for my house.

"Oh  my goodness!" I cried as I ran to close the back door.

The bear was headed straight for my back door too.  I reached it seconds before and as I was trying to close it, the bear also reached the door and pushed his way in.  I tried to keep him out but I was no match for him.  He didn't push forward in a ferocious sort of way, but more in the way of he was just coming in and if I was smart, I would move out of his way.  I did!

Scared I ran down the hall and down the stairs to the basement.  Nervously I fumbled with my phone and started to dial 911 for help.  I heard the bear upstairs walking around, bumping into things.  He didn't seem to be upset or purposely destroying things... he was just making his presence known!

I was shocked.  I was confused.  How could there possibly be a bear upstairs in my home?  As he didn't seem intent on hurting me, my fears started to fade... a little.  It was then that thankfully I woke up.

Animals, acting as animal totems, have messages for us.  They can present themselves to us physically, in meditation, or in our dreams.  The brown bear in my dream was a message for me.  Researching the behaviors and characteristics of bears and analyzing the circumstances in my dream affords many clues as to my message.

Bears have great mythology surrounding them and are symbolic of Mother Earth and our connection to the natural world.  The bear is known for its ability to hibernate and the hibernation teaches us to go within.  It is symbolic of connecting with our subconscious mind and bringing forth the information we have deep inside.  The bear teaches us to be still and quiet to hear our messages.  Once we have connected to our Spirit, it is important for those working with bear energy to also come out of hibernation, and share our gifts and messages with the world.

The bears love for trees and honey that is found in the hives in the trees is also very telling.  The trees stretch from Mother Earth up to the heavens and are connections between us in the physical realm and the Divine.  The bears are known to mark the trees with their claws telling us to leave our spiritual mark on the world.  Their love for honey is symbolic of the importance that while searching for our Spirit, to still enjoy the sweetness of life while we are in physical form.

That the bear was coming into my home and through the back door also gives many clues.  The home is representative of the heart center and the back of your house is symbolic of things that are more personal and private in nature.

I know the bear coming into my house, from the back, was a direct message to me to go inward, listen to my heart, and hear the voice of Spirit.  My Spirit is reaching out to me.

It is time for me to be quiet and listen.  It is time for all of us to be quiet and listen.  The world needs us to pay attention.  The world needs us to step into our power as spiritual beings and create the positive shift into higher consciousness that is waiting for us.  It is time. Will you listen too?

For info or to order my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit http://godisinthelittlethings.com

We Are Family

Yesterday I was asked to pull an animal totem card  for a woman that was struggling with some family issues.  Not sure of her family issues but sure that Divine intention is always at work, I said a prayer and pulled her card.  The card I pulled was the goose.  Yes, Divine intention manifested once again.

Geese are known for many things. The mother goose with her gaggle of goslings is a familiar picture in our minds. Geese are also known to mate for life. Together they are symbolic of a strong family unit or family type relationship.  Geese are also valued for the large and nutritious eggs they provide.  Some legends speak of the goose that laid the golden eggs.  The eggs, specifically the golden ones, are symbolic of our own ability to create richness in our lives.

The message of the goose for the woman was to understand her family was strong.  Whether her family is a large family with her spouse and children and extended family, or a small family with just herself and a parent, or any other unlimited combination of what makes up our family units.  Even if her family is simply herself.  Her family is strong.

How is this possible?  How can a family be strong in any and all combinations?  Be strong with only one member?  It is not only possible, it is our Truth.

As the holidays are approaching, family or a lack of it, is on our minds.  For many years I used to worry about holiday celebrations.  Who would come?  If there wasn't a large crowd, then for me it wasn't a celebration.  Somehow it would be lacking.  I created so much stress for myself trying to have the 'perfect' family get together.  This year I am celebrating Thanksgiving alone.

I am celebrating Thanksgiving alone.  There I said it.  It feels good.  I am looking forward to it.  The family I will be with this Thanksgiving will be myself...

And with all of you.  I will also be with all of the beings in the natural world, seen and unseen.  I will be with my angels and my guides.  I will be with the Divine.  Actually I really can't be alone if I tried and neither can you.

We are all a part of the Divine.  The Source that is in me, is in you.  God is in all of the beings in the natural world, seen and unseen.  Our angels and our guides are part of the Oneness.  Whatever name we use, we are all connected.  The Spirit of God runs through all of us.  We are One.

