Well, now that the seventh book has released, the world can see that all the Harry Potter controversies have been much ado about nothing. Let’s see, there were the plagiarism complaints. If you have ever read the fabulous graphic novel “Books of Magic” (If you haven’t go buy the first book today!) you can see why some people have a problem with Rowling’s “innovative” ideas. Then there were the feminist groups remarking on a lack of strong female characters. Their argument being that where Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore show limitless courage, bravery, and wisdom, their counter parts Hermione and Professor McGonagall show frailty. In addition, of course, there were the concerns from religious organizations that the Harry Potter universe of witches and wizards would lead the youth down a path of wickedness.
Everyone can relax; you’re not going to go to Hell (if you even believe in such a place) for reading the Harry Potter books! Well, at least according to the Church of England. Diocese of Oxford Bishop John Pritchard was quoted in The Christian Post (Click Here for Story) as saying, "Jesus used storytelling to engage and challenge his listeners. There’s nothing better than a good story to make people think, and there’s plenty in the Harry Potter books to make young people think about the choices they make in their everyday lives and their place in the world.”
Owen Smith, a youth worker at St. Margaret’s Church in the United Kingdom, has written a book called “Mixing it Up with Harry Potter”. The Church of England’s publishing company is publishing it. The Church’s press release states, “Using film scenes in which the characters make tough decisions to prompt discussion about moral choices and extracts from the books that demonstrate the power of words and their impact on others, the resource has creative ideas for using the Potter books as a basis for Christian teaching.”
Smith has also written “Mixing it Up with the Simpsons”. According to Globe and Mail (Click Here for Story), “Mr. Smith started writing the book 18 months ago when pre-teens at the Sunday school where he teaches told him they were far more interested in The Simpsons and Harry Potter than Jesus and apostles.”
It’s nice to see a religious body recognizing that there are moral lessons to be learned in stories, not just traditional Bible stories. There are many good moral lessons to be found in the television show “The Simpsons” and they’re in the Harry Potter series.
Personally, I’ve been working on the “10 Moral Lessons of The Family Guy.” I’m at five and counting….
Category: Magic/Occult
Angel Communication 101
by Rev. Sheri Kozdron
There are two common questions that may come to mind when hearing the term Angel Reader or Angel Medium. “What’s that?” And “How do you do it?”
What is an Angel Reader, and how is that different from other readers? There are some differences among all types of readings, but the main underlying purpose is very similar. An Angel Reader may use angel oracle cards like the beautiful collection of oracle card decks created by Dr. Doreen Virtue. Some people feel more comfortable with a reader who uses angel cards versus a reader who uses the Tarot. While Tarot can be a very accurate prediction tool, angel guidance is more difficult when it comes to predicting time; the concept of time is our creation and does not really exist in the Angelic Realm. However, some individuals who may not completely understand the Tarot may also fear some of the cards or images, like the death card, and will prefer an Angel Reader just because they are more comfortable with the images. Whether you go to an Angel Reader, Tarot Reader, or Crystal Ball Reader, it is vital that you first feel comfortable with that person so that your energy will be open to being read. The process of an Angel Reading includes calling in your personal Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides (including your Master Guide), your deceased loved ones, the Archangels and Ascended Masters, and only the highest energies for your highest good. There will never be any lower energies or Earth Bound Spirits (souls who are stuck here) intruding in your Angel Reading. While it is definitely possible to connect with those individuals if it’s needed, lower energy beings are not generally called upon to give you guidance and messages by an Angel Reader. Readings are also performed with the understanding that those being read have their own free will and are not bound to adhere to any guidance received.
How does someone learn to communicate with angels? Learning to connect with the Angelic Realm means learning how to communicate with Guardian Angels, Spirit Guides, Archangels, Ascended Masters and Deceased Loved Ones. The truth is that anyone can learn this. The biggest secret is not to try too hard; angel/spirit communication is really not as difficult as you might think it is.
My favorite question of all time was asked of me in the bathroom of an event where I was offering my services. An attendee happened to see my name badge with my company name, Angel Messenger. She asked me if I offered angel readings then asked if I had studied under Doreen Virtue. I answered that I had not ever met Doreen but loved her work and had read almost all of her books. I could see the look in her eye, and then she proceeded to tell me that I really should study under Doreen as this was a way for me to basically be good at what I do. I politely thanked the woman for her advice but laughed inside at the same time.
