Legendary Spirit of Native American
For prayer, abundance, and ceremony
Elder's message of teaching
Healing prophecy of harmony

One of the legends that is closely associated with tobacco is the story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman.  This legend has a number of variations, each tied to the specific Native American culture that is telling the story.  However, it is most closely associated with the Lakota of the Northern American plains.  I am not going to do a full telling of the story here, but what follows is the basic outline.

During a time of struggle and famine, a white buffalo came to the village and transformed into a beautiful woman.  This spirit woman brought with her a gift for the people and teachings on how to live a sacred life.  The gift that she brought was the sacred pipe.  The pipe represents the marrying of the masculine and the feminine,  the life of harmony and balance, and the sacred way of prayer.  She brought the teachings of cultivating proper thought, action, and service.  She taught of seven sacred ceremonies.  She gave a gift of a prophecy.  When she left, she transformed four times into buffalo of different colors.

I encourage you to check out some of the full tellings of the story.  The wisdom to be gained from a masterful rendition is worth the time.  Here are some excellent sites to check out.
inspirationforthespirit.com
thepeoplespaths.net
animaldreaming.com
Each website has a slightly different telling of the legend.  Each of these is much better than any version that I am able to tell here.

What I would like to discuss is the teachings and the symbology of this sacred spirit of the Native Americans.

The first teaching that I pick up from the White Buffalo Calf Woman is the power and place of prayer in life.  This type of prayer is that of gratitude, honoring and respect.  It is a recognition that we are a part of the cycle of life around us and of the abundance that flows from the earth.  In this recognition and respect, we understand that the other beings on this planet are just as important for the cycle of life and we strive to live in balance with the earth and all of her systems.

The second lesson relates to cultivating your own garden.  It is important in life to keep your thoughts and actions positive and respectful.  That which you put into life is that which you get out of life.  It is important for yourself, your community, and your world to live a life that strives to respect people, the environment, and spirit.  An abundant life takes cultivating an optimistic attitude, living in balance with the environment, and being in service to building healthy communities.

Her third lesson is of the importance of ceremony and ritual.  Her teachings included seven sacred ceremonies.  Exactly what those ceremonies were varies a  little by the tradition of the telling.  In each version, the ceremonies revolve around building community, marking life's transitions and initiations, finding one's spiritual path and path of service, and gratitude.  Ceremonies and rituals are an important part of the glue that holds communities together.  They also create important structures and frameworks for living a harmonious life and the framework for viewing our world.

The last lesson that I want to discuss is the message of hope and healing the White Buffalo Calf Woman brought to the people.  In her time with the village, she brought abundance and an end to famine.  She brought lessons for continued abundance.  And she brought a prophecy.  She spoke of a prophecy of difficult times to come.  But at the end  of those difficult times would be peace, abundance, harmony, and balance.  According to this legend and prophecy, this new age would be signaled by the birth of the White Buffalo Calf.

In a nut shell, the White Buffalo Calf Woman has great spiritual significance to Native Americans.  She signifies living a sacred life.  She reminds us of the importance of prayer, ceremony, and ritual.  She teaches us to live a life of gratitude, honor, and respect. She is a spiritual messenger of hope, healing, and abundance.  She is a teacher of truth and wisdom.

It might just be time to live in the balance, harmony, and respect of the teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman.

Cycle of life
Balance of opposites
Learn from the past
For new possibilities

​Pisces, the fish, is the last sign of the Greek zodiac.  This sign runs from around February 19 to March 20.  This water sign is usually depicted by two fish swimming in opposite directions.  This reminds me of the Yin-Yang, and has some similar connotations.  Pisces symbolizes the union and balance of opposites and the lessons learned throughout the year.

Moving forward in our lives often means learning the lessons of balance.  Balance between fantasy and reality helps us create new vision for our future.  Balance between hopes and fears helps us face life with courage.  Balance between joy and pain means that we live our lives.

Pisces is a sign of empathy, compassion, and being in touch with our emotions.  When in balance, Pisces holds space for others and their challenges and growth.  These are the traits that encourage building communities and helping others.  These are often the characteristics of the artist, healer, and teacher.

