Spirit Lodge - Totem Animals - Page 129

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Bear Medicine	Birth Totems	Coyote Medicine	Dragon Ranks	Dragonfly Medicine	Eagle Medicine	Four Animal Helpers	Grey Wolf Medicine	Hawk
Heron Medicine	Horse	Magpie	Raccoon	Salmon Medicine	Spider Medicine	Swan Medicine	Thunder Being Medicine	Totem Loss Disc

PRAIRIE DOG MEDICINE
By SisterCyber

From Jamie Sams' & David Carson's "Medicine Cards" (Revised, Expanded Edition)
Prairie Dog...calls me
when it's time to rest,
When it's time to honor
the internal quest.
I go into retreat
so I may see,
A way to replenish
the potential in me.
*Edited for indexing

PRAIRIE DOG: RETREAT
Prairie Dog medicine teaches that strength and inspiration can be found by retreating into the
stillness that quiets the mind. The strength of this medicine is also knowing when and how to
replenish your life force. Prairie Dog medicine people tend to seek self-empowerment in silence
and inactivity, where they can access dreams and visions without the intrusions of worldly chaos.
When they reenter the world, they are profound and powerful anchors of calm resolve amid life's
storms.

The medicine of Prairie Dog is applicable to all of the Marmot Tribe, which includes the Ground
Squirrel clan, the Gopher clan, the Woodchuck clan, and the Ground Hog clan. Just as Native
American warriors knew when to charge forward and when to become invisible, the Marmot
tribe knows how and when to retreat. The Prairie Dog runs for the tunnel when a predator is on
its trail; in the winter, it conserves energy by hibernating during the scarce time of the cold
moons.

If Prairie Dog has surfaced in your cards today, it may be a warning that your body's fuel gauge
is running low. YOu might need a day of silence or retreat from regular activities before you
become too exhausted to carry on. Have you put your basic needs at the bottom of the "To Do"
list? Burning the candle at botyh ends may weaken the punch you can normally pack when
tackling the tasks at hand. Take a much needed break before you crash and burn. Prairie Dog
teaches you that, in order to access gifts of inspiration and renewal, you must be at peace with
yourself and rested enough to recognize the blessings being offered.

If you have been battling a situation without gaining ground, Prairie Dog reminds you that
pushing too hard can create a resistance that does not allow for interaction. Take a break! Give it
a rest! After a comfortable and relaxed time, you can return with fresh perspective. In the
meantime, the dynamics of the situation may have changed because your retreat allows the
present challenge to work itself out. There is ample strength available if you quit pushing and go
with the flow. Prairie Dog says its tunnels run both ways; now it is time to choose the backdoor
exit for some rest and relaxation.

CONTRARY*
Oops! The worry bug may have bitten Prairie Dog, and it has appeared in the contrary. Has the
workaholic syndrome gotten the best of your inner knowing and sensible outlook on life? Have
you been tunneling in a nonproductive direction, because you forgot to come up for air, look
around, and get your bearings? Have you become addicted to the adrenaline created by scurrying
to catch up? If you get sick from the chaos of overreacting, you may have an unwelcome and
enforced rest period at hand. Constant stress can steal your inspiration and ability to think on
your feet.

Another contrary message of Prairie Dog is believing that compromise or retreat is a sign of
weakness. Goodbye lie! You can get stuck in this one-way tunnel if you let your head get too
big. You cannot be still, be comfortable alone, and/or if you cannot delegate responsibility, you
need a reality check. Do not be afraid to take a break, to refill your resources, and to adopt a
healthy, more relaxed viewpoint. Contrary Prairie Dog also teaches that pushing too hard can
have dire consequences: The cemeteries are filled with people who once believed that they were
indispensable.