We are Family.  Our Family is strong.  Our Family is grand.  Our Family is Divine.

We have much to celebrate. We have many golden eggs. Our lives are full of the richness of our shared Spirit. Revel in our Oneness. Feel the connection we have to each other and all beings.

We are Family.

For information or to order my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Little Things please visit my website

 http://godisinthelittlethings.com

Looking Through the Lens of Spirit

Have you ever felt stressed, discontented, or sad?  Do you find yourself searching for something to help yourself feel better?  Searching for the perfect job, relationship, or experience?  Thinking that once you achieve them you will feel better, only to realize the feelings of peace, satisfaction, and joy are fleeting?

We all have. I believe we are all searching for something. The something that will quiet our minds, provide comfort to our souls, and fill our hearts with joy.

Everyone in their own way is searching.  But why are we searching and what are we really searching for?  I believe we are searching because we are feeling a deep dislocation from our Spirit, a disconnection to our true essence.  We are searching for that connection, our connection back to our soul.

The stress, discontent, and sadness occur because we are feeling the separation from Spirit that we have created.  We live our lives from the perspective of our ego, the human shell we wrap around ourselves.  As such we think there is a separation.  But there is no separation.  We are spiritual beings. We are One.

But there is more.  We are also searching for our connection to each others Spirit and our connection to all of the beings we share our world with.  For you see, their Spirit, is also our Spirit.

We are one.  The Spirit of God, the Divine, the Source that is in you, is the same Spirit that is in every other being.  We are connected.  That which you do, and feel, and say, you not only do to yourself, but you do to and for the greater Spirit that we are all a part of.

How is this possible?  There is a oneness.  The oneness is our connection.  The oneness is our truth.  The oneness is the Spirit of God.

How can we remember this?  We can look to the dragonfly for help.  Dragonflies are very ancient beings and are associated with the realm of light.  They remind us that our Spirit is also light, Divine light.  The dragonfly color develops more deeply over time caused by structures in their shells refracting the light.  As the dragonflies color deepens, so can our understanding deepen of our true spiritual essence.  We have the ability to come from a place of Spirit and let our own Divine light shine.

The satisfaction, peace and joy we seek can only be found when we reconnect to our true Spirit.  When we understand our Spirit is shared with all beings, our minds will be quieted, our souls will find comfort, and our hearts will feel lasting joy.

When we connect to our shared Spirit, we connect to ourselves.  Look at yourself and your world through the lens of Spirit and you will begin your journey home.

For information on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit http://godisinthelittlethings.com

A Whale of a Dream

Wow I had an incredible dream last night!  I am not one to have vivid dreams or easily remember them, but this one was different.  I remember every detail with clarity. 

For some time I have been asking for understanding and remembrance of my power as a spiritual being.  To fully realize my psychic abilities and increase my communication with the Divine. On my spiritual journey I have sought and received guidance through various means; people, situations, and animals.  I believe all of the guidance received to be precious gifts.  My dream last night was no exception.

In my dream I was in a house with many people.  Suddenly it started to storm.  I happened to look out a window that had a view overlooking the ocean.  The wind was strong and the sea was rough.  I was startled to see a whale fighting the tide trying to come to shore.  I could tell the whale was not a baby, but certainly not full grown yet.  I thought due to its young age, it must have gotten confused.

"Oh no, stop!" I cried out to the whale.  "You are going the wrong way!"  I knew the whale couldn't hear me but I was at a loss as to what to do.  "Look out the window!" I shouted to the others in the house.  "There is a whale trying to come to shore."  No one paid any attention.

As quickly as the storm started, it ended.  I ran outside to see what had happened to the whale.  I was dismayed to find that it had in fact beached itself.  But it didn't beach itself on the sand.  Somehow in my dream, the whale was able to beach itself between two cars, in a parking space by the house!

As my mind tried to wrap itself around this turn of events, a car tried to park in the parking spot.  "Stop!" I yelled to the car.  "There is a whale in the parking spot!"  The driver of the car didn't hear me.  I frantically tried to think of a way to help the whale.  I ran into the garage looking for a barricade to put around the whale.  I found a large bright orange bike.  Grabbing it, I wheeled it outside and put it in front of the whale, thankfully stopping the car from parking there.

