SQUIRREL

[Terri Benning]

SPIRIT of the SQUIRREL: Abundance, joy, resourcefulness, planner, observer, entertainer,  pantry, communication, secrets, treasure hunter, flirtatious, charm. 

White Squirrel: 

http://squirrelsofwisdom.blogspot.com/2011/02/return-of-white-squir...

LINKS:

http://www.ancient-origins.net/opinion-guest-authors/squirrel-fuzzy...

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/squirrel.htm

http://scottfoglesong.printandwebdesign.com/26-squirrel.pdf

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-squirrel.html

http://www.shamanicjourney.com/squirrel-power-animal-symbol-of-gath...

http://www.poweranimalsunleashed.com/power_animal_033squirrel.htm

http://www.spirit-animals.com/squirrel/

http://www.universeofsymbolism.com/squirrel-symbolism.html

http://spiritlodge.yuku.com/topic/992/Squirrel-Medicine#.VnpOz_krK70

http://www.lilytherese.com/POWER1.HTM#Squirrel

http://www.animalspirits.com/index8.html

http://www.happywishingwell.com/madamhelga/squirrel.html

http://www.sunsigns.org/squirrel-animal-totem-symbolism-meanings/

Squirrel Wisdom Includes:

• Ability to solve puzzles
• Resourcefulness
• Quick change of direction
• Storing for the future
• Balance in giving and receiving
• Power of rest during times of non-movement
• Warning
• Discovery
• Change
• Avoiding danger by climbing to a higher place

Squirrel's Message and Medicine:

Preparation / Careful Planning / Adaptability / Conservation

Squirrel is a member of the rodent family. There are two main kinds of squirrels, the red and the gray. The gray squirrel is the most common and found in the cities, while the red squirrel is found in the forests and woods. There is also a black squirrel which is an aggressive strain of the gray squirrel. There are also flying squirrels which do not really fly. The skin of the flying squirrel stretches enabling it to glide from tree to tree. Squirrel has a lot of nervous energy but is sociable and loves to chatter and scold when strangers approach. Squirrel spends a lot of time gathering and storing food which it locates later because of its keen sense of smell.

Squirrel’s message teaches us to plan ahead and prepare for the future. Squirrel tells us to save for a rainy day. Don’t use up all of your resources. We must put something away to help us get through the bad times. Prepare also for seasonal changes. In periods of plenty save a little something for future use. However, if you have been hoarding things, get ready to release and let go. Take inventory! Donate your time, energy and resources to a worthy cause. Phone a charitable organization and share your abundance with others. Open a savings account. Test your discipline and control. If you are spending too much money, find out where it is going? It may also be a good opportunity to temporary withdraw from the world, count your blessings and wait for better times.

SQUIRREL MEDICINE: 

*Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak: 
Keynote: Activity and Preparedness 
Cycle of Power: Year-round 

Everyone is familiar with the squirrel. It is a member of the rodent family, and is often seen scurrying about, as if always busy or bursting with nervous energy. Squirrels can be quite sociable, but they don't like strange squirrels. They are often observed scrounging about for food and digging holes in the earth and storing nuts and other food sources for later times. Their keen sense of smell will enable them to find their stored caches even if they do forget where they buried their nuts. 

There are two main types of squirrels, the gray and the red. There is also a black squirrel which is a more aggressive strain of the gray. The gray is found most often within the city, while the red is found more commonly in forests and woods. 

There is also the flying squirrel, which does not really fly. Its skin stretches and enables it to glide from tree to ground or tree to tree. Unlike the gray and the red, it is nocturnal. It strongly dislikes being disturbed during the day. Owls are usually the flying squirrel's chief predators. 

Red squirrels are the sentinels of the forest. They chatter and scold when strangers appear. It seems as if they are literally reporting the news to all who can hear. The red squirrel is more aggressive and is usually a much better fighter than the larger gray. The marten is the red squirrel's most dangerous enemy, and it should be studied as well. Red squirrels usually have two litters per year, with two to seven young. Within twelve weeks of birth they are usually capable of being on their own. This twelve-week cycle would be good to examine in regard to your own life, if red squirrel has come to you. 

The gray squirrel is the most common and the most enthusiastic. Like all squirrels, it does not hibernate. It builds its nests in the hollows of trees or in tree-tops. The nests are usually ball-shaped, and the entrance is on the side. Even though it is bigger than the red, if confronted the gray will usually run and avoid any fight. Its predominant predators are foxes and raptors such as the owl and hawk. Gray squirrels, like the red, usually have two litters per year, and they are usually able to be on their own in about twelve weeks. 

All squirrels can be quite sociable. They wrestle for play, and they are estremely observant and imitative. This imitation of other squirrels is how they learn. Individuals with squirrel totems learn best by doing rather than by studying. 

Squirrels are also quite communicative. Their chatter can often be heard in the trees when disturbed or playing. Their bushy tail adds to their expressiveness, along with providing warmth, shade, and balance. The squirrel will often express emotion through flicks of its tail. 

Every squirrel is uniqu, and its medicine will be activated differently for everyone. If squirrel has scampered into your life, examine your own activity and preparedness. Are you too active? Not active enough? Are you not planning at all for the future, distant or near? Are you becoming too erratic--running to and fro and not accomplishing anything? Do you need to learn how to save and ration on any level--including time, money, energy, etc.? Are you afraid you will never have enough? Are you getting too hung up on collecting and accumulating? Are you gathering and not giving? 

Squirrels can teach us balance within the circle of gathering and giving out. If we are doing too much of one or the other, squirrel may appear to help us. Squirrels are the masters at preparing but they also are reminders that in our quest for our goals, we hould always make time to socialize and play. Work and play go hand-in-hand, or the work will create problems and become more difficult and less fruitful. 

*Ted Andrews/Animal-Wise: 

During the winter months, a squirrel makes a drey (nest) close to the tree trunk. In the spring, a new one is built farther out in the branches. This is where the young are born and raised. 

If squirrels appear to you, in the winter you might want to keep your activities sheltered and solidly balanced (trunk of the tree)l In the spring, you might want to move your new activities away from areas of your usual ones to protect them from predators and other dangers until they are more mature (the second nest for young in the outer branches). 

The Spirit of Squirrel:

The Spirit of Squirrel is one of activity and positive motion. At work or play, the inquisitive Squirrel is always busy. The Squirrel signifies gathering, resourcefulness, reserves of energy and a knack for being prepared.

The Spirit of Squirrel inspires your powers of creation and production. A Squirrel buries nuts and seeds for needy times, but later finds only a few of them. Some grow into trees or other plants. Squirrel lets you to sow seeds that will be fruitful for many years to come. If the Squirrel appears to you, expect busy but rewarding times ahead.

Gather profitable resources, hidden gems of wisdom, diverse facts and knowledge. Squirrel energy is lucky for wealth, prosperity and financial growth. The Squirrel Spirit is also a sign of good-natured mischief and fun, and invites you to experience life with joy. Don't sacrifice pleasure for productivity, or vice versa.

In reverse, the Squirrel can warn of greed, hoarding, selfish desires or excess physical or mental clutter. Beware of emotional instability, obsession, jealousy or fits of temper.

Keywords: Productivity, Industry, Work, Activity, Planning, Preparation, Resourcefulness, Gathering, Fun, Mischief, Humor, Learning, Facts and Knowledge, Creativity.