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Bear Medicine	Birth Totems	Coyote Medicine	Dragon Ranks	Dragonfly Medicine	Eagle Medicine	Four Animal Helpers	Grey Wolf Medicine	Hawk
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BEAR APPEARING IN MY DREAMS
By BlackDove/Mark

Lately Bear has been appearing during my dreamtime, and I'm having a difficult time figuring
out the messages. I live in an area with a large bear population and I'm not afraid of them during
my waking state. But when Bear appears to me in my dreams I'm usually afraid of him and have
difficulty interacting with him, or he does something that frightens me. This morning I had a
dream where I was fishing in a pond (which later turned into a swimming pool -- funny thing,
dreams). I suddenly caught a huge fish and happily started reeling it in. Just then Bear appeared
and snatched the fish off my line, taking it away from me. Scared, I hid behind a door and
watched as at least a couple of dozen bears appeared and frolicked around the pond, wrestling
with each other, and causing a huge commotion. It was pure pandemonium. During this I felt a
combination of fear as I hid behind the door, and annoyance that my "prize" was taken from me.

The one thing I find interesting about these dreams is that Bear never outright attacks me in the
dreams, but he does exhibit a threatening manner or behaves in a way that makes me afraid of
him. Sometimes many bears will show up in the dream, like the one I had this morning. I realize
that Bear is trying to teach me a lesson, but so far I'm having trouble figuring it out. I also don't
like the fact that I'm always so afraid of him when he appears, and wish I could find a way to
overcome that fear so that I can better interact with him. It's like my emotions are greatly
intensified during my dream state and it's hard to get them under control.

SwanFeather:
Mark, “It's like my emotions are greatly intensified during my dream state and it's hard to get
them under control.” Perhaps this is the clue? The bear snatched your prize away. The bears
were frolicking in the water(emotions). Perhaps they are telling you to let go of the control? Let
the emotions run through you? Loosen up, enjoy. Then you might find your prize landed in your
lap.

Wisowl:
Mark, I think SwanFeather is right here. As a man you are *supposed to* have control off your
emotions and you are doing right there. *smile* ... but in dream time it is not so, so you seem to
try hard to get them under control. But .. do you have to? Do you have to have control at all
times? As SwanFeather said do relax and let the emotions run through you and see how you
really feel? As a *typical* cancer person I am and always was a 100% emotional person ... and ..
(hehehe) am not afraid at all during my dreams .... and keep my emotions better under control
there than in real life! *grin* So ... let go of your control of your emotions and let them be and
see what happens then.

BlackDove:
I understand what you are both saying. I've been fighting for some form of control over certain
events that have been going on in my life lately, and I'm aware that I need to let go of this need
to control what is happening to me. I think that Bear's actions in my dream is a blunt way of
showing that things happen that are beyond my control and I need to learn to live in acceptance.
As for my emotions, I feel that my fear of Bear during dream-state keeps me from learning
important lessons. My first reaction is to protect myself or hide rather than stand my ground and
face what I'm being shown. But I also think that part of my fear comes from the fact that Bear's
lessons are hard ones to learn.

CinnamonMoon:
While I agree with the responses here, what keeps jumping at me here is fear...fear of something
in yourself not Bear. It feels like Bear is emphasizing that fear. Letting the Bear Medicine in you
come out to play? I say this because when Bear first started appearing to me it was in frightening
numbers too and I stood back from that fear initially rather than confronting it. It happened that
way with Wolf too. Later and as much time passed I worked through those issues to embrace the
Medicine. It was all trial and error as I had no teachers at the time to help me see what I was
running from was myself. The spirits themselves meant me no harm, they were only mirroring
what was there within me already. Hope that helps.

Raven FireStone Wolf:
Black Dove, You said: “But when Bear appears to me in my dreams I'm usually afraid of him
and have difficulty interacting with him, or he does something that frightens me.” Bear is the in
the west on the Medicine Wheel: the place of introspection. As such, is Bear representing your
integration with your inner self? In the waking state our mind controls our interactions with our
inner self, in the dream state it is more the opposite way around. Does the bear in your dreams
somehow represent an element of fear of the mind not being in control: of relaxing into the more
spiritual less rational aspects of your being perhaps?

BlackDove:
I realize now the message that Bear was trying to tell me. The dream was premonition of more
hardship to come. In fact, the symbols of Bear stealing away the fish I had caught and the turmoil
of the bears wrestling in the pond came true a few minutes ago.

My wife just called me to tell me that she lost her job. She had been previously out of work for
several weeks before landing this one and things were starting to look bleak for us financially.
Then this job happened and everything started to look better for us, but now it didn't work out
and we're back in serious financial trouble. If she is not able to find another job in the next few
days, we will lose everything we have -- the house, cars, everything. We ate up all of our savings
when she was out of work last month and have nothing to fall back on. We even borrowed some
money from family to help get us by, and we can't borrow anymore. We just bought a house, and
now I'm afraid that we're going to be out on the street.