My neighbor walked outside to greet her guest.  She and her guest were unfazed by the whale.  Their only concern was where they could park the car.  I was dumbfounded.  Didn't anyone else care?

I had to help the whale.  I knew some people that were familiar with whales and had the resources to help me get the whale back into the ocean.  I called all of them.  They were either busy or uninterested.

I finally realized it was up to me and me alone, to help the whale.  I then woke up.

Groggy from sleep, I had an overwhelming feeling of concern.  However, this concern quickly turned to gratitude as I realized that through my dream, I was given more guidance.  I looked up the significance of the whale.  

Whales are ancient mammals and are thought by many cultures to be the record keepers of the sacred knowledge of Mother Earth.  Whales ask us to reconnect to our deep soul connection to the natural world and our universal consciousness.  To remember our own sacred knowledge, our true essence.

Whales are also known for their songs.  The vibrational sounds the whales emit are significant and speak to the vibrational energy of all life.  Listening and responding to the call of creation can teach us to go within to bring forth our own creative life force.

Additionally the color orange represents creative energy.  It is very significant that the bike I chose to protect the whale was orange.  In fact, all of the items I had to choose from in the garage were orange.

Finally realizing in the dream that I was the only one that was willing and concerned about helping the whale tells me that going forward I alone am responsible for my own spiritual answers.  As the whales are the record keepers of Mother Earth, so I am the record keeper of my own soul.  I already have the answers.  We all already have the answers.  We just need to reconnect with our own vibrational energy, our own creative life force to remember.

There is a saying that you should 'always trust your dreams, for they have chosen you as much as you have chosen them'.  I trust my dream last night was meant to give me the guidance I have been asking for.  My answers are within.  It is time to remember.

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit my website http://godisinthelittlethings.com

And I Think to Myself, What a Wonderful World!

I love that old Louie Armstrong song!  Makes me smile every time I hear it.  There is such an untouched innocence to it.  It speaks to a time in my heart when things seemed much simpler.  "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world"...it could be. 

It could be a wonderful world if today I didn't feel sadness deep within my heart.  The kind of sadness that I can't really explain.  The kind of sadness that I find myself at a loss to understand why there is a knot in my throat and tears coming to my eyes.  When the most random interactions with people leave me feeling down.  Nothing special happened today to cause me to feel this way.  No one did anything out of the ordinary.  It's actually quite an extraordinarily beautiful day. 

Now I don't always feel it, this sadness.  Most days I feel great.  But then there are days like today.  The kind of day when it seems as if my mind keeps wandering to my sad thoughts.  The 'what's wrong with me' thoughts.  The 'everyone has someone' thoughts.  The 'what am I doing to deserve these feelings' thoughts.

"Ok, ok stop it!" I chastise myself.  "Stop feeling sorry for yourself!"  "You have worked too hard and come too far to feel like this again!" I sternly remind myself. 

I breathe deeply and start doing the work... again.  What have I learned?  What do I know that can help me?  I fervently search my thoughts for bits of information I know are there.  Hard earned truths that have helped me before.  And then thankfully I hear them.  Why is this coming up for me again today?  What am I supposed to learn from these feelings?  What am I not addressing?  

And then I hear the biggest truth of all.  Stop judging the experience and just feel the emotions!  Wow that's the hardest one of all.  Losing the judgment.  The judgment of myself and my experiences.  Remembering we are here to experience life!  In the experience is the emotion.  In the emotion is the gift.

But wait!  That still doesn't explain why it's coming up for me today.  Why am I experiencing these emotions again now? 

I know my Spirit knows.  We already know the answers.  We just have to be quiet long enough to hear and pay attention to messages that are all around us.  "The animals, look to the animals" I hear my heart saying.  But I haven't seen any animals lately.  No animals have presented themselves uniquely or repetitively to me lately.  How could the animals have a message for me?  "Think deeper" I hear my heart say again.  Wait! I know!  The toad.  Many times over the past few days people have specifically brought a toad up to me.  No other animal... just the toad.  Random people that have read or heard about my book are asking me about the symbolism of the toad.  The toad, through other people, is being presented to me.

Well!  I am very familiar with the symbolism of a toad!  The toad is an amphibian.  Amphibians go through a process of metamorphosis. Toads change from an egg, to a tadpole, to a toad and periodically shed their skin. If an amphibian is your totem, the message is one of adaptability and significant personal change.  You can experience a major shift or transformation, a metamorphosis.

