Insect Animal Spirits

The bugs and other creepy-crawlies are Nature's essential artisans. These small creatures exhibit tenacity, patience, and detachment. Seemingly unaware of their importance, they go about their tasks in nature.
These animals maintain the Earth.

Ant (general) -- Greater strength than can be imagined, the patience and endurance needed to complete,a task, building your dreams slowly over time, community minded, mass consciousness, an affinity for magnetic fields. Being able to submerge yourself in a project and work without sleep. (Be careful not to misidentify a termite for an ant an ant which is a common mistake, especially with the flying varieties) 

Aphid -- Teaches the importance of nourishment; spiritual, emotional and physical. It shows the importance of a balanced diet with plenty of water. Eat to replenish water balance. She shows the balance of physical and spiritual needs as well as introducing additional feminine aspects to help balance the masculine. She shows how to communicate your needs effectively as well as using your instincts and intuition of body language. Trust your feelings. Aphid’s medicine is about self-empowerment. You have all that is needed within and it’s time to seek and find. 

Assassin Bug (Reduviidae) -- A real-life version of the Predator, assassin bugs may be the most cunning killers in the insect world. Assassin bugs lie in wait for insects and then stab the prey with their beak and inject a toxin that paralyzes the victim and dissolves its tissue. The assassin bug then sucks up the other bug's liquefied tissues.  Then the assassin bug wears the bodies of its victims like trophy armor. Sometimes, when other prey isn't available, assassin bugs even eat each other, which is creepily like the way the medieval knights used to operate. As gardeners like them because they get rid of other bugs, they are true little ninjas.

Bedbug -- Negative sleeping arrangements or sleep patterns. A disruption of your 
Circadian rhythms may be disturbing your sleep and making you act "buggy".

Bee (general) -- Symbol of fertility. Being defensive and hard working for the good of the group. Socially conscious and community oriented. Having an obsession for work that will lead to burn out. The bee's honeycomb is a hexagon that represents the heart. A message to examine your productivity and make time to savor the honey. If bitten by a bee it is a call to wake up and look at what you are doing with your life. Totem animal of the Minoan Goddess "Potnia Theron" the Queen of the Bees. In ancient Egypt the bee symbolized royalty. In ancient Greece they were the symbol of the "Eluesinian Mysteries". The Celts associated the bee with hidden wisdom. The ancient Britons saw the bee as a symbol of the Goddess and at celebrations they drank fermented honey (mead). Medieval Christian monks lived in beehive shaped huts, which represented a harmonious community.

• Bumble Bee -- Power of service, smaller groups, adjusting body temperatures when in an altered state, yoga, hypnotherapy. (A Bumble Bees body is too big and its wings too small for it to be able to fly but it does!) Achieving the impossible. The bumblebee is a messenger that holds the secrets of life and service.
• Honey Bee -- Messages from higher planes and consciousness, prophetic dreams and visions, industry, wealth, industriousness, diligence, cooperation, productive hard work

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe,
then man would only have four years to live." 

~ Albert Einstein ~ 

Beetle -- Beetle is a being of peace, wishing nothing more than to live at one with nature and the world. Metamorphosis, resurrection, past lives, rebirth of the soul, innocence of purpose. Beetle signals a confirmation we are on the right track and we should pursue our goals. Some beetles are good omens and some beetles are bad omens. You need to learn which ones mean what in your area by studying their behavior and what occurs after you see one. Some beetles are messengers of good and bad weather. In some cases, beetles have devastated acres of trees, but they symbolically warned everyone before the attack.

