Today is the Summer Solstice. As I sometimes do on auspicious dates, I reached out to my Shaman for some guidance and input. He offered me a number of things to consider during the upcoming 6 months, and all of them were very helpful. But most important to me was his final conclusion. He offered me an oracle card for guidance, and said the card represents my ultimate destiny–the true nature of my earth walk at the present moment. The card chosen was “Call of the Wild.” Now Nate doesn’t claim to be a fortune teller. He offers visual cards for the purpose of self-interpretation and guidance. He gives his take on the meaning of the card but always allows me to interpret it to fit my own situation. At the time, Nate had no idea of my plans to sell everything I own to go off on a trek across country to see what’s out there for me. His interpretation of the card was this:
“Whatever kind of relationship you have to animals, take it deeper. What lessons of how animals live can you apply to your own life circumstances? From a larger point of view, the natural world is calling to you to come home. You don’t have to let go of modern conveniences and technology, but you do have to rebuild and strengthen your connection to the natural world. Modern humans live a very insulated life inside climate controlled buildings, synthetic fiber clothing, shoes, and SPF lotions that even block air from touching the skin. The lessons coming to you are dependent on your ability to get more in touch with your own wild nature and the natural world around you.”
Wow. I’m not sure what else to say. I am surely about to take my relationship with animals deeper, with plans to live in a van with my dog Cosmo! And there is no doubt that the natural world is calling to me. It has been since Peru, and my response is “I’m coming! Just give me a minute.”