Spirit Animals –Gopher

Gopher is a movie hero and played a starring role in the 1980 movie “Caddyshack” which also starred Saturday Night Live Alumni member, Bill Murray, as Gopher’s arch enemy. What is interesting about the movie is that it reflects how many ranchers and farmers in the west feel about Gopher – believing that Gopher is a pest.

A small rodent, Gopher lives in a colony with others, understanding that there is safety in numbers and that family will watch out for you. The Gopher family speaks with clicks and whistles, and even has a special ultrasonic whistle for family members. Ants live underground and store their food for winter as do many other animal/insects.

Gopher is actually a “ground squirrel”

Photo from Wikipedia, from Banff, Alberta

Gopher, too, gathers and stores some food for the winter since even though they hibernate, they make wake up as the weather shifts from cold to warm, and require a little snack.

All beings that live underground are said to be “Secrets of Life” Keepers. Gopher, like many of the others that live underground, has tunnels that intersect and connect to allow the gopher families to be safe underground for extended periods of time. Whether life is above ground, or below it, or even in the water, the series of tunnels show us that everything is connected, even though it may be hidden from us. Gopher knows how to dig and uncover hidden truths and meanings. She shares this gift with you.

Partially because she is very small, and partially from spending so much time underground, Gopher has poor sight. When Gopher keeps watch, she always tries to be on the tallest point of land so that she can see movement, and warn her colony. She also is able to feel vibration in the ground, and therefore, often has advance warning of coming visitors. If Gopher shows up in your life, she is telling you to feel around you. Do you too pick up vibrations of energy? If so, are you fully in that place where you will do vibration or energy medicine work?

While many see Gopher as a pest, one needs to see her attributes. She runs backwards and forwards, quickly, with ease, and is able to jump down small holes at a moment’s notice. She feeds from her tunnels by pulling down plants. Gardens that are planted on gopher territory take a beating. Gopher does however, bring the message – look to your own growth process and watch where you plant your seeds. Try taking responsibility for your actions instead of adopting a victim role and blaming others.

Why not go out to a field and get acquainted with gophers and observe their wisdom?

Judy@angelsandancestors.com Send us your stories about your experience with Gopher.