Learning About Lucid Dreaming from My Groundhog Jedi Masters

How can a groundhog be a Jedi? Hello, remember Yoda? He wasn't much bigger than a groundhog. So with all the groundhog energy in my yard lately, I thought I should take another look at the critter's symbolism, get in touch with it on a shamanic level and see what the animal might represent. Sometimes, yes, it's just a pesky groundhog, but here's what I found.

Excerpted from Ted Andrews' "Animal Speak":
Because of their digging and tunneling abilities, the appearance of a groundhog may reflect your own ability to go deep within an area of interest or when a new area of study is about to open up.

The groundhog's "medicine" is its ability to hibernate for long periods. In the winter, its body temperature drops to just above freezing, its breathing slows to one breath per minute (wow) and the heart beats only about 4 or five times per minutes (wow, wow). This symbolizes opening to the dreamtime and using it more powerfully. Groundhogs can alert us to the significance of dreams and the ability to develop lucid dreaming and other altered states.

Just like groundhogs, shamans, yogis and other mystics would slow down their own breathing and heart beat in order to enter altered states or trances. In these states, they would seek healing or knowledge. So, the groundhog announces more opportunities to explore these states of consciousness.

Ok, cool, so I guess I need to pay more attention to my meditations, journeys and dreams, to delve deeper. There's quite a bit about consciousness I haven't explored, and I do have much more to learn. We've actually discussed this in our shamanic workshops, and there's one recurring dream I have that I'd like to explore in a more intentional way. This has always been a fascinating topic to me.

But then it gets scary: "Animal Speak" also suggests that groundhogs, because of their ability to hibernate, can offer lessons associated with death and dying and revelations about its process. Um--that doesn't sound all that fun. Thank you Messrs. Groundhog, I'll take all this under consideration--but I think I'll focus on the dreams instead!

Of course, don't forget Groundhog Day in February--same time as Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day, when the critters emerge from hibernation to predict the weather.

Learn more about groundhogs here, or read the full "Animal Speak" entry.

Learning About Lucid Dreaming from My Groundhog Jedi Masters

How can a groundhog be a Jedi? Hello, remember Yoda? He wasn't much bigger than a groundhog. So with all the groundhog energy in my yard lately, I thought I should take another look at the critter's symbolism, get in touch with it on a shamanic level and see what the animal might represent. Sometimes, yes, it's just a pesky groundhog, but here's what I found.

Excerpted from Ted Andrews' "Animal Speak":
Because of their digging and tunneling abilities, the appearance of a groundhog may reflect your own ability to go deep within an area of interest or when a new area of study is about to open up.

The groundhog's "medicine" is its ability to hibernate for long periods. In the winter, its body temperature drops to just above freezing, its breathing slows to one breath per minute (wow) and the heart beats only about 4 or five times per minutes (wow, wow). This symbolizes opening to the dreamtime and using it more powerfully. Groundhogs can alert us to the significance of dreams and the ability to develop lucid dreaming and other altered states.

Just like groundhogs, shamans, yogis and other mystics would slow down their own breathing and heart beat in order to enter altered states or trances. In these states, they would seek healing or knowledge. So, the groundhog announces more opportunities to explore these states of consciousness.

Ok, cool, so I guess I need to pay more attention to my meditations, journeys and dreams, to delve deeper. There's quite a bit about consciousness I haven't explored, and I do have much more to learn. We've actually discussed this in our shamanic workshops, and there's one recurring dream I have that I'd like to explore in a more intentional way. This has always been a fascinating topic to me.

But then it gets scary: "Animal Speak" also suggests that groundhogs, because of their ability to hibernate, can offer lessons associated with death and dying and revelations about its process. Um--that doesn't sound all that fun. Thank you Messrs. Groundhog, I'll take all this under consideration--but I think I'll focus on the dreams instead!

Of course, don't forget Groundhog Day in February--same time as Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day, when the critters emerge from hibernation to predict the weather.

Learn more about groundhogs here, or read the full "Animal Speak" entry.

OMG--Groundhog No. 3!

Wow, I'm getting really good at this trappin' thing! We set the trap early yesterday evening, and within an hour or 2, we caught this one. Just couldn't resist that freshly sliced squash and juicy lettuce!

Like the other 2, we released this one a few miles away.

Of course, now that the groundhogs are losing, the deer seem to be moving in...

OMG--Groundhog No. 3!

Wow, I'm getting really good at this trappin' thing! We set the trap early yesterday evening, and within an hour or 2, we caught this one. Just couldn't resist that freshly sliced squash and juicy lettuce!

Like the other 2, we released this one a few miles away.

Of course, now that the groundhogs are losing, the deer seem to be moving in...

Gotcha, Groundhog #2!

And so the Groundhog Relocation Project continues! Caught this one just a little while ago and will take him to his new home across the lake shortly.

Two down--at least one more critter to go! However, we've already lost our squash plants, dammit! Ah well, we won't starve...

Gotcha, Groundhog #2!

