The spirit of the panther

Transcription

1 The spirit of the panther by Diane Wiedenhoff, Translation by Muriel Sempéré alias Phila Delphia 1/5 The totem and symbolism of the panther, here more particularly of the snow leopard, also called ounce or irbis. Role : guide of the higher realms (subtle energy levels) Lesson : inner reliance, independence, autonomy Element : water, air Medicine : communication, messenger, balance Key-words : silence, balance, independence, perception, inner power, durance, understanding of mysteries and of psyche, wisdom, open-mindedness to shadow, moon, confidence Totem and general meaning : Truth, honesty and integrity are the corner stones of those guided by this totem animal who, patient, can go around detours to help people fulfill themselves. Thus, this guide reveals one s capacity to achieve great personal success during his or her life, while constantly looking for inner and outer balance. A few words on the animal : Panthera species belongs to pantherinae subspecies, with more particularly: - panthera gombaszoegensis : European jaguar - Panthera onca : jaguar - panthera pardus : panther or leopard - panthera uncia : snow leopard or ounce or irbis Panthera leo (lion), panthera spelaea (cave lion) and panthera tigris (tiger) also belong to the panthera species but their symbolism and message are not dealt with in this article. Snow leopards are solitary, careful and wild big cats (they are often described as invisible because or thanks to their fur). They live in mountainous regions in Central Asia, including Himalayan Mountains. Their dense fur, stocky body and very long and thick tail allow them to keep warm and move easily in high mountains. Snow leopards are active at dawn and dusk; they are territorial, silent, intuitive and nimble. Very solitary, they seldom interact with others of their kind, except during mating season. Cubs very quickly learn to be independent in order to look for their own territory once they re expelled by their mother (around one year after their birth) to face their own life.

2 Main lessons of the snow leopard s spirit : 2/5 Self confidence : This Spirit essentially lives a solitary life, which leads us to face numerous encounters and situations. They allow us to develop the capacity to trust our inner Self before trusting others, because real confidence first comes from self-trust. Time for oneself : If those who have this totem are very independent and solitary, it doesn t mean they don t feel like sharing with others, in particular with a lover. Still, they need to spend time alone in order to think more clearly, to be fully aware of their feelings and emotions and to find solutions to problems. If they can t have solitary moments, they tend to feel as if they suffocate and they will break with others so that they can have more time for themselves. Independence and autonomy : Autonomy can take different shapes when developing, but the most common manifestation generally occurs in reaction to the «feeling of abandon». Indeed, when facing this feeling of «rejection», most people choose to experiment autonomy and independence. Thus, this need of autonomy felt by the snow leopard and by the people who have this totem (whether it is their totem animal or just an ally), reminds us that it is our inner connection (to the Self, the Essence, the Divine) that is the true source of our strength, our love and our being. To sum it up, when listening to the message of this little inner voice, we become aware that we have never got lost and are never alone : always perfect, always accompanied. The mysterious and sacred features of the panther s medicine : It is often said that leopards / panthers are closely linked to shamans and intuitive psychics (etc.), because it is believed that the Leopard Spirit walks effortlessly between the physical and incarnated realm and the subtle energy realms.

3 The snow leopard lives in the high mountains of Central Asia (cf. page 1), and for millennia, indigenous people have thought that these mountains were Gods home. Consequently, all the animals living there were considered as sacred brothers and sisters whose main role was to be the messengers between the gods world and men s. That is the reason why it is believed that the snow leopards have an inner knowledge of, a respect for (and even a reverence towards) life s, death s and rebirth s mysteries, which they will offer to those who can stay still / be centered and listen. 3/5 The panther is famous for her discretion and her abilities as an animal of prey : She tracks down her prey gliding along trees and steep rocks (cliffs ) while walking on the outside of her paws; then softly, precautiously, she redistributes her weight on her paws to better rest on them before jumping. Moving this way, she can t make any noise and alert her prey. Once within reach, she jumps (adults can jump 15m. long and 6m. high) and cuts the animal s spinal chord to paralyze it. Her stealthiness teaches us how to get around and / or overtake obstacles with nimbleness in order to go to our essential. When this energy fully manifests, one with this totem is reliable, direct and without judgment. Furthermore, one with the snow leopard has an intensely mysterious aura, a very acute sense of observation and usually has extrasensory perceptions. And if it is difficult for the others to know his / her secrets, they will be happy to share theirs. Indeed, the snow leopard s eyes seem to peer into the very core of the being and whisper that the secret will always be protected. However, the opposite medicine can also manifest if the person who has this totem has not totally integrated its dark side (cf. below: The dark side of the snow leopard, the inner shadow) because, as an animal of prey, she can then become a fierce and vengeful enemy using the same qualities. That is why it is wise to make sure that the opposite medicine has been integrated so as to manifest the snow leopard totally. The snow leopard tears her prey to pieces and according to the legend, she doesn t eat it entirely but sucks its blood : like most big cats, once the prey s jugular vein is cut, the snow leopard licks the blood until the stream stops. She then eats her prey, focusing mainly on muscles then the heart and lungs (the only internal organs she consumes). Her ability as an animal of prey teaches us to go beyond our fears : facing them, we can understand and overcome them. The prey symbolizes fears, running and abandon conditionings, etc. The panther symbolizes inner power and how to overcome fear. Blood is the symbol of life force. By sucking blood (one of the essential elements of her diet, according to the legend), the snow leopard shows us that we must focus on the essential and ignore the superfluous (doubts, fears, etc.), and recognize our inner power.

