braveheartbutterfly@gmail.com. Since this is a time where most of us are gardening and planting vegetables or flowers, I thought I would feature a sign of nature we will run across often during this time.  The snake.  I used to be petrified of snakes.  Any snake. This Spring, while cultivating my flower garden, I ran across a mom and her babies hibernating in the soil.  I sought out this time to conquer my ‘fear’ of snakes and instead look inside and turn to nature for the deeper meaning.  Here is what I found and how I applied it to my own life. The Snake brings to us Wisdom, Healing, and Initiation. It is the symbol of eternity, transformation and healing.  This is a very powerful totem. It is a protector and a guardian totem, along with its sister totems, the Dragon and the Serpent. When a snake totem has come into your life, your creative forces are awakening.  Your intuition will sharpen and become more accurate.  Snake energy is the energy of wholeness, cosmic consciousness, and the ability to experience anything willingly and without resistance. It is the knowledge that all things are equal in creation. It also signals a transition in your life.  New opportunities and/or changes. Snake is fire medicine, the medicine of transmutation.  On a material level, it is vitality; on an emotional level, it is ambition and dreams; on a mental level, it is intellect and power; on a spiritual level (the highest level), it is wisdom, understanding and wholeness. For me, this is my validation that I’m on the right path.  My life is changing in many ways…transforming, if you will.  A healing has occurred and my spirituality has become more grounded and centered.  I am feeling more whole and my creative writing has become renewed. Just in time for Spring. – Peace, Love & Light – Janét Matthew writes – I had a dream that I was a baby butterfly following another butterfly and watching it fly across the stream.  I was so close to the butterfly I could see the water falling off the wings and the very next day, I saw a huge royal blue butterfly. It was huge on a screen door of an apartment that I was going to rent. What could that mean? Dear Matthew – Thank you for sharing your experience with me.  The Butterfly is the symbol of change, joy and color. It is the symbol of the soul. They remind us that life is a dance, not to take things quite so seriously. They also remind us to get up and move. Dance brings the sweetness of life. Butterflies bring color and joy to your life.  Look at them and remember what joy is in your life, if it’s a lot or a little, it is still joy. They teach us that growth and transformation does not have to be traumatic; it can occur gently, sweetly, and joyfully.  I’m feeling the meaning here for you is to “ride the wings” of life and to enjoy each and every experience of every day.  The rich color of blue means to enjoy life’s ‘riches.’  Many Blessings! Matthew writes – As a child, Blue Jays would land on my shoulder regularly for about two years. Ravens wood gather and follow me whenever I traveled. I also see them flying towards me perched on my dresser, and fly towards me in my dreams. I’m concerned because a lot of my dreams come true. Do you have any words? I think I’m empath, but I’m not sure my intuition is very strong, borderline magical? Please tell me I’m not crazy. Dear Matthew – you’re definitely NOT crazy. I feel and sense you are a very spiritual person and deeply connected to nature.  I’m also sensing that you are indeed empathic.  You may have been told all your life, but mostly as a child, that you were too sensitive, or that you carry your feelings on your sleeve. No worries, my friend, as I was told the same.  Yes, I do feel very strongly that you’re connected in a very spiritual sense and you have been experiencing psychic visions for some time now.  Just relax into it and allow spirit to speak to you.  Ask your guides to assist you in understanding what the message is.  Also, be careful not to absorb others energies. Empaths tend to take on others’ energies…whether positive OR negative.  Ask AA Michael to protect you and guide you…surround yourself in his coat of white light.  Also, you may consider getting some white sage and smudging your home and/or space.  This will help keep you clear of negative energies. Here is what I feel each of the bird animal totem means – Blue Jay is highly adaptive and will teach knowledge of survival in this world and in others. He will guide in the proper use of power to utilize abilities to their fullest potential. Blue Jay will aid in this discovery and developing personal power, awareness and higher knowledge. Blue Jay helps balance the earthly realm with the Spiritual, teaches courage and tenacity along with ingenuity and resourcefulness. Are you listening to your intuition and instincts? Are you balancing your gifts? Blue Jay will teach much for he will show you how to master the abilities you are learning. Definitely the Blue Jay is a totem for you…reminding you to listen and trust your intuition and instincts. Here is what the Raven / Crow animal totem means – Raven/Crow totem can show you how to stir life without fear and teach to balance life’s playful aspects. Raven also brings in the light of awareness and knowledge with opportunities of great changes that are in store for you. Raven will teach how to usher in these new energies. He shows how to dive into the depths of the inner being to illuminate the true self. Are you ready to uncover past conflicts and long forgotten emotional issues? Raven will teach how to transform your spirit. From the deepest part of you, healing begins. What has been in darkness will now emerge into the light. I’m getting this is just another validation that you are connected with spirit and the sign is for you to trust in that and believe in your gifts.  The sign here is bringing you awareness of your gifts and to acknowledge the opportunity that has been given you. Shayy writes – Hi Janét. I have a question or two that I need some insight on. For about two weeks different birds have been flying in front of my vehicle as I drive. I need a meaning for this.  