Squirrel

Squirrel Animal Medicine: Gathering

One thing you can be certain of in an uncertain world is the inevitability of change. So be adaptable and come into harmony with the cycles of change. That is part of the message of Squirrel as a power animal. Squirrel emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and of setting aside things for future needs. It means being prepared for changes, and even adversities and being ready to respond to them positively.

Squirrel teaches you always to have something in reserve – not in the sense of being a hoarder, or a miser, but in a balanced way, setting aside for future needs even though it may not be required later.

Perhaps you have been living entirely on a day-to-day basis. Squirrel is reminding you to be more thrifty with your time and with your energy. Look ahead.

Squirrel teaches you to plan ahead for the winter when the trees are bare and the nuts have long since disappeared. Squirrel medicine can come in many forms, as this furry creature is very diverse in nature. The erratic behavior of Squirrel has bested many a forlorn hunter, and it thus stands to reason that there are benefits to being able to circle a branch at lightning speed. This erratic behavior of Squirrel can so get nerve-wracking if you are dealing with persons who have Squirrel medicine. Trying to calm them down enough to accomplish something may drive you nuts!

The gathering power of Squirrel medicine is a great gift. It teaches you how to gather and store your energy for times of need. It teaches you to reserve something for future use, whether it be a judgment, an opinion, a savings account, candles, or extra food. To put it in a nutshell, Squirrel is the Boy Scout of the animal kingdom – always prepared.

In today’s world of changing times and fortunes, it is the wise person who prepares for the future. Our prophecies have all spoken of the end of the millennium and the changes to come. Squirrel is a friendly medicine to have, in light of possible future rainy days. Its message is to be prepared, but not to go nuts with it. Love yourself enough to gather the goods that will meet your needs in times of scarcity, even if that time never comes.

If Squirrel has scurried into your cards today, it may be that you are being told to honor your future by readying yourself for change. The message could be to lighten your load if you have gathered too many “things” that do not serve you. These “things” can include thoughts, worries, pressures, stresses, or gadgets that have been broken for years. In understanding the balance involved in gathering, you need to look at the idea of circulating the stock of what you have gathered. Call the nearest thrift store and give the gadgets to someone who can benefit from them. If something no longer “grows corn” for you, then it is time to let it go.

Squirrel has another lesson which can aid you if you observe what is obvious, and which can prepare you for anything. It has to do with the safe place in which to put your gathering. This safe place is an untroubled heart and mind, and that which is gathered to put in this place is wisdom and caring. The energies gathered will set your mind and heart free, so that you will know that all will be taken fare of in its own time. Apply this to your fears about the future and they will vanish.

Use time and energy properly. Waste nothing on negativity. Gather the rewards of stewardship.

Source: Sams, Jamie and Carson, David. Medicine Cards (Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1988).