What Animal?

I believe that for most people there is one animal s/he most closely resembles in terms of appearance and mannerism. It's not always easy to make such distinctions (there are lots of animals out there!), but with the right kind of eye and a bit of patience it may eventually come together. I've had friends who are mountain lions, owls, crows, wolves, bears, horses, foxes, ducks, snakes, rabbits, and many other animals besides. In my case, there are a few animals I gravitate toward and one that sort of stands out as the animal.

Starting with ermine, weasels in general are pretty tough for their size. They have incredible speed and reflexes, good night vision, and excellent camouflage abilities. Weasel people often get a bad wrap for their ability to be sneaky, or for sometimes appearing suspicious. But the flip side of these attributes is that weasels often see what is hidden in others (both positive and negative). And since weasel people are aware of the pathways of personal exposure in speech and action they tend not to expose themselves lightly, even though there may be nothing to hide. Come to think of it, I feel a bit exposed sharing all of this information. One thing from the weasel mix that I possess only selectively is quick reflexes. I remember as a kid when the doctor performed the knee-tap test on me, and my leg wouldn't flinch. I'd have to consciously move my leg by anticipating when I thought my knee would be struck by the little plastic hammer just so the doctor would approve and move on (or maybe this is just a bunk test?). I'm also frustratingly terrible at the card game, slap. Somewhat conversely, I'm great in dangerous situations that require split-second timing, like seemingly imminent threats during winter driving. Go figure.

I have a general love of the corvid family (ravens, crows, jays, magpies), but I specifically love ravens for their playfulness, group dynamics, and problem-solving abilities. A great book for learning about ravens is Mind of the Raven, by Bernd Heinrich. I love puzzles and riddles, and I'm often thinking of ways to play gentle tricks on my friends and family. One really cool thing from Mind of the Raven is the connections drawn between ravens and big game hunting animals like wolves, coyotes, and humans. In some areas, it's speculated that ravens have learned to lead hunters to potential game in order to capitalize on any leftovers. Quite a symbiosis! I also love blue jays for their strong protective qualities. They are quite perceptive and often warn other species of approaching danger such as hawks and other predators. All corvids are known for being incredibly adaptive and intelligent.

Orcas (also known as killer whales) are sort of like wolves of the sea. I've never seen an orca either in the wild or in captivity, but they visit me in my dreams every so often. Orca people are said to have a gift of bringing balance, cooperation, and camouflage. Orcas make amazing sounds:

The last animal I'll list in this post is the red-tailed hawk. This is the animal that I generally feel most closely aligned with. My facial features are somewhat hawkish and my long hair has red highlights in the sun. I enjoy coasting on thermals, and eating small rodents (oh wait... that's the hawks, not me). Hawks are known as messengers in a number of cultures, and hawk people are said to be good advisors for their ability to honor multiple perspectives.

So that's my basic run-down. Maybe I've inspired you to consider some animals you walk with. Or maybe you think it's just a bunch of malarky. Either way, feel free to share your thoughts.