Believe Nothing.
Entertain Possibilities.

SNAKE (#6)

~ Transmutation ~

Snake medicine people are very rare. Their initiation involves experiencing and living through multiple snake bites, which allows them to transmute all poisons, be they mental, physical, spiritual, or emotional. The power of Snake medicine is the power of creation, for it embodies sexuality, psychic energy, alchemy, reproduction, and ascension (or immortality). The transmutation of the life-death-rebirth cycle is exemplified by the shedding of Snake’s skin. It is the energy of wholeness, cosmic consciousness, and the ability to experience anything willingly and without resistance. It is the knowledge that all things are equal in creation, and that those things which might be experienced as poison can be eaten, ingested, integrated, and transmuted if one has the proper state of mind.

Thoth, the Atlantean who later returned as Hermes and was the father of alchemy, used the symbology of two snakes intertwining around a sword to represent healing. Complete understanding and acceptance of the male and female within each organism creates a melding of the two into one, thereby producing divine energy.

This medicine teaches you on a personal level that you are a universal being. Through accepting all aspects of your life, you can bring about the transmutation of the fire medicine. This fire energy, when functioning on the Material Plane creates passion, desire, procreation and physical vitality. On the Emotional Plane it becomes ambition, creation, resolution and dreams. On the Mental Plane it becomes intellect, power, charisma and leadership. When this Snake energy reaches the Spiritual Plane, it becomes wisdom, understanding, wholeness and connection to the Great Spirit. If you have chosen this symbol, there is a need within you to transmute some thought, action or desire so that wholeness may be achieved. This is heavy magic, but remember, magic is no more than a change in consciousness. Become the magician or the enchantress: transmute the energy and accept the power of the fire.

CONTRARY: If you are operating from Shadow ...

If you have drawn this symbol in the reverse, you may have chosen to mask your ability to change. Look at the idea that you may fear changing your present state of affairs because this may entail a short passage into discomfort. Does this discomfort keep you from assuming the viewpoint of the magician within? Is the old pattern safe, reliable and a rut? In order to glide beyond that place which has become safe but non-productive, become Snake. Release the outer skin of your present identity. Move through the dreamlike illusion that has insisted on static continuity, and find a new rhythm as your body glides across the sands of consciousness, like a river winding its way toward the great waters of the sea. Immerse yourself in that water, and know that the single droplet which you represent is being accepted by the whole.
Feel Snake’s rhythm and you will dance freely, incorporating those transmuting forces of the universe as a part of your sensual dance of power.

LIZARD (#36)

~ Dreaming ~

Lizard sat lolling in the shadow of a big rock, shading himself from the desert sun. Snake crawled by, looking for some shadow to coil up in and rest. Snake watched Lizard for awhile as Lizard’s eyeballs went side to side behind his enormous closed lids. Snake hissed to get Lizard’s attention. Slowly Lizard’s dreaming eyes opened and he saw Snake.

  
“Snake! You scared me! What do you want?” Lizard cried. Snake spit his answer from his forked tongue. “Lizard, you are always getting the best shadow spots in the heat of the day. This is the only big rock for miles. Why don’t you share your shade with me?”

Lizard thought for a moment, than agreed. “Snake, you can share my shade spot, but you have to go to the other side of the rock and you must promise not to interrupt me.” Snake was getting annoyed. He hissed, “How could I bother you Lizard? All you are doing is sleeping?” Lizard smiled knowingly. “Oh Snake, you are such a silly serpent. I’m not sleeping. I’m dreaming.”

   
Snake wanted to know what the difference was, so Lizard explained “Dreaming is going into the future, Snake. I go to where future lives. You see, that is why I know you won’t eat me today. I dreamed you and I know you’re full of mouse.”

  
Snake was taken aback. “Why Lizard, you’re exactly right. I wondered why you said you would share your rock.” Lizard laughed to himself. “Snake,” he said, “you are looking for shade and I am looking for shadow. Shadow is where the dreams live.”

 
Lizard medicine is the shadow side of reality where your dreams are reviewed before your decide to manifest them physically. Lizard could have created getting eaten by Snake if he had so desired.

  
Lizard is the medicine of dreamers. Whether dreamers smoke you or dream you, dreamers can always help you see the shadow. The shadow can be your fears, your hopes, or the very thing you are resisting, but it is always following you around like an obedient dog.