• Dung Beetle (Scarab) -- A highly spiritual animal, worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, it was associated with the heavens and the Sun god Ra. Dung beetles roll balls of animal dung along the ground. These balls are rolled into holes, whereupon the beetle deposits its larvae which, being hatched, feed upon the dung. According to Egyptian doctrine, the dung beetle rolling his ball was considered illustrative of the Sun’s heavenly circuit and its daily self-renewal. Hence, a symbolical scarab carrying a Solar disk upon its back represented the Sun’s cycle through the sky. The dung beetle relies on celestial landmarks to travel. Dung beetles use the gradient of light to dark provided by the Milky Way and symmetrical patterns of light from the Sun to ensure they keep rolling their balls in a straight line and don't circle back to competitors at the dung pile. It therefore leads us to follow the same path of celestial navigation (astrology). Seeing the world in a different way, not being confined to what is pretty or ugly, useful or useless, from society’s standpoint. It is likely that most people will not want to claim the title of ‘Dung Beetle Totem’, perhaps choosing ‘Scarab Totem’ instead, which is too unfortunate as these dung beetle is a holy and glorious creature.

Bo Weevil -- Coming up from over the border. An exclusive use of cotton products, (cotton fabric, cotton seed oil, etc.). Highly sensitive to scents (pheromones). An unwelcome visitor who brings devastation and despair to those he visits. The insect world's equivilant to Sherman's March to the Sea.

Well, I saw the bo weavil, Lord, a-circle in the air
Next time I seed him, Lord, he had his family there
Bo weavil told the farmer that "I 'tain't got ticket fare"
Sucks all the blossom and leave your hedges square
Bo weavil, bo weavil, where your native home?
"Most anywhere they raise cotton and corn"
Bo weavil, bo weavil, "Oughtta treat me fair"
The next time I did you had your family there.
~Charley Patton, "Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues"~

Box Elder Bug (Maple Bug) -- Operating on set cycles. Be watchful for those looking to "crash at your place" and then eat everything in sight. Get rid of them before their friends and family show up .

Butterfly -- The coming of adulthood, transformation, internal and external changes and a rebirth of the soul,with too often a need to be noticed and stand out in a crowd. Symbol of Psyche, the Greek Goddess of the Soul.

• Monarch Butterfly -- Life is short, so enjoy the journey. Fleeting moments. And transformation. Herb and flower magic. Travel and migration, moving to new places.

Caterpillar -- Caterpillars symbolize the promise of becoming all you can be. Caterpillars symbolize transformation. The transformation from caterpillar to a butterfly is nothing short of magical and signal an approaching awakening or enlightenment and one must evolve before receiving those gifts. It is a shedding the old life to accept a new one. The Spirit Keeper of the Sacred Smoke and guardian of the tobacco plant.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, 

the rest of the world calls butterfly.  

The caterpillar develops into the butterfly through a process called metamorphosis. It comes from the Greek words, "meta", meaning beyond, and "morph", meaning form; to signify transformation or change in shape. Metamorphosis is a key element in Greek mythology. This ability to change shape or form is a major development in the stories of Arachne, Zeus, and Daphne. Almost all of the gods had the power of metamorphosis. Christians use the term born again to define the process .The spiritual symbolism of metamorphosis is quite obvious and easy to grasp. What is more difficult to grasp, in terms of the animal spirit meaning, is the emphasis on which stage you examine. The wonder of the end result as seen in the butterfly is the one most focused upon, but the true essence of the transformation lies within the cocoon of the transforming caterpillar. It is far too easy to be enchanted by the beauty of the butterfly and to ignore the lowly caterpillar. The true call to spiritual metamorphosis comes from the appearance of the caterpillar as spirit animal and the appearance of the butterfly as spirit animal is often a warning not to become seduced by the apparent beauty of the changes into forgetting the reason for undergoing the transformation. The attainment of the metamorphosis is not for the appearances of the physical world, but for the transubstantiation of the spiritual. If, after you have undergone a seeming transformation, the butterfly should appear as an animal messenger, it maybe that you missed the true meaning and purpose of the experience.

• Snake Caterpillar -- It's not a snake at all, but the larva of the Swallowtail Butterfly. Along with the larva of some other butterflies and moths they present a snake-head illusion to hopefully gives bird enough pause to leave the caterpillar alone. It speaks of deceiving an enemy into believing you are something that you both really fear.

