Patrick
Words of Wisdom:
"The Ocean of Life is lavish with abundance."
During the Summer of 2011, I attended a workshop at Bette Hoover's Eden Valley in Dayton, Maryland. I was blessed to have my sister Lightwoman accompany me on this adventure. We had not spent much time together lately. She has fallen in love and she & Val will be married in October.
After an easy relaxing day on the land, we were instructed to make Spirit Poles in our Landkeeper workshop. The theory behind this is that by displaying the decorated poles the Landkeeper spirits would recognize us and honor our request to be of assistance in helping to keep Mother Earth healthy for 7 generations to come. The ceremony seemed easy and fun for me. I immediately found my personal piece of wood (bamboo) and naturally, it was the only piece on the land. Bette had gotten it many years ago from our place, called Sanctuary.
After thoroughly enjoying the process of gathering and adding some of our own favorite items that we brought from home, we all were so proud of our creations for calling to the Landkeepers. I brought one of my rooster feathers from "Sir", a stud rooster who had to be donated to the Bishop Brother's flock of hens due to the attack of the Weasel at my chicken house. He lost his flock of loving ladies. The Bishop Brothers happen to live right next door to Eden Valley.
"Sir", our old stud rooster, hopefully has learned the pecking order of his new home. I have no desire to know for sure.
Back to the Abundance concept and the rabbit, aka Patrick.
The Shaman who told me about needing a new animal totem was so sure of himself. I did not question nor doubt his words of wisdom.
Prior to assigning me the Rabbit as my new animal totem, who by the way was replacing the coyote, we had to speak out loud our biggest fear. Wow, after a nice, peaceful time and now the WORK. I told truthfully that I feared the idea of being left alone and not having enough. He kindly asked, enough of what? Love, money, friends, time, those sorts of things. I meekly said, "Yes, those things".
He smiled sadly and told me some of the many attributes of why the rabbit was the totem for abundance.
These are some of his attributes, he multiplies quickly and in multitudes, thus he is never alone or lonely. Many people collect his foot, the "lucky rabbit's foot", and use it as a talisman to bring good luck. He rarely gets caught…remember Ole Peter rabbit…he lost his coat but not his life.
I had just recently learned a great deal about rabbits from my sister, Lightwoman, during her presentation of the animals for the spirit paths of the South at the Medicine Wheel this summer. The rabbit is known for his fleetness and his ability to make great leaps and hops. If he is your animal totem, you will find your endeavors do so as well. Success comes easily.
I smiled at my new Shaman and he moved on to others. When he and the group had all finished telling their personal stories out loud to the world, we took a few minutes for silence. Suddenly it seemed it had been a very long day. Yet the time flew by and we were always "engaged" in the teaching. It was a very good workshop and I realized that I need to start getting out of my safety zone here at Sanctuary and see what the rest of the world (at least in my neighborhood) is doing.
Thus, I immediately signed up for a new yoga class at Blueberry Gardens. (Another story possibility for later). In route to the class I passed by my friend Pat's place, also called Sanctuary, at Dellwood Springs. Pat was having an estate sale and it was just made public. I wanted to stop and wish her well. Change is difficult and harder still when you have lots of "stuff". Anyway, when I pulled into her long driveway, there were other people already looking at all her goodies that were for sale.
I wasn't looking for any "goodies". I have too much stuff of my own already. No matter how much I downsize, it manifests just as quickly.
Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw the rabbit. Well the grass was so tall that all I saw was his ears. I slowly walked towards him. I looked about and didn't want anyone to see me talking to a cement rabbit. No one was looking. I put my hand on his ear in an attempt to lift him and his ear pulled right off in my hand! Still no one saw me. Then out of nowhere there was Pat standing and smiling at me. She said she knew I'd come by. What caught my fancy? I was holding the rabbit ear in my hand while talking to her. She smiled and patted my shoulder and took the ear. She thinks her grandson broke it and tried to stick it back so no one would see it. Yikes. She put the one- eared rabbit in the repair pile.
I then told her about my adventures at the Landkeeper Event. She too is a genuine Landkeeper, so she related immediately.
Just then, the other ladies called her away and off she went. As I started to get in my car I thought I heard something say, "Give me a new home".
Wow! Then I saw him standing tall in the grass next to the roadway. He could have easily been run over by the new customers coming down the driveway. I went over to him, picked him up, and Immediately cradled him in my arms. Here was my new animal totem. I did not want to buy anything but this was so different. Sure enough, on his forehead was a piece of masking tape with $45 written on it in magic marker.
I went to my car and got my purse. I had $25 cash on hand. I heard the other woman haggling over prices and I did not nor would I do that to my dear kindred spirit, Pat. I wanted the rabbit badly. I could write a check but too much hassle for Pat. Just then, as the rabbit was sitting on the front seat waiting for his seat belt, my guardian angel, Gabriella, said, "You have money, gas money." Wow, indeed there were two twenty dollar bills in my glove compartment. I ran back and paid Pat and she loved the rabbit finding a new, safe, home where he was truly needed and going to be much appreciated. She was going to be moving and could not take him with her. She was happy to know of his new home at Sanctuary4u.
Well, off we went... both of us smiling in the front of the Little Tank, my car. The rabbit had a seat belt on "just in case". He was heavy and long and very stately. I felt I should address him as "sir ...something". Anyway, he was home now and I washed him from head to toe. I searched for any identification stuff... no made in China, no nothing.Totally blank. No hint of his beginnings at a cement factory. Now, clean and in his place of Honor on the deck, he needed a name. Out of nowhere once again, I heard "Patrick". That was it. I smiled and he winked and thus we have Patrick. The "sir" was not needed. He is a constant reminder of how much abundance I actually do have in every aspect of this my life now. I'm grateful for the workshop; my teacher's name is Evan Pritchard. He is very famous and has written many, many books about Native American spirituality. At the workshop, his mother was one of the workshop participants. It was beautiful to watch true love from mother to son and vice versa.
Patrick got a "love offering dish", a recycled margarita glass that is HUGE. Somehow he always has some "jingle" in his pockets. I have placed a mantra near his place in our home. It reads as follows:
GREAT SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL MY SUPPLY. ABUNDANCE IN ALL FORMS COMES TO ME NOW, UNDER GRACE, IN PERFECT WAYS, AND THE UNIVERSE ALWAYS PROVIDES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AHO
9/25/11
Post Script: October 2011 Once again I stopped to visit Pat and see how she was progressing with her new life that is coming. When I arrived, she was sitting in a chair and she had just "mended" Patrick's cousin. His ear was reconnected, rather crudely, but at least now he was whole again. More abundance would be coming to Pat I was assured. Please write on my Blog page and share some of your stories about your personal abundances. Enjoy the adventures…. LOKI
