The medicine held by Otter is a set of lessons in female energy. This
applies to both men and women, as all of us have female sides. The
Otter's hide is very often used to make medicine bags for powerful women
because it represents balanced female energy.
Otter is very caring of its young and will play for hours, performing
all types of acrobatics. It lives on land, but always has its home near
water. The elements of Earth and Water are the female elements. At home
in both of these elements, Otter is the personification of femininity:
long, sleek and graceful. Otter is the true coquette of the animal
world.
Otter is always on the move and is very curious. Unlike other animals,
Otters will not start a fight unless it is attacked first. This jopyful
little creature is adventuresome and assumes that all other creatures
are friendly---until proven otherwise.
These chararcter traits are the beauty of a balanced female side, the
side of ourselves that creates a space for others to enter our lives
without preconceptions or suspicions. Otter teaches us that balanced
female energy is not jealous or catty. It is sisterhood, content to
enjoy and share the good fortune of others. Anchored in the
understanding that *all* accomplishments are worthwhile for the whole
tribe, Otter people express joy for others.
Long ago, in tribal law, if a woman were widowed, her sister would offer
her own husband to the widow as a lover to keep her from drying up and
not using her creative urges. This is Otter medicine, too. Envy, or the
fear of being replaced, has no space in Otter's balanced understanding
of sharing goodness.
Woman energy without games or control is a beautiful experience. It is
the freeness of love without jealousy. It is the joy of lovng other
people's children and their accomplishments as much as you lover your
own.
It may be time to examine your feelings about sharing the bounty of your
life with others. Otter may be saying that the finer qualities of woman
need to be striven for in both men and women so that a unity of spirit
can be reached. This would involve the destruction of jealousy and of all
acts of anger which stem from that fear. It would mean keeping a
Hawk-eye on your ego and maintaining total trust. It would mean a world
full of people coming together to honor the right of each person to
*be*.
If you have this symbol in your life, Otter may be telling you to become the
playful child and to simply allow things to unfold in your life. It may
be time to stop your addiction to worrying. Otter also teaches the
importance of not hanging onto material things that would bind you or
become a burden. In looking at how you can learn from Otter's habits,
you might look at the joyousness of the receptive side of your nature.
Have you given yourself a gift recently? Have you received any messages
in your meditations? Become Otter and move gently into the river of
life. Flow with the waters of the Universe... this is the way of
balanced female energy. Honor it! In doing so, you will discover the
power of woman.
CONTRARY:
If the Otter is reversed, you may be running from one idea to
another without focus. This could also imply that you have forgotten how
to receive, and are blocking a gift from the Universe with your male
side. If this is the case, you may be embarrassed to receive
compliments, to have someone hug you, or to allow your genuine
personality to come out. Fear of being rejected is the contrary message
of Otter. Drop the seriousness on all levels and play at life so that
the fear rolls off your back. Realize that the *only* flow is the flow
of love from the Great Spirit to you, from you to others, and from
others back to you
