Creating a Meaningful Life | Michelle Cromer

9 Animal Symbols and Their Meaning

Michelle Cromer January 9, 2023 Leave a Comment

Animal Symbolism and Meaning

The language of symbolism runs like an undertone all through our lives. Symbolism requires a different approach from that required by ordinary language. For example, nature is symbolic, reflecting on a physical plane of inner truth. It is natural that animals and what they mean symbolically should come to represent an idea or a message for all of us.

Below are a few examples:

Tigers – strength, independence, power courage, and ambition – release fears and stand in your truth.

Cats -magic, self-love, independence, strike a balance in your life and trust your instincts,

Bear – courage to evolve and the ability to be open-minded. They remind us to trust our instincts and to stand in our faith.

Hawks: keen eyesight and strong wings, maybe they are telling us to look more closely before proceeding. They may be a sign that a strong important teacher or lesson will be unfolding in your life shortly.

Lizard – this might indicate that you need to pay more attention to your goals and dreams. Perhaps you have lost sight of all you can achieve. Seeing a lizard can remind you that you do have the power you need to cultivate your highest path.

Snakes – powerful reminder of your life and passions. Pay attention to your passions and put more energy into pursuing them. They also indicate that you are entering a place of healing and renewal.

Spiders- indicate that you need to tune into your creative potential and follow through on any ideas or inspirations that you must create

Wolf: maybe it’s time to pay attention to the people you are surrounding yourself with. Perhaps it’s time to unite with your family and loved ones in order to make it through the next chapter of your life and a sign that you need to learn to accept help from others.

Butterfly: come to remind us about the power of transformation and that there needs to be a shift internally before you shift externally. Seeing a butterfly may indicate a cycle of transformation and growth occurring in your life.

Animals have an important purpose on this earth. They walk alongside us as teachers, messengers, and givers of light and love. They help us to understand the world that we live in. By watching what animals tend to show up in our lives, we can get a better understanding of the energy around us and a deeper insight into intuitive messages and signs.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

Should You Sleep with Your Head to the North?

Michelle Cromer January 2, 2023 Leave a Comment

A dear friend of mine is renovating her home and she reached out to me about the placement of her head when she sleeps. She had heard that your head should not face north.

I think most of y’all know that I am an adjunct professor at the University of Texas in El Paso, so indulge me for a minute to offer an explanation as to the origin of the theory of the direction of our head when we sleep. We all know that the earth and our bodies have magnetic fields. The earth has a north and south pole as do each of us on the planet within our bodies, not just humans.

In India and in India feng shui – the Vastu Shastra– they feel that pointing your head north will interfere with your body’s magnetic field and with that of the earth. They also say that since blood contains a lot of iron when you sleep north your brain accumulates too much iron. So, the set of Ayurvedic teachings aims to live in harmony with the energy flow of the world.

However, as we say in Texas, “That dog won’t hunt.”

Here’s why.
There is ZERO evidence in science that proves the integrity of these theories – “don’t sleep with your head pointing north” – to date. If we look at nature, bird nests, ant beds, and the way an animal lays down all are always North/South. I come from a fifth-generation ranching family in Texas, and everyone knows a horse, goat, wolf, or whatever will always put its head north if it must lie down to sleep. So, if you are lost, find a sleeping animal. The theory is that the quieting radiation coming from the north vitalizes currents from the south. It is best for circulation.

When I was learning this theory, I pointed out that the magnetic north and south poles do not coincide with the traditional geographic poles of the earth.

That is why it is so difficult to reach the geographic poles using a magnetic compass. And, above all, what about the people who live in the southern hemisphere? Does it work the opposite for them?

See what I mean? This is superstition at its best. So, my suggestion to you is to tune into your own intuition and follow that. You already know what to do, I am giving you permission to do that.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is Not a Religion

Michelle Cromer December 19, 2022 Leave a Comment

I am always so shocked when a student or client asks me if feng shui is a conflict with their religious beliefs. And, I am always so grateful because the question gives me an opportunity to share my perspective and clarify any concerns.

I am fascinated with what people believe, so I studied theology for four years at the university level. I was taught that religions require a belief in a superhuman power like god or gods. They require a particular system of faith and worship of the superhuman god or gods. They require a commitment or devotion to the religious faith. And typically the religion has a set of rules and dogma that the believers adhere to and follow.

Feng shui is not a religion. It originated in China over 4,000 years ago, and it is a massive body of knowledge centered on the study of energy. Many of us were taught that energy is something that can be reduced down to one simple formula: E = MC2 (energy equals mass multiplied by the velocity of light). This formula for energy has imparted little if any true relevance for most of us in our day-to-day lives.

The ancient Chinese, on the other hand, have expanded upon that simple formula and turned it into a 4,000 year-long study about the transformational powerful aspects of energy, how it affects us, and, most importantly, how we can use it to our benefit. There are no geographical, cultural, or religious boundaries for using feng shui. Because energy is universal, feng shui is rendered neutral; it supports everyone, each with their own unique set of life goals and aspirations.

