There is a tradition among many native Americans that everyone has a power animal, or totem. These animals are there to guide us and warn us of problems in the road ahead. I always wondered what mine was, if indeed I had been assigned one by the powers that be. So, not terribly long ago I did a guided meditation to find my power animal. During this meditation I imagined I was entering a cave and would find it somewhere underground.
As I went deeper into the cave I realized I was riding on the back of a donkey, around little turns and down the steep path until we came to a clear, wide stream. On the other side of the stream was a beautiful whitetail buck, pawing at the ground and shaking his antlers. I said aloud, “Oh, how beautiful. I bet he is my power animal.”
Donkey
To that the donkey replied, “Hmph. What about the Jackass you rode in on?”
I had completely missed the fact that I had been safely carried into a dark and unfamiliar cave by my surefooted, loyal, funny donkey.
Monica, THANK YOU for sharing this most insightful blog- I often say that the answers we seek are usually right under our noses, and as you pointed out here we simply need to just ” Pay Attention. ”
Blessings, Cecilia
Hi Monica,
I like this story! In fact, in the East the donkey is often seen in the Taoist tradition. They say that Lao Zi was riding a donkey while going to the West… And the famous taoist astrologer Zhang Guolao, who was one of the 8 immortals, also was riding a donkey, facing the back.
Blessings,
Annie
Isn’t it usually the most common…people and animals…who are actually the most noble? One day when I get some land I will find a donkey to adopt…and then I will hope he adopts me. Thanks. I didn’t know the stories about the donkey in the East.