Walking on the Wild Side

Every animal has its own unique quality by which it is known. For an animal that is our totem animal, this unique quality can then help us bridge our day-to-day world with the — unseen —spiritual world.

Then there are “power animals” that lend us their unique strengths or qualities for a specific task. For instance, if we find ourselves in a situation that requires a lot of physical strength, we may call on Bear to lend us a hand with its strength.

Another perspective on this is to look at what quality we would like to have strengthened within ourselves. And if that quality was also found in an animal — which animal would represent it best?

In all likelihood this would be a different animal than our totem animal. And it would not necessarily be the animal that would help us, but rather the unique quality of that animal is a quality that we have deep inside us and it would be beneficial to us to start using this quality more often, or more openly. The animal then, would be more of a witness to that quality in ourselves.

One could say that when we are using all of our talents, strengths and energies to the fullest, we are whole…

And it is nice to have an animal be the witness to that specific, innate quality of ourselves that we somehow have shelved up to now, yet it does bring up the fact how we have adapted to fit in. 

Looking back there are any number of things that I knew to be true as a small child. But — certainly as a youngster — one should not talk about these things. One should be polite, logical, and if at all possible the picture perfect manifestation of our parents imagination.

And pretty soon we started behaving a certain way, speaking a certain way, and acting a certain way — all to fit in.

So what would happen if we would revert back to the person we knew we were when you came into this world? 

We probably would still be polite and well behaved. We even might still fit in…

On the other hand, we may also move into a new direction, more guided by our senses, our gut-feel, our intuition… We could find that we would be less bothered by what other people think of us. And we are very likely to discover that we would stop making our choices based on the expectations of people around us.

If we would take this new direction, we could discover potentials and talents that had been there all along, dormant, somewhere hidden in the depths of ourselves… We could find that we have qualities we had never been aware of…

And we may find that being accompanied by an animal witness to bring those qualities and talents to the surface is a beneficial and fun thing to experience!

Perhaps it is time to start walking the wild side…

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Uncommon Sense

Especially in changing - or even chaotic - times, it is a good idea to keep using our common sense. To keep an eye on the cause and effect of our actions, and to take responsibility when things turn our different than we had imagined…

That just makes good sense, doesn’t it?

But then there is a point when common sense becomes limiting, conceivably even tying us down. Because for all its value, common sense does seem to go for the tried and true, safe and secure outcome of whatever situation we are facing at that moment.

Yet when the situation requires a truly new solution - maybe even a totally different manner of looking at it and handling it - it perhaps calls for “uncommon sense”…

The “uncommon sense” that finds its roots in our imagination. In an open way of looking at the world in general and the situation in particular. Possibly a bit more detached and factual, yet filled with wonder at how it looks and how it has come about.

Our “uncommon sense” tends to have a way to see the beauty, the value, and even new opportunities in pretty much any situation - independent from our judgement of whether it is a good or a bad one.

Our “uncommon sense” definitely has an independent, wild side to it. An adventurous side.

Using our “uncommon sense” we are willing to stand up for the things we feel are right, and the outcomes we can clearly imagine to be beneficial - without letting ourselves being bogged down by our regular common sense that says “Well, that’s not going to work, after all, it has never worked before / never been done before / tried before…”

And that is exactly the point!

In changing times, we need new solutions. New perspectives. New ideas. And yes, a new way to perceive ourselves.

So in changing times, it is a good thing to reconnect with the wild side of our being. With those aspects of ourselves that we may have “unlearned” when we were youngsters. We may gain a lot from letting go of all the ways in which we have adapted ourselves to the expectations of others, or even the expectations of the world around us.

And we may be very surprised at the new and wonderful solutions we come up with for whatever situation we find ourselves in, if we apply “uncommon sense” to it. If we let our imagination of where we want to go with it run free - and only then look at what can be possible given the actual environment of that particular situation, the others involved and so on.