My first thought is "not again!"  Thankfully my second thought is "with change, comes growth" and isn't that why we're here?  To learn and grow through our experiences?  Taking a deep breath I dry my eyes.  I have learned to welcome the messages and remind myself not to judge, just trust.  And suddenly... I think to myself, what a wonderful world!

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit my website http://godisinthelittlethings.com

 

Pumpkins, Pigs and Perspective

Today on a beautiful New England autumn day, with the crisp air, a slight breeze, abundant sunshine, and the leaves on the trees bursting with color, I had the pleasure to go to a local farm to pick pumpkins.  I was all set to enjoy some apple cider and cookies while I looked for the perfect accompaniment to our fall decorations.

However, as we entered the farm I was surprised to see an enclosure with three pigs in it.  There were no other animals around so this seemed out of place to me.  As I dallied, one pig came right up to the fence and stared directly in my eyes as if to say "Hey look at me!"  So I did.  I stood there watching the three pigs eat, burrow in the ground rooting around for food, and snuggle together in the mud.  They were really very cute and very content just lying in the mud.

Suddenly a young boy and his dad came up to watch the pigs.  "They're really very dirty huh?" the boy said.  "Yes they are," the dad replied unimpressed as they walked away.

I was struck by their perspective and dismissive attitudes. Dirty?  Why of course they are dirty.  They are staying comfortable and cool lying in the mud.  No one is helping them or paying attention to them.  No one cleans their enclosure or bathes and grooms them.  Most domesticated animals would be very dirty if humans didn't care for and pay attention to them. The pig is no exception.

And then I was struck by another thought.  Isn't it that way with our dreams and desires?  The ones we care for and pay attention to are the ones that flourish.  The dreams and desires we set as our intentions and put our energy behind are the ones that we manifest.  The ones that we leave alone to wallow in the mud of our busy lives, seem to get stuck in that same proverbial mud.  Just like the pigs who without care and attention are content to burrow down in the mud and snuggle in there, our dreams and desires without our focused intentions set on them, are content to snuggle in the comfortable busyness of our lives.

It is not until we are willing to become uncomfortable and put our dreams and desires in focus, that we can manifest them.  The message of the pig is the same as the wild boar.  Interestingly the boar is the warrior spirit and can help you get in touch with your inner primal power.  As a pig burrows, so you need to burrow deep inside and find your power, and uproot your determination to manifest your dreams and desires.  It will take your focused intention to manifest your dreams, but with your care and attention, you will release them from the busyness of your life and you and your dreams will soar.

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit http://godisinthelittlethings.com

Look Through the Eyes of Oneness

Recently my teenage daughter, who is afraid of bugs, chose to interrupt her morning routine, pick up an earwig in her bathroom, carry it downstairs and let it go outside.

What compelled her to do this?  What compelled her to help this little bug?  She did it because the earwig was alive. It was as simple as that. The earwig was alive and because of that it has value. 

The earwig has value because all living things have value.  From your neighbor down the block, to the mighty lion in his pride, to the beautiful bird that wakes you with his morning song, to the wizened oak that shades you from the sun, to the tiny earwig that needs to be brought outside, all living things have value.

The value we have stems from the oneness between us. A connection we share with each other and all living beings.  The connection is our Spirit.  The connection is God.
 
When we can look at ourselves, our family, our friends, our coworkers, and the strangers on the street and recognize our Spirit, then we can see the oneness between us.

When we can look at the animals, the plants and trees, and all living things and recognize their Spirit, then we can see the oneness between us.

When we see the oneness, we see the value.
When we see the oneness, we see love.
When we see the oneness, we see God.

God is the connection.  God is in all things.

Look through the eyes of oneness, and you will see a different world.

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit  http://godisinthelittlethings.com

Managing Mondays the Mice Way!

Monday, Monday!  Feeling a little stressed?  Wish it was still Sunday morning and you could relax with a cup of coffee and your favorite blog?

Mondays more than any other day of the week can seem overwhelming.  What to do?  Why not take our cues from our animal friends!  One of the smallest, but most industrious animals, the cute little mouse can give us some tips!