Centipede (Millipede) -- Fast moving little creatures with many legs and a poisonous bite. Centipedes and millipedes alert us to new psychic experiences and to new and previously unrecognized psychic abilities and learning how to find protection against psychic deceptions. In China, the centipede is the archenemy of the snake. Many folktales tell how the centipede saves a person when a snake attacks or how it's appearance warned individuals snakes were near. Balance, coordination, ability to survive stress, the beauty of coordinated movement. 

Chigger {Red Bug} -- (Chiggers are tiny, six-legged wingless larvae that grow,up to become a type of mite in tall grass and weeds.) "The myth of the vampire", (chiggers do not drink blood), and the myth hurts more than helps.

Cicada -- Notorious singer with its own distinctive style, living underground for long periods, long life cycles of dormancy then great awakening. A bite where it will hurt the most and scratching will cause more damage than the bite itself. Be wary not to do more harm to yourself than those who afflict you do. Activity, periodicity, emerging on mass. The "Nexus of Time". (Sometimes called 17-year locusts, but they are not locusts)

Cockroach -- Cockroach teaches the art of adaptability and ultimate survival instincts under any conditions making this creature an emotional and spiritual shape shifter.It will teach perseverance and tenacity along with going with the flow of events. Cockroach applies determination and fortitude to survive in any event. The wisdom of Cockroach teaches how to keep in touch with the world around you, shows how to strengthen vitality and quickness of movement, ability to discern when and how to move, and make use of available resources. Virtually indestructible, it will be around long after everyone else is gone. (see also: "Roach")

Cricket -- Developing balance with intuition, strengthen your emotional core and ground your physical body, "nature's musicians", finding your way in the darkness with sound. Ancient myth associates the cricket with the lunar energies of intuition and sensitivity. Only the male Cricket can sing. The females are silent, and move through the world at night, almost invisibly, supporting the idea that they are the messengers of the Goddess. Find away to jump over any difficult blocks in your life since we do not need to experience every set back. If Cricket chirps for several songs, and then becomes quiet, he is telling you that a big storm (problem) is coming to your life. Watch for a physical upheaval, or an emotional upset, or even a spiritual shake up. Cricket is associated with intuition. If you have been getting gut feelings and you have ignored them, Cricket is telling you to pay attention; you are being given guided.

Daddy Longlegs (Harvestmen),--  The daddy longlegs, as with all spiders, spins silk. When it appears, something new is being spun in a relationship, usually the weaving of a deeper relationship with a loved one. Where there is one daddy longlegs spider, another is usually very nearby, indicating our success in endeavors now is achieved best by working with others. Subject of vicious rumor, little understood but with an important,tale to tell, will suffer injury in order to be free

Dragonfly -- Inhabits two realms: air and water and the influence of both these elements; emotional and passionate during their early years (the influence of water) and more balanced with greater mental clarity and control in mature years (the influence of air). The dragonfly will represent the essence of the winds of change and it calls you to change the habits which need changing, seeing through illusion and awakening to your true vision. Associated with magic and mysticism, life is never what it appears to be.

Dung Beetle -- (see under "Beetle")

Earthworm -- The earthworm is the spiritual groundskeeper. As they move under and through the soil, they eat plant debris. Their movement through the soil aerates the area creating a better and richer soil for vegetation to grow. Which makes it, despite its humble appearance, one of the most important creatures in the animal kingdom and a powerful animal totem. Varied and adaptable, it renews the Earth while going unnoticed and unsung. Dig deep and that loosens things up.An earthworm is hermaphroditic which means that they have both female and male reproduction organs, so when they come to us as a totem it is about the power of fertility and sexual orientation.

• Inch Worm -- Something in your life is not adding up and needs to be remeasured. A reminder to measure twice and cut once. 

• Night Crawler -- Moving up and down within a well defined system of tunnels within your own home range, existing within the 2-Dimensional plane, an opportunity brought by rain. (The night crawler is not native to North America. It is a European species that was introduced to the new world with the advent of European settlement.)

Earwig (Pincher Bug) -- A fearsome hunter; it wanders the night looking for prey,stalking the smaller insects and it imparts the advantage of night vision. Earwig’s major defense is its fearsome jaws on the rear of the body and the poison, which covers the rear jaws. Earwig requires that all opponents suffer in their death. 

