Venado Blanco...White Deer Medicine

Venado Blanco (c) Sabrina Zarco 2011

The summer heat changes the air around the trees and the creek is eerily silent. I live surrounded on three sides by trees and wildlife. Lately outdoor visions and movements seem dream like as we are slowly drained of our energy. I had to do a double take on the way to work one morning as I left the driveway. I looked up and saw a 5pt buck and doe standing on the asphalt of the cul de sac. I have to admit my first thought was who put the fake Christmas deer in the road? Then I realized they are real and were just as stunned looking back at me. And like a cheesy commercial lovers moment we lock eyes, no breathing, and then they turn into wisps of fog as they fade into the woods.

a visit from turtle

I had a visit from turtle. Slowly and silently he appeared along the deck to remind me to be grounded to the Earth, honor my creative inner voice, and mother myself in the process.

 Like turtle we have shields that protect us from hurt, envy, jealousy, and the unconsciousness of others.

Turtle teaches you how to use protection. If you are bothered by the actions or words of others, it is time to go inside yourself and honor your feelings.

Crow medicine, omen of change

While driving toward home in Tejas a crow crossed directly in front of the windshield and startled me. It was enough of a jump to remind me that I needed to be prepared for my visit. I began to remember that crow medicine is about healing and change in consciousness. It can bring about a new reality it can rid us of "dis-ease" or illness and is ever present in the circle. Little did I know I was on my way to one of the greatest healings of my life, a gift I prayed for but could have never imagined.

Crows are the guardians of ceremonial magick and healing. They dwell in the place of no space or time, are territorial, and wont give up the fight. If crow has crossed your path, you need to be willing to walk your talk and speak your truth. If crow keeps crossing your path then its really time for you to use your voice to "caw" if you will; especially at things you may feel are unjust or where others have no voice. The call of the crow is powerful.

The drive was beautiful and I prepared for my visit with intention. I had a wonderful visit with the familia and stepped into my new reality with love and peace. Healing where I thought there could be none. Laughter and sharing a meal can be the best medicine. Gracias and blessings to all my Beloveds and how we grew closer to one another and discovered a new way of being with one another. 

If crow crosses your path be willing to shape shift that old self for a new reality. Embrace the change, use your voice, and walk confidently on your path.

thank you, gracias, tlazocamati

Surrounded by crow medicine

Source: Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through Animals

by Jamie Sams & David Carson, illustrated by Angela C. Werneke.

My Chimayo escort.

another escort on the road

For the past few days I have encountered crow. Driving in the city it flies cross my path, walking in the plaza it flies over head calling, and in the woods once again crossing my path in significant ways. Once again my winged brothers are speaking so I listen.

Crow is an omen of change and right now I am going through lots of them. Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time. The Ancient Chiefs tell us that Crow sees simultaneously the three fates – past, present, and future. Crow merges light and darkness, seeing both inner and outer reality.

Crow medicine signifies a firsthand knowledge of a higher order of right and wrong than indicated by the laws created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust. I have this pull stronger than ever and feel fortunate that my art is moving. When I cant speak out my art speaks for me.

Remember that Crow looks at the world with first one eye, then the other – cross-eyed. In the Mayan culture, cross-eyeds had the privilege and duty of looking into the future. You must put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and “caw” the shots as you see them. Well I usually do this but am often cautious so now I am learning different ways of making this happen. Maybe I'm becoming more seasoned.

As you learn to allow your personal integrity to be your guide, your sense of feeling alone will vanish. Your personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of true Crow  says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life’s mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape-shifted world of peace.

Gracias crow for guiding me into the next step. I hear your message, draw it on my heart and honor it with my art. I welcome the shift.

Vulture medicine: shedding the past & ready for the new!

  (c) Michael "Mike" L. Baird

Note: I have given credit to the photo I have used. When work is not your own just because it’s on the net or you don’t know who's art it belongs to doesn’t give you the right to post it on your blog! I know you just started your blog and you really need a picture and you dig this artist’s work and it would be so cool. NO, you are not hanging out at a friends house this is not a club it’s the net. That means its a worldwide conversation and there are some rules. Don’t think because its just a little blog no one will notice, they will and it’s still not ok. I researched copyright free images, asked permission and then followed the specifics about using someone's art. Yes it takes time but as an artist I don’t want someone lifting my work even if you think its a good idea and it will promote my work. It’s up to me to decide that not you so ASK! Copyright law is a challenge and there are changes that need to be made so do some research and "read more about it" Keep off the art unless we have a talk and agree, be respectful folks. Gracias.

Ok now so now that I have said that let me tell you why I needed the picture of a turkey vulture. My office nest is on the third floor of a building perched on a hill with a small but adequate window. I was preparing to do a new workshop on working with young children and anti bias integration into curriculum and I was in my flow. You know like when you are doing your art and its all coming together but you really cant take credit for it cause its just falling out of you.


Any way I was typing my handouts and suddenly I see a shadow. I stop and see nothing. Then again but this time I see these huge wings moving toward my 3rd floor little window like she's gonna crash through it. Well she doesn’t and then flies off. About this time I am a bit confused and startled because I see clearly its a vulture. It comes around the third time and this time I am ready, what ever that means since there is nothing I can do. The window is shut, tiny ledge and all I can do is watch and wonder what she is trying to say to me.


Here she comes and lands on the tiny ledge and balances for a moment, looks me in the eye and smiles and flies off. It all happened so quickly and I have to admit its not my first 3rd floor window encounter with nature, but that’s for another day. So I stand up lean over and look up and all around to see if I can catch a glimpse of her but she is gone. Now I say she because that's the vibe I got, a sister vibe. I lean back and tap into my Animal Medicine work to hear what she was saying to me. Like all animal helpers, they only appear when right and appropriate to share messages with you. You just have to be still and listen.


Vulture is known as a Peace Eagle, it is the only animal that does not kill. It only does what needs to be done. Vulture teaches us that nasty jobs of service need to get done and they are rewarded with great gifts. With honor she sails through the air riding the current, defying gravity with beauty and grace. The vulture has keen eyesight and sees all. She is powerful and because she flies high she can transcend this realm. She can bring us lessons from our past so we do not repeat them. And reminds us to take this knowledge forward.


Vultures are also a sign of new beginnings. They can teach us to take control of our lives and to stop giving up; death to the old ways and a clean start to the new way of being, transformation.


When I was 19 the bird visions, dreams, and messages became more clear and my visits stronger. I was visited by a large winged bird and was given this message: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Messages come in the language you understand at the time so for me that is how I received it, something familiar to my upbringing.


I have since left the traditional definition of my childhood church for one that blends my worlds. What’s important to me is that I am connected and can hear Creator clearly. I still fall back on that foundation from my grandparents and parents from time to time it can be comforting. Some people dont understand my ways and thats ok, its a personal path. One way is not better than another, just different. But the message of renewal and faith are still singing in my corazon.


The renewal process is a powerful one. As I come to the new path in my Red Road I am celebrating, honoring, and acknowledging each step or lesson for what it brought me. No matter if the people are in my life currently, in the Spirit World, or if it was a positive lesson or not, (I've had my share of both) it all helped shape who I am becoming. I now file that as my past and see before me the new road. No more beating myself up over the things that didn’t work, missed opportunities, or loss, only moving forward. The vultures are gone its all cleaned up and I am ready. I am excited, anxious, and brave as I walk toward my destiny and all the experiences and lessons that are ahead. Not to mention the great art falling from my hands. More pics to follow. Gracias for another day closer to my transformation.

 Note: I took this picture (smile)

“Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.”

good vibrations

second visit : another gopher right outside the front door of the cabin

this was the first one near the cabin under a tree

I have been ill lately with an inner ear imbalance and doing all kinds of treatments. The time my body has demanded attention has brought me to deal with my emotional and Spirit challenges of late. You know those things you put off until your body halts you and says now deal with it. So as I am immobile after treatments I explore the vibrational messages and healings. I have been “going underground” and seeking the rest and healing both physical and Spiritual and as always open to the animal messages that appear before me. If you pay attention, study the animal that surfaces, the messages are revealed. I happened upon a gopher yesterday and he had some things to share with me. I tell it to you as it has been told to me.

Gopher are said to be the keeper of the secrets of life, knowing what lies beneath the surface of any situation - the deeper truth. They have poor eyesight so they rely heavily on the vibrational messages. Gopher medicine tells us to go with our feelings, seek deeper truths, and move through the paths.

Gopher moves swiftly forwards and backwards, they tell us to move or as my Grandfather used to say; do something, even if it’s wrong. Gopher reminds us to be aware of our action or lack of action. They tell us to be in tune with our vibrational messages and to take responsibility for our growth or lack thereof.

I am sometimes over stimulated with the messages surrounding me and as an empath I am already tuned in to those kinds of things so this shouldn't’t have been such a surprise. (Note to self: don’t should on your self.) Currently I find myself on a different vibrational level. I find myself moving at a different pace, seeing with new eyes and moving forward on the Good Red Road. I previously thought I was moving but have discovered that I had been walking in place.

It can be difficult to make such a move, sometimes you leave behind beloveds because we somehow think we can be of better good if we just stay a bit longer. (walking in place) But Creator has a larger plan than our understanding and a sense of humor in my case. I have learned that struggling is optional but change is going to happen if I am committed to grow. It’s on us to surrender even if it hurts. Let go, let it happen, don’t ask questions or try to justify, only seek answers; this is my new song.

You have to be true to your path even when our beloveds don’t see or understand what we are being called to do as we grow and move forward. I find that I am not really changing that much but more of letting go and being who I have been in a more authentic unguarded way, honoring me first above all else. (Note to self: work on doing this guilt free) All I see that I can do is honor the past, celebrate the love, and move on in a way that brings honor to who I am.

Gophers dig deep, follow the vibrations, and move forward. As you explore the underworld like gopher, be prepared to have the deeper truth revealed. It’s not easy to see it but it is healing and sometimes you will find as I am that your awakening to the consciousness reveals many things.

I have seen that the truths I thought were reality have been rearranged. They reveal a new reality to walk in; one with more clarity, creativity, and a feeling of stepping through a new door and I have been standing in the doorway far too long. It’s a constant journey to discover who you are now and most important who you are becoming as you have always been. Dig deep, listen to yourself, take time for refection, own your stuff, be true to you above all others and move on your path with love.

Bee aware

Well spring is here I know because my allergies are doing their thing. There are other signs of spring like rain every other day, and things are all shades of beautiful greens and colorful blooms are everywhere which means bees. For three days now, (three is a healing number) I have had unusual encounters with bees. The first suddenly appeared as if to fall from the sky. I was standing at the kitchen sink looking out my window and there it was; it fell in the sink right in front of me. Just buzzed a bit as it made a revolution and politely cooperated as I lifted it out with a towel and tossed it out the back door. I am usually open to signs especially those from nature so I thought about it a bit but quickly went back to my busy schedule. My job has been unusually busy, my community work is also moving fast right now, and not much time for art or a personal life. Good thing since I have received messages that I need to just be still in my personal life but that’s another post, back to the bees.

The second visit was when I sat down one evening at my computer. Within seconds of laying my hands across the keyboard a bee fell “from the sky” and landed on the desk within an inch of the keyboard. This one also made a turn, buzzed as he danced and cooperated when he left. By this time I had told a few of my beloveds about this and they each had their ideas: you need to bee still, you have been busy as a bee, do you have a bee in your bonnet, bee happy and so on. I laughed it off and think I don’t have time to listen to the message the Universe is sending me right now, hold that thought and when I have time I will get back to it. Take a message I’ll work that in my schedule in a few days; wrong thing to say to the Universe.

Day three of encounters of the bee kind. While sitting at the computer working when I should have been resting, oh I don’t like to should on myself but in hindsight that’s what I should have been doing. Anyway I’m concentrating so hard my shoulders are aching, my eyes scrunched and have added a few more wrinkles to my forehead. I’m deep in thought and determined to complete just one more work project so I can keep up and dare I think maybe get one step ahead. Then I hear this tiny buzzing sound. One of the gifts of being on the autistic spectrum is the ability to hear sounds most others miss. I usually just skim though the database of sounds in my head, identify it or relate it to another sound already identified, scan for any signs of danger, and then move on to whatever I am doing usually takes a few seconds. The buzzing sound began to grow, a few seconds later it registers; my database was moving slow that night. It’s a bee, another bee in the house, now what? I stop what I am doing although I am not so happy to do so and start to investigate the sound. It appears that this one is not going away so easy this time and the Universe is making sure I stop long enough to receive my message. It’s buzzing around the light fixture above my head and there is no way I can reach. It darts back and forth into the light but mostly around making sounds to be sure I hear. I close what I am doing on the computer and surrender to the message. I realize that I have let my priorities get out of sink. I need to listen when Creator sends a message. After all I have been asking for messages and when I get one I’m too busy? So I sit, close my eyes and say out loud yes. And then buzzing suddenly stops, I look up from my chair with a bit of apprehension, I don’t want to find a bee on my shoulder but it’s nowhere to be found. Just as suddenly as it appeared it was gone. I started to search and get distracted by the physical once again but quickly remembered it was not about the bee it was about a message. The bees had brought good medicine and it was time I received it.

Bees are the messengers that share the secrets of life, service to community, and communication. All bees are productive. They remain focused in their activities and goals. They also carry the power of service. As they move from one flower to another they remind us that all living things are interconnected. Their role is vital to the environment.

Bee may have come regarding family, coworkers or humanity. Bee medicine is reminding us to work within our community and do our part. Hard worker bee is dependent on the next bee each doing their part to aid the community to support the entire hive family.

Bees have perfected communication in order for the community to effortlessly do the work. Bee’s messages are about developing clear communication.

If your energy is like mine has been a bit scattered, the bee shows us that its time to refocus on the goals, be clear in communication, and work together for the Greater Good. When bee buzzes around you it may be asking you to follow its lead and in doing so you can arrive at the destination most appropriate for a new life awakening. Bees also remind us to slow down, gather our self, smell the roses, and taste the sweet nectar of life.

