Animal Medicine & Jin Shin Jyutsu
by Lydee Scudder

A little over a year ago I had been noticing a lot of squirrels in the world around me. Everywhere I went I saw squirrel, and squirrel seemed to be trying to get my attention. I knew there was a message for me in this, but I did not know what it might be. I read about squirrel in Medicine Cards’ book, and it talked about how one aspect of squirrel medicine had to do with gathering, and still this was no help.

A week or so later, I was at a Jin Shin Jyutsu five-day seminar taught my Muriel Carlton and she was talking about tumors and other accumulations and how these are 4th Depth projects. She spoke about how hoarding is a sign of disharmony in the 4th Depth. At that moment it hit me: What is hoarding but out-of-control gathering? I realized that in this instance squirrel medicine was telling me about a 4th Depth imbalance.

I went home, cleaned out my closets and considered where in my life I was gathering and hoarding that which did not serve me. It was at this time that I saw the first true glimpse of the breadth and depth of the ways that animal medicine can be used in association with Jin Shin Jyutsu. I thank squirrel for that, and am happy to name this writing after him.

At the time of this experience I had been working with animal medicine for a number of years. It had occurred to me that, just as there are colors, seasons, planets, etc., associated with different Depths, Safety Energy Locks and Organ Function Energy, might there not be animal associations as well?

Some seemed quite obvious. For me there is clear association between turkey vulture and the 2nd Depth, particularly the Large Intestine Organ Function Energy. I also associate it with the Safety Energy Lock 11, or “Alice’s Restaurant Safety Energy Lock” and a need to “take out the garbage”. When I notice that my friend the turkey vulture is trying to attract my attention, I am open to learning what work I may need to do in the area of letting go.

After pondering and meditating on this for several years I have come to see that the messages of different animal helpers generally do not relate to particular Depths or Safety Energy Locks. Rather, like the physical projects we develop in our bodies, they are signposts to show us where we may be out of balance with the universe, and to guide us along our path.

Each one of us, as a unique manifestation of Spirit, is the universe in miniature. When something in my body attracts my attention, frequently in the form of discomfort or dis-ease, I ask what I have to learn from this project, and I thank Spirit for what I know to be a helping signpost to show me where I am out of harmony.

When something outside outside of me attracts my attention repeatedly, I know that this, too, is a message to help me along my path.

Animals are a particularly rich source of such messages.

…from The Main Central, issue Number 22, Autumn 1998…

Medicine Cards, the Discovery of Power through the Ways of Animals, by Jamie Sams & David Carson, published by Bear & Co.

Thank you, Lydee