Firefly (Lightning Bug) --,The energy of epiphany, a sudden knowing or insight, ability to find light in the darkness, illuminating what is hidden, brings the light of understanding, the spark of divine insight

Flea -- Ability to alter time within the life cycle, ability to trigger a birth process by the use of light, vibration, or the various components of air.

Fly -- The fly takes about two weeks from hatching to adulthood and new eggs to be laid, so it teaches the ability to greatly multiply prosperity, endeavors and ventures at enormous rates. It shows how to be quick to act and respond to achieve results. Fly aids in demonstrating the power of keen eyesight along with multifaceted vision, expanding awareness in many directions. Although flies are known for carrying diseases in unfavorable surroundings, the lesson of fly is in the value of carrying your emotions, thoughts and feelings in order to act quickly in sometimes unfavorable or uncomfortable conditions. 

• Black Fly,-- Wanton biting, the curse of the cow and the woodsman

• Crane Fly -- A juxtaposition between your analytical mind and your dreamy-type emotions.

• Deer Fly -- It’s the journey not the destinations that are important here

• Horse Fly -- The child of a male herbalist and a female vampire. It teaches balance in truthfulness, which may sting and bite but they are truths nonetheless.

• House Fly -- House-fly Spirit drives away those who threaten the river (Native American Legend); House-fly Spirit returns from the grave to comfort the grieving (Australian Aboriginal Legend)

• Maggot -- Necessity of decay in the cycle of life, symbol of the death/decay/rebirth cycle

Fruit Fly -- Fruit flies symbolize an ability to survive even in the most hard of environments. Their capacity to make use of their resources, even what is seemingly invaluable or even trash, make them a good symbol for perseverance. They also reflect an ability to see things differently and in many ways. Their eyes are suited to see and sense more than what is ordinarily possible.  Fruit flies also symbolize transformation, their growth stages from seemingly unimportant specks and larvae to adult flies reflect the changes that we go through as well.

Gnat / Midge -- Free living amongst a swarm, forever going around in circles, not enough time to eat, avoid the sunlight. They can be viewed as annoyances at first, but they can also be the key to deeper learning.

Grasshopper -- Grasshopper is the Chinese symbol of good luck and abundance and bestows the to take chances,  to gamble on a whim and jump right in, remembering that Grasshopper’s only ever jump forwards and never backwards Grasshoppers are the ultimate opportunists, the first to leap toward new horizons and leap out of trouble just as quickly. The power of song and sound to alter consciousness, astral travel, the ability to leap through time and space.

• Locust -- Locusts and grasshoppers are identical in appearance, but they differ is in their behavior. Locusts can exist in two different behavioral states whereas grasshoppers generally do not. When the locust population density is low, locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers. Overcrowding and food shortages turn locusts into dreaded swarms, capable of stripping a forest or farm in the blink of an eye. They turn almost black, so that they can absorb more sunlight to have heat and energy to maintain swarming. The frenzy will continue until they reach a place with enough food or enough of them die. In times of destitution and poverty, humans will behave in much the same way as locusts, turning into rioting mobs and rampaging looters. Locust symbolizes the thin line between the rational individual mind and mob hysteria and how thin that line is and how easily it is crossed.

Hornet -- A hornet represents a slanderer, a troublemaker, a vicious fighter and a powerful enemy that will argue against the truth. Vile and merciless people. A blood thirsty person with a stinging personality. An omen of war. Female warrior energy and the understanding of female societies.

• Yellow Jacket -- Living in abandoned and run down neighborhoods. Making use of others refuse. Highly territorial and violently protective of their turf. An angry person filled with fear that has a stinging, adverse attitude

Intestinal Worm -- Intestinal worms represent one’s relatives and will appear to reveal matters going on within the family. Sometimes you need to eliminate a family member the way you eliminate an intestinal worm to preserve the health of the system. A family member may be eating away an inheritance to the detriment of the family. 

