animal totems

Giveaway: What the Walrus Knows

emilydownward

Have you ever felt so frustrated and unsure of what to do next and you wish there would just be a sign to point you in the right direction? I remember feeling that way, MANY times, where it seemed everything I was doing was coming up short. I couldn’t figure out how to get the answers I was seeking, and everything just felt wrong. I so desperately wanted a sign to show me the right way forward. What I didn’t know then that I know now is how to access my inner guidance and how to be quiet and observe the world around me – there are actually signs EVERYWHERE and the Universe gives you guidance all the time.

As I began to hear and listen to that inner guidance and I started studying life coaching, I was introduced to many gifted coaches and teachers. One of the most delightful has been Sarah Seidelmann. Sarah is brilliantly intelligent, unabashedly freaky, joy-inspiring and joy-filled. I loved hearing her story of how she went from working as a pathologist to pursuing her passion of being a life coach, and when I first heard her speak about animal totems, “Beasties,” as she calls them, I was both intrigued and skeptical.

What the Walrus Knows AppAfter following her work, reading her book, What the Walrus Knows, as well as doing some additional research on my own, I’ve come to enjoy spotting beasties that show up in my life and learning about what messages they bring. And now there’s an app! Sarah has created a fun and informative iPhone or iPad app for What the Walrus Knows. The app gives you the ability to look up the symbolism of a beastie when you’re on the go, as well as providing a fun divination tool and helpful guidance on finding your spirit animal.

Sarah has generously given me two books and two promotional codes for the app to give away. I’ll draw four lucky winners from my commenters. To enter, simply share your favorite animal and explain why it’s your favorite. Specify in your comment if you’d like the book or the app (or either). I’ll randomly select the winners on Friday, Oct 5th.

The Gift of Animals

emilydownward

“There’s a bigger, deeper world all around us all the time, full of messages and support. We’re marinating in it. It permeates and surrounds our ordinary reality. I wasn’t aware of this deeper world until the Beastie spirits (energies) seemed to find me and I started connecting with them. Observing Beasties helps us tap into this deeper level of information.”

– Sarah Seidelmann, What the Walrus Knows

Being a part of the Martha Beck tribe of coaches has opened my world to so many amazing experiences and inspiring teachers and colleagues. In fact, it’s hard to put into words how much my life has changed, and as with any new knowledge, I can’t go back to the unknowing (nor would I want to). Many of the ideas and concepts I’ve learned have at first seemed improbable to me, not logical, and my rational mind at first resisted.  Remaining open to the possibility of these has provided me with an expanded understanding of how our world and our minds work. Other new ideas that I’ve been exposed to have resonated deep within me with a knowing that feels like coming home. Sarah Seidelmann‘s work has been like that for me. Her book, What the Walrus Knows, provides a great overview of the gifts and delights we can gain through embracing our connection to the animal kingdom.

Our culture has not always embraced the idea that we, as humans, are part of the greater whole, but with the rise in awareness of our impact on the earth’s ecosystems, we are beginning to understand that our actions have a direct effect on the broader whole. If we look at ourselves as part of this whole, we can start to notice that everything in our life is speaking to us in metaphors. If you open yourself to this possibility, you may receive information and solutions in whole new ways.

Sarah’s delightful book talks about the ideas of animal totems, or beastie energies, and what they can teach us about ourselves and the ways to approach life. There are guest beasties — those that show up at certain times with a particular message — and core beasties — those that are with us for a lifetime to guide and support. Since opening this door, I have been thrilled to welcome in all sorts of guest beasties and have identified a couple of core beasties for myself. Noticing and honoring these beastie energies helps me keep connected to the wonder of nature that is all around me and helps me put my silly human dramas in perspective. I highly recommend this book for anyone that is interested in a fun way to reconnect with the animal kingdom.

Turles are one of my core beasties, reminding me to keep a tough outer shell, stay soft on the inside, stick my neck out, and take small steps towards the goal. Oh, and that it's good to piggyback with larger turtles sometimes!