It was a time in my life where fear had a hold on me so strong that I was frozen in place and could not make a choice. Session after session we would work to just get me to the idea of change, of stepping out of my fear. Then one day I walked in and he said, would you like to go on a journey?
I laid down, he held my head in his hands and started to speak to me softly. He walked me down a staircase and out into a field, he asked me to look for an animal and to tell him what I saw. There she was, sleek, black and fierce. As I looked into her eyes, I knew, I could do anything, that she would walk with me and be there to assist me. I spoke out to him, I see a panther. He assisted me in communicating with the panther and walked me back into a conscious state. I sat up and he shared with me the medicine of Panther, and the symbolism of the spirit animal.
The panther spirit animal is powerful and protective. The panther symbolizes courage, valor and power. If the panther is your power animal, you are blessed with a fierce guardian. The panther is the symbol of the mother, the dark moon and the power of the night. This totem animal encourages us to understand the power within the shadows and to acknowledge these powers to help eliminate our fear of the dark and unknown.
That panther was with me through some difficult times in my life, walking with me into the darkest places and assisting me to pull forth my own strength and release fear. I didn’t know when I walked into his office that day that I was going on a journey within and I didn’t know about spirit animals and their medicine. I didn’t know what the panther could help me with when I first saw her. She showed up for me, showed up with exactly what I required to get through those hard times.
I am grateful for that first journey, that first shaman teacher and for that panther and the gifts of her medicine. Those firsts were only the beginning of many grand experiences and animals with their medicine continue to contribute to my life.
That first journey was 20ish years ago and it opened the door to a connection to animals, plants and spirits along with teachings and my choice to become a certified hypnotherapist. I took that training, other trainings and the Native American teachings in combination to offer those journey sessions to others, to find communion with the many beings traveling along side each one of us just waiting for us to ask them to contribute. The journey sessions are not only about connecting to other beings, they are a wonderful way to connect to self and the body.
Contact me to schedule yours…
Michelle
