Blue Deer Center Happenings

Eliot Cowan

Spotted Eagle Owl, South Africa

A Totem Story

I would like to relate a story. It is a sad and shocking story, but only make-believe, so please bear with me.

Once upon a time there was a high school girl who was sweet, pretty and innocent. Her handsome charismatic teacher used to flirt with her after class. One night he brought her to his home, got her drunk, and abused her. As this unfortunate girl didn’t know any adults she trusted, she didn’t tell the authorities or her parents what had happened.

On her own she tried to deal with her feelings, but the most she could manage was a withdrawal from life. She built a fortress of self-reliance and took up residence there, hoping to protect herself from more hurt. But in the end the hurt of isolation was the worst of all, for she was never able to have a successful relationship.

She died alone, years later, feeling that the world was a cold hostile place.

Had she but known:

   • The fierce spirit of jaguar had been waiting to defend her.
   • The spirit of skunk had been willing to repel the perpetrator with the scent of self-respect.
   • Night-vision owl had seen what was coming and could have warned her.

If only she had known she had trustworthy friends, if she had known how to ask them for help, she could have lived and died differently — in communion with others. She would have known the world cared for her.

The woman in this story is not exceptional. Although I hope you have not had such dire circumstances as she, there are surely knots in your life that could be untied with the right help. And help is there. It may not be jaguar, skunk and owl, but you have animal friends waiting to be recognized and called on.

The world cares for you, too.

Eliot Cowan will be offering an Animal Totems workshop at the
Blue Deer Center April 12-15, 2010.