Spirit Animal – The Walrus

Walrus picture from http://www.weforanimals.com

Recently, Disney Studios released the movie “EARTH” which is a spectacular look at nature over several years.  Featured in the film is “Walrus” as Walrus protects their young from a starving polar bear.  Walrus is as big and sometimes bigger than the bear.  As an animal living in a harsh environment, Walrus has lessons to teach us and messages to share with us, right from the eyes on the side of its head to the long white tusks that hang down from its mouth.

Walrus lives in the Arctic so environment becomes a key factor in how Walrus lives.  First, the tough hide and layers of blubber keep Walrus warm in the frigid waters.  Second, as Walrus glides in the water for lengths of time, the blood vessels contract and the colour of the hide changes to almost white as the blood recedes to keep Walrus’s core temperature more in balance with the water.  Third, on shore, Walrus huddles together with other walruses so that the combined body heat warms the air around them and keeps the calves warm.  Fourth, Walrus believes in safety in numbers, and constantly talks to its neighbours to learn what is going on in the environment on the other side of the herd. 

  Walrus and Man picture from www.michaeltyler.co.uk 

 

 

 

On land, Walrus seems awkward and moves like a large slug.  In the water, Walrus is gracefully efficient.  This works well since Walrus must follow the food sources in the spring and fall, migrating almost a thousand miles.  To help it stay afloat, Walrus has huge air sacs in its jaws, and, by filling these, Walrus can sleep and float on the ocean’s surface.

The lessons from Walrus are concerned with safety and environment, especially emotional environment.

1. Walrus asks you to keep a close watch on the environment around you because there will always be danger lurking behind a rock.  And, even though it has tusks, generally, Walrus will need help to fight on land.  Who can you count on to fight with you?
2. Her ability to be on land and in water makes Walrus an animal that moves easily from deep emotion to physical reality in life.  Is Mother Earth sending you messages that you are not understanding? Are you ignoring signals that your environment is unstable?  This is exactly what happened in the mortgage industry – early warning signs were ignored, and then it seemed sudden when the world collapsed.
3. Finding a way to protect herself from the cold as she plunges through the water of emotion, Walrus teaches that one must have a way to protect the self from the rapid changes of emotions and backlash of anger and self flagellation as we review our life “Story” for how we see things is our story and not necessarily how others will perceive the journey.
4. Walrus’s unique way of lowering her body temperature to balance to the cold shows that the heat can be concentrated around the heart center, and that we do not have to have a “cold heart” to move through life.

If Walrus is coming to see you now, allow her to share her life lessons with you.  Ask her to be your guide to visit deep emotional issues.  She will huddle with you and get you through your task.

Judy@angelsandancestors.com   See www.angelsandancestors.com for workshops and services.