Ask yourself, “Where did Dr. Doreen Virtue receive her gift from?” She received her Divine gifts and talents from the same Source or Spirit as John Edward, Sylvia Brown, Rev. Sheri Kozdron and you. Yes, I said “and you”. It wasn’t until someone asked me my favorite question that I realized how people misunderstood this. Anyone can learn to communicate with their angels, guides and loved ones. All you have to do is develop the ability by gaining the appropriate knowledge and practicing that knowledge. No one is born knowing how to ride a bike, but just about anyone can learn. You may need training wheels at first, but you can do it.
We are all born with the ability. As children, we may have had imaginary friends that were actually angels or spirits. We were more likely to be able to see things that others did not including angels and spirits, auras, or even knowing things about our own past lives or that of our loved ones. It’s as we grow older that we learn to doubt what seems so obvious when we’re children.
I once worked as an assistant in a day care where one day a little boy was coloring a picture of his family. Everyone was colored in as you would expect . . . shirt, pants, proper hair color all colored within the lines – except for the dog. The dog was purple and colored as if there were no lines at all. In fact, it just appeared to be a mass of purple scribble. The teacher had good intentions when she jokingly suggested that he had made a mistake. “Dogs aren’t purple,” she said. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how that dog was in fact purple. That little boy saw the dog’s aura – purple!
Another commonality among children is their ability to recall past lives. One of my clients has a little girl who enjoys sharing tea time with her great grandmother more than playing with children her own age. She told her mother all about her “old family” . . . names, where they lived, etc. Guess what? Those people are still alive! This child’s eighty year old past life husband is still alive! It’s amazing the ability we throw away as we grow older . . .
It is amazing the ability we throw away as we grow older, but the good news is that we can get it back. Some people, like Sylvia Brown for example, are born with the gift and nurtured by family or other influences to develop their gift. Others, like John Edward, learn to turn the light back on so to speak. John Edward was a skeptic until he met a psychic who changed his life. John was still only a teenager when he began to reopen his gifts; but, if a teenager can be open enough to a new idea and accept such amazing ability, there’s a good chance you can too. Not all of us are meant to be famous Psychic Mediums as we all have different paths, but it is an incredible gift to be able to receive guidance or reassurance from your own angels and guides or to communicate with someone you’ve lost.
One thing that makes it easier to communicate with the other side is knowing who you are talking to. Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides are the two main beings you will have with you at all times. Your Guardian Angels are with you throughout your whole life, from birth to death. Guardian Angels have, for the most part, have never lived a lifetime on Earth. So, your Grandma Pearl is usually not going to be your Guardian Angel. Spirit Guides, on the other hand, have lived on Earth. They are considered teachers in the after life and are guiding you on something they have some expertise in. Spirit Guides do change throughout your lifetime; however, your Master Guide remains with you throughout your whole life. Both your guides and angels can appear to you as a feeling, animal, or even another human being. They can appear both in your dream and wake states. There are also Archangels and Ascended Masters which are basically a level up from Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides in that order. The main Archangels you should know are Michael, Gabrielle/Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Metatron, and Sandalphon. There are many important Archangels, but this is a good start. Although it is important to point out that you do not need to know which Archangel does what, the following is a basic rundown of the above:
Archangel Michael – courage and protection; helps with changes
Archangel Gabrielle – nurturing and children, communication and the arts
Archangel Raphael – physical healing; also helps healers find money for education, brings in clients, and anything to do with helping the healer to heal
Archangel Uriel – “psychologist angel” – emotional healing; sheds positive energy onto any situation; also for travel and world healing
Archangel Metatron* – Crystal and Indigo Children, Sacred Geometry, Abundance; was prophet and scribe Enoch from the Bible in his life on Earth.
Archangel Sandolphon* – Carries prayers to Heaven; was Prophet Elijah.
*Metatron and Sandolphon are the only two Archangels who were once mortal men.
Lastly, the Ascended Masters are people like Buddha, Jesus, Mary, Moses, Saint John, Aphrodite, Athena, Brigit, Dana, Maat, Maeve, and Merlin. Basically, the Ascended Masters were those people who became spiritual leaders in their Earthly life. They are considered masters of their realm and were granted high position in Heaven. Masters are relevant to all faiths and can be called upon for assistance whenever there is a need.
