While walking in the woods recently, I found myself Falling back into some darker feelings, singing the blues to myself, if you will. Then I noticed the foliage changing colors and said to myself, “tis the season”, as I was able to leave those feelings  behind for a spell and shift in alignment with Inner Peace, while remembering gratitude for what is. Simultaneously, I heard a Blue Jay calling out to me and then watched another bathing himself in a creek after I found a place to hide.  From the Ground, I looked Up and said, “thank you” . . . the most important prayer I know. And just a few moments ago, I heard a Woodpecker reminding me to follow my own internal rhythms, while My Blue Herons encouraged me to stay rooted as I determine my own Destiny.

Following a Tai Chi workshop last weekend, I picked up some Thai food to go and while driving along the Road Less Traveled, I noticed a Racoon watching me as we shared a heartfelt gaze, if only fleetingly (I didn’t want to crash and burn into either of Us). In the spirit of darkness and disguise, I took my encounter with Racoon as an immediate connection to the self-defense aspect of the internal martial art that I’ve come to love, master of self-defense raccoons are. In fact, the “real master” that taught the workshop struck me as True to His Self, rather than a master pretender. When he spoke of closing Our eyes, if only briefly, it was as if he channeled Racoon’s Medicine to put on a mask and access a primordial space within.  I took this lesson as somewhat akin to when Obi Wan Kenobi instructed his late-blooming student to put on a mask and “use the force Luke.” In this way, We may step into a New dimension and access deeper realms. Has anyone out there ever heard of the ‘Johari Window’? In the Spirit of that, Racoon Medicine reminds Us that We have the opportunity to dive into the Unknown and retrieve New Vistas from aspects of Our Selves that might otherwise be unavailable. True, this process elicits ambiguity and equivocation because there is the sense of a ‘death of the old self’ and letting go of ‘who I am’. However, in this process of Alchemy, a re-birth and ‘who I am becoming’ lies on the Horizon. In much the same way as my Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) friends–well, that’s something I can dig on, Ma Chucka.

Finally, the implications for Racoon Medicine are mind-bending and leaves plenty more to digest through the seasons, even as Chlorophyll wanes and meanders into the Dreamtime. Perhaps an Occupational Therapist might integrate a Shamanic perspective by tapping into Racoon’s energy when working with folks in developing their ‘fine motor’ dexterity and manipulation, while prescribing a ‘sensory diet’. Next time I’m ‘Chi washing’, I’ll marinate on Racoon Medicine when cleansing my Auric energy field and think of my martially masked friend as inspiring me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, as I remember to wash them clean. While sleeping, I’ll dream a New Dream of putting to bed old aspects of myself, welcoming changing faces and exploring New Awakenings. Who knows, perhaps Racoon’s medicinal offerings might include some shapeshifting Gateways into my T’ai Chi martial arts explorations.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari