I was reminded of this a couple of days ago. I had written a post on this blog about how getting more sleep would likely improve my ability to lose weight. Later that evening, I had let those thoughts go, and my thoughts had moved to a very different track. I had read something about "signs" in our lives--things that have symbolic meaning for us, iconic images related to significant events, etc. The idea was that these signs are a tool used by our inner selves to help point our way, or act as guideposts to remind us of our unique spiritual path.
As I considered images which have been significant for me, I recollected two in particular. One was an image of sea turtles that came to me in a dream some years ago. It seemed very significant at the time, and still does. I can remember most of the dream very vividly even now. I was on a beach looking out on a turbulent ocean, very choppy. At first I thought there were stumps floating around in the choppy waves, but then I realized it was sea turtles. The water was so turbulent and there was so little space between them I was concerned they might crash into each other, but they didn't. They were able to maintain their spacing despite the turbulence. I was so amazed that I went looking for others so I could show them what was happening. I found a small group of young people, and sent them to look. Then another group of young people, and another. I had a strong feeling that if the young people could just see the turtles handling those turbulent waters, they would learn something important which would help them in their lives later.
Usually when I have a dream which feels that significant, it isn't long before something happens which makes the meaning clear. In this case, I'm still waiting. I don't know what it was about the turtles that was so significant. I have come up with several hypotheses, but nothing yet strikes me as the truth. The meaning of the sea turtles is still an enigma to me.
The second symbolic image I recalled was of a red leopard. It was an image I saw in a past life recollection. It was evening, and I was on some rocky cliffs above a wide plain. I could see the dust and hear the noise of a distant battle taking place far below. I was some kind of shaman, and had climbed up to the cliff to meditate and rest in this calm place to prepare myself. Soon, I knew, I would have to go into a very difficult and dangerous situation to try to put an end to this conflict. I felt it was happening because spiritual power was being used in a wrong way. I turned toward some large rocks to the side of where I was, and saw a leopard approaching. The leopard was a very potent spiritual being for me, a totemic animal. When the leopard came near, it sat down and suddenly assumed what looked like a ritual position, sitting up on its hindquarters with its left forepaw raised, and its color turned red with black spots. It was looking directly at me and its gaze was so powerful that I could only see its eyes and nothing else around me. The eyes seemed huge and very dark, like obsidian balls I've seen. Then an enormous energy appeared to start transferring from the leopard's eyes to my body. It was like lightning--very powerful, making my body vibrate, not painful but very strong. After a minute or two it was over, and the leopard sat down again, appearing normal again, still looking at me. After a few moments, it quietly walked away and I knew it was time for me to walk down the mountain and do what I had to do (which included dying).
In that case, I understood that the leopard was there to help me. It symbolically gave me a spiritual energy far beyond anything I could have generated alone for the purpose of carrying out the task that needed to be done.
So, fast forward to the present again, and on this particular night I went to bed with the images of turtles and leopards in my mind. Before I went to sleep I picked up my Kindle to read for a few minutes in Martha Beck's book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim Your True Nature to Create the Life You Want
. The very first paragraph started describing an experience she had in Africa involving leopard tortoises. It was words related to both of the animal images I'd remembered! And--to bring this all full circle--guess what the message was for her in the experience?Get more sleep!
I got the point--I will get more sleep. I love synchronicity. It makes me feel all warm and loved and well cared for. I'm off to bed right now.
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