June Bug -- Although there is naturally a great attraction to spiritual matters, the June Bug will show how to balance and remain grounded. Its wisdom teaches to navigate what is hidden in the sub/unconscious realms. Pay attention to nocturnal activities: dream time, journeys, and moments of waking, along with meditational impressions. June Bug demonstrates a higher intuition connection and a keen sense of discernment in all areas, so pay attention to synchronicities. 

Katydid -- Singer of the sacred death song . Legend has it that when the katydid first starts calling at night that it is three months until the first frost and the end of its life. In late summer, when the katydid calls during the day from pockets of dark shade then it is six weeks until the first frost and the katydid has sung its own epitaph. They teach that life is but a season and time is short, so sing your song of life as you would your death song. 

Ladybug -- Carries the "Golden Strand" that leads to the Center of the Universe. The  Lady bug is never the aggressor, but it will defend. Ladybug cautions not to try to hard or go to fast. Let things flow at their natural pace. Ladybugs are about metamorphosis, growth and manifestation of ideas and thoughts. Ladybugs have a protective quality that will aid in the ability to work effectively by illuminating problems and seeing things in the correct perspective. Ladybugs will teach the effectiveness of natural defenses and transformation of unwanted fears along with proper actions which allows the regeneration of your spirit.

Leech -- Ability to alter the flow of life force energy, simplicity of movement in cycles, latching on for dear life, can be a "blood-sucker"or a "blood-healer" (Fresh blood is the highest known source of pranic energy) Leech directs you toward the Life Force, so trust the process you cannot see.

Locust -- (see: 'Grasshopper')

Louse (Lice) -- Being sucked dry by too many responsibilities or torn in too many directions by well-meaning people, the louse is a message to withdraw and resist being pulled into situations we do not wish for ourselves. Lice are parasitic creatures that require a host in order to exist and indicates that we are either asking too much from others or they are asking too much of us.

Maggot -- (see: 'Fly')

Mayfly -- Intensity, transformation while moving, transparency, emphasis on childhood issues, living in the moment

Mosquito -- Using water to transform, drawing energy inside of,ones self, controlling energy flow in one direction

Mites -- Parasitic creatures that indicates that we are either asking too much from others or they are asking too much of us.Being sucked dry by too many responsibilities or torn in too many directions. Bugging (infesting ) with a rehashing of information.

Moth -- The Moth is highly sensitive to touch and can feel, smell and taste with their feathery antennae. When the moth appears it is a reminder to pay attention to issues of sensitivity. (Be careful not to absorb the negative energies of others and draw them into your own energy field.) Seekers of light and energy they are able to navigate by the Moon and by the Earth's geomagnetic field. ( Pay attention to what is being said and what is not being said. Metamorphic and transformative the moth shows how to awaken and develop psychic abilities. Be aware that the appearance of the moth may indicate that there are those around you who are secretly eating away at your resources.

Pincher Bug -- (See "Earwig")

Potato Bug -- Childhood, innocence, the enjoyment of just playing. A potato bug represents your intuition or subconscious desire. Alternatively a potato bug refers to some negative or even evil influence that you are confronted with in your life. 

Praying Mantis -- Benefit from prayer, meditation and the martial arts, the ability to blend with the environment becoming invisible. The Praying Mantis teaches how to still the outer mind and go within. The praying mantis teaches how to transcend linear time and move according to the rhythm of nature and inner instinct. The praying mantis can remain motionless and blend with the environment becoming invisible to enemies. They hold the secrets of materialization and dematerialization and teach perception through stillness. In dream symbols, a praying mantis is a telepathic symbol of Angels warning of hypnotic aggression from the "dark side". A praying mantis appearing may be a sign of Angelic protection. Becoming involved in situations where someone may lose their head, in one way or another.

