Swan – Totem Animal

Wednesday, February 8th was our wedding anniversary. We had big plans to go to Peoria to the Bass Pro Shop for dinner, then take a roll of quarters and play at the shooting gallery and do a bit of shopping. Yes, we are big kids and love to play at the shooting gallery! lol! We passed each other on the road, each of us going home from work/tending grandchildren, (Gerald work and me from being with Dylan). I saw Gerald throw on the brakes when he saw me and whip around into a parking lot, so I joined him there. He excitedly told me he had just seen the biggest group of swans, he had ever seen around these parts! We went and home and got my camera and enjoyed sitting in the truck just watching this wonderful bird show! Swans are dear to me and played a big part in our wedding with their likeness on our invitations, and incorporated in our decorations, so they are special and this was very appropriate for the day!

Swans are strong totem medicine. They live a very long life, are strong, and graceful. They can represent longevity, strength and grace and strong family bonds. Since they mate for life, they can show up to indicate the one you are with, or one soon to be met, is your soul mate. As an archetype, they start life as “the ugly duckling”, but grow into beauty. Like the children’s story, this can be about growing into inner beauty. Her message might be to look beyond the obvious. Swan can teach you to realize your own inner beauty and the inner beauty of others. She tells of the development of intuitive abilities. She tells of the time of altered states and foretelling. Swans figure prominently in all cultures myths, legends and lore. She soars through the air, nests on the ground and swims through the water, taking herself through the different elements with ease. She may be showing us to consider a change of mood or heart, with her movement through these different environs. In dreams, she could be telling us to spread our wings and take charge of our waking dreams.

As you can see in the picture and video, there were thousands of snow geese and some had on their blue color phase, also!

Thank you for visiting Comfrey Cottages xx

White Tailed Squirrel

Our town has had a resident population of white tailed squirrels, for as long as I can remember. I have never seen one in my neighborhood though, so I am pretty thrilled about this one! We do feed squirrels, along with birds, here at Comfrey Cottages:) Are usual squirrel here, is so gorgeous! They are reddish with big red, fluffy tails. Not long ago, my husband and I were in a town with a black squirrel population. They were just adorable and we drove around finding and watching them for quite awhile.

Squirrels as a totem/power animal are quite fascinating. It might behoove any of us drawn to this cute rodent to think about what squirrel has to teach us. Gathering, activity, and preparedness. Exam each of these areas in your life. There can be deficits or excess that you might care to address. Anyone that has trouble letting go of emotional baggage, hoarded possessions, excess thinking and worrying a subject to death, might want to heed squirrel and keep what is needed and let go of that which is bogging them down. Take time to play, stay active, prepare for the future, don’t try to do too many things at once, and take time to listen to your inner self and to natures cycles.

I know having too many irons in the fire is one of my areas I always need to work on! I believe this little squirrel came to remind me to prioritize, to let go of some more possessions and thoughts,  to make more room for what is needed, and to remember to always approach each day with joy in my heart and a playful nature!

Big hugs to all who visit Comfrey Cottages