In this time when common sense is needed (and sometimes seems in short supply), I would ask you to - every once in a while - set yourself free and use “uncommon sense”!

Common Sense

We all have it; the ability to use good sense and sound judgement in practical matters. Whether we use it or not is a free will choice.

To actually use our common sense requires us to think. To give some thought to what is happening; to the situation we are finding ourselves in. It would ask from us that we ponder the facts and come up with a practical, levelheaded solution. A solution that works for us, that makes sense to us.

As such, there are always multiple solutions to any one situation, depending on how those involved in the situation perceive it. And while one solution may work better than another ~ common sense is always about the best solution for that person, in that situation, from their perspective.

So why don’t we use it more often?

Part of the answer may lie in the fact that in our world today we have rules for pretty much anything. We stop when the traffic lights are red, and move on as soon as they turn green again. Independent from other traffic being present or not. As it turns out, we are no longer looking whether there is traffic coming from other directions ~ all we are looking at is that red light ~ often with a good dose of impatience ~ almost willing it to turn green. And as soon as it does we start moving.

And it is not just in traffic that our ‘dos and don’ts’ are regulated. Almost every aspect of our lives has its rules about the things that are ‘done’; and often more importantly the things that are ‘not done’. As long as we are following these rules, we are safe. We are doing okay.

Another thing is that we can insure ourselves for those instances when the rules and regulations fail to protect us. We son’t have to look at our part in the situation… After all the rules and regulations are there for a reason ~ so if we are following them it cannot be our fault when something bad happens to us. And someone has to pay for that. Somehow we want ~ or even need ~ to be reimbursed for a situation turning sour ~ especially when it wasn’t our fault!

So it seems like we have replaced our own common sense with a set of rules and regulations ~ and then covered the risk with a package of insurances.

We have started to follow rules, rather than to think things through…

In all fairness, following traffic regulations absolutely makes good (common) sense.

However, it seems that when we start to ‘blindly follow the rules’; when we stop thinking about what is happening ~ we are no longer aware of the ramifications of our actions.

It is time to observe the ‘rules and regulations’ with a good bit of common sense…

Being Aware in Chaotic Times

Now that bit by bit the “shelter in place” ordinances are opening up, it seems that the tension we may have felt over the past months is searching for a way to express itself. It is almost as if we have held our breath all this time, and now, finally, we are able to breathe again..

And taking a few deep, relaxing breaths will help us claim our personal space again, if not our very own energy. And even while we are still not allowed to come any closer than about 6 feet, on average we seem a bit more relaxed about it.

We are discovering that it is all about Being Aware.

About our awareness of our direct environment, the people around us, and an awareness of all the things that have changed. Perhaps being most aware of the changes inside ourselves…

Therefore this is a good point in time to truly become aware of ourselves, our lives. To become aware of the things we have done differently over the past couple of months. To become aware of the things we wish would be back in our lives again, and those things that we may have found we can do without quite easily. And maybe even become aware of a couple of things that we — secretly — have enjoyed during this time…

The more we are asking ourselves these kind of questions, the more we are placing ourselves in a position in which we are Being Aware, the greater our sense of balans with the situation will be — often extending itself into a sense of confidence toward the future.

Of course there are also places and situations in which the built up tension seems to explode. Where things are happening that should not be happening, things that every once in a while are just plain wrong. This can happen on a small scale, like in families where suddenly old tensions have come to the surface. But it can also be a situation where cultural differences that may have been tense for a very long time are coming out in the open for everyone to see in a big way…

Suddenly we are becoming aware that underneath our day to day lives a certain tension had been hiding. And now that we are aware of this, we may be able to help bring this to a peaceful solution. Perhaps just by holding the situation in Light. Or by being there for someone in need.

Just by Being Aware, we can help bring balance into our lives, our direct environment, and yes, into the world as a whole. By staying in this balanced point in which we are Being Aware, rather than getting involved with sometimes extreme polarities, we can help change the world.