Raccoon Medicine

This morning during my morning meditation time I had the usual brother and sister birds that add to my time with Creator bringing different messages for the day. But today I noticed in the neighbors tree a new visitor, Brother raccoon, a relative of the bear. He came over the fence moved directly toward me as I sat on my perch and without hesitation he made his way over to me face to face. We made eye contact several times as I spoke to him and then I stopped to listened to what he had come to say. Thank you Brother Raccoon for this message today. Ttlazocamati

Excerpts taken from my Animal Medicine cards.

Raccoon: Generous Protector and Provider, the Robin Hood of the Animal Kingdom.

Raccoon is keeper of what goes around comes around. What you give out is what you receive. You give back to the source of your strength. This medicine is also about speaking up in defense when others are silent. An important point to keep in mind is that we have to honor our own needs and the needs of others equally. Being self full is not the same as being selfish.

Raccoon also warns to keep an eye out for what I call energy vampires, those who take and rarely or never give back. Your generosity can be wasted on those who refuse to help themselves.

Whatever raccoon needs, he is going to try to get it in a variety of ways, instead of insisting it come from one direction in exactly a certain way. When you practice flexibility and resourcefulness, there are less limitations in life.

The mask that raccoon wears is sometimes associated with thievery, but it actually is powerful mystical symbolism. Around the world for centuries masks are and have been used to achieve altered states, ceremony, celebration, magical practices, and in healing work. By wearing a mask we are longer whom we thought ourselves to be but become one with other forces. We create a doorway in the mind and in the physical world, a threshold that we can cross into new dimensions and transformation takes place. It teaches us that none of us are quite what we seem, even to ourselves, that in our lives we can experience the freedom of many identities. This medicine helps us to assume and release the many roles we play.

If raccoon speaks to you today ask yourself Are you hiding your true self? Are others hiding their true self? Do you need to present a different face in life for greater success? Are you giving more to others instead of yourself?

Walk with beauty on Good Red Road with a knowing that all is available to you. You need only slow down to listen and to see with clear eyes. Take care of yourself today and be one with all of who you are and always have been. Yocoxcayotl, Paz, Peace

March snow and woodpecker medicine

My backyard is quickly becoming a winter wonderland. Funny how the snow changes everything. Just when the daffodils are beginning to bloom we get snow twice in one week.

The woodpecker is known as the Earths drummer. Drumming is the heartbeat of mother earth and is associated with shamanism and the ability to move into other dimensions at will. The woodpecker represents self discovery; as they peck into and through trees and dead wood, hidden layers of ones psyche are revealed. The woodpecker is able to find food hidden under layers of bark and wood and teaches us to dig deeply to find truth and deceptions. Woodpecker energy is associated with prophecy and the ability to see deeper than surface lies.

Woodpecker speaks of not being hard-headed because they are able to use their beak to peck at trees. Woodpecker is telling us that even if something seems difficult to do, not to give up. To do what works, even if it is unconventional. To set your own pace, your own rhythm.
Back into the studio to dig deep and see what I uncover.






Ancestor tribute sat on the railing to visit for a bit then...

...back to the earth

Messengers

I went outside just as I do every morning and for the second day in a row I was greeted by a hummingbird. The first day it hummed as it circled my head and looked me in the eye and then flew off.

Today it came up behind me making a high pitched chirpping sound as if to get my attention. Once I turned around I found that we were once again eye to eye. Then it moved to a nearby tree and landed. It sat for some time and at first I thought to run inside for my camera but I realized that this moment was for me to be still, to stop my humming around and get quiet. We sat looking at one another for some time before the beautiful green and red bird few away. I am always open to the messages and in the midst of my chaos lately I guess I needed a reminder to sit still, that the answers will come and its ok to just be quiet. Thank you sweet bird for the reminders of this and so much more.

There is a legend from Mexico about a Taroscan Indian woman who was taught how to weave beautiful baskets by a grateful hummingbird to whom she had given sugar water during a drought. These baskets are now used in Day of the Dead Festivals.

An Aztec myth tells of a valiant warrior named Huitzil, who led them to a new homeland, then helped them defend it. This famous hero's full name was Huitzilopochtli, which means "hummingbird from the left." The "left" is the deep south, the location of the spirit world. The woman who gave birth to Huitzil was Coatlicul. She conceived him from a ball of feathers that fell from the sky. Huitzil wore a helmet shaped like a giant hummingbird. It is believed that hummingbirds are the warrior angels who travel between worlds with messages for us.

If you have Hummingbird medicine, you adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don't waste time looking back and wishing for "what was" for you are concerned with making the most of "what is". You take great pleasure in spreading joy and love and beauty to all around you, and have the gift of taking that inner joy into new and different surroundings.