Groundhog Spirit Animal

Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal, the hedgehog, as a means of predicting weather and helping them decide when to plant the crops. Even after they stopped this belief, they continued on with this tradition.

When they moved to Pennsylvania they brought Badger Day along with them. They replaced the absent badgers with the groundhog and continued this under the name of Groundhog Day. On this day in 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, was celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Every year on February second the groundhog emerges or is yanked out of it’s hibernation. Most famous is Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. Crowds emerge to celebrate this occurrence of the age-old midwinter divinatory practice. February second is about the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It is the winter midpoint or cross-quarter day. Winter is now half over! If the groundhog sees his shadow, it means that there are still six more weeks of wintery weather. If he doesn’t see his shadow, it means that spring season will come early.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, by Groundhog Day you should still have half of your food store and half of your fuel if you are going to make it through the remainder of winter. So this is an excellent time to survey our resources and monitor our reserves. Do we have adequate stores of body, mind and spirit to weather the rest of the winter? Let’s take a look at the animal spirit meaning of:

Groundhog
~ the coming of spring
~ sense of family and community
~ dig deep
~ retreat, rest and renew
~ have other options or exits
~ pay close attention to dreams and meanings
~ sense of family and community
~ alternate states of consciousness
~ communicate your boundaries
~ death and rebirth

Finally, let’s think about the definition of Groundhog Day from the movie starring Bill Murray.
The same day over and over. Doing the same things repetitively.
“My life never changes. Every day is groundhog day. Eat, work, sleep.”
Einstein said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”.

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”
ANDY WARHOL, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
“We can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one” Paulo Coelho
Each of us has the opportunity to change and grow until our very last breath. Happy creating.
M.F. RYAN

Awakening to your life!