And so the Groundhog Relocation Project continues! Caught this one just a little while ago and will take him to his new home across the lake shortly.

Two down--at least one more critter to go! However, we've already lost our squash plants, dammit! Ah well, we won't starve...

Lightning Bugs Usher in June!

Finally caught my first few moments of watching lightning bugs (or fireflies for non-Southerners) light up the evening. I just learned that they're really a kind of beetle, and they're beneficial to have in the garden.

One thing that isn't beneficial, however, is a groundhog! It appears the one we trapped has sent reinforcements! We spotted one yesterday and ran him off, and then we set the trap again. Looks like the Battle of the Garden is back on!

Lightning Bugs Usher in June!

Finally caught my first few moments of watching lightning bugs (or fireflies for non-Southerners) light up the evening. I just learned that they're really a kind of beetle, and they're beneficial to have in the garden.

One thing that isn't beneficial, however, is a groundhog! It appears the one we trapped has sent reinforcements! We spotted one yesterday and ran him off, and then we set the trap again. Looks like the Battle of the Garden is back on!

We Caught Mr. Groundhog!

I awoke this morning and found the little critter in our trap! Guess he couldn't resist that crunchy, juicy lettuce!

So my partner and I put him in the pick-up and drove him way over to the other side of the Grove. We opened the trap and let him out near the lake. So even if he does find his way back to our garden, it'll be a while. Not sure how many miles groundhogs can cover in a day....

So ends the 2009 Battle of the Garden--or does it? There's a whole lot more critters in Mother Nature's world.

We Caught Mr. Groundhog!

I awoke this morning and found the little critter in our trap! Guess he couldn't resist that crunchy, juicy lettuce!

So my partner and I put him in the pick-up and drove him way over to the other side of the Grove. We opened the trap and let him out near the lake. So even if he does find his way back to our garden, it'll be a while. Not sure how many miles groundhogs can cover in a day....

So ends the 2009 Battle of the Garden--or does it? There's a whole lot more critters in Mother Nature's world.

In Our Trap, We Caught a ...

Squirrel!

That's right, a freakin' squirrel! Of course, we let him go.

But get this--right as we set squirrelly free, who appears but Mr. Groundhog! He sauntered out back toward the garden, took a couple of looks around and then ran back toward my neighbor's house.

At least we know he's out there. But I still think slugs or bugs or something else is getting to our plants. We lost another pepper plant!

In Our Trap, We Caught a ...

Squirrel!

That's right, a freakin' squirrel! Of course, we let him go.

But get this--right as we set squirrelly free, who appears but Mr. Groundhog! He sauntered out back toward the garden, took a couple of looks around and then ran back toward my neighbor's house.

At least we know he's out there. But I still think slugs or bugs or something else is getting to our plants. We lost another pepper plant!

2009 Battle of the Garden: Round 1

Groundhog, 1

Riverwolf, 0

He didn't take the bait in the trap just yet--but he will. He will...

2009 Battle of the Garden: Round 1

Groundhog, 1

Riverwolf, 0

He didn't take the bait in the trap just yet--but he will. He will...

Launch of the Groundhog Relocation Program

Ok, you little furry critter, this year--it's on!

Last year, my partner and I lost the Battle of the Garden to the groundhog. We spotted him roaming around the yard a few weeks ago, so we know he survived the winter and will be back for another assault on our veggies and herbs. But this year, we're bringing out the big guns--the Have a Heart trap!

The plan is to lure him with tasty veggies into the trap and then relocate him elsewhere in the Grove. He may return at some point, but at least our garden will have a chance.

My partner--unwisely--has already bought some plants. Thinking the groundhog wouldn't come near the house, he planted them in containers on the deck. But we hadn't yet set the trap, and besides, the garden itself is some distance from the house.

Well, this morning I rise to discover that *something* has come up on the deck and eaten the pepper plants and the parsley down to stems! Curse you, Groundhog! Now, I can't prove it's the groundhog, of course, but I don't think it's squirrels or deer or even a raccoon.

That's ok--tonight we set the trap!

Launch of the Groundhog Relocation Program

Ok, you little furry critter, this year--it's on!

Last year, my partner and I lost the Battle of the Garden to the groundhog. We spotted him roaming around the yard a few weeks ago, so we know he survived the winter and will be back for another assault on our veggies and herbs. But this year, we're bringing out the big guns--the Have a Heart trap!

The plan is to lure him with tasty veggies into the trap and then relocate him elsewhere in the Grove. He may return at some point, but at least our garden will have a chance.

My partner--unwisely--has already bought some plants. Thinking the groundhog wouldn't come near the house, he planted them in containers on the deck. But we hadn't yet set the trap, and besides, the garden itself is some distance from the house.

Well, this morning I rise to discover that *something* has come up on the deck and eaten the pepper plants and the parsley down to stems! Curse you, Groundhog! Now, I can't prove it's the groundhog, of course, but I don't think it's squirrels or deer or even a raccoon.

That's ok--tonight we set the trap!