Now let’s talk about some ways that you can begin to communicate for yourself. Dreams are a very common way for angels, guides and loved ones to try communicating with us. It is the easiest for us to see and hear the other side upon awakening or when we’re just falling asleep. Being in a dream state puts our ego on hold, and our subconscious is in charge. While the ego likes to tell us that everything is just coincidence, our higher self (soul) breaks free in the subconscious. To begin communicating in your sleep, you must first hold the intention of wanting to do so. Say aloud or within your mind, “Dear _______, I want to talk to you in my sleep. Please come to me tonight, and help me remember my dreams in the morning. Thank you.” You can ask for a loved one, angel, etc. Don’t be upset if you don’t have the dream you expect or don’t remember any dreams. Holding the intention and trying is the first step.
Important suggestions are #1 to keep a dream journal. Keep a spiral bound notebook and pen at your bedside and write down anything you can remember upon awakening . . . colors, feelings, people, etc. If you wake up in the middle of the night, be sure to also note the time you awoke. You may not notice anything immediately, but the colors, numbers, feelings, situations, or other things may mean something to you in a few days. (Be sure to also date your journal.) Suggestion #2 is to get an amethyst and put it either in your pillow case (tumbled only) or again at your bedside. Be sure to cleanse the crystal by using the smoke of white sage or another cleansing method and ask the crystal to help you to have intuitive dreams that connect you with whomever you wish. Suggestion #3 is to protect yourself if you are afraid. This can easily block you from remembering, and can prevent you from connecting at all. If you are afraid, ask your Master Guide to guide you during your dreams. Unlike regular Spirit Guides, your Master Guide has been with you since you were born into this lifetime and is your main guide. If you don’t know your Master Guide, or prefer extra protection, call in Archangel Michael. Archangel Michael is the “Guardian of Guardians”. If you are ever afraid or needing courage, calling in Michael is calling in the “Big Guns”!
Meditation is another wonderful tool to help you connect with the other side. The most common response to the idea of meditating is “I don’t have time for that!” But you do have time! Do you take a daily shower? Let’s hope so. It’s this simple . . . while taking your shower, imagine the water as a waterfall of Divine White Light falling down over your body and cleansing away negativity and impurities. Allow the light to enter through the top of your head (your crown chakra) and flow through your body and out the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. Just stand there and allow yourself to feel the warmth and love of this Heavenly energy. This is a great little meditative exercise that will energize you for the day, help you stay positive, and begin to introduce you to the energy and simplicity of mediation.
Meditation Recommendations for Communicating
Angels & Guides Meditation CD by John Edward – This program discusses the differences between angels and spirit guides then walks you through a guided meditation to meet your own guides.
Take a bath! Relax into a hot bath to get some quiet relaxation time. Tell your angels and guides this is their time to talk to you, and allow your mind to drift into nothingness.
Experiment with different aromatherapy scents or colored bath salts.
Here’s a favorite method of mine . . . Ask a question then forget about it. Don’t constantly look for the answer to your prayer. Really, I just ask something like “Please give me sign about ________.” Then I go on with my day and forget about it, all the while having faith that my question will be answered in its own time. My answer usually comes when I’m in a meditative state by accident like when doing the dishes, cleaning, driving, etc. All of a sudden, I will just “know” the answer. Or, an important message may come from a song on the radio or overhearing a conversation. For example, I wanted to know if I should continue to work on a specific project that I had put on the back burner for a while. I accidentally came across a book related to my project but thought it might be coincidence, so I asked for confirmation. Then, I received a phone call from a client I hadn’t heard from in a while that discussed a specific name that means something to my project. The final confirmation was when I was at an event recently where a woman walked up to me and specifically asked if I had anything like my project. Once you at least begin to notice the guidance coming to you, more will come, and it will become more and more difficult to ignore.
Once you have learned some basics, you can begin to practice some of what’s called “The 4 Clairs”. . . . Clairsentience, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, and Claircognizance. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the titles; it’s really not that hard.
Clairsentience is probably the most common way that people receive messages from the other side. Named “The Force” in Star Wars, Clairsentience is the physical and emotional reactions we have as an intuition about different places, ideas, people, and events. Gut feelings, hunches, spiritual senses; it’s a strong sudden sensation or emotion unrelated to current surroundings. It’s when you “just have a feeling”. Clairvoyance is the most well known form of “seeing the future”; however, it’s not always about having detailed visions like Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed. Clairvoyance also includes having detailed or lucid dreams. Although Clairsentience is known as “clearly seeing”, it is not always related to seeing with your physical eyes as visions usually happen within the safety of your mind. Clairvoyance is from the Third Eye Chakra which is in the middle of your forehead just above your physical eyes. Clairvoyant messages may come to you through snapshot mental images or whole scenarios you see within your mind’s eye (third eye). Seeing colors/auras and angel lights/orbs, having corner of the eye visions, and seeing visual signs or symbols (objects) are also forms of Clairvoyance.
