I recently met a Sperm Whale Named Juliet. She arrived at the shores of Rockaway to leave her physical body. With such a massive physical presence, it was easy to focus on what the human eye observed. There was a greater purpose for her visit here. Like many animals, Juliet arrived with a loving heart and a desire to spout wisdom and healing.
This past weekend, I attended a retreat on Love and Death. We opened with a beautiful quote from Rainer Maria Rilke: “Love and death are the great gifts that are given to us; mostly they are passed on unopened.” I thought about my beloved animal companions who have passed on. As the tears rolled down my face, I felt incredibly raw and open.
Animals who come into our lives arrive with wisdom to share and lessons to teach us. It is true of the warm and cuddly companions we live with and those we avoid. Often the creatures we fear or reject offer a path to healing and transformation.
Sharks are one of the animals onto which we project our fear and darkness. Shark “feeding frenzies” are mild compared to some human behavior. Sharks invite us to look within and explore the parts of ourselves that we often disown.
So much on our planet is in a state of breakdown. Everywhere we look, we see facets of dark energy revealing themselves. If we do not stay conscious, we can move to a place of despair.
Current conditions present us with opportunities for breakthroughs. If we stay grounded in love and possibility, we can bring darkness and fear into the light. While not difficult, it requires awareness, commitment, and deep listening.
Most of us are born our beautiful authentic selves, with everything we need to develop into loving and flourishing adults. Society quickly teaches us that this is not acceptable. Little by little, we relinquish our true selves and adopt ways of being that align with our caretakers’ wishes. In time, we can feel disconnected from ourselves and others because we are no longer honoring our inner wisdom.