Simply put, feng shui is the system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in the relation to the flow of energy. It’s the ancient art of placement and the movement and balance of the five elements and the yin and yang energy or chi to achieve the results you desire.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

I’m Ready

Michelle Cromer November 28, 2022 1 Comment

I’m ready for the last month of 2022 but this year has not been easy. It has not been a walk in the park. It’s been challenging, and there’s been obstacle after obstacle. They say, “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” I don’t entirely agree. Some things that didn’t kill me came so close that they are still damaging. And can’t that be ok too? Can’t some things just break you? At least for a while? Why does admitting defeat make you weak? For goodness sake, bleed. And bleed openly. There can be pride in vulnerability. Honesty is maturity.

There was a time when I had things figured out. A time when answers seemed clearer, each step was calculated and traced, my future mapped out, and important dates circled. Life wasn’t always easy, but it always made sense. Then I learned that life has a habit of making examples out of people like me.

I'm ready

Life is a strange and beautiful thing. Show me someone who has brilliance boiling beneath the surface, and I’ll show you someone who has almost died or certainly wanted to. The people who seem to have life tied together nicely with the bow on top, those are the people who have stories so terrible that most don’t have the stomach to hear them. Life has brought me to my knees, and I pray that I never have to feel that degree of pain again. And, yet, at the same time, life’s devastating sorrows made me everything I am. Life will wear you down, but then you realize sometimes to become something more, there has to be nothing left. Motivation seems to follow devastation.

I feel like I have a bloody lip from all the fights I have been in with my life, but I am walking steadfastly toward what I know really matters. I’ve made mistakes, but I am not afraid of regrets, I understand my life did not go as planned. But this year has shown me what being powerful really is. And I’ve learned life is unpredictable, so I’m learning to laugh. Life is hard, so I am learning when to be soft. Life is beautiful because I am learning where to look. Life is short, so I am learning to make it significant. And life is a bitch, so I am learning to be a better one.

And, that’s why I am ready because when I look in the mirror I don’t see the same person I saw at the beginning of the year. This one has more strength, more courage, more confidence, more focus, and definitely more faith. I’m more resilient and unbreakable. I see a person who refuses to give up no matter what life throws her. I’m ready. Bring on the last month. I’m ready.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

Spirit Animals

Michelle Cromer November 1, 2022 Leave a Comment

Years ago while living and studying in New York I discovered I was the perfect size for designers who were trying to sell their fur creations to department store buyers. I spent most of my free time in the garment district allowing my body to be poked and measured in order to have a shot of purchasing the fur samples after the buying season was over. That’s how I started my collection of furs, being a human mannequin. I jokingly used to refer to my coats as my spirit animals. After a profoundly personal journey with a Shaman in Santa Fe, I discovered that the true meaning of a spirit animal is much deeper and much more than just generic animal symbolism. Its meaning deepens our personal connection to our physical, mental, and spiritual world and it offers influential insights into our subconscious mind. Spiritual seekers throughout history recorded their interactions with animal energies. They strove to build strong relationships with animal archetypes as a way of broadening the human experience with the natural world.

A spirit animal is the belief based on the spiritual concept of the universe, and all-natural objects within the universe, have souls and spirits. An animal spirit is believed to be a supernatural power that embodies or conveys influence empowering a person with the traits of the animal.

The phrase “Spirit Animal” refers to the shamanic idea that certain animals can physically and psychologically empower us. The Spirit Animal is thought to lend its wisdom, attributes, and instincts to us in times of need.

It is said that we, as human beings, possess at least one Spirit Animal or totem, in our lifetime that serves as our personal protector, guide, helper, and companion.

Discovering your spirit animal is a passage that requires more of you than simply taking an absurd online quiz. I learned that this meaningful journey is life-changing and discovering your spirit animal will leave you inspired and empowered. Your spirit animal is the embodiment of your subconscious mind and therefore cannot be chosen. It must choose you. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution and often it will take time before it reveals itself. Keep your heart and mind open and begin by observing nature. Be open and attentive when animals appear in your life. Meditate with the intention and reflect on any images. Be attentive to your dreams. And most importantly, what I learned is to embrace the process of journeying.

And as I journey through life, and time passes, I know that my spirit animal and my relationship with it will change. It is the embodiment of my inner self and as I grow and am shaped by life, so will my totem.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether Spirit Animals are merely primitive social constructs, or whether their long history throughout many peoples and cultures points to a higher, deeper truth. Mine is serving as a much-needed inner guide helping me to glimpse into a deeper vision of my life. It is teaching me how to live with passion and genuine purpose and brings awareness and attention to the part of me that needs to be acknowledged and explored. The world around us has become increasingly uncertain and chaotic. When foundations of social systems become disoriented and misguided, there may be no better time to find and follow the pattern already set and waiting to be discovered within the individual soul.

As I left Santa Fe, I reflected on how life unfolds in mysterious ways, and in the end, the connections with others on the level of the soul enrich life immeasurably and add to the dimension of the physical, and spiritual. Spirit-animal relationships will one day become quite natural and commonplace, for they represent the progressive unfolding of the beauty and promise of our capacity as spiritual beings to live a sacred life.

Have any Feng Shui questions? Feel free to contact me at michelle@michellecromer.com and sign up for your Power Color or visit me on Facebook at Michelle Cromer Feng Shui.

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