If this is a test/life lesson, it's the hardest one I've ever faced and I'm afraid we may not survive it.
This entire past year has given us hardship after hardship, and whenever we think we've gotten a
step up, we receive another devastating blow that takes us down several more steps and puts us
further behind. Everything is completely out of my hands because there's nothing I can do to
make it any better. I'm angry, frustrated, and more than a little scared at what's going to happen
to us.

Mizz Mo:
I'm so sorry. You'd think your lessons would give you a slight turn for the good. Can you rent
out rooms to kids or single people? I know the job market and housing plain sucks these days. I
know this gal in our group does this to keep her house afloat, rents rooms to people. Her house
is the kind of house you have. My prayers to you that things get better.

Mouse:
((((((((((((((Mark))))))))))))))) Holding space for you and your wife. Bear is a protector. How
much of you is feeling afraid to confront the protector within you now that you're facing this
amount of hardship? In an emotional sense, do you fear you've failed as a provider/protector?
Facing such material loss is quite devastating in so many ways. (((((((((Hugs))))))))) Were you
fishing for food? Or were you fishing for "prize"? The first is essence, nourishing one's essence -
the second is feeding one's ego (that part of our selves that is made up of who we *think* we are
or should be). Could it be that Bear is asking you to surrender who you think you are (an
excellent fisherman) or should be (a provider) - and who you fear you are not (fear of not being
good enough, failure)... to the essence of Bear who plays while the river (life and circumstance)
flows around him? I add my prayers for things to get better VERY soon!

BlackDove:
Thank you for your prayers. At this point I don't know what to think. I think that the fish wasn't a
frivolous "prize" per se, but symbolized our accomplishments. Bear taking it away signified a
serious setback for us. I'm not the provider as my wife makes a lot more than I do. But we based
buying our house and spending a lot of money to fix it up and refurbish it on our combined
salary. I have a steady job, but it doesn't come close to her salary. My salary covers the
mortgage while hers covers everything else. But the job market has turned against us and now
her income is unreliable at best. I honestly wish I was the provider and that my income took care
of us, at least then I'd feel a measure of control over this situation. I'm feeling helpless because
there's not much I can do to help the situation. I just can't go and get a better paying job than I'm
already making with my current job skills. At the moment my wife is the one feeling like a failure.
She's taking all of this hardship to heart and feels like it's all her fault, when it really isn't. It's
been hard on both of us, but she's blaming herself for the predicament we're in.

Mouse:
(((((((((Mark)))))))))) That sounds like such a hard situation!! “I honestly wish I was the provider
and that my income took care of us, at least then I'd feel a measure of control over this situation.
I'm feeling helpless because there's not much I can do to help the situation. I just can't go and get
a better paying job than I'm already making with my current job skills.”

(emphases mine) That's sort of what I felt when writing my previous post. I'm sorry to read that
your wife is taking this all to heart so deeply as "her fault". I pray that she'll find peace within
soon. An image came to mind while emphasizing the "I'm feeling helpless" words in the quote
above... What would happen if you joined in with the frolicking bears? I can see you hopping
into the water and frolicking along - not in human form, but in bear form. Have you seen the film
"Brother Bear"? I have a feeling you may appreciate that film in light of your dreams.

Mizz Mo:
Your wife is not an failure. I don't see failures, I see lessons. Please don't allow her to waste her
energy on this, because she won't see the bigger picture when it steps forward. Have her read
this. It all is connected to the mini reading I gave you last week. It’s all connected. Failure
comes when lack of trying, there is no lack of trying on both your parts. Put faith in *everything
always works out, one way or another*. And don't you worry either.

BanjoSally:
Mark, I don't mean to change the subject but around the time you were having the bear dreams, I
was having them too. Mine was a huge grizzly and I was scared to death of him and I ran as fast
as I could. The next bear dream contained a large group of bears who were milling around a
quaint shopping area, such as a place where one would go on vacation. I was only a little scared
then, and became more comfortable weaving through the bears to do my shopping.

EaglesHand:
Mark, I have a bit of a different "spin" on this dream than the others. If Bear is coming to you in
such numbers have you considered that Bear is coming as a Spirit Animal/Totem? Bear has
much to teach you and perhaps it is these lessons that you need right now. Bears usually are
territorial and for a Bear to come and snatch a fish from your line is to invade your territory.
Wonder what would happen if, in your dream, you had become Bear? What would the dream
Bear have done, if as soon as you saw him approaching, you reared up, assumed a menacing
stance, and growled! Bear can lend you strength, can help you protect what is yours, and can
show you how to romp and frolic when the time is right. Facing fears is a means of overcoming
them and gaining new strength and resources. Have you looked up Bear Medicine in the Library
or on the Animal Spirit site? Now give your wife a big Bear hug! Reassure her, and the two of
you take a bit of time to refesh and regroup. Together you are a family and Bear families
working together can protect their territory.