Clairaudience is when you hear guidance or messages. Considered the still small voice from within, Clairaudience can come in the form of overhearing a conversation, a song on the radio, your own inner voice, a voice outside your head, or evening ringing in your ears. Doreen Virtue tells a story about how she was saved from being harmed by someone trying to steal her car because of a loud voice that came from nowhere. Joan of Arc also heard voices. Although she was considered crazy, many believe that Joan did really hear the Voice of God. Fear of being considered crazy is a big reason that many Clairaudient people are closed off to this gift. But, rest assured, you are not always crazy when you hear voices. Just be sure you know the difference between true guidance and something else. True Divine Guidance from Heaven will be supportive and loving while false guidance will compare you to others, may ask you to hurt yourself or others, and may be just plain creepy.
Claircognizance is when you all of a sudden just “know” something without any reason for knowing, and it is also the most difficult form of communication to trust because of the fact that those who are most likely to be primarily Claircognizant are highly intellectual people. They are the people who cannot be hypnotized, those who are more scientifically minded, and those that are the most likely to doubt information which seems to come from nowhere. These intelligent people are more likely to believe that they’ve just made up what they’re thinking on their own. Claircognizance is when you receive sudden revelations, insights, foresight, or other knowledge.
To help open yourself up to connecting with the Angelic Realm, it could be very helpful to have an Angel Reader/Medium/Channel give you a reading where you can begin to understand what it’s like to work with the Angelic Realm. You may even be able to uncover past life issues that might hold you back from opening up to your own abilities. This is also where healing sessions can be helpful in removing any blockages and jumpstarting/balancing your Chakras (internal energy system). Of course, there are many types of healers including those who use angel energy, Reiki practitioners, Shamanic healers, etc. Whether for a reading or a healing session, it is best to go with what makes you feel comfortable.
To find out more about connecting with the Angelic Realm for yourself, there are many products on the market you can consider. Some products I personally recommend are as follows:
Divine Guidance by Dr. Doreen Virtue
Archangels & Ascended Masters by Dr. Doreen Virtue
Angels & Guides Meditation by John Edward or Developing Your Own Psychic Powers by John Edward which includes the other meditation.
Rev. Sheri Kozdron is a Spiritual Intuitive and Teacher who offers her readings and healing sessions to clients all over the world. She offers angelic guidance and messages for past, present, and future through her work as an Angel Medium. Rev. Sheri is also Certified Master Crystal Healer who uses her knowledge of crystals and Divine ability to channel Angel Energy to heal energetic issues within the body and all levels of the aura and soul.
Rev. Sheri’s most popular class is her Mediumship Workshop where she teaches students how to communicate with angels, guides and loved ones for themselves. While Rev. Sheri believes that that seeking “professional help” from a Psychic Medium like herself is important, she believes even more in the necessity of learning to communicate for yourself.
Check out www.AngelMessenger.net for the Angel Moments Podcast and Free Online Angel Card Readings! You’ll also find an Online Store with products to help you develop your spiritual and intuitive self.
Ten Questions with a Tarot Reader
1. First off, what is Tarot?
Simple answer? The tarot is a pack of 78 cards broken up in to three groups. Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, and court cards. These cards are basically images that reflect human life and activity. The most common uses for the tarot varies person to person but includes the, spiritual purposes such as rituals, mediation and spells, therapeutic purposes, such as spiritual counseling or even in some cases clinical counseling, and divination/fortune telling. *Note Divination is about predicting what most likely will happen if you don’t change something. Fortune telling is about predicting what will happen regardless of what you do.
2. Tarot seems pretty cool, how do I learn more?
There are many ways to learn more. There are thousands of websites about the tarot on the net that have nothing to do with the getting a reading. There is the Tarot School in New York, learntarot.com and of course my own website Tarot Traditions. Then there are Yahoo groups. I run one of those as well, along with thousands of others used to help bring education about the tarot to other people. For those getting started there are a lot of good beginner books on the tarot out there. Or if you need someone to hold your hand there are plenty of people who offer courses as well. But, all you really need is a good deck, a decent understanding of both personal and global symbolism. For instance, in a general sense all over the world if a bread maker put a loaf of bread on the sign outside their door anyone regardless of their language would know what they sell. But, a plantation house evokes different thoughts and feelings for say people who live in the southern US than the do for say people who live in the northern part of the US.
