Coyote, Family Pets and Humans Trying To Coexist Peacefully April 30, 2010
Posted by Leotha in Uncategorized.add a comment
This article is a re-post from June 14, 2008
A friend and associate sent me an email earlier today asking for assistance in performing a ceremony to protect her dogs from a Coyote that has tracked in her backyard. My friend’s (I will call her Sue.) voice was almost in panic mode, and understandably so since her two dogs are very dear to her and the rest of her family. Sue’s home sits near the end of a cul-de-sac and has open space behind it which does not require a fence.
I reminded Sue that she was in a fear space at the moment and asked her to move into a space of love/neutrality, which would allow her to feel more centered and grounded. Plus, I told Sue she has more power being present in-the-moment. Sue understood what I meant right away and quickly became present in-the-moment.
Sue told me a Coyote has been walking (tracking) around her house, mainly the back yard. She was very concerned that it would not be safe to let her dogs outside off leach. Sue had noticed the Coyote watching her house for several days. She asked if there was something I could do, something ceremonial, that might cause the Coyote to stay away.
I suggested to Sue that she might consider calling the County’s Animal Control dispatch to get advice about how to get the Coyote to stay away. Sue said she could do that, but she felt doing a ceremony would serve a higher purpose.
I offered to come over with my drum right away and perform a ceremony with Sue for the purpose of making peace with the Coyote.
Knowing that those of us who consciously communicate with nature and is aware that nature and animals can be powerful teachers, I was interested in what message the Coyote could be bringing Sue. Obviously, Sue was aware that to just be like a majority of humans who project entitlement toward Coyote and other animal species, was not the way to go about her problem. That was not to minimize the importance of others wish to protect their pets and themselves from Coyote and other wild animals at any cost.
Many people are aware that all animals have a specific behavior patterns that are nature oriented. By learning the natural patterns of animals, humans can use the patterns of animals to predict what changes to make in their lives that could benefit themselves and/or others while not being in fear of the animal’s presence. All the while respecting the animal, by being cautious of what may happen if Coyote comes in contact with Human or their pet(s).
I remember as a boy growing up on a farm in rural Mississippi, some years around the first of October the cows and other furry animals would appear to grow a stick coat of hair. My father would say, “It’s going to be a rough winter, I had better store more feed for the cows”. My father was warned beforehand by the cows to prepare for a colder than usual winter.
As a kid, I was always afraid of snakes. One day my father threatened to give me a whipping for killing a King snake. My father taught me that by leaving the King snake alone, it would keep all other snakes away from the house and barn. I must say that lesson did not cure my fear of snakes.
There were other things my father told me about animal behaving a certain way, being a sign of what was to happen in the future, but at the time I did not see any value in paying attention to the signs.
Every spring and summer there are news stories about mountain lions, coyotes and other wildlife encroaching into housing developments. Earlier this month there was a news story out of Los Angeles County about a small child being attacked by a Coyote while in the care of a babysitter in a park.
On Monday night of this week, I saw a story on a local San Diego station about a Coyote attacking a dog inside the yard of a house in a densely populated neighborhood. The dog’s owner ran the Coyote away and his dog luckily suffered only minor injuries. A neighbor told the reporter she saw the Coyote again the next day tracking the same yard where the dog was attacked the night before. She said the Coyote did not seem to be in fear of her making loud noises in trying to run it away. Usually, Coyote hunts at night, but their survival habits have shifted to also hunting during the day.
Research shows that Coyotes are very resilient. Over the years many have been killed by hunters and farmers. As their habitat has been overrun by human development, the Coyote has been able to survive by adjusting to their environment and continue to thrive. Coyotes are now living in areas of this country that many years ago they were not.
When I arrived at Sue’s home we did a prayer acknowledging Coyote and the Animal Kingdom on a Soul level. We asked Coyote for forgiveness for any harm we humans have caused them and their ancestors. We asked Coyote for permission to coexist in the area peacefully with the pets and humans. I humbly asked Coyote to seek out the abundant food source outside of Sue and her family’s property.
I drummed to the Animal Kingdom with the intention of grounding the ceremony into a higher realm for the higher good.
After the ceremony, Sue said she felt better and knew there was more to the Coyote showing up than just looking to her dogs as its next meal.
Sue and I discussed the meaning of coyote as Animal Spirit Guides and Teachers. Sue said Coyote is not one of her Power Animals.
Sue handed me a copy of Steven Farmer, Ph.D.’s book, “Animal Spirit Guides” which I read out loud the teachings of Coyote. Steven Farmer, Ph.D. writes;
If Coyote shows up, it means:
- Lighten up——-you’re taking things much too seriously.
- The resources you need are available.
- Something quite unexpected and not necessarily welcome is about to happen.
- Rather than fighting or running from this situation, it will work out better if you adjust to it.
- Look for the lessons in the turmoil you’re experiencing.
- Forgive yourself for any mistakes or errors, and look for the gifts that have come out of the experience.
Call on Coyote when:
- You want to simply something that appears complicated.
- You’re looking for the more subtle meanings behind a dream, vision, or recent experience.
- You want to stay poised and remain calm in the midst of any chaotic situation.
- You’re feeling down, and you need to regain your sense of humor about life.
- You’re feeling bored because life has gotten to be too much of a routine, and you want to liven things up.
- You want help in brainstorming creative solutions to a seemingly insurmountable problem.
- It’s unclear whether a decision you make will lead to peace or chaos.
One thing is certain; Coyote will continue to show up in neighborhoods and parks within heavily populated areas looking for food and water if their usual feeding habitat lacks enough food source. It goes without saying, parents of small children and pet owners must become more vigilant in trying to avoid a confrontation with Coyote. Becoming more educated about Coyote and their natural survival habits will cause humans to have a deeper respect for Coyote and approach their encounter from a place of power rather than from a place of fear.
A reference for learning about Animal Totems is at: http://www.animalspirits.com/index1.html
