Spirit Animals

Many years ago (seems like a lifetime now) I took a personality test that put the test taker in one of four categories. I can't remember what the actual test was called but you were either a lion...

didn't know I was such a buddy to the lions did you?

a Golden Retriever...

Conchscooter's English Golden Retriever 'Cheyenne' 

and an otter or a beaver  (sorry, don't have any pictures... but you can picture the otter frolicking and the beaver busily building...). That's it. Those four. 

At the time, I scored heavily as a Golden Retriever. It was depressing because the Retriever is a nice enough pet, but not something I aspired to be as a human being. I wouldn't have minded if I had scored as a lion. After all, there is Aslan. He is the great lion who is "dangerous" "not a tame lion." But he is good and throughout the Narnia chronicles he is gentle and wise. So, being a lion wouldn't be a bad thing. 

But I didn't score as a lion. 

I was a Golden Retriever. *sigh* A house pet.

Later, I did various other personality tests and my view of myself broadened. I realized that wasn't the whole picture. And I realized that first test had presented  a very limited (and limiting!) view of myself and of anyone else who I might try to put into those four categories. People are as varied as the animal kingdom itself!

A few years ago I decided to choose the animal that I would emulate, the one that speaks to the spirit that I wanted to have and the one that corresponded to the spirit I already had. It wasn't hard to choose. I knew myself well enough that when I read the description of this creature, I knew I had found my match: 

• Change
• Wisdom
• Balance
• Harmony
• Communication skills
• Freedom
• Trust
• Understanding the power of rhythm in your life
• Use of breath to release intense emotions

Remember, some of these I strive to meet, others I think are already part of my personality. This is the wisdom of the...

  What is your spirit animal? If you don't know, you can go here to choose one! 

Save the Dolphins!

It's not unusual for an animal as smart as a dolphin to be trained for it's entertainment value and though I am not a avid activist in these matters a cause has recently caught my attention that I thought I would bring to yours... I've never so much as darkened the doors of a hotel in Las Vegas apparently there is an exhibit at The Mirage, owned by MGM Grand International called "Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat." The pool the dolphins live in is reportedly located near a highway which cause them to develop respiratory diseases. In addition to this, the dolphins are subjected to extreme temperature changes. As a result many of the dolphins die from the unnatural causes.According to the article:

The dolphins perform tricks and flips for the paying customers and are given fish as reward. These are not natural behaviors for dolphins; they are trained and taught behaviors.

This exhibit has been the death sentence for many wild and captive-born dolphins. The Review-Journal obtained records from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration that includes an inventory of the dolphins at The Mirage and cause of death for those that died.

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. A few days ago, I wrote of my character's "animal spirit guide"-- I love dolphins and they are my "spirit guides" and I hate to see them so shabbily treated. Please sign the petition asking The Mirage to ask them to end their exhibit and if you are planning to visit Las Vegas, please avoid The Mirage and MGM Grand properties. For the sake of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean! For more information and to sign the petition sign the link below or click on the picture!You can find out more by going to my other blog... Meanderings of Wandering Mind.