3. With so many Tarot decks available how do I chose a deck to use?
That’s the hard part. Most people will tell you just to feel your way through it. Most books tell you that. But, you can’t just feel your way through it. I have found the best test for the right deck is the following. Go to an occult shop or some place that sells decks but has a deck you can look at. Look first at the artwork. Do you like it? Would you hang a painting done by this artist in your house? If yes put it on the consider pile, if no give it back to not be considered. Once you have all of the ones you like by artwork, then look at the little white book that go with them or bring a book you have bought with a good keywords list. Look at a few of the cards of the deck, compare the image to the meaning. Can you see the keyword meaning of the card in the card? Does it need more detail? Does it need less detail? If it doesn’t need any changes and you can see that meaning and you consistently see the keyword meanings in the cards, then you have found your deck. Be prepared that not all cards of any deck will speak to you and the meanings you give cards will change as you become better at reading, but taking the basic keywords you can find in any little white book or text book for the tarot and comparing them to the cards will make it a lot easier on you to learn key words and a lot easier for you to read the deck.
4. Everyone knows if the Death card shows up in a reading you’re going to die, right?
Death rarely if ever means death. In all my 16 years of reading I have had the death card mean death twice. Once for an older lady who we all knew wasn’t long for this world and the second time it was for a friend of a cousin who was addicted to drugs and she asked specifically if he would die if he didn’t change what he was doing. Both, of those times, I also pulled the 4 of swords. To me for it to mean death you need both of those cards but even then it doesn’t necessarily mean death. And the four of swords most often means rest and repose. Truth is death is about change and on occasion that change is physical death. But, more often than not, it could be the death of a job, the death of a relationship, the death of a project, death of baggage you have been carrying you don’t need anymore. All Death is be it physical or otherwise, is a change of current circumstances. When you understand that, it becomes much less scary and starts taking on a separate life of its own away from the ideas of just physical connections.
5. What Tarot card would you say best suits you and why?
There are a couple that fit me. The Knight of wands because I give Knights an astrological connection of Mutable signs and Wands are fire so that makes for Sagitarian which I am. Another is the High Priestess because I’m always trying to find what’s hidden underneath, The Empress, I have 6 kids so that one should be obvious as to why. <smiles> But, Mostly I’m the Hermit. I know, people don’t understand that. I have 6 kids how can I be a hermit? I believe in living within society while being separate from it. We do social activities but, I home school the children so that they will grow up to think for themselves. I live in the middle of no where surrounded by a wild forest allowed to grow naturally how ever it wishes and though I like individuals, I’m not a people person. People as a whole I believe in avoiding as much as possible. But, mostly, I believe that my spiritual/life path is my own and I have to walk it myself. That means most of the time I’m alone simply because I don’t want others following behind running the risk of stepping in the pot holes I couldn’t avoid and getting hurt because they couldn’t find their own path. I don’t participate in organized religion of any sort. I am who I am plain and simple. Being that way often leaves you alone even if you’re in a crowd. So ultimately no matter what else I am, I am still the Hermit.
6. I’m (insert any religious denomination here). Can I be a Tarot reader?
Anyone can read the tarot. But, you have to follow your own personal belief system. What I mean and this is just my personal opinion, if your faith says that divination is wrong, then you will either have to find a way to reconcile that with yourself before taking up the tarot or you will have to change your religion. I am a complete believer that you cannot profess to be of a faith if you do not live by its laws. There is nothing wrong with the tarot. Most fear of it comes out of a lack of understanding but that is where reconciling with yourself comes in. I was raised a member of the Church of Christ. I let go of that religion because I couldn’t reconcile my talent with the tarot with the spiritual beliefs of the church. To this day it still surprises me to see Christians who read the tarot. But, that doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t. They just have to deal with the issues that come from it, decide what to do and then live by their own conscious. But, to me the tarot is about Psychology and spiritual health not about predicting the future. If you use it to improve who you are on a spiritual level then it does not contradict religious teachings of any sect. It is only when you start trying to predict the future or figure out what someone else thinks, and feels thus invading their personal space do you run into religious issues with Christianity. There are just as many Christian readers as there are Pagan ones. So if you can reconcile that with yourself then go for it. If not, then you will have to decide for yourself which is right for you and live with it.
7. You’re a Tarot card reader so help me out. Can you tell me how much longer we have to put up with Kevin Federline before Britney Spears ditches him?