Pisces is highly spiritual.  It is a sign of psychic and spiritual growth.  It encourages spiritual exploration, rich imaginal life, and exploration of the unconscious.  Pisces often find a deep understanding of themselves.  They delve into the magic and mysteries of life beyond what most can touch, taste, and see.

These fish represent emotions, healing, and deep awareness.  They are symbols of intuition, subconscious, and the cycle of life.  Fish are connected to psychic ability and the sacred feminine.

Taken to extremes, this can lead to a cycle of despair and self pity.  Pisces can be pessimistic or self-sacrificing.

However, when brought into balance and grounded in reality, Pisces is the perfect cap of a cycle.  This is a time of reflecting and learning from what has passed, then letting it go.  This is a time to connect with the rhythms and cycles of life.  Then, be open to the possibilities to come.

Wash out the old
Bring in the new
Lesson's wisdom
clarifies the view

The eleventh sign of the Greek zodiac is Aquarius.  The sign of the water bearer runs from about January 20 to February 18.  When this sign comes into play, we are invited to reflect on the past and learn from what we have experienced.  Then the water washes away the past leaving behind wisdom and space for the future to unfold.  With this new future comes new potential and clarity.

Aquarius is a symbol of the mind and community, pouring out inspiration, hope, and healing.  This is a sign of innovation in progressive action for the greater good.  It symbolizes the community, teamwork, and collaboration needed to make a powerful impact on the world.

Even though Aquarius works with the hope of a better future for his community, he is a bit of a paradox.  Aquarius is an independent, rebellious, free-spirit.  This is a sign of intellect and curiosity pushing the boundaries of the unknown.  This is the eccentric free spirit looking for clarity and insight, and maybe to spark a revolution.

When this is taken to extremes, this can be a stubborn, holier than thou attitude that expects the rest of the world to follow his dictates.

So, in this time of the rainy season in much of the north, maybe a little bit of new and unconventional thinking might be in order.  It is a time to work with that fresh flow of ideas.  Hopefully without destroying the apple cart in the process.

Goat of the sea
At the turning of the year
The vision to see
Tradition and spirit both we hear

​The sea goat, Capricorn, is the tenth sign of the Greek zodiac.  It is the sign of the turning of the year, beginning at around the winter solstice.  The season of Capricorn is December 22 to January 19.  This is a down to earth sign that represents trailblazing, vision, and striving for goals.

Capricorn brings two seemingly opposite symbols into one fusion. The body of the goat represents power, courage, striving, and ambition.  The tail of a fish represents emotion, spiritual growth, family, and the cycle of life.  When they are brought together into Capricorn, they represent balance.  Balance between goals and striving, and family and celebration.  Balance between spiritual life and material life.  Balance between responsibility and fun.

On the practical side, Capricorn represents hard work towards goals and ambitions.  It is about getting down to earth and motivated to get things done and taking responsibility for the outcomes in our lives.  This sign represents power and courage in life, facing every challenge, and overcoming adversity.  Capricorn is a visionary, a leader, and a trailblazer.  Capricorn takes action.

On the other side, Capricorn is also family, spiritual, and emotion.  The mischievousness of Capricorn may catch you off guard.  Or, the loyalty and dedication to family can soften Capricorn's hard edges.  This is also a reminder to take time to celebrate, play, and reflect.

In every way, Capricorn represents the turning of the year.  Balance the celebration of past accomplishments and family with goals and vision for the future.  Balance spiritual awareness and practice with physical world drive, ambition, motivation and hard work.  Balance tradition and reverence with vision and play.  

It is the time to take the turning of the year to create beautiful balance in life.

November 22 to December 21 marks the ninth sign of the Greek zodiac, Sagittarius.  This intense and passionate sign is represented by the centaur archer shooting his arrow skyward, as if seeking a higher truth.   As a centaur, Sagittarius is both beast and man.  He is both wild and unruly, and wise and knowledgeable.  Sagittarius represents the quest to balance the two extremes.  And, extremes seem to describe the energy of Sagittarius.

