ARMADILLO

[Terri Benning]

ARMADILLO: Safety oriented, Grounded, Boundaries, Defining Sacred Space, Defense

LINKS:

ARMADILLO ~ (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillo

Armadillo's Wisdom Includes:

* Understanding your personal boundary
* Respecting the boundaries of others
* Carrying your protection with you at all times
* Understanding your vulnerabilities
* Empathy
* Discrimination

ARMADILLO:

This little creature is most vulnerable when it exposes their undersides (or inner workings). The armadillo has the ability to protect without causing undue harm to others. The armadillo will usually fall asleep while sunning their undersides, leaving themselves vulnerable. It will protect itself by rolling up into a ball, covering the underside. One with this animal as a totem probably needs to learn when to expose their emotions and when to keep them covered. It has a powerful sense of smell and can teach one forms of discrimination. They only pair for mating and then go on their way. The gestation period is around 8 to 9 months, but in times of distress, can carry the unborn up to 2 1/2 years. It can move quickly and is a good swimmer. It can even walk on the bottom of streams.

Brother armadillo has a passive style of defense and its medicine comes from its own body. The 'digger' is called the "Little Armored One" because of thick bony plates and horns that covers its back. It teaches protection and ways to move through dimensions.

ARMADILLO MEDICINE

The armadillo rolls into a tight ball when threatened to cover its vulnerable underside. Brother Armadillo's medicine is to teach ways to expose your inner-self and allow natural defenses to protect you. People who are too paranoid, 'hard-shelled' or cover their feelings unnecessarily may need the spirit of the armadillo.

Armadillos are territorial and regularly patrol their boundaries to sniff out intruders and potential threats. If the armadillo comes to visit you, it may be time to examine your boundaries, or artificial limits placed on your abilities, time, or space. \

Is someone invading your space?

Medicine from Brother Armadillo is strong and tenacious. It teaches how to protect yourself from potential threats.

The armadillo is slow but persistent in its daily tasks and ignores most non-threatening activities around it. These traits will help one who follows the armadillo medicine to realize when they may be negligent of a persistent problem or avoiding issues.

Brother Armadillo is a solitary dweller and does not have many friends. Pay attention to the shell of our armored friend when he enters your meditations and find new ways to join with others in social activities.

The armadillo digs for its food and makes burrows to sleep and have its young. The digging aspect of its behavior indicates that you may need to work harder at finding the morsel of sustenance in your life to bring more spiritual awareness.

Brother Armadillo understand the necessity of spiritual purification and loves water. He is a good swimmer, floats very well and can swim under the surface for long periods. Armadillo readily crosses any stream or river with ease. These traits give people of the armadillo spirit an understanding of the power of spiritual cleansing and ability to move with fluid easy movement between dimensions.

Boundaries, Protection, Empathy

Armadillo wears its armor on its back,
its medicine is part of its body.
Its boundaries of safety are a part of its total being.
Adjust your rhythms and senses
and you will know what is safe and what is not.

Armadillo teaches you how to protect yourself
and when to let your defenses down.

Make yourself a energy body shield using Armadillo medicine.
Make a circle on a piece of paper and see it as a medicine shield.
Write in the circle all the things that you want to have, experience, and give you joy.
This shield will reflect what you are and what you will on an unconscious level.

When you receive an Armadillo totem, it is time to define your space.
You may have trouble saying "no" and are being taken for granted.
Learn to guard your personal space and allow entry only when you want to.