BlackDove:
Sally, that's interesting that you were also having the Bear dreams at the same time as myself. I
guess our "connection" is still firmly in place.

EaglesHand, Bear has been my totem for the past few years, although up until recently I hadn't
seen him in the last year or so. He's recently come back with a vengeance and has appeared in
several dreams, although this last one was the most important.

I was shook up for most of the day yesterday after what happened, and I had a lot of trouble
sleeping last night. I was pretty much in panic mode and scared that we would loose everything.
But this morning I was able to meditate for the first time in a while and I had an amazing
experience that I was told I can share with you.

As I started meditating I hadn't yet finished my relaxation techniques when Bear immediately
appeared. His energy was very strong, and it was obvious that he didn't want to wait for me to go
through my routine before getting down to business. I was grateful to see him as this was the first
time in over a year he has appeared to me during meditation. He motioned for me to follow him,
and in doing so I automatically shape-shifted into bear form and followed him. He led me to a
house, and after a moment I recognized it as my current home. I entered the house and saw that it
was fully furnished and decorated (my new house now is pretty bare as we just started working
on it). Then I saw myself and my wife, and we were much older. I'm guessing that it was about
15 years into the future that I was seeing, and I could easily tell that we were doing perfectly fine
in every way. I thanked Bear for showing me this and, and feeling emotional I asked him to stay
with me. He said that he would always be with me, but that at certain times he would step back
and allow other totems to work with me when they needed to.

Then the vision dimmed and I couldn't see anything, but I began asking questions and continued
to receive answers from somewhere. I have the feeling it was my higher self-talking to me. But it
confirmed that what we were currently experiencing was a necessary lesson for my wife and I,
but that it would all be resolved within a month's time. It also confirmed what Mizz saw a few
days ago, that my wife and I chose to be together long before we were born into this lifetime, and
that we were soul mates. It shared a couple of other bits, but those I'm to keep to myself for now.
When I woke up this morning I was still filled with anxiety and fear, but after my meditation
session most of that fear is gone. I'm still a bit concerned at what's going to come of all of this,
but overall I've settled into accepting what's happening to us and having faith that it will all work
out. Thank you all for your caring responses. It means a lot to me.

CinnamonMoon:
Awesome meditation session, Mark! It's wonderful to see the peace coming to you this way.
*Two thumbs up!*

BlackDove:
Hey Cinn, what happened to your post? It vanished. I have an update with some good news. My
wife got a new job this morning! And the even better news is that it's for more money and closer
to home. Needless to say, we're breathing a big sigh of relief at the moment. So Bear was correct.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and keeping us in your thoughts. We very much
appreciate it.

We also had an interesting experience last night that, in hindsight, seemed to be Spirit's way to
warning us that good news was right around the corner. My wife and I took a trip to Wal-Mart
after work, and while we were driving home we were discussing my meditation journey with
Bear and the implications of what I was shown. Just then I happened to look off to my left, and
in a large field I saw the biggest black bear walking across the field right towards us!!! He was
huuuugggeeee, and absolutely beautiful. I tried pointing him out as we drove past, but my wife
didn't see him. So I made a U-turn and drove back, and there he was standing near the side of the
road just a few feet away from us. We stopped and watched him for about a minute. Usually
bears run away when humans get too close, but this one just looked at us for a short time, then
turned and walked the other way. He must have weighed about 400-450 pounds and had thick
shaggy black hair. This was the first bear we've seen in the past two years, and the fact that we
spotted him right in the middle of our conversation about my bear journey was exciting.

Minna:
Mark, this is such happy news. What a gift to receive such an amazing sign and i'm so happy for
you guys that your wife got her new job, and a more and better new job. Just celebrating with
you. Seems like you've been working on a similar issue for a time and it's just lovely how you've
worked with it and are moving through and past it.

BanjoSally:
Wonderful news, Black Dove! Bear's message couldn't have been clearer. Sometimes our totems
have to practically slap us in the face to get our attention. Congrats to Cheri on the new job!

Mouse:
That's great news, and an awesome journey with Bear! Congrats to Cheri from me too! (And
which post from Cinn is missing? I see two posts from her in this thread.)

BlackDove:
That's really strange. I see her first post, but the other one appears to have been deleted, at least
from what I can see. Odd.

Mouse:
This is the text I see in her 2nd post: “Awesome meditation session, Mark! It's wonderful to see
the peace coming to you this way. *Two thumbs up!*” Is that the one you're referring to?

BlackDove:
Yep, that's it, but I still don't see it. How strange.

BanjoSally:
I don't see it anymore either. I remember it from earlier, but it's gone from my screen.

CinnamonMoon:
Awwww I can see my post to you Mark. Just in case, CONGRATULATIONS again!