May 12

INTEGRITY MONTH: DAY 12: “Watch any plant or animal and let it teach you acceptance of what is, surrender to the Now.

Let it teach you Being.

Let it teach you integrity — which means to be one, to be yourself, to be real.

Let it teach you how to live and how to die, and how not to make living and dying into a problem.”

― Eckhart Tolle

I had a conversation that included part of this topic yesterday. See, I am also a Medicine Woman and know the inherent truth that ALL of God’s creatures are imbued with spirit, soul, and tremendous love. I see animals as actually being those creatures who are here to most inform us of who and what we are. They are our teachers in this world.

I sit with my animals (I have always had a ton of them…all kinds…dogs and cats are equal favorites), and know that they all have distinct personality traits, likes and dislikes, all the same distinguishing characteristics of people.
BUT, there has never been a time when any of my animals has acted outside of integrity to its own path. That, I see, is a superior condition to the one of humanity. I don’t see a dog trying to be a bird, or a donkey wishing it could bulk up to be an elephant. It just doesn’t happen. Any conflict that occurs is in perfect nature of that animal to do what it is here to do.

I have never witnessed or even heard of animals arguing over who is “better”, “prettier”, “smarter”, or who has stored the most nuts or food (animal wealth). There is no pettiness, no jealousy, … in fact, I have never seen any of the 7 deadlies perpetuated by an animal, except in a case where it had to kill to eat or to be eaten.

Animals are always authentic and integral to their species and their nature. Any exceptions are certain to be in the case where WE have intervened to disrupt their nature or their species.

Each animal, in Medicine terms has specific properties assigned to its purpose in interfacing with humans. They seldom step outside that nature or purpose.

People, on the other hand, forget who and what they are and their purpose here almost 100%. Some of us are aware of that; but most are not. We violate every spiritual law of this world and do unimaginable things to one-another. The damage is catastrophic.

Then there is the damage done to the planet and the solar system! The Creative Power may have made a mistake with that “gift” of self-will. Perhaps that is the lesson we are here to learn and our purpose for this journey. I do not always understand. (Another question in my giant book of ????)

I just truly love this quote. Living and dying are just incredibly simple when we fit ourselves into the slot we are here to inhabit. It ain’t much, baby, but it fits just right.

What I do know is that the only thing standing between me and that Creative Power is the ego that consumes my days and nights when I let it. THE ONLY THING.

And it takes years of 12 Steps for me to take it down to the size where I can fit into my tiny slot and leave it outside.  Next time, I think I am a dog or a dolphin or a giraffe…can’t hardly wait!