  
If Lizard dreamed a space in your cards today, it may be time to look and see what is following along behind you. Is it your fears, your future trying to catch up to you, or is it the part of you that wants to ignore your weaknesses and humanness?

 
Lizard may be telling you to pay attention to your dreams and their symbols. Make a dream log and record all that you remember. Be sure to pay attention to each individual symbol or recurring pattern. If you do not remember your dreams, you could try setting a music alarm for 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. Or, you could try drinking a lot of water before bedtime and allow your bladder to wake you up. Dreams are very important. Pay attention to them.

CONTRARY: If you are operating from Shadow ...

If Lizard has turned up in the contrary position, you may be having a nightmare. This is a sign of inner conflict. Look to the nightmare for a clue to the nature of this conflict. What are the feelings your nightmare causes? Breathe through these feelings and let the sensations flow out of your body. See the truth in what your nightmare is suggesting. It could be the simple message that you are confronting your fears and therefore do not need to experience nightmarish events in your day-to-day life.

  
Another message of Lizard reversed is that you may need more sleep or dreamtime. It could also imply that you have a lack of dreams for your future.

  
Imagination is the door to all new ideas and creations. As you examine the dreaming process, you will find that the subconscious is processing ALL of the recorded messages it holds concerning the events you experienced during the day. These messages can be suppressed feelings bringing inner conflict, or they can be new ideas or goals, other dimensions of awareness, future events, warning signals, or desires and hopes.

  
In one sense, contrary Lizard is insisting that you look to your imagination for new experience. This is necessary when life becomes dull or full of boredom. On the other hand, contrary Lizard may also apply to those who dream too much, refusing to use the dreams as TOOLS to manifest that same vision in their lives.

 
All levels of awareness are accessible through dreams. Remember, life is not always as it seems. Are you the dreamer? Or are you the dreamed?

SALMON (#49)

~ Wisdom/Inner Knowing ~

Salmon is the sacred keeper of wisdom and inner knowing who, despite strong river currents, will always return to the place of its creation. Its determination is driven by the wisdom of instinct and inner knowing, which yields a sense of purpose that cannot be thwarted by external forces. Coming full circle, Salmon medicine people finish what they begin, bringing life’s events and cycles to closure.  Salmon medicine honors every encounter in life as a gathering of wisdom. It teaches that even when the flow of life seems to push you back, you can tap the hidden resources of your human spirit and personal inner knowing. The journey may not be an easy one, and the currents of public opinion may not be in your favor, but you can choose to honor the wisdom you carry and instinctually do what is right.

If Salmon swam into your cards today, it may be telling you to trust your gut feeling and inner knowing at this time. Avoid the influence of those who may have hidden agendas or who manipulate events for their personal gain. Do you need to reflect on the personal experiences that will help you decide whether the tide is ebbing or flowing in a direction that benefits your forward movement and growth? Go back to the beginning and retrace your path to this point. The wisdom is inside you, and when honoring it, you will not go wrong.

  
The silver of Salmon’s skin reflects many lessons. To reclaim your inner knowing, you must see the opportunity in all situations, and know that wisdom is earned through both life’s easy and difficult experiences. Be willing to listen to others, as well as to the small, still voice within. Behave in a manner that honors your path. The proper use of inner knowing comes when you flow with your authentic feelings, embracing all the experiences you encounter in life as learning lessons rather than hardships. Salmon teaches you to see every bend in the river as a new adventure, with a lesson you need to learn in order to grow. That knowledge becomes authentic wisdom through applying these truths in your life.

CONTRARY: If you are operating from Shadow ...

If Salmon has floated belly-up into your cards today, recklessness may have kept you from achieving a goal. Are you ignoring the wise advice of others or your own inner voice of wisdom? Contrary Salmon may be telling you to be still for a time and find the flow again. Ask your Self where you became distracted or confused. Then imagine returning to the place you last felt certain of yourself. Feeling a sense of serenity means you are tapping your inner knowing and wisdom again.

   
If you have been seeking the approval of others by being a follower instead of listening to your personal knowing, it may be time to reclaim your own authority. Are you stubbornly rejecting the truth of a situation, trying to be right or in control, and overriding your instinctual wisdom or inner knowing? If so, get out of your head and get back to the wisdom found in your heart and feelings. Like Salmon, people sometimes need to backtrack upstream to see where life’s meandering tributaries flowed away from the original headwaters of their certainty, wisdom, instinct, and inner knowing.