He is full of fire and adventure.  Sagittarius represents bold passion and curiosity.  He lives life large and with intensity, seeking new places, experiences, and people.  This sign brings in an energy of fun, optimism, and change.  The centaur, as half horse, represents wild relentless strength.  He is instictive and intuitive.  Sagittarius is a risk taker, seeking to live life to its fullest and seeking personal growth.

In Sagittarius, the wild and untameable beast is balanced by the unrelenting quest for knowledge and wisdom.  The human part of the centaur represents the rational and the search for knowledge.  Sagittarius is willing to seek the truth where most fear to look.  It signifies an interest in learning everything and a constant quest for higher knowledge and philosophy of life.  Sagittarius looks for the big picture.

The bow and arrow also holds great significance in the symbol of Sagittarius.  It is both a weapon of war and passion, and a tool of protection and focus.  Is it used in anger, or is it used to provide sustenance?  At its best, the bow and arrow points the straight way to truth, purpose, and life path.  In this case, the archer is pointing the arrow towards the sky as if seeking higher purpose and spiritual truth.

This all sounds like the season that we are entering.  It is a time when we begin to seek truth, purpose, and fun.  We begin looking at what changes we can make in the next turning of the wheel.

Keep the secrets of the scorpion's sting
To find the magic of transformation
Live in the body of sensual and psychic
And find truth in emotion and passion

The eighth sign of the Greek zodiac is Scorpio.  The scorpion is in its full power from October 23 to November 21.  In the northern hemisphere, this encompasses the festivals of mid autumn, Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving in the US, and harvest festivals of the north.  This marks the beginning of the dark time, when all in the northern temperate regions sleeps.  This is a time when, according to many spiritual traditions, the veils between the dimensions are thin and communication between is easy.  The symbology of Scorpio reflects this time of year.

First and foremost, Scorpio is a sign of transformation.  Some see this as a sign of destruction, some as a sign of death.  And it is, to a point.  The reality is that transformation can be difficult and can carry quite a sting.  Transformation often requires an unraveling or disassembling before the threads can be picked and used to create new potential.  So, in Scorpio, we have the symbol of death and destruction, and the symbol of transformation and rebirth.

The season of Scorpio is a time of reflection, honoring the ancestors, and introspection.  With Scorpio, get in touch with your emotions and dig deep into your shadow to find the secrets that reside there.  Scorpio can teach us to truly dive into our own magic and intuition to find our own psychic and spiritual gifts.  When we follow Scorpio's lead, we may find our own truth and power in our emotions and passion.

Ah, yes, but beware of the sting.  When personal power is out of balance, it becomes controlling and power hungry.  Sensuality and passion can become predatory.  Vision sometimes tips over to obsession.  Staying in the shadows can lead to paranoia.

The magic in the scorpion is found when this heavy energy stays firmly grounded in balancing the wisdom of the elders with the passion and vision for the future.

Lady Astraea
Holds the scales
Balanced justice
Harmony prevails

Libra is the seventh sign of the Greek zodiac.  This season starts with the time of balance, the Autumnal equinox, and ends around October 23.  If Virgo brings in the harvest, Libra weighs the harvest.  It is the symbol of balance, justice, and equity.  Libra is Latin for balance and is usually depicted as Lady Astraea, the goddess of justice, holding a balance scale.  She is an air sign, analytical, rational, detached, and balanced.

Libra is a sign of peace, fairness, equality, and justice.  It is a sign of balanced compromise and fair social structures.  In all cases, she asks:  What is just?  What is fair?  Who is being left out?  She works in the big picture ideas and ideals of social justice, fair distribution, beauty, and harmony.  Libra thrives in social situations with diplomacy, tact, and a cooperative spirit.

The flip side of Libra's coin is insecurity.  The quest for harmony can make Libra afraid to take a stand.  Balance and symmetry can lead to uncertainty and indecisiveness.  Analysis can lead to paralysis.  Pushing too hard for peace can make you a push over.

So, we can take the best of Libra has to offer;  balance, justice, harmony, and equality.  We can still stand strong in who we are and our boundries.  We do both by balancing the heart and the head.

