Spirit Lodge - Totem Animals - Page 46

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Totem Animals

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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

DOVE
By CinnamonMoon

*Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak
Keynote: Feminine Energies of Peace, Maternity, and Prophecy
Cycle of Power: Dawn and Dusk

The dove has tremendous wealth of lore and legend surrounding it. Most of it centers around all
of the traditional feminine and mother symbols. In the Greek tradition, Aphrodite was born from
an egg brooded by a dove. The Oracles of Dodona which Alexander sought were founded by a
dove. To the Slavs, the soul would become a dove at death. To the alchemist, it was a symbol of
sublimation. To the Christians, it is a symbol of peace, while to early pagans it was a symbol for
the yoni or female sexual organs. It has been associated with female sexuality through such
goddesses as Astarte and Isis. Because of its association with many goddesses, it was considered
the embodiment of the maternal instinct. "The name dove has been given to oracles and to
prophets...The prophet sent to Ninevah as God's messenger was called Jonah or the Dove..."
To the Pueblo Indians it was also honored. Its feathers were often worn and used in prayer sticks.
The mournful song of the dove was considered an invocation to water and an indication to men
where the water could be found. (Again we have the ancient symbol for the maternal in the
connection to water.) Its song would signify waterholes or springs to which the dove must return
at dusk to drink.

The song of the dove speaks to all who hear it. Its mournful tones stir the emotions, the internal
waters. During the summers, as a child, I loved being up before others had arisen. I remember
stepping out the front door, the mourning sun soft, and from the woods surrounding the house
would come the sweet-sad song of the morning dove. It always seemed to stir a sense of promise.
The dove is actually a smaller copy of the now-extinct passenger pigeon. A study of its qualities
will help you in understanding the significance of the dove in your own life.

The dove is also a ground feeder, reflective of keeping contact with Mother Earth and the
creative possibilities of the feminine energies on earth. Its diet is mostly seeds, but it will eat
stones that accumulate in the gizzard to help with digestion. Those with a dove as a totem will
find it beneficial that they eat bulk to aid their own digestive and creative processes.
The brood of the dove consists of two eggs. Two is a traditional number for the feminine and
creative energies. A study of numerology, as applied to doves, will add even more insight for
you.

The dove's song is its most distinctive characteristic. The voice of the dove is the rain song. Out
of its mourning, it invokes new waters of life. Its song should remind us that no matter what our
life conditions, new waters and new life are still possible. The Earth is a female planet, and this
should remind us that creation and new birth is available to all of us upon it. The mourning dove
helps us to remember that.

Although its song is heard throughout the day, it seems more distinct at dawn and dusk. These
are the "Between Times"--a time in which there is a thinning of the veils between the physical
and spiritual, the past and the future. The dove can help you to use these times to see the creation
process active within your own life.

The song of this totem tells you to mourn what has passed, but awaken to the promise of the
future. It is a bird of prophecy and can help you see what you can give birth to in your life.

Unregistered Guest:
“The dove's song is its most distinctive characteristic. The voice of the dove is the rain song. Out
of its mourning, it invokes new waters of life. Its song should remind us that no matter what our
life conditions, new waters and new life are still possible. The Earth is a female planet, and this
should remind us that creation and new birth is available to all of us upon it. The mourning dove
helps us to remember that.”

I was just taking an afternoon swim in our building’s roof top pool and I was thinking about
Silver Eagle Dreamers vision of Dove. I feel very close to Dove, as she walks with me in the
dream time on my left arm. We have become so close we hear each other’s voices. I'm really
fortunate to be able to spend a lot of my day within inches of her as she feeds on my kitchen
window sill. I lay out seeds every few hours and when they are gone she will stand there looking
at me asking in her own way for more. I knew her Father before her and she has taken his place.
Sometimes, she shares her space and other times, especially when the Sparrows are quarrelling
(which is first thing every morning!) she will move them off with a firm butt of the head. She has
her little space just how she likes it and is not at all daunted to clear it. As I was swimming this
afternoon and thinking about Dove there she was. Very often when I am swimming she will walk
around and then come to the side of the pool and take a drink as her Father before her did. He
trusted me too, and was quite comfortable taking a drink whilst I swam along. He even taught his
family how to drink when the pool level was low. They learned a lot from him as I did over the
three years I knew him, and I hold a special place for him in my heart. As I stood and watched
Dove drinking I talked to her and asked her to help us. She walked along the wall and then
stopped opposite me and just looked with those round dark eyes of hers. I listened to what she
had to tell me. She wanted me to come into Spirit Lodge to bring Dove to the fore of this forum
so everyone who called in would see Dove there, and maybe they would stay a while to read Ted
Andrews words. She also wanted me to share this with you so that you know Dove is here right
now, and through these words we may allow a little of her Medicine into our hearts and minds
for the good of the whole. She then flew off leaving beautiful, bright energy trails in the blue sky..
As Dove leaves me a feather most days I will be tying one onto my indoor tree in thanks for this
conversation.

I'm not very proficient in writing, but I've done what I can, and I hope it serves Dove well as is
my intent.

Marila:
Walking with beloved White Dove the song is a song from the heart, caring, loving kindness,
words that do not wound, that do not hurt, but in singing the song - even a sad one - it heals -
transforming the wounds, transforming the hurt one - in love/Love/LOVE it heals - embracing all
those who are asking for healing, because in its song are the experiences of circles of life - from
the beginning of life in a physical from to its fulfillment, coming back into the arms of Great
Spirit. Its song is Love, pure LOVE - always gentle - always seeing the wounds of the others and
not hurting, not putting salt in the wounds, it is a very caring way of healing, such a strong way
of healing because it is the LOVE of Great Spirit that comes through - being soft in the strength
of LOVE - healing with its song of Love/LOVE. Offering a Sacred Song where transformation in
LOVE may take place - healing... Because Love/LOVE is stronger than anything else - it is a
medicine that heals and transforms the deepest wounds... Therefore be careful when being with
Doves song - use it with a heart connected to Great Spirit - because even in "copying" the
words/the song of Dove it has such an impact - and used with a heart that is not lying in the
hands of Great Spirit be sure that you dedicate your song to Great Spirit before... Then you may
sing - Doves song, deep from your heart - it will be healing in Love, then... Soft words - so soft
in the strength of LOVE - of LOVE where All-that-Is comes from...

Mouse:
The Dove is a member of the pigeon family and both hold the qualities of home, security and
maternal instincts. Many with this totem will experience unsettling childhood's and will be
challenged continually to acquire a solid secure foundation in all areas of their lives.
The legends and lore surrounding the dove associates it with many goddesses and it is
considered the embodiment of the maternal instinct. The brood of dove consists of two eggs. Two
represents the creative and feminine energies. Home and family are important to those with this
totem and life lessons will be most predominant in these areas.

Since the dove is a ground feeder and eats mostly seeds those with this totem would benefit from
a diet rich in wholesome seeds, nuts and grains. They would also do well in any health
profession relating to nutrition.

The dove's song is its most distinctive feature. It can be heard throughout the day. The mourning
coo of the Dove reflects hidden emotions stored within those who carry this medicine. How you
perceive its sound often reflects the energies that are playing out in your life.
When dove appears it is asking us to go within and release our emotional discord, be it of the
past or the present. It assists us in releasing trauma stored within our cellular memory.
Humming can aid in this release.

Doves hold the energy of promise. When inner turmoil is cleared from our thoughts, words and
feelings, the possibility of good fortune awaits us. In order to receive the gifts the doves bestows
on us healing on all levels is paramount.

From: www.sayahda.com/cyc2.html