Synchronicity Thursday

what the universe is teaching me.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

It’s a full moon weekend. The weather has been muggy and stormy almost every afternoon the past several days since the horrible 100-degree heat wave broke from last weekend. The river is no longer just a little creek to step across in my swamp. I spent some time solo kayaking yesterday. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do all summer but my fear and anxiety has been holding me back. Now that I’ve overcome that fear, I hope to become more a part of my swamp. Observing from the bank of the river is special but going with the flow of the river is an entirely different experience.

First solo kayak trip in my swamp.

What gave me the bravery I needed to finally go on this solo trip? A day of synchronicities. What are those? Synchronicity is a concept introduced by analytical psychologist Carl Jung "to describe circumstances that appear meaningfully related yet lack a causal connection”. I’m always paying close attention to the animals or natural events I encounter and search for what the universe is trying to tell me with these encounters. 

Thursday was just another mundane work day. I had a septic tank installation to inspect for an RV Park farther past my house, so I took the cut through gravel road, Grande Creek road, which runs south of town from Old Nunez road to GA-297. I’ve always enjoyed the woodland scenery of this road, even when it was a dirt road and our yellow school bus bumped along the washboard ruts carrying us home. There are beautiful pine plantations on both sides of the road and an abundance of wildlife. Lately, all I’ve been seeing is wild turkeys, but Thursday was different.

As I left my office in town, traveling south on Grande Creek road, in front of the first house on the left, I saw a huge gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) on the edge of the road looking forlornly at the sandhill woods on the other side. I whipped the truck around to help him across. By the time I got to him, he had made it almost to the other side but he was walking down the outside white line and there was a car coming. I flashed my headlights to let them know to “watch out”. Once they passed, I jumped out and picked him up, careful to hold him away from me because I know their propensity to urinate when lifted off the ground. It’s been years since I’ve seen a gopher tortoise and this one appeared to be a male because he had a concave plastron (bottom plate). I walked up the sandy hill and placed him among the scrub oaks and prickly pears, watching him amble away.

Mr. Tortoise safely across the road and on his way.

I’ve always loved gopher tortoises for as long as I can remember. Growing up on the sand hills of the Ohoopee river, which we called “the sand ridge”, they were plentiful. There is still a nice colony of them in the woods on the south side of the farm. In fact, there’s a huge burrow under my deer stand and during hunting season a gopher tortoise makes just as much noise scooting through the dry leaves as the deer I am straining my ears to hear. During my undergraduate years at Georgia Southern University, I worked with a professor who studied them and I helped care for a colony he had rescued from a site that was being developed for housing.

As I went on with my day, those moments spent rekindling an old friendship, put a smile on my face. After my inspection, I was heading back to the other side of the county on Grande Creek road again and came upon a fully grown eastern diamondback rattlesnake stretched out across the road. I slowed down to avoid running over him. This is my fourth siting of the summer. Three were seen while I was traversing the county for work and one was in my swamp while I was trying to clear a trail. Suddenly, just 100 feet further ahead, I saw a whitetail deer fawn with spots. It stood at the edge of the woods and just watched me with it’s gentle black eyes as I slowed down. I came to a stop and we stared at each other. I’ve had several encounters with fawns the past few weeks. Unfortunately, most of them I’ve seen dead in the road and one I almost hit myself. What were all these things trying to teach me? I’m listening. I’m seeking their guidance. 

Gopher Tortoise

Turtle–Keya
The turtle is a sacred creature among Native American tribes. Each tribe’s cultural view of the turtle/tortoise, is slightly different; however, the deeper meaning remains the same: the turtle represents Unci Maka , Lakota for Grandmother Earth, who teaches us to walk our paths in peace.

To most tribes, the turtle also represents healing, wisdom, spirituality, health, safety, longevity, protection, and fertility. Some Native Americans believe that the turtle contributed to creation because the turtle dove into the primeval waters to retrieve mud to create Mother Earth. Additionally, the shell of the turtle represents protection and perseverance. ¹

Rattlesnake

The rattlesnake is often seen as a symbol of transformation and change. Its ability to shed its old skin represents the shedding of old habits, beliefs, and patterns that no longer serve us. This powerful symbolism encourages us to continually grow and evolve on our spiritual journey.²

Fawn

The fawn often serves as a bridge to the spiritual realm. Within various mythological traditions and folklore, it's believed to act as a messenger for nature spirits and woodland deities, bridging the gap between our world and the magical domain of nature. This ethereal creature is also perceived as a spiritual guide, ushering individuals on journeys of self-discovery, inner growth, and transformation. Whether in dreams or visions, the fawn's appearance offers wisdom and encouragement for individuals to embrace their true essence.³

That afternoon I had a play date with two sweet little fellas, my grand boys, Colen and Corey. We played until the rain showers came and then we headed back to their house which was now under a magical double rainbow. Watch as Corey tells me all the colors he sees in the rainbow.

over_the_hoopee_farm

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What’s the spiritual meaning of a double rainbow you ask? 

A rare double rainbow over the farm.

A double rainbow symbolizes a transformation in life. The first rainbow is significant of our material life. The primary rainbow, where the purple rainbow is below that of yellow represents the descent from the heaven to earth. The second rainbow ascends from earth to heaven. Seeing one is very auspicious. Seeing one is a sign from the Universe to take note of your spiritual self and to listen to the messages. This is a time to reflect and meditate, discover, and grow.⁴

The world is full of so many distractions and yet full of so many synchronicities if we just pay attention. Focusing on what is all around us and less on these little devices in our hands, is crucial. I’m listening Mother Earth. I’m paying attention. Are you? 

I had to break out my sketch pad and colored pencils.

1. https://www.nativehope.org/

2. https://tucsonspiritualdirection.org/spiritual-meaning/rattlesnake

3. https://www.aboutmybrain.com/cards/spirit-animals-oracle-deck/fawn

4. https://wiselivinginstitute.com/2020/06/16/spiritual-meaning-double-rainbow/

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I hope you enjoyed today’s offering. I’ve got a writing update coming soon and next month will mark a year I’ve been tapping the keys adding stories to this page. Please let me know in the comments below if you’ve enjoyed reading this “Year of Writing” and why. Also, the Over the Hoopee Farm Summer Edition is on the horizon. Subscribe to read all previous newsletters.

Blessings to you my friends!

💜B💜