• The praying mantis has historically been a popular subject of mythology and folklore. In France people believed a praying mantis would point a lost child home.,Muslims believe that a praying mantis will point the way to Mecca. In Africa, the mantis was thought to bring good luck to whomever it landed on and even restore life to the dead. In China the praying mantis,is the symbol of the martial arts. European people believed they were worshipful of God since they always seemed to be praying. One legend tells that Saint Francis Xaviar called upon it to sing the praises of God and the mantis began to sing canticles. Of course, no discussion of the praying mantis would be complete without mentioning its most infamous "behavior". When relations between the male and female have reached their climax the female will often bite off the head of the male. Some males even require this decapitation in order to copulate. [Mantis Religiosa]

From whence arrived the praying mantis?
From outer space, or lost Atlantis?
I glimpse the grim, green metal mug
That masks this pseudo-saintly bug,
Orthopterous, also carnivorous,
And faintly whisper, Lord deliver us.
~Ogden Nash~

Reduviidae -- (see "Assassin Bug")

Roach -- Roaches are from the beetle family within the insect kingdom. All beetles carry metamorphosis energy making this creature an emotional and spiritual shape shifter and for these reason the roach showing up in your life can indicate change. Roaches can also be indicators of the desire to pull back from society and keep under the radar of others. (see also: "Cockroach")

Scarab -- (see: under "Beetle")

Scorpion -- Although the Scorpion can appear frightening at first glance, it is a strong spirit and its magical properties are one of the most influential of all animal spirits. A message the Scorpion chooses to express is that of protection and/or isolation. They are quite solitary and many people with the Scorpion as their totem tend to have brief spells of passion with a partner only to end the relationship and spend long periods content to be alone .The Scorpion will mate in an exotic, dance of passion and control and the Scorpion sex dance is one of beauty, control, and calculation. The females allow their offspring to ride on their backs until they are protected enough by an exoskeleton and then they go off to be solitary and alone. Scorpions represent passion and separation and symbolize the nature and cycles of relationships and how important it is to not be too attached to those who come into our lives.  Chaos and passion, inspiration and transformation, death before rebirth, intense sexuality, "it is in its nature,to sting"

Silk Moth/Silk Worm -- Silk Moth teaches the art of gathering and harvesting your resources into one. Attachment, strength and tenacity to get the job done are hallmarked by Silk Moth due to the clinging properties it conveys. She shows how to balance industriousness with calming serenity. All things have timing so have patience.  Easy or difficult, Silk Moth demonstrates impermanence, all things pass, all processes continue. Nothing will be the same. She will show how to embrace the changes with a legacy of beauty, whether it be newly discovered knowledge and wisdom or a new found awareness of yourself along with the new awakening of the world around you. Silk Moth will teach much in her silence.

• Silk Worm -- Having been taken care of for so long by those who wish to harvest its silken treasure it cannot fend for itself any longer. A need for protection in new endeavors, the pickiest of eaters, a symbol of,fashion and elegance (The silk worm cocoon is often used by Native American peoples, to make a prayer rattle used in healing ceremonies)

Slug -- Living in both the male and female, stretching oneself to incredible lengths, following trails already traveled, rainy nights

Snail -- The snail in its shell is a reflection of the protective spirits that surround each of us. Unlike crabs and other animals of the like, the snail animal  grows its own shell instead of moving in and out of different shells as they grow.  Because the snail makes its own shell, it carries it with it as long as it lives. This means that no matter where the snail goes, it is always at home. This can symbolize travel, safety, and self-reliance. Taking an irregular path, shutting oneself away when things get too hot

Spider -- Understand the web of illusion and take care not to weave a web of self-entanglement.  The spider represents a more subtle appeal, more linked to that of infinity symbols. As a spider has both eight eyes and legs, it is quite a coincidence that the number eight is similar to the symbol of infinity. Not to mention the significance of the number eight on Trigonometry, physics, time, cycles and space; it is like a frequency, a vibration to infinity. (Be careful not to misidentifyan ant for a termite, which is a common mistake, especially with the flying varieties)

Spider Woman was the Creator who spun the Web of Life and within the strands of her web all of life is interconnected. Spider Woman used the clay of the earth, red, yellow, white, and black, to create people and to each she attached a thread of her web which came from the doorway at the top of her head. This thread was the gift of creative wisdom. The spiders web is the Tapestry of Life and the symbol of the weaving of destiny. The past is interwoven with the present and the future and it reveals the eternal and infinite plan. The spider's message is that you are an infinite being who will continue to weave patterns of life and living throughout time. A teacher and story teller of the Creation Legends, spiders are the keepers of the Sacred Alphabet who can teach how to weave magic with the written word. To the ancient Greeks the spider was sacred in the story of Arachne, a young woman who was gifted in the art of weaving.