LOL I wish I could. I could even try. But truth is it wouldn’t be too accurate because it isn’t Britney asking.
8. What is the most important attribute for a Tarot card reader to possess?
ewww hard question. There are two that are equally important. Compassion and self confidence. Meaning if you let yourself worry that you can’t do a good job you won’t. I taught myself the tarot by jumping in doing the readings and never believing it wasn’t real or couldn’t be real. By the time anyone told me that the tarot was a fraud, I already had proven to myself it wasn’t. It takes that kind of confidence in yourself and the tool to make it work. But, compassion is equally important. People come to tarot readers for two reasons, there is something in their life they need to fix or they are curious. Even the curious often prove to have a problem that needs to be fixed. You’re tampering with people’s self worth, and capacity to grow spiritually. If you don’t do it compassionately or you let your own issues get in the way of the reading, you will cause more harm than good. So you have to be able to set self aside and focus on the needs of the client compassionately and with kindness while telling them the honest truth as you have interpreted it. The temptation to tell them what they want to hear is always strong especially when there is a lot of pain connected to the situation. But, that does no one any favors so even in that you must realize the most compassionate thing is to simply tell the truth.
9. Have you heard the one about the guy who played Poker with a Tarot deck?
I haven’t heard that one no. But, I have played poker with the minor arcana making the Pages basically be jokers and a game called Tarot with the whole deck that works a lot like Spades.
10. Parting shot! Ask us here at The Magical Buffet any one question?
If you could go back in time and spend one day with someone from the past on an important day in their lives who would it be and what day?
For me it would be Freida Harris on the day she was painting the last of the Sword cards for the Thoth deck and as she finished it the announcement came over the radio that Russia had just joined in on the war. I can’t remember if it was WWI or WWII but still, It must have been a very potent moment in her life to finish that particular suite only to hear that announcement be played. This was a really hard question! But after a lot of changing my mind I finally decided to commit. I’m going to say that I would have LOVED to have been at the side of the stage when Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison. It was such a definitive moment for him and the landscape of music. I’m a big Cash fan, if you haven’t guessed!
You can learn more about Rebecca and what she does at:
www.tarotcertification.org
www.tarottrad.com
www.kasamba.com/Lady-Becca
High Performance Symbolism: The Jaguar
By Rebecca
Known for its power and grace it is no wonder that a manufacturer of luxury cars would chose the jaguar as its emblem. Unfortunately for you motoring enthusiasts this month’s column is not about the cars but about the animal. We’re going to discuss the jaguar as a symbol.
Everyone is familiar with the animal, but we’re not talking about a mere mortal animal, we’re talking about the jaguar as something more than flesh; we’re exploring it as a symbol for larger things. Generally, you will find the jaguar being treated as a symbol amongst the native tribes of Central America since they derive most of their traditions from the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures. Let me tell you, those Mayans and Aztecs respected the jaguar…and for more reasons than it could eat you!
For the Mayans the jaguar was the master of animals and a creature of the underworld. It was said that their eyes were a passage to the underworld, and more so, if you gazed into the eyes of a jaguar your future would be revealed to you. I’m guessing a one-way ticket to the underworld was a common prediction revealed through this practice! For the Aztecs the jaguar was the guardian of the four pathways of the world. To the Toltecs the jaguar represented the moon. (For those of you with inquiring minds, the eagle represented the sun.) The coming of twilight was attributed to a jaguar devouring the sun. You can imagine the Toltecian irony if somehow they stumbled across a jaguar eating an eagle!
The Popol Vuh, a collection of ancient myths of the Quiche Mayans, references the jaguar often. Most notably when they list the symbols one with authority to rule must possess amongst them is the paw of a jaguar. You know, the guy took out a jaguar, are you going to tell him he doesn’t have the authority to rule?
For modern Central American shamanistic cultures, the jaguar is the premier guide. (Much the way it is the premier vehicle in the world of cars! Man, I should be getting some cash from Jaguar for this column!) Only the strongest, most powerful shaman can claim that he works with the jaguar. If they are truly worthy, they may even take on the form of the animal!
So, what does this all mean? It means that the jaguar is not only a beautiful animal and a fine automobile but a creature that has come to embody something more. The jaguar represents the moon, the underworld, it is the guardian of the pathways; themes that are echoed in the myths and legends of many cultures. It is just another thread in the tapestry that weaves all of humanity together.
On a non-symbolic note, the jaguar was declared an endangered species for the United States on March 28, 1972.
To learn more about this animal and what you can do to help it visit www.fws.gov