So I opened to the snake section in Medicine Cards (by Jamie Sams & David Carson) receptive to whatever message might be mine to take to heart today.
“Look at the idea that you may fear changing your present state of affairs because this may entail a short passage into discomfort. . . . In order to glide beyond that place which has become safe but nonproductive, become Snake.”
It is always tempting to stop any process if moving deeper means challenging the status quo. For me as I grieved through the loss of my two brothers in 2012, I found resistance each step of the way.
Now as I seek to reclaim life after loss the same thing can happen. Do I need to shed the skin of self-reliance? Co-facilitating a grief group has helped me reach out and comfort others as I too am comforted. Do I need to pay more attention to what triggers fear within me? Being attentive to my gut reaction when suicide was presented as possible path that a friend might take helped me to find even deeper healing concerning my brother John’s choice on April 16, 2012.
But what about now, why is the gopher snake appearing in my path? Is there some habit that while harmless is holding me back from using my time wisely to realize my full potential? I will pay attention and write more when clarity comes. Meanwhile I am grateful for this resident reptilian presence here at Dancing TreePeople!