Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Unwise owls and others

Write about an animal which works against type, examples: an unwise owl, a disloyal dog, a needy cat, a slow rabbit, a fast turtle. You don't need to stick to the examples. Pick any animal you wish!

After I posted this on the list, I tried to do it and couldn't think of any animals other than the ones listed above! If you need some more examples there's a shorter list at animal spirit guides. The following are from a list of animal totems:
Alligator - aggression, survival, adaptability
Ant - team player, worker
Armadillo - active, nocturnal, protection
Bat - guardian of the night, cleaner
Bear - power, adaptability
Bear Paw - strength, mobility
Beaver - builder, gather
Bobcat - fierce, loner intensity
Brontosaurus - harmless giant
Buffalo - sacredness, life builder
Buffalo Skull - sacredness, reverence for life
Bull - strength, warning
Butterfly - metamorphosis, carefree, transformer
Camel - weary, enduring
Cat - independence, grace, healing
Cougar - leadership, courage
Cow - patience, stoicism
Coyote - prankster, insight, playful
Crane - solitude, independence
Deer - love, gentleness, kindness
Dog - loyalty, protection
Dolphin - kindness, play, bridge man to ocean
Dove - love, peace, gentleness
Dragon - wisdom, nobility
Dragonfly - flighty, carefree
Eagle - divine spirit, connection to creator
Elephant - long life, self - preservation
Elk - strength, agility, freedom
Fox - cunning, provider, intelligence
Frog - connection with water element
Giraffe - watchfulness, mobility
Goat - stubborn, omnivorous
Goose - faithful, communicative, traveler
Gorilla - brute strength, adaptability
Grizzly Bear - hunter, nature's pharmacist
Hawk - messenger, stopper of time
Hippo - linking water and earth, survival
Hopi Hand - life, creative, healing
Horse - stamina, mobility, strength
Hummingbird - messenger, stopper of time
Kangaroo - feisty, fun loving
Lion - power, strength, respect
Lizard - conservation, agility
Loon - solitude, song, romance
Manatee - peaceable, unassuming
Mastodon - lumbering giant
Monkey - playfulness, agility
Moose - headstrong, unstoppable, longevity
Mouse - timid, secretive, sneaky
Orca - focus, power
Ostrich - fickle, fast moving
Otter - laughter, curiosity, truth, patience
Owl - wisdom, perseverance
Panda - playful, kindness
Parasaurolophus - parallel crested lizard
Pegasus - carrier of lightning
Pelican - ever watchful, grace
Penguin - playful, loving
Pheasant - confidence, attraction, perseverance
Pig - intelligence, hunger
Polar Bear - fearlessness, power
Pterodactyl - wing finger
Quail - sacred spiral, ceremonial, Holy
Rabbit - alertness, resourceful
Raccoon - bandit, shy, determination
Ram - new beginning, teacher, hoarder
Raptor - speedy thief
Raven - trickster, mischievous
Rhino - durability, strength
Road Runner - speed, agility, cleverness
Salmon - instinct, persistence, determination
Scorpion - defense, self - protection
Seahorse - confidence, grace
Shark - hunter, survival
Skunk - wary, conspicuous, intense
Snake - shrewdness, transformation
Spider - creative, pattern of life
Squirrel - trusting, innocence
Steer Skull - silent testimony
Stegosaurus - the covered lizard
Swan - grace, balance, festive
T Rex - lizard king
Thunderbird - caller of rain
Triceratops - horrible 3 horned face
Turkey - smart, elusive
Turtle - self-contained creative source
Unicorn - redemption, salvation
Water Buffalo - enormous strength, hard working
Whale - wisdom, power, cleanser
Wolf - loyalty, success, perseverance
Wolf Paw - freedom, success, guidance
Zebra - family - oriented, alert
Zuni Bear - good health

1 comment:

Joyce Fetteroll said...

Jelly lolled lazily on the sun-warmed stone stoop. A breeze hushed through the leaves. A car pulled from the driveway next door and hummed slowly by. It was a perfect day to spend all the sun hours laying in a puddle of warmth and dozing.

A fly buzzed near her head. Half-asleep, Jelly waved at it. The buzzing stopped. As she dropped back to sleep the fly returned, buzzing more insistently. Jelly levered herself up on her front paws, her lower half still lazing. She swatted again, reaching over her head and behind her and tumbled down the steps, landing on her back, paws in the air, white belly exposed. She gave a quick lick to her shoulder and righted herself. She meant to do that. Her quick unexpected maneuver had totally flummoxed the fly.

Unfortunately the sidewalk wasn't as warm as the stoop. But the red brick wall next to the house was always warm. Not as wide or as inviting to lolling, but often warmer than the stoop because it was ever so much closer to the sun. Jelly sat at the base of the wall, eyeing the edge three cat lengths above her. An easy leap for a cat. Crouching low she sprang upwards, front paws reaching, reaching to pull her upwards, back paws following ready to latch and hoist her back half after her front half.

One front paw caught the brick, the second slipped. For a moment she clung by two claws. Then her panicking feet splayed and slammed into the wall. Her back claws scrambled for purchase and her claws caught in the mortar, her other front paw reaching over her head and swiping the top of the wall, searching for something to latch onto but finding only slick brick.

"Ah, Jelly, what a prime example of cat-hood," Manny growl-purred beneath her.

Jelly's claws screech scratched frantically at the bricks, caught, missed and Jelly dropped heavily on her tail bone.

Jelly scrambled to her feet. Her tail hurt. She twisted to see the damage and her front foot slipped dropping her onto her side. She lifted her tail.

"How's the tail?" Jelly asked.

"No more kinks than usual," Manny said, dark head cocked.

Joyce