As our nation prepares for Election Day, I felt guided to write this article on behalf of the animals of this world.

Those of us in the spiritual community speak often of seeking guidance for many things in our lives, yet do we remember to use the spiritual tools we have when it comes time to vote?

It is said that a discussion of religion, sex or politics is guaranteed to create hard feelings because each person believes their stand is right, and that is because we are influenced by perceptual filters governed by ego (head/thought) rather than the truth perceived by our hearts.

The intention of event A Walk on the Wild Side: Answering the Call of the Wild is to clear out hucha (heavy or negative energy) that stands in the way of our being able to unite with our fellow humans and animals through a spiritual and energetic approach.

I decided to try a different approach. Rather than making my decision based on what I thought, or what I feared, I resolved to approach voting with input from Spirit and the animals. And so, I decided to go on a shamanic journey to seek guidance.

The first image I saw when beginning my journey was a white mother tiger with two cubs. Then my power animal joined me, and together we began walking through the jungle until we came to a clearing where we found a circle comprised of animals of all species.

In the center of the circle an elderly man stood, facing us. He was dressed in red robes and had a clean-shaven head, like a Buddhist monk. I felt a deep sense of awe and greeted him respectfully by bowing.

I asked: What guidance can the animals offer me for this election? How should I vote on their behalf?

And the Elder showed me a seed, which he then planted, and from it a sunflower grew. And then he showed me seed within seed within seed—infinity and possibilities.

I asked: How shall I choose?

And the Elder opened his arms wide and spun around in a circle, and I spun too. And as I spun I could see each of the animals—a never-ending circle of life.

I felt a sense of expansion in my energy and in my heart. I thanked the Elder Monk, and showed him the seed that I held in my hand, which I planted in the center of the circle. Carefully patting a little mound of dirt over it, I said a prayer of gratitude in hopes that it would become a great and beautiful sunflower, too. And bowing deeply to the Elder Monk, I said, “Thank you, Master,” and took my leave.

After returning from the journey I was guided to see if there was meaning in the color of robe that the Elder Monk was wearing. I found that color symbolism is used in a wide variety of fascinating ways in Buddhist art and ritual. In Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism, each of the five colors symbolizes a state of mind, a celestial buddha, a part of the body, a part of the mantra Hum, or a natural element.

In general meaning, the color red represents life force, preservation, the sacred, blood, and fire. It is associated with the emotions or actions of subjugation and summoning, and transforms delusion of attachment into the wisdom of discernment.

Interpretation of the journey from a symbolic standpoint suggested to me that voting should be approached with sacred guidance, for only then can we transcend our ego and obtain wisdom.

However, going on the journey had given me something more than just confirmation, I was left with a gift. I could measure the feeling of expansion, trust and connection I had felt on the journey against what I felt when considering a candidate or an issue. This enabled me to vote with compassion, in alignment with my heart and with the animals. Missing were emotions of fear or hatred. Instead, I made choices from a positive place which is where the animals want and need us to source from at this crucial time in our history.

With the guidance of Spirit I have come up with two spiritual actions to receive insights before voting.

Step 1. First, it is good to put the mind to rest and to allow your energy to shift.

In honor of the Elder Monk and Tibetan Buddhism I chose the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. When used in mediation this mantra is said to invoke the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. It is said that all the teachings of the Buddha are contained in this mantra, that it cannot really be translated into a simple phrase or sentence. What I have read seems to indicate that one can attain awareness of connection with all living beings through meditation on it.

In order to evoke the proper state of mind I suggest that you listen to the mantra for at least 5 minutes at a time when you do not have interruptions. If possible, repeat the mantra along with the recording.

Step 2. Once you have placed yourself in an energetically receptive frame of mind, you are ready to seek guidance. For those who have taken training in distance Reiki I would recommend sending Reiki to the situation to further support the process. Shamanic practitioners could also journey for guidance if desired.

Whatever your background or training, everyone can use the following automatic writing technique to bypass ego and mind chatter. I simply call it the Right Hand/Left Hand Exercise, and it allows us to tap directly into our intuitive capabilities. Using this exercise enables us to know what is truly in our hearts, and can assist us in receiving guidance and information from our spirit allies or other living beings such as the animals.

Right Hand/Left Hand Exercise

This divination automatic writing technique bypasses ego and mind chatter and allows us to tap directly into our intuitive capabilities to get answers to our questions.

It is also a useful technique for understanding our true feelings or need to make a decision.

You will need a piece of paper and pen or pencil, but if you do not have any available you can close your eyes and visualize a blackboard.

Take a sheet of paper (or your mental blackboard) and draw a line down from top to bottom dividing the page into two columns.

Next, choose a question.

With your dominant hand—the one you use most often to write or catch a ball—write your question in the corresponding column (ex., right hand, right column). If you are using the mental blackboard physically raise your hand and write on the mental blackboard, drawing in the air.

Immediately, without thinking about it, switch the pen to your non-dominant hand and write the answer in the other column (ex., left hand/left column).

Once you have the materials you need for the above exercise, and have read the instructions, ask these three simple questions, one at a time:

Ask Yourself: Does this candidate/solution make you feel hopeful?

Ask Spirit: Would choosing this candidate/solution assist in creating unity?

Ask the Animals: What do they want?

I hope that you will try these steps before making your choices. The animals have placed their trust in us, and are relying on our discernment to guide us all to a place of unity, rather than a place of separateness.

A vote for the animals is a vote for all.

Postscript: A day after going on the shamanic journey where I met with Elder Monk who had shown me the infinite possibilities of seeds within seeds, I read an article in Smithsonian Magazine entitled “Mr. Lincoln Goes to Hollywood.” The article focuses on the movie by director Steven Spielberg which focuses on a president many consider iconic in his political ability to unite feuding politicians in a common goal. The author of the article highlights one scene from the movie where Lincoln, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, muses about looking into the seeds of time and seeing which grains will grow. I got chills when I read it.

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Learn how to connect more deeply with animals, restore balance to your life, increase intuitive skills, and help heal the Earth with live Reiki and shamanic teleclasses, available worldwide.

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author. Her classes, sessions and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.

Her book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism features heartwarming stories about animals and their role in her evolution as an energy worker and shamanic healer.