Love Your Animal Self

In my early twenties, I decided that the duck was my ‘Spirit Beast’. I decided to call it that to be funny, since a duck is not so beastly.

It fit me. I had a quacky voice, a waddly walk, a love of travel, and my sense of humor fit the bill. (Get it . . . the bill? Haaa . . . yeah . . .)

At this point, I was working in the Film industry in New York City. Kindness was not common, and I had to shake off a lot of attitude and ego from colleagues and managers and diva clients.

A mantra came to me from my divine ducky guides.
“Water off a duck’s back, Quack Quack”

Whenever someone would lay their bad mood into me, I would recite this to myself and shake my bottom twice on the words ‘quack quack’, wicking off the wet of their unwanted energy.

It helped a surprising amount. I could keep my head high and my mood light when the NYC grumps were rampant.

Other animals have felt like they had messages for me through the years as well. A chance crossing with an ibis while paddling, or the time I rescued a dragonfly from a spiderweb. Each felt a little more relevant from the meaning I associated with the creature. (For instance, the ibis is related to the Hermit card.)

Consider your own sacred moments with animals and what they meant to you.

If you have ever had pets, then you know the utter pleasure of fulfilling their joy. A treat, a belly rub, a word of praise, or a dog getting a walk on the beach and they are over the moon.

Consider what your inner animal craves right now that you can offer it. Honor that this part of you deserves the same adoration that you give to your beloved critters.

I have shared a poem below that captures this sacred message for me.

If the poem inspires you, please feed your inner animal writer. Join me next week, as I begin co-leading a Summer Weekly Writing Group Online with my old friend and writing coach, Dawn Montefusco.

Then scroll onward to a flip through of a lovely new oracle deck, Woodland Wardens, that derives meaning from animal and plant combinations.

As you watch, consider which card resonates the most with you right now.

Roar,

Jenna Lynne Roberts

Present Path Tarot