Animals
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:25 pm
I suppose this topic could be under ways of living - thread as well, but let's put this one here.
Someone (Nefastos?) wrote on the Finnish forum once that many misanthropic persons love animals, and that to care for animals can save from the downward path.
From my personal experience, this is exactly the case. I have had a hard time tolerating people in the past (admittedly somewhat short temper with this still), but animals I have always loved and felt connected to. Especially dogs and horses. I often find that the company of animals helps calm down aggression, makes me happy and somehow healed. I read in some study that petting animals lowers stress level and this is exactly how I feel as well.
Sometimes occultists regard animals as something lesser, which I think a sad mistake. Sure, their intelligence is not perhaps similar to human intelligence, but they have many other fine qualities that we could learn about or have completely forgotten. A human may struggle in a environment, animals generally don't do that and are able to adapt. The animal world has come up with excellent skills that we, despite our best efforts and scientific study still do not understand. Sometimes it seems to me that animals have a quiet wisdom in them. Dogs and horses are among the best healers. Dogs at least I notice can sense or see spirit activity, and I believe cat owners would say that this about their pets too.
Coming from a somewhat shamanic point of view, I also find animals to be important symbols and aid in my workings regarding trance states where things often appear to me as animals. It feels natural and easy to adopt a animal shape in these states- and sometimes otherwise as well.
I was wondering, how you other folk think of animals and your work? Are animals a mere symbol to you or have they done something significant to help or guide you on the way?
Someone (Nefastos?) wrote on the Finnish forum once that many misanthropic persons love animals, and that to care for animals can save from the downward path.
From my personal experience, this is exactly the case. I have had a hard time tolerating people in the past (admittedly somewhat short temper with this still), but animals I have always loved and felt connected to. Especially dogs and horses. I often find that the company of animals helps calm down aggression, makes me happy and somehow healed. I read in some study that petting animals lowers stress level and this is exactly how I feel as well.
Sometimes occultists regard animals as something lesser, which I think a sad mistake. Sure, their intelligence is not perhaps similar to human intelligence, but they have many other fine qualities that we could learn about or have completely forgotten. A human may struggle in a environment, animals generally don't do that and are able to adapt. The animal world has come up with excellent skills that we, despite our best efforts and scientific study still do not understand. Sometimes it seems to me that animals have a quiet wisdom in them. Dogs and horses are among the best healers. Dogs at least I notice can sense or see spirit activity, and I believe cat owners would say that this about their pets too.
Coming from a somewhat shamanic point of view, I also find animals to be important symbols and aid in my workings regarding trance states where things often appear to me as animals. It feels natural and easy to adopt a animal shape in these states- and sometimes otherwise as well.
I was wondering, how you other folk think of animals and your work? Are animals a mere symbol to you or have they done something significant to help or guide you on the way?