Mice are considered to be intelligent and organized creatures.  They pay attention to the details and keep very tidy homes with different areas for food, sleep, and bathroom functions. They are also quite curious, adaptable and fearless. Despite their small size, they are very good jumpers, swimmers, and climbers. Mice explore their surroundings and are not afraid if new items are put in their path. They also have sharp front teeth and use them to chew big items into little pieces so they can handle them.

If a mouse visits you, the devil is in the details. You, are either not paying attention to the little things, or your focus is so specific, you’re not seeing the forest for the trees. 

Since the birthing cycle of a mouse is rather quick, and they have multiple ones a year, a mouse totem also signifies an ongoing process of manifestation. This is awesome news, since you can manifest whatever you set your intention to!

No need to feel stressed or overwhelmed.  Just like a little mouse does, take it one fearless step at a time, break your tasks into manageable parts, pay attention to the details and before you know it.... voila!  Success!  Suddenly Mondays seem a little less overwhelming!

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals visit my website 

http://godisinthelittlethings.com

Happy Birthday to Me and a Toast to New Beginnings!

Rituals are a wonderful way in which we honor the milestones in our lives.  Our rituals are as varied and rich in meaning as we are as human beings.  Celebrating the day we were born, our birthday, is one of the most meaningful and celebrated of all.

Why do we do this?  Why do we celebrate the day of our birth? Is it to help us mark the passages of our lives and to take a moment each year to be mindful that our lives are being lived?  To celebrate that our journey has continued for another year?  To stand in our truth as human and spiritual beings and make a conscious decision on the direction we will be taking going forward?

I believe it is all of these reasons.  The recognition of what has passed and an opportunity to move forward in our lives.  And with movement, comes change.  As conscious beings we know that change is inevitable.   It can be thrust upon us or it can be sought after.  Change can be thought of as a blessing or as a curse.  But change will come.  As we evolve as spiritual beings, we can look on change as an opportunity for growth.  Growth requires shedding of the old and embracing the new.

To honor my birthday and the changes in my life, I am celebrating the animal that has been most persistent in the messages of change for me.  The animal that was once the one I most feared.  The animal that showed me it was time for me to start the process of my spiritual rebirth.  Today I am celebrating the bat.

Bats are powerful totems and their message is one of promise after a change, a rebirth. Since bats are “reborn” from the earth’s caves each night, the bat message is one of death of an old way of life and rebirth to a new. 

Bats I believe, are feared by humans for many reasons. Bats are nocturnal animals flying at night, the time that most fears arise in humans. They are not typically thought of as cute furry animals like so many others we see and are often depicted with their mouths open and teeth bared.  Even though there are over 1200 species of bats, and only three species of bats ingest blood for nutrition, we often think of them as blood thirsty vampire like animals associated with Halloween.

However, studying bats you realize that they are extremely helpful animals. The fruit eating bats fly long distances at night over large open areas of land, spaces that other animals are afraid to cross for fear of being out in the open. While flying, they propagate the earth on a much greater scale than birds or primates, dropping seeds and defecating as they go. Their droppings called guano, is also a wonderful fertilizer.

If a bat flies into your life, the message is to face your fears and see what part of your life is not working for you any longer. Spiritual and emotional growth cannot happen without change. It is time for that old part of your life to die, so that you can be reborn, stronger, healthier, and happier than before.

Change can be very scary, just as bats can be scary, but without death there is no rebirth, or promise of new growth like the plants that they help to germinate. Go inward, and be honest with yourself. Is your life all that it should be? Or is it already dying around you and you’re too busy or scared to notice? Embrace the transition, listen to that still small voice within, your God voice, and you will soar to new heights.

Yes! In celebration of me, and all of you on your spiritual paths, let's embrace this moment. Stand in our truth and see what our soul is saying to us.  Step forward confidently knowing that God leads us exactly where we are supposed to go.  A toast to new beginnings!

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit http://godisinthelittlethings.com 

My Little Chickadee!

Understanding the mystery of our Divine selves.  Isn't that what we yearn for?  The chickadee brings us that message.

