Jan 17 2008
Mr. Squirrel tries his hand at gardening
Looking out my kitchen window the other day, I saw one of my squirrel friends eating the corn I put out for them. Guess he reached his fill so he started digging holes and burying the kernels.
Well, they did this last winter as well, hiding the kernels in the ground. Sometime around August I had all these corn plants growing in my backyard beds. I really doubt that the squirrels were hoping to supply themselves with fresh grown corn.
“Squirrels can teach us balance within the circle of gathering and giving out. If we are doing too much of one or the other, squirrel may appear to help us. Squirrels are the masters of preparing, but they also are reminders that in our quest for our goals, we should always make time to socialize and play. Work and play go hand-in-hand, or the work will create problems and become more difficult and less fruitful.” (Ted Andrews, “Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small
)
This is how I interpreted the symbolism of the behavior I saw with squirrels last year:
I was worrying too much about the future, fearful and lacking trust that the universe would provide. I don’t know what the future will bring. All I have is right now. By living worrying about the future, I was missing out on the present. I needed to take more time to enjoy life and let go of the stresses. I was out of balance.
But I’m not the same person I was last year. So my current interpretation is more along these lines:
Plant your seeds and see what comes to fruition. No expectations. Just let those seeds do their own thing. Some may grow and some may not.
By observing the world around us, we are better able to see what is going on within ourselves through signs and symbols. Journaling these observations and interpretations validates our thoughts and feelings. It opens the way for personal and spiritual growth.
Related posts:
Guess what book has been my companion for the past couple of days - “Animal Speak” - synchronicity? Animals can teach us so much about ourselves, and what we see and interpret at a given time from the behavior we observe is a very good indication of our own state of mind and needs at the time. This is true not only from animals in the wild but also from those who are used to human interaction and caregiving. To those in the animal care professions who would caution us against anthropomorphism, this is nothing of the kind, simply another way of being observant and aware of using nature to open ourselves up and realize our own potential and place in the world.
Last summer the rabbits ate my chard and lettuce, the squirrels ate most of the peaches and the deer ate the hostas and lilies.
What is the lesson that I should be learning from the animals?
Is it as I had written about in the post in my Blog, “Fences” or should I take down the fences and just plant more than enough to go around?
Humans have been infringing upon our animal friends. All over the world. From destroying the rainforests to the open lands with over development. And if someone has enough money, the wetlands as well. The animals are struggling for survival, their backs are against the wall. I really doubt that they feel safe living in a neighborhood, they are just hungry and fighting for their lives. They are living in poverty.
Maybe next year we’ll save one tree for the squirrels and plant a patch of chard and lettuce for the rabbits.
We feed birds so why not the others?
I’m reminded that whenever we see a squirrel eating birdseed, this can be perceived in different ways. It isn’t necessarily a glimpse of stealing the food of another creature, but could be a way nature shares abundance. Perception is key to everything.
After years of feeding birds and watching squirrels violate every squirrel-proof birdfeeder known to man, I finally just embraced them and they now have their own feeding stations. I just love these amazing little critters and love to watch all their antics.
This is my first time on this blog and I’m sure I’ll be back!