Totem: Ocelot/Margay/Dwarf Leopard

The ocelot, called also the dwarf leopard and margay is a wild cat found in South and Central Americas along with Mexico, being seen as far north as Texas. It is as large as a domestic cat and its fur alike to a jaguar.

This feline teaches to be adaptable, regardless of the environment one is in. It is the ocelot who goes to the trees and the waters, being about to look at the surroundings from above. It is the ocelot who teaches not to fear to do such things, as there are times when it will be needed to be done.

By solitude and quiet meditation, the ocelot teaches how to regenerate.  There are benefits to such a form of regeneration and the ocelot knows it.

Onions

Onions are known as the Bulb Onion, Common Onion and Garden Onion. They are botanically called Allium cepa and well known to cause crying when being prepared, with many people attempting to find a way to prevent this.

Onions are grown from seed, where in colder areas it is best to sow them in early spring and in warmer areas late autumn to early winter. This is due to how onions take prefers cool weather to establish and warm weather to mature. They will need to be planted in full sun as the onion needs plenty of sun to be able to mature. Onions are easy to grow and it is advised to not grow them with peas and beans.

Gods And Goddesses: Hoori

Hoori is the god of hunting, the great-grandson of Amaterasu, the son of Ninigi and Konohanasakuya-hime and younger brother of Hoderi. Hoori is also called Fire Fade, Hohodemi, Yamasachihiko and Hikohohodemi.

Hoori once exchanged his hunting tools with his brother Hoderi, going to the sea to fish. Due to his inexperience fishing Hoori lost his brothers hook after spending a day by the seashore fishing. Hoori feared the reaction of Hoderi and asked an old man nearby for help. The old man guided Hoori, leading him to the palace under the sea.

Hoderi learnt of how Hoori lost his hook, promising not to forgive his brother until he brings back his hook. Hoori however met the daughter of Ryujin, Otohime, at the sea palace, staying with Otohime by her side for three years.

Due to waiting for so long Hoderi confronted the sea god Ryujin asking for the hook. Ryujin summoned his fish and found it. The hook was given to Hoori to guarantee that Hoderi would forgive Hoori. Hoori gave the hook back to Hoderi and despite the time it took to do so, Hoderi forgave Hoori.

Hoori eventually went on to marry Otohime and the two had a son. This caused Otohime to take on the form of a dragon.

Totem: Jellyfish

Jellyfish are creatures of the oceans with unusual anatomy, almost like an alien. There are many species of jellyfish; some which can be very small while other species large.

When the jellyfish comes to teach, it asks if there are feelings of floating and drifting along. There are ways to deal with such matters, addressing with such things is the beginning of dealing with it.

Living a simple life seems to becoming more difficult in modern day Western culture, but jellyfish tells that simplifying is a good idea. The jellyfish also gives messages to allow life to take its course, to trust it to happen and to not rush in life.

Curved-Leaf Grevillea

Grevillea curviloba is the botanical name of the Curved-Leaf Grevillea, which has two subspecies, Graevillea curviloba subsp. curviloba and subsp. incurva. It is a prostrate to erect shrub native to Western Australia, growing up to 3m in width and 2.5 in height. Its flowers are white to cream and grow from late winter to mid-spring.

When grown in moist, well-drained soil and with full sun its growth can be rapid. It has some tolerance to frost.  It can grow in sandy and sandy-loam soils.

Gods And Goddesses: Amida

Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light, is referred to as the Japanese Amitabha, is who people turn to near death.  Amida Buddha, Amida Nyorai and Amida Butsu are also names to refer to Amida. He is often depicted meditating with his hands position in a manner where his thumbs are touching and fingers are together, sometimes depicts is of Amida holding a lotus. Depictions also show two attendants known as the Amida Sanzon.

People pray to Amida when someone they know is about to die as it is said Amida has the power to change death is life.  Chanting “Namu Amida Butsu” is said to help gain rebirth in what is known as the Pure Land Paradise and to reject anything which prevents obtaining Buddhahood.

Before Amida attained Buddhahood he was known as Hozo and made forty-eight vows, which is now the basis for the vows taken by followers, monks and nuns today.

Totem: African Painted Dog

The African painted dog, also known as the painted dog, hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, spotted wolf and spotted dog, is a pack animal recognizable by its fur. Its fur also helps differing between individuals.

The animal teaches to bring success through perseverance, to keep trying despite hardships and succeed at what is wished to be done.

Learning how to have a strong family bond can be difficult if communication is poor, yet the African painted dog teaches to form strong bonds with family and to work together. A family will not succeed if one does all the work.