Chickadees are very special birds. There are seven kinds of chickadees.  Seven is significant because it is a sacred number signifying the individual rising from the material plane. The symbolism of the number seven is vast and this list is by no means complete. The number seven represents creation.  This is based on the number three, symbol of the Divine, and the number four, symbol of the human world, added together to equal seven.  There are seven major chakras, the energy centers in our body and seven levels of our auras.  In Christianity God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.  There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, seven deadly sins and seven virtues.  In Hinduism there are seven worlds in the universe and seven promises in a Hindu wedding.  In Islam there are the seven levels of heaven and seven gates to hell.  In Judaism there are seven branches to the menorah and Moses received the Torah seven weeks after fleeing from Egypt. Shivah, which means seven, is the first seven days of mourning.  People of the Jewish faith sit Shivah for seven days.

Looking at the larger species of birds, birds are symbols of the bridge between humans and the Divine and their ability to fly signifies aspiration and transcendence.  

Specific to the chickadees, they have a black cap on their heads. The color black signifies the feminine and mystery. The feminine is symbolic of fertility and rebirth. The cap being on the head, is symbolic of higher thinking and perception.

Together the message of the chickadee is enlightening!  It is a message of connecting to your Divine self through understanding the mystery of your higher truth. As you experience your spiritual rebirth, be mindful that just as when the seven chakras are balanced in your body, you are open to a higher level of healing and consciousness, you should always express your truth in a healing and balanced way. When you do, you will bring joy to yourself and those around you, just like the joy a chickadee brings!

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit 

http://godisinthelittlethings.com 

Great Blue Heron, Feathers and More!

I believe that God, the Divine, communicates with us in many different ways.  In ways that we are open to.  One way God communicates with me is through our animal friends, acting as animal totems.  Through my blog I will be sharing general information on different animals and their symbolism and answering your questions about the messages the animals are giving you!

A message from a friend - "I would love to hear your thoughts on a big blue Heron that showed up as my totem this morning. I am also finding an awful lot of feathers these days and I have had this one bird at my office window for a week or so. I love finding meaning behind the unusual things that show up in our lives. So inspirational!" 

The message from the animals - 
Birds - because they are one of the most ancient forms of life on earth and they have the ability to fly they are symbols of the bridge between humans and the Divine. Their ability to fly signifies aspiration and transcendence. As you approach periods of your life where you are making strides into higher consciousness and understanding/experiencing your true essence, birds will make themselves more prominent.
Heron - follow own innate wisdom - you know what is best for you and should follow your own feelings.
Feathers - help give flight to your ideas/wants and areas of your life that you want to move forward.
 
All together it sounds like you are moving in an amazing direction of self growth and fulfillment!
 
Would love to hear more about the animals that are visiting you! Please leave a comment or email me at PatriciaBrooks@GodisintheLittleThings.com and I will post for you and others to become more aware and enjoy our connections with our animal friends!

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit 

http://godisinthelittlethings.com 

Welcome to God is in the Little Things!

Good evening!  I am excited to start my very first blog!  I have recently published my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals.  It is my intensely honest, emotional, and spiritual journey  from loss and sadness to finding joy through understanding my true spiritual self. My story is Divinely guided and written and told through the visits of animals, acting as animal totems, that God sent and the messages He had for me.  My story is a story of hope and healing.  

Come along with me and see your world through a different lens!
A lens that reveals our connection with all beings and explains the messages our animal friends have for us!

Totems, or spirit animals, are our animal friends. The behaviors and characteristics of the animals are studied because they are symbolic of their message.  The belief is that the animals energetically communicate with us whether through their own spirit or God communicating through the animals.  This belief has been a part of many cultures throughout history, including the ancient Egyptians, the Druids, and the American Indians. For centuries man has looked to animals and the symbolism of their unique qualities, to garner guidance, strength, and inspiration.

The number of animals that visit you, the direction that they come from, and the landscape they are in, are also very symbolic and yield much information. There are differing beliefs on whether or not all people have animal totems, how many totems they may have, and whether they are constant in your life. However, many people do agree that animals can act as life totems, and stay with you throughout your life, or they can come into your life for a period of time with a specific message for guidance.

If you want God, the Divine, to connect and communicate with you through the animals, simply be open to the possibility. Invite the animals to visit you, and then pay attention to your surroundings. Be aware of whether the animal is doing something unusual or repetitive, something possibly out of character for the animal. If so, be thankful, and ask yourself what message does God have for you?

For info on my book God is in the Little Things; Messages from the Animals please visit

http://godisinthelittlethings.com