A Different Kind of Hocus-Pocus
I'm only moderately ashamed to admit that zebras are helping my sanity. As I wrote a few days ago, I'm unmedicated and busy. I have little to cling to. Yes, yes... Hope floats. It's just that I'm a little to strung out on work and running to make hope a reality. At this point, it's enough to know Hope exists in the abstract. It's partly because of the zebras. They make me happy and calm my soul in a way that little can these days.
Once upon a time, God communicated with me through animals. Interestingly enough, He's apparently back to His old tricks. Now given that I'm a newly minted new-fangled Christian, this may seem weird, blasphemous even. God and animals? Isn't that a little too 'Native American primitive'. God doesn't talk to modern people through animals, Stacee (He does it through mysterious pictures of Jesus on garage doors and statues that cry.....skepticism intended).
Well, I'm from a different spiritual school. I believe that God speaks to us in a language He thinks we will hear and understand. For me, it started with animals and their Native American symbolism. God and I have since expanded our relationship to include real English, but He had to start somewhere with me. I didn't want to believe it at first either. Honestly, I thought He'd have more important things to do with his time than send me a butterfly or a dragonfly, but apparently there's enough God to go around (Anyone who doubts that might want to reconsider his or her beliefs about God's ability to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, which is kind of the cornerstone of all 'accepted' religions).
Yeah, so recently God sent me a zebra. Then he sent another. And another. The coincidence was too coincidental for me so, after looking up and downloading a couple zebra wallpapers for my new iPhone, I decided to Google the symbolism behind the zebra (also done from my wondrous new iPhone). What I found wasn't surprising. Zebra is here because he needs to be. He's what's moving through my life right now and maybe what has been for a long time.
From www.shamanicjourney.com...
'The zebra’s gifts include seeing in black and white, clarity without filters, balance, agility, uniqueness, power, sureness of path, keeping up individuality within the herd.'
'Blending into a crowd without losing your individuality is one powerful aspect of Zebra.'
'Questioning reality and illusion is common amongst people with zebra medicine, though an over analytic intellect can be a hindrance for some with this totem.' (yep)
'Zebras are master magicians, who utilize the energy of light and dark to shift realities and expand our consciousness, helping us see past our preconceived beliefs as they lead us into the mystery and magic of the unseen. Zebras seek balance in what they do, and they are sure of themselves, standing confidently in the middle of opposing forces.'
Explains a lot, doesn't it? I've long said that 'I'm the same yet different'. Just like the zebra. They all look the same, yet they are all different. I didn't think I needed reassurance, but I guess in a way I did (apparently God thought so...and who am I to argue with Him?). I dislike Austin because I'm too similar to everyone and have little chance to make waves and open minds. Zebra says that I don't have to seem different to be different. My path is mine and, if I keep my individuality, I will find my way.
So maybe you don't buy into this kind of hocus-pocus. Maybe you'd rather believe that Jesus was born to a virgin mother (ever read the Aramaic translation of the word 'virgin'?) and happens to be the Son of God. You've got your hocus-pocus; I've got mine. All I know is that right now in the midst of my unmedicated stress and my inability to feel like I fit in anywhere, God sent me zebra. That makes me happy. Zebras make me happy. And whenever I'm in doubt I look at the wallpaper on my cool, new iPhone and smile.
Once upon a time, God communicated with me through animals. Interestingly enough, He's apparently back to His old tricks. Now given that I'm a newly minted new-fangled Christian, this may seem weird, blasphemous even. God and animals? Isn't that a little too 'Native American primitive'. God doesn't talk to modern people through animals, Stacee (He does it through mysterious pictures of Jesus on garage doors and statues that cry.....skepticism intended).
Well, I'm from a different spiritual school. I believe that God speaks to us in a language He thinks we will hear and understand. For me, it started with animals and their Native American symbolism. God and I have since expanded our relationship to include real English, but He had to start somewhere with me. I didn't want to believe it at first either. Honestly, I thought He'd have more important things to do with his time than send me a butterfly or a dragonfly, but apparently there's enough God to go around (Anyone who doubts that might want to reconsider his or her beliefs about God's ability to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, which is kind of the cornerstone of all 'accepted' religions).
Yeah, so recently God sent me a zebra. Then he sent another. And another. The coincidence was too coincidental for me so, after looking up and downloading a couple zebra wallpapers for my new iPhone, I decided to Google the symbolism behind the zebra (also done from my wondrous new iPhone). What I found wasn't surprising. Zebra is here because he needs to be. He's what's moving through my life right now and maybe what has been for a long time.
From www.shamanicjourney.com...
'The zebra’s gifts include seeing in black and white, clarity without filters, balance, agility, uniqueness, power, sureness of path, keeping up individuality within the herd.'
'Blending into a crowd without losing your individuality is one powerful aspect of Zebra.'
'Questioning reality and illusion is common amongst people with zebra medicine, though an over analytic intellect can be a hindrance for some with this totem.' (yep)
'Zebras are master magicians, who utilize the energy of light and dark to shift realities and expand our consciousness, helping us see past our preconceived beliefs as they lead us into the mystery and magic of the unseen. Zebras seek balance in what they do, and they are sure of themselves, standing confidently in the middle of opposing forces.'
Explains a lot, doesn't it? I've long said that 'I'm the same yet different'. Just like the zebra. They all look the same, yet they are all different. I didn't think I needed reassurance, but I guess in a way I did (apparently God thought so...and who am I to argue with Him?). I dislike Austin because I'm too similar to everyone and have little chance to make waves and open minds. Zebra says that I don't have to seem different to be different. My path is mine and, if I keep my individuality, I will find my way.
So maybe you don't buy into this kind of hocus-pocus. Maybe you'd rather believe that Jesus was born to a virgin mother (ever read the Aramaic translation of the word 'virgin'?) and happens to be the Son of God. You've got your hocus-pocus; I've got mine. All I know is that right now in the midst of my unmedicated stress and my inability to feel like I fit in anywhere, God sent me zebra. That makes me happy. Zebras make me happy. And whenever I'm in doubt I look at the wallpaper on my cool, new iPhone and smile.
Comments
Post a Comment