Learn why the squirrel has playfully found his way into your life as an animal totem!
If the squirrel is finding his way into your life as an animal totem, then you might be receiving messages of balancing work with play. Squirrels can often be found playing in trees, running around in circles with their furry friends in our yards, or teasing other animals as they walk along fences. While they are always up for a quick and silly goof-off-time in the outdoors, they are quick to get back to work, searching for nuts and seeds to hide for winter time. For this reason, the squirrel reminds us to take time out to play and to take life less seriously, even though there may be tons of work to do.
What do Squirrels Symbolize?
Squirrels symbolize resourcefulness and practicality in everyday life. If you watch a squirrel for a short length of time, you may discover that while they look like they are playing, they are actually jumping from branch to branch checking for nuts and seeds to bury in the ground for winter time. While they bury thousands of seeds, they only find about 10% of the seeds they hide. While it may seem like all that work was for nothing, in actuality, if you think about it, squirrels might be the reason that forests stay overgrown with trees. The animal spirit squirrel is constantly working to bury seeds, and thanks to him, new trees and bushes appear. Squirrels remind us to take a look at our own lives to see where we are forgetting to prepare. Are we saving up our hard earned money to put to good use for things we might need in the future or even retirement?
Squirrel Animal Totem
While that may seem like a lot of work for the squirrel to hide all of those nuts and only find a small percentage when then are most needed, the squirrel doesn’t mind so much because he plays when he wants to. Squirrel reminds us to keep a light heart even during our work day and to follow our intuition about taking “recess” breaks for ourselves. If squirrel is coming to you as a messenger, perhaps it is time to start taking more breaks throughout the day and follow your intuition about what you should do with that time. While squirrels may seem absent minded and like they are wasting a lot of their time (all that work for little reward), they unwittingly are burrowing seeds that might become potential trees! This is a great message to understand that we reap what we sow. If you spend time doing what feels right and things you love, you are planting seeds for more JOY to result in your life! Taking these actions and trusting them says much about how we end up where we end up on our journey. Every decision has a consequence, so choose with passion and playfulness!
If you’ve ever been around squirrels, you may have heard them chirping back and forth to one another. They are very social with one another and it’s as if they have their own language. For this reason, squirrels remind us to openly communicate with those around us. Squirrels become the most vocal during play and when they feel threatened. This reminds us to express ourselves in social settings and to address our concerns by utilizing communication. If squirrel has been yapping it up around you, ask yourself if you are being open with those around you? Are you letting others know when you feel threatened or uncomfortable? On the flip side, are you laughing and playing socially, sharing jokes and stories and enjoying the company of friends and family?
Squirrels symbolize:
Playfulness
Hard Work
Communication
Balance
High Energy
Preparation
Agility
Squirrels live by the phrase, where there’s a will there’s a way. They always find a way out of dangerous situations by acting quickly and always being alert. They navigate heights with a breeze and even jump and glide from tree to tree to acquire food and to avoid threats. I have personally seen squirrels leap from branch to branch with such ease that you would think they have wings. They are extremely coordinated and always alert. Squirrels remind us not to feel defeated by life’s tough challenges and to persist even when times get tough. They signify determination and goal setting, and they remind us to not think too much when we attempt to complete a task, rather just glide through the task as if it were a cinch.
If you are curious about animal totems and what messages they may have for you, I highly recommend Animal-Speak by Ted Andrews. I found this book to be highly valuable as a reference for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of nature. You will learn to meet and work with animals as totems and spirit guides by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world. Animal-Speak will help you to attune to your animal totem and discover your hidden powers and skills as reflected by your specific animal totem. If you’ve always felt connected to animals and nature, this book is a must have!
One of my favorite things to do to receive messages from animal totems is to draw a card from the Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals. This is a great way to meditate with a question or an issue that you might have and then draw a card and let that particular animal speak to you. This card deck contains beautifully illustrated cards containing an inspirational message from the animal world. The book that is included provides you with even more spiritual wisdom!
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In Happiness!
Mandy Gatlin
