Animal Voices
dawn baumann brunke
ANIMAL TEACHINGS
Learning more with
RHINO and GOAT
RHINO
Substance, Stamina, Stability ~ Know Yourself ~ Trust Your Instincts
Strong, solid, stable and resilient, rhinoceroses have lived on Earth for 60 million years. Rhinoceros knows how to be patient and persevere. In touch with ancient wisdom, Rhino uncovers buried knowledge and memories of past lives. Generally solitary and comfortable being alone, rhinoceroses help us sink into solitude, enjoy our own company and commune with our deeper self. Indeed, Rhino’s teaching is: know thyself.
Rhinos have poor eyesight but heightened senses of hearing and smell. Roaming open spaces, inhaling the rich, grassy air, they savor scent, which triggers memories. Wallowing in cool, muddy waters, they embrace earth energies to refresh and heal. Rhino guides us to relish sensory experience and use our instincts to better know ourselves.
Although rhinos are highly sensitive, their thick, strong skin provides a protective armor. Rhino prods us to let go of outer distractions while shielding us from over-sensitivity and too much external influence. Thoughtful and wise, Rhino teaches us to trust intuition and accept the sage advice of our inner council. Rhino helps us find balance and solidity within. With Rhino, we feel secure, centered and grounded, even as we open to vast expanses of awareness.
Although rhinos will charge when attacked or frightened, they are usually peaceful. Rhino encourages us to observe first. If action is needed, Rhino can help us launch and follow through.
Rhinoceroses use their horns (African rhinos have two; Asian rhinos have one) to dig, forage, impress a potential mate, intimidate and defend. Long coveted by humans for status, medicine or magic, Rhino horn symbolizes discernment — especially the ability to see through illusion. Ironically, Rhino teaches that power is not outside ourselves — in the horn of another — but within. Rhino encourages us to find true power by knowing who we are.
RHINO SAYS...
Once upon a time we were honored for our wisdom and consulted by the human world.
We spend our days close to the earth and have learned much in our many years. We feel connection with the center of the earth and with the surface too — trees and grasses, mud and water. We understand the link between surface and depth. That is why we were often called upon to offer our advice.
We are generally happy creatures, travelers, roaming these lands. We feel sad so many humans don’t see our wisdom, wanting only to pull off our horns, as if this can help.
What we want to say to humans is this: calm down, go within, listen deep. We invite you to roam the deep expanse of your soul. Find us there. We are happy to talk, to recall the old days when a human and a rhino could consult in peace.
GOAT
Inspires Confidence ~ Sparks Curiosity ~ Reveals the Path to Joy
Independent, agile and inquisitive, goats are surefooted adventure-seekers who love to climb. Nimble yet sturdy, mountain goats trek along high, craggy ledges, leaping great distances across chasms. Goat helps us move forward, especially when we feel trapped or confused. With steady focus, Goat teaches us to look around, contemplate, consider our options. Goat reminds us there is joy both in climbing high and in returning home.
Goat helps us create a firm foundation, reminding us that success requires a strong center and stable base. Offering balance and flexibility, Goat prods us to explore new vistas and possibilities, as well as the unmapped terrain within. Moving with confidence, Goat urges us to lighten up, thrill to adventure and feel the excitement of joy.
Eager and curious, goats love to investigate. With prehensile lips and sensitive tongues, they feel and taste the world around them, finding hidden treasure in cans and jars, weaknesses in fences, and other ways in and out of adventure. Savvy and intelligent, Goat encourages us to embrace our curiosity and sample everything — how else can we truly know the world?
Generous and gregarious, goats are versatile and accommodating. As one of the oldest domesticated species, they serve humans as a source of milk, cheese, meat, wool and leather. In ancient sacrifice, we used goats as ‘stand ins’ to appease the gods for our misconduct or immorality. The original scapegoat was a goat laden with human sins, cast into the wilderness alone.
Good-natured Goat nudges us to release guilt and other constraining emotions. Goat’s deeper teaching, however, prods us to look within — and accept responsibility for our thoughts and behavior. For Goat, finding oneself is the path to joy.
GOAT SAYS...
Look within. That’s our teaching about joy. We like to look around and consider everything. Life’s clues are all around us. We simply need to see. For humans, we sense you need to see within. That is the first lesson of clarity. If you can see clearly inside yourself, then you can also see clearly outside yourself. It works both ways, but our advice to humans is first to close your eyes and see within.
Our joy is about roaming the world, exploring, being open to what we find. We appreciate beauty. We are dazzled by wonder. We like to look and contemplate, to stare into things — because there’s a whole world behind appearances. Maybe this is why we tell you to look within. If you can see inside yourself, you will know the joy of who you are. Then you can share it with others. We are goats, peaceful advocates of joy!