Also, around April 10th, a pure white pigeon, which looks just like a dove, showed up in my yard and has never left.  He walks on the roof of the house like he’s guarding the house.  I feed him and can walk up to him and he will run a Lil bit, but won’t go far.  He returns every morning and evening.  What is the significance of this bird being here two days before my Mother’s birthday April 12th who has been dead since July 2003? Dear Shayy – Thank you for sharing your experience – Each bird as an animal totem has its own individual meaning.  The birds have been getting your attention to create an awareness of an upcoming message. Here is what I have for you about the dove/pigeon. The Dove represents the feminine power of giving, prophecy, and the hope a new beginning. The Dove shows and reveals the veils between the spiritual and physical worlds. The Magnificent Dove Totem possesses the following virtues: Love, gentleness, new ideas, purity, sexual energy, intimate relationships, creativity, peace, family values, centered calmness, tranquility, support, assistance, new relationships, peaceful transition from difficulty,  powers of the feminine, friendship. Doves in general, and the people that carry their medicine, are truly some of the most gentle and giving creatures and people on the planet. There is a sense of innocence about them that many others are attracted to.  It’s not uncommon for many Dove people to complain that their ideas or creative projects are snatched out from underneath them by those that seek to take short cuts and not do their own work. This often happens because the Dove person appears to be “defenseless” and Doves themselves are not known for having many obvious defenses against predators. These folks are not likely to want to make a fuss or hurt other people’s feelings. Dove people often do carry a strong sexual energy and this can be used not only for intimate relationships but for creative endeavors as well. Not only is Dove sacred to Aphrodite but also in the very early Greek myths, the Goddess Eurynome took the form of a Dove to lay an egg from which all of manifest life sprang. Because Doves are such gentle, peaceful birds, those who carry their energy may also find that they need lots of quiet and calm space in order to allow their creative energy to flourish. The same is often true of relationships. The Dove person finds things flow more smoothly when their home environment is as tranquil and peaceful as possible. Some things to pay attention to when Dove appears: People often find that unexpected and unseen support and assistance comes when they need it most A death, either physical (of someone one knows or is close to) or symbolic of someone that has passed or a part within you that has died and will be reborn. A new relationship may begin or an old one rekindled.  The ways and means of leaving a destructive or difficult situation is at hand.  Life is about to become much more peaceful and satisfying on all levels. I get two parts for you – I do believe the dove is symbolic and a reminder that your mother is with and around you supporting you from the spirit world.  Also, I feel there has been a difficult situation in and around you.  One that has been hard to get around and at times may have you perplexed and has had you question your path.  The dove is to validate that and to give you strength and a sense of calm and peace during this transition. – Peace, Love & Light – Janét Carmen writes – Hello. Yesterday I was looking out through one of my kitchen windows and saw a blue jay, then a few minutes passed and I was standing looking out through my dining room window that is in the opposite side of the first window mentioned (kitchen and dining room are  in the same room) and saw a red cardinal. I thought that there was a meaning for it. Hope you can give me some insight about this. Thank you. Dear Carmen – thank you for sharing your experiences.  Each bird has their own totem or sign – here is what I’ve found for you. If you have a Blue Jay totem, you must learn to use your personal power properly. Be careful not to become a bully. The word “jay” comes from the Latin word “Gaea” which is Mother Earth. A Blue Jay totem links you directly with the power of the Earth itself. It can link the heavens and the Earth and give you access to universal energies and power. If Blue Jay is your totem, you may have tremendous abilities and potential, but you must learn not to be scattered and neglect to develop your abilities to their fullest. Blue Jay people can become dabblers – a little bit of knowledge about many things but master of none. Develop your gifts and you will have unlimited potential. Blue Jay energy helps you feel a strong sense of yourself, who you are and what you came here to do. When you feel empowered within yourself, anything is possible. Call on Blue Jay to feel good about yourself and to believe that you really can do what you came into this lifetime to do! Cardinal reminds us that no matter what time of the day or year it is, there is always the opportunity to recognize the importance of our life purpose. If a Cardinal appears, it is time to pay attention to your health and well-being. It is also a time to listen to the feminine side, the aspects of creativity and intuition.  Cardinal people are in tune to the number 12. Twelve months or a year’s time is very important to a Cardinal totem person.  They remind us to add ‘color’ to your life and to remember that everything you do is important. I get the sense that both of these birds are coming to you as a reminder to believe in yourself. Perhaps you have doubted your self -worth and/or your creativity, possibly due to criticism received in your life, resulting in low self-esteem.  The medicine here is for you to have a strong sense of self and to follow your own path.  Stay true to who you are but also recognizing the sacred path that others follow as well.  I am also getting that you’re very creative but don’t really pursue an outlet for this.  Or that you may have one but don’t feel like you’re very ‘good at it.’  If you have one, keep it up!  If you do not, I encourage you to find a hobby like writing or painting. – Peace, Love & Light – Janét]]>