Friday, February 01, 2008

Medicine Card, Prairie Dog

Prairie Dog

Retreat


Prairie Dog medicine teaches that strength and inspiration can be found by retreating into the stillness that quiets the mind. The strength of this medicine is also knowing when and how to replenish your life force. Prairie Dog medicine people tend to seek self-empowerment in silence and inactivity, where they can access dreams and visions without the intrusions of worldly chaos. When they reenter the world, they are profound and powerful anchors of calm resolve amid life's storms.

The medicine of Prairie Dog is applicable to all of the Marmot Tribe, which includes the Gound Squirrel clan, the Gopher clan, the Woodchuck clan, and the Gound Hog clan. Just as Native American warriors knew when to charge forward and when to become invisible, the Marmot tribe knows how and when to retreat. The Prairie Dog runs for the tunnels when a predator is on its trail; in the winter, it conserves energy by hibernation during the scarce time of the cold moons.

If Prairie Dog has surfaced in our cards today, it may be a warning that your body's fuel gauge is running low. You might need a day of silence or retreat from regular activities before you become too exhausted to carry on. Have you put your basic needs at the bottom of the "To Do" list? Buning the candle at both ends may weaken the punch you can normally pack when tackling the tasks at hand. Take a much needed break before you crash and burn. Prairie Dog teaches you that, in order to access gifts of inspiration and renewal, you must be at peace with yourself and rested enough to recognize the blessings being offered.

If you have been battling a situation without gaining ground, Pairie Dog reminds you that pushing too hard can create a resistance that does not allow for interaction. Take a break! Give it a rest! After a comfortable and relaxed time, you can return with a fresh perspective. In the meantime, the dynamics of the situation may have changed because your retreat allows the present challenge to work itself out. there is ample strength available if you quit pushing and go with the flow. Prairie Dog says its tunnels run both ways; now it is time to choose the backdoor exit for some rest and relaxation.