4 The snow leopard is well known for her balance : Indeed, she has several physiological features which give her an excellent sense of balance. Her main feature is her thick and long tail (80 cm to 100 cm) which is generally as long as her body (around 100 cm to 130 cm). It is heavy enough to act like a counterweight when needed. Other features are her big paws with fur on the undersides. They are used as rackets during the long winter months so that the snow leopard can move quickly on the snow. These physical distinctive features help her keep her balance on rocks covered with ice and other slippery grounds. When the soul faces a huge emotional upheaval, it can become alienating to feel completely off-centered. It is then important for the person who walks alongside the snow leopard s spirit to call her medicine and ask her to find balance and confidence again. Visualizing the snow leopard s spirit jumping gracefully from rock to rock, always keeping her balance and stability can be another way of calling this medicine. 4/5 By doing so, the totem spirit is then recognized and honored for his role with us and accompanies us in our inner recognition. So we find the center, calm, inner and outer balance. The dark side of the snow leopard, the inner shadow : A mysterious and solitary character, the panther (particularly the snow leopard) has raised many reflections for centuries. She is at the heart of antique myths and legends (Mayan, Aztec, Nepalese, African, Roman...) in which she often embodies dancing as a spectral figure, representing her fur : something between a shadow play and a beam of light. This ghostly coat, whose dichotomy is reflected in our human nature, reveals an integral part of us: shadow and light, consciousness and unconsciousness («good» and «bad»). And her stocky body and nimbleness show the complete incarnation and presence in the moment. When observing more closely their beautiful fur, we notice huge spots of white and / or creamy white covered with black rings, surrounded by a slight tan, and rosettes. The black rosettes and the rings represent the unconsciousness and our instinct, often created by fear, whereas the white colour of the base reflects the light of inner truth and the promise of self recognition. We can draw a parallel with the Yin/Yang principle. The message sent here is the acceptance and overtaking of these things which are counter-productive or harmful for self evolution.

5 That is how the panther leads us to accept ourselves and others, shadow and light, and personality and essence; she guides us towards unification thanks to integration, that is to say, the complete fulfillment of the inner Self. 5/5 One who goes with the spirit of the panther contains a wonderful amount of inner strength, determination and consciousness of the dark / light self. They will answer generally with calm, determination and perseveringly to the different situations in their life. And, they can see their shadow and light as well as that of the others, so that they can support those who wish some help; their qualities as observers, their frankness, which may lack a bit of diplomacy, won t hurt them. In short, the panther, her message and what she represents : - easily avoids obstacles in life - gives strength and courage to her relatives - at ease with the unknown - passionate and with a striking appearance, she easily attracts others - overcomes important emotional problems - contacts the inner power - helps acknowledge inner power (again) - acknowledges our responsibility and choices : the power we have on our life - always protects and guards the Self - If unconscious of his/her inner power, the person guided by the snow leopard can find it difficult to channel his/her energy towards «positive» goals. Sources : pages of my grimoire rewritten for the article The sources that helped me write my grimoire and this article, were based on an inner research, several meditations, trances, dreams and journeys with my totem animal and a few parallels with many readings on different websites dealing in particular with this animal s biology, for which I don t have the address any longer; if you recognize a source, please let me know so that I can add it ;-) Image credits : free of rights for a free non commercial use.