Day 7

What can I learn from a beautiful snail?

www.51in51days.blogspot.com is a blog about the journey of getting my life back 

on track in the 51 days leading up to my 51st birthday on January 13, 2013.

DAY 7

I believe in symbols and the meanings of things. I think sometimes the universe or world around us is trying to communicate with us. It tries in subtle ways to get our attention to sit up and take notice. The other night I went to the Munay-ki, the Shaman rites of passage ceremony. It's a very interesting way to awaken our luminous body, or our energy fields, or spirit side that is connected to God and the entire Universe. I don't know how it works exactly, but I do believe all things, living on the planet have a physical form and an energetic or spiritual form. We just have to tap into it, and strengthen it.

The cover photo I shot of the very lovely Sally Kirkland

An example of this is when I had the pleasure of interviewing the well renowned actress Sally Kirkland a few months back. She is an ordained minister for the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA). www.msia.org. After spending time with her, I really felt a loving and sweet energy that emanated from her. This energy engulfed me and I felt happy and joyful long after the interview had concluded. Her kindness stayed with me, and I some how, due to her strong energy field I not only met her physically, but spiritually and energetically as well. I guess on some level we do this daily with everyone we meet. The encounter I had with Ms. Kirkland made it very palpable, and fortunately for me, very enjoyable.

Many years ago I met a friend of my sister's. This man disturbed to me the point that when I got home I actually took a shower to remove any remnants of his energy on me. When I asked my sister about him, she said, "My other friends wonder why I want to be near him."  I wondered the same thing. Though this man smiled at me, and told my sister he wanted to be friends with me, I felt a duplicitous and dangerous energy. There was something sinister about him, and I guess from his energy field, what I picked up was disconcerting and foreboding. 

I veered off my topic, but now understand why it went down this path. It has to do with intuition. Intuitively you know when someone is good, or bad for you. For me, I know, but I don't listen. Sometimes my intuition screams at me so strongly, that I can not ignore it. Maybe the intuition or higher self reads the luminous body of the other person, and subconsciously gives us messages about that person.  Just like in the case with my sister's friend. Or with another friend's sister, who had an ex boyfriend who when I met him I immediately scanned the room for an escape route. My body was so scared of this man, that I thought he could physically harm me. I later found out he had been in prison and been committed to a series of mental institutions. My intuition was trying to keep me safe in case he decided at that moment to go crazy. Thank God, he did not, so I never had to use my quick exit plan. However, my intuition, my higher self, knew this man was not safe for me to be around, and it warned me loud and clear. 

I am now looking at the experience I had with my "friend" the other day as a warning too. Maybe it was good that it happened. Possibly the relationship was not healthy for me, and by her bad mouthing me in front of me, it was a waving red flag right in my face. I had warnings about her personality before, but did not head them. So, maybe God, or the universe had to make it apparent to me. I find it interesting that the night this happened was the night I was introduced to Munay-ki. A shaman tradition of activating the luminous body, or spiritual self. Which coincides with my blog of getting my mind, body and spirit on track. Maybe Munay-ki is why this woman was in my life, and nothing more. Our paths had crossed for that purpose and that purpose alone. Once I was aware of Munay-ki, she was no longer needed, and her job for my life was done. 

The morning after I received the first two rites at Munay Ki, I was walking my dog Lilly and I came across a black feather. Immediately when I saw it, I felt it was some sort of omen. So back to the symbols and meanings. I googled black feather meaning and found this....

Black Feathers give the mystical wisdom that comes with the true spiritual initiation.

I have never come across a black feather in my life. Never.

Then the next night I came across a snail on my way home. I love snails. I try to save them whenever possible. This time was no different. I moved the little guy out of harms way. And as always when I have an interaction with an animal other than my dog, or a friend's cat, I research to see what the animal totem meaning is. This is how the universe can communicate with us, by sending animal messengers. They can communicate with us in our dreams, and also by sending animals to guide and aid us in the waking hours. This time was a snail. The main animal totem meaning for a snail is patience and protection of oneself. First the patience. I tend to get frustrated and very impatient with my life, so patience made total sense. And secondly, protection of myself is what I addressed in my blog yesterday. Being more discerning in my friendships, protecting my heart and understanding that knowing someone is not immediate. People will reveal themselves over time. So the black feather and the dainty beautiful snail had lessons for me. So what did the black feather teach me? That maybe I should go back again to the Munay-Ki regardless of my friend who is not truly my friend. And what did I learn from the beautiful snail? To be more patient with myself and the progress I am making. And, that I need to protect myself more. Valuable lessons that were so readily there for me, I only had to be open enough to see them right in front of me.

So I only have to be open to what the universe is teaching me and activate my luminous energy body. Sounds almost mundane and easy when I put it like that. An interesting and different way to perceive the world.  I will definitely keep you posted on my slow and snail like progress.

Elissa is a freelance writer & graphic designer somewhere in Los Angeles.

Until tomorrow and Day 8 of my blog....