Summer's End
Is no time to rest
Down to Earth
Goddess of the Harvest

As summer winds down, we come into the sign of Virgo.  The sixth sign of the Greek zodiac reigns supreme from August 23 through September 22.  This down to earth and practical sign is associated with the goddess of the harvest, or, if you prefer, the fertility goddess.  It is most often depicted as a young maiden carrying a freshly harvested sheaf of wheat.  Virgo is most closely associated with the Greek goddess of agriculture, Demeter, her daughter Persephone, and the myth of the seasons.

Virgo symbolizes order, organization, and the ability to transform information into clear and organized concepts.  It is the sign of intellect, resourcefulness, and problem solving.  Falling at the end of summer and at the beginning of the harvest in the northern hemisphere, it symbolizes a time to take your life seriously and prepare for the down to earth needs of the leaner days of the season to come.

Virgo is a feminine sign that tends to be kind, gentle, and supportive.  It is a very practical sign, taking care of the physical needs, emotional needs, and adapting to the changes of life.  Virgo tends to communicate clearly, have an orderly life, and a strong intellect.  She tends towards elegance, reliability,  healthy living, and service.  On the down side, Virgo can be over critical, fussy, stagnant, and worried.

At this time of year, it might be time to learn from Virgo.  Tend to your harvest.  Get your life in order.   Analyse what is going on around you.  Serve your community.  And, do all of this without worry and being over critical.

Fire's Passion
Grace and Power
Majestic Strength
With a Lion's Roar

The fifth sign of the Greek zodiac, Leo, rules from July 22 to August 23.  Coming in the full heat of the northern summer, Leo is a sign of fire and passion.  Leo, the lion, symbolizes full masculine power, strength and courage.  Majesty and grace are natural with the lion as a symbol.  So is standing tall in personal truth and confidence.  All in all, it is no surprise that in Swahili, the word for lion and the word for king are the same word, Simba.

Leo is fully out front and leading with the bold courage of knowing what he wants.  He creatively pursues his ambitions with assertive power.  Leo carries the energy of confidence and charisma, and is unafraid of standing in the full light of day.  This king leads from a place of knowledge, wisdom, justice, and balance.

However, passion and raw power can get out of balance.  When taken too far, assertiveness becomes aggression, confidence becomes arrogance, being in the center becomes being self centered, and powerful leadership becomes oppression.

To bring the lion into your life with balance is to guard against excess.  Speak your truth from a basis of knowledge and wisdom.  Maintain balanced power in leadership and justice.  Stand proud in who you are and protect those who are weaker so they can stand in who they are.  Creatively pursue your passion and provide space for others to pursue their passion.  Step up and lead from a place of grace and courage.  Show the way without demanding others live your way.  

Whether you roar like Leo or you have a Leo in your life, balance is the key.

Spring ends
Summer begins
Life's waters
Ebb and flow

As spring fades and summer begins, we come into the time of Cancer.  In the Greek zodiac, Cancer reigns from about June 21 through July 22.  The summer solstice has just past and we in the northern hemisphere are speeding into the dog days of summer.  The passionate enthusiasm of spring begins to cool to the moodiness and endurance of summer.  Cancer, the crab, is the perfect symbol of this transition.

Cancer is a water sign, in tune with the moon and the ocean.  It symbolizes the ebb and flow of emotions.  It can be loyal, supportive, and committed, or moody, pessimistic, and manipulative.  Cancer symbolizes home, tenacity, and protectiveness, but that tough exterior can be an illusion.  It can be shielding a vulnerability, or protecting a boundary.

At its best, Cancer, the crab, is an intuitive, creative empath that rides its emotions.  It tenaciously works for its ambitions and protects the home and those who have its loyalty.  The crab symbolizes finding creative ways around challenges and conflicts to create healthy environments.

At its worst, the crab symbolizes selfishness and manipulation.  That hard outer shell can hide insecurities.  The protective nature of the crab can become aggression.  The boundary of the shell can become a way to hide.  Creative ways around problems can become avoidance.

I choose to take the lessons of Cancer and grow stronger and, hopefully, wiser.  As things heat up, it's time to step aside and slow down.  Try to set clear and healthy boundaries, and honor and protect self, home, and what is sacred.  I try to approach life with creativity and tenacity.  And, when I learn to balance protectiveness with vulnerability, I might let you know.  Most important, crabs create a healthy environment in which to thrive.