Living in the country provides many benefits like being surround by nature and all of it’s wonderful creatures. However sometimes those creatures do not respect your space. Over the years I have had the deer (eating my plants), the woodchucks (digging up the lawn), the winter mouse (that I kept capturing and releasing but he kept coming back), the terrifying hawk in my basement incident, rabbits, woodchucks, the adorable but destructive chipmunks (who are collapsing all of my stone walls), the bumble bee (that much to the dismay of my clients loved to hang out on the back deck and greet them), the snake (that ended my gardening career) and oh yeah last year the bird fight (that ripped the gutters right off my house). After a while you learn to become one with these creatures and find a mutual respect with sharing your space with them (after all they were here first).
The Shamans believe that every living thing carries with it a power and wisdom. Power animals (as they are called) are an essential part of the Shamanic practice. They believe they are helpful spirits which add to the power of the shaman. The Shaman’s also believe that everyone has power animals. These animals add to your power, protect you from illness, protect you from negative energy and act similar to that of a guardian angel. They also lend you their wisdom. Over the years I have learned to embrace these loving but sometimes annoying creatures. More importantly I have also made it a practice to understand the power and lessons they have to offer me. I am always fascinated how the creature around me at the time always seems to have exactly what I need to work through whatever I am dealing with at that exact moment!
This year it is ants! They have invaded my kitchen and I have to tell you I am losing the battle! I am one of those insane people that capture and let all bugs go (except for spiders….as I am 
still not sure what the deadly brown recluse looks like, so I am taking no chances). Anyway, I digress. After a while you have to acknowledge the fact that you are indeed losing and you need to resort to different techniques. So yesterday I had to give in and use the ant spray….ugh! As insane as it sounds, it broke my heart when I came back in the kitchen a half hour later and saw one of the ants carrying it’s dead acquaintance across the kitchen floor! I couldn’t help but think about how amazing this little creature was. I decided it was time to look up the meaning of the ant!
Like many of you I am dealing with some seemingly never ending challenges. I sometimes feel that no matter what I do I am just not able to move on from this particular challenge. Like many of you I was coming to a point of complete frustration and hopelessness. Then I read about the ant! The ant represents strength, determination and patience! And let’s not forget this amazing little creature can carry up to 50 times its body weight! That was all I needed to hear! Clearly I need to refocus and keep being strong. I may sometimes feel completely overburdened by life and feel that I just can not handle ONE MORE THING (as I know many of you sometimes feel). But hey if a little tiny ant can carry up to 50 times its body weight, then how can a great big human not find the strength to continue working through their challenges!
So today I am thankful for the invasion of ants in my home. I am thankful for the lesson, inspiration and wisdom these little tiny creatures have provided me with. I know that while we may not always be able to see that silver lining at the end of the tunnel we can certainly muster up the strength, determination and patience to get there!
If you would like more information on Shamanism please visit Frauke Rotwein (whom many of you have met at Shamanic Journeying events at Spiritquest),click here to visit her website. She is an amazing Shaman and soul that I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with for many years! Don’t forget to tell the crazy bug saving lady from Spiritquest sent you:)