Grandmother Spider is a wise old teacher,who is the weaver of the "dreamcatcher"

• Black Widow Spider -- Signifies the balance of feminine energy which is both destructive and constructive at the same time. Resentment will become a Black Widow Spider and eat you up. to kil
• Funnelweb Spider -- Earth magic. Connection to the primal Goddess. Familiarity with darkness. Ground-weaving. Entrapment. Quick reflexes. Patience. Connection to Chthonic and underworld deities. The underworld.
• Redback Spider -- Female charm and seduction. Surrender. Worshipping the female principle. Networking with humans. Exploiting suburbia. Human habitation. Theft. Stealing. Taking another's nourishment. The web of life. Surrendering to the Goddess. Offering. Giving yourself away.
• Spitting Spider -- Danger of getting caught in a sticky situation. A person or situation with a big head and a small frame holding it up. A poisonous environment.
• Trapdoor Spider -- Familiarity with Darkness. Waiting in the Dark. Ground-Weaving. An Insular Life. Agoraphobia. The Ancestor of Spiders. Earth Wisdom. Entrapment. Entanglement. Quick Reflexes. Patience. Timidity. Longevity. Connection to the Goddess. Connection to Underworld Deities. The Underworld. Secret Places. Escape Routes. Self-Protection. The Threshold and Doorways.

Squash Bug -- Another pest who comes by to visit, then moves in and wrecks your plans and efforts

Stick Bug -- Experts at camouflage and remaining motionless when in danger. Eating a nighttime meal and making plans for the next days activity.

Stink Bug -- The Stink Bug can show the connections between seemingly separate unrelated events with heightened intuition. Pay attention to your instincts about people and situations. Increased sensitivity to what is hidden and reading between the lines occurs with Stink Bug medicine and it teaches the balance of concealment and surfacing. The Stink Bug will guide in the proper use and balance of the positive and negative attributes of what is psychically sensed as well as what is physically sensed in your surroundings. Stink Bug medicine shows how to transform and shed what is no longer needed. There are five separate stages as insights are gained and growth is achieved. Stink Bug's lessons span a period of about a month when new ideals and thoughts are fully developed.

• Asian Stink Bug -- Though most species of stink Bug are relatively harmless the Asian Stick Bug has a stinger that it sticks into the seed pod of a plant and sucks the life out of it.

Tarantula -- Ability to shed the outer skin (masks) and transform, creativity, defense of territory, intimidation by size, use of environment to conceal oneself

Tapeworm -- (see: 'Intestinal Worm')

Termite -- Defense of personal space, single-mindedness, connection to tropical forests, co-operative living in a rigid caste system (Be careful not to misidentify an an ant for a termite, which is a common mistake, especially with the flying varieties)

Tick -- Adaptive and resilient, free loading a meal and gorging oneself, transmission of bad concepts and conditions, waiting in the shadows

Water Bug -- People sometimes call cockroaches water bugs because they like to live in cool damp places like sewers other dark damp places. The real water bug is aquatic and lives in ponds, pools and other places of slow moving water. It has pincers and a beak for injecting poisonous digestive juices into its victim. A fierce predator capable of taking down much larger opponents. Someone who can make you sick to your stomach by having them near

Wasp -- Sacred numbers and geometry, numerology, order and organization, going to great lengths to protect the established order, aggression, helping and hurting, constructing a solution, team-work, productivity. The wasp teaches how to use diversity to their advantage. Balancing all aspects of the various species is an art in itself and can take a lifetime to accomplish. Learn how to shape shift the outer image and become more connected to the inner knowing.

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