Spirit Lodge - Totem Animals - Page 71

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Totem Animals

Page 71

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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

GRASSHOPPER MEDICINE
By CinnamonMoon

Grasshopper:
*Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak:
Keynote: Uncanny Leaps Forward

Although the ancient Hebrews saw the grasshopper as a symbol of the scourge, in other societies
it held a position of honor and respect. In China grasshoppers and crickets were symbols of good
cheer, good luck, abundance, and virtue. Some even believed that relatives would come back to
life as a grasshopper or cricket, and they would construct small cages for those they would find.
Even to the ancient Greeks the grasshopper was a symbol of nobility.

As its name implies, the grasshopper moves by leaping and hopping. This is also how it escapes.
Grasshoppers have a tremendous jumping ability and they can leap horizontally up to twenty
times their own body length. For those with this totem, it is important to get off the haunches and
move. Take a chance, take a leap forward.

The hind legs of the grasshopper differ from the rest of its legs and the legs of other insects. They
are extremely long and large. The hind legs have delicately controlled muscles. Those with this
totem will usually find that things don't move or flow the way they do for other people. Progress
is not usually made step by step. Instead, others may seem to be progressing while you seem to
be sitting still. Do not become discouraged. When grasshopper shows up, there is about to be a
new leap forward--one that will probably carry you past the others around you in your life.

Grasshoppers have an instinct for finding the sunny sides of mounds and other places so they can
be exposed to the sun. They have a knack for being in the warmth and light and knowing when to
make their leaps. Trust your own instincts and rhythms if this is your totem. What works for
others will not necessarily work for you. (Also remember that what works for you probably will
not work for anyone else.)

Listen to your own inner voice to know when to make your moves in any area of your life.
Grasshoppers possess a tympanic organ on the front legs. As they breathe, this organ is activated.
By moving the legs in different directions they are able to locate a sound's source. This
connection between sensing sounds and the legs is highly significant. Trust your inner voice.
Those with grasshopper totems have an uncanny ability to leap into successful ventures. This
becomes even more true when they learn to listen to that inner voice and follow their own
instincts. Sometimes grasshopper can show up if we are not listening or if we are afraid to make
the leap off our mound. Many times such fears have to do with the fact that "no one else has
done it this way." Grasshopper people have to learn to make new leaps. Life only becomes
difficult when they refuse to move. At such times they may feel as if they are experiencing a
scourge themselves. Remember a grasshopper always leaps up or forward. It doesn't leap
backward.

*I'm going to do a separate thread for Ladybug.

SisterCyber:
The Grasshopper
www.sayahda.com

The short horned grasshopper is related to the locust and both will be discussed here. As with all
insects, they are cold blooded and are more active when it is warmer. Their are about 10,000
species and each has its own unique song. With a few exceptions only the males can sing. During
courtship, male grasshoppers take turns singing songs, competing to outdo each other for the
attention of the females.

One of the gifts these insects hold is the power of song and sound. Song is an ancient way to
alter consciousness and communicate with our animal and spirit relations. Some Native
American songs date back at least 20,000 years. If these insect singers have caught your
attention with their song, they may be asking you to honor your ancestors and reconnect with
your true heritage. Listening and responding to your inner voice as well as using it in a
complimentary way towards self and others is equally important.

The grasshopper-locust is associated with astral travel. They have the ability to leap through
time and into space where the true mysteries of life exist. People with this medicine have the
wisdom necessary to overcome obstacles efficiently and are able to jump into successful ventures
without preparation or planning. When the grasshopper-locust appears to us we are being asked
to take a leap of faith and jump forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that
specific area is one that we have avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale.
This can represent a change in location, relationships, career or just in the way we perceive ourselves.

Overcrowding and food shortages turn normally peaceful grasshoppers into the dreaded locusts,
capable of stripping a forest or farm in the blink of an eye. They turn dark, almost black, so that
they can absorb more sunlight to have heat and energy to maintain their swarming. They will
continue this frenzy until they reach a place with enough food, or enough of them die or are
killed to control the population. Those with grasshopper-locust as a totem must remember that
the gifts of mother earth are available for everyone if used in a sacred way. Sometimes a person
forgets that sacred balance and takes more than is needed. This can also be symbolic of
individuals taking from you. Are others demanding too much of your time, your energy? Is
responsibility being placed on your shoulders that is not rightfully yours? These are some of the
questions to ask yourself if the grasshopper-locust presents itself to you. Remember life only
becomes more difficult when we refuse to leap forward into the magic of change.

ShadowWhisper:
Greetings! SC, I have to thank you for posting new information on this. It made me relook at the
information that Cinnamon moon had posted as well.

“Those with this totem will usually find that things don't move or flow the way they do for other
people. Progress is not usually made step by step. Instead, others may seem to be progressing
while you seem to be sitting still. Do not become discouraged. When grasshopper shows up,
there is about to be a new leap forward--one that will probably carry you past the others around
you in your life.”

This is especially relevant reading this part. After I had come back from my trip in Georgia, I
expected ( a key word here) that change would happen in normal steps. I do seem to be sitting
still while, internal changes have been taking place.

As for the additional information: “Song is an ancient way to alter consciousness and
communicate with our animal and spirit relations. Some Native American songs date back at
least 20,000 years. If these insect singers have caught your attention with their song, they may be
asking you to honor your ancestors and reconnect with your true heritage. Listening and
responding to your inner voice as well as using it in a complimentary way towards self and
others is equally important.”

This one resonates deeply within me to. I just learned this week, the importance of my drum. I
was presented with its name. I'm still working on responding to my inner voice. I still find that
one a bit hard.

“When the grasshopper-locust appears to us we are being asked to take a leap of faith and jump
forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that specific area is one that we have
avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale. This can represent a change in
location, relationships, career or just in the way we perceive ourselves.”

Yes, the leap of faith is rather a big one for me. I'm at a crossroads as the change reaches across
the board on location, relationships, career and my perception as well. The one area I’ve been
avoiding has my been my art, although I've had college training in it. I've been looking more at
the therapy side of it rather than the actual art aspect of it. Anyway, thanks again for the post,
SC.