Fare thee well, Dear Tedmund.

I've had the sneaking suspicion lately that Tedmund the Groundhog won't be returning to the young Oak across the road. The thought makes me a little sad but I'm grateful for our time together. He taught me a lot and apparently continues to do so. Everyday since the Equinox, I've been awaiting his sweet little visage. After all, most groundhogs are awake and making homes and families for themselves by this time. Then the other day it occurred to me that I've actually done a pretty good job of applying his wisdom in my life. I wondered what he could teach me if he showed up again and that's when it hit me: Maybe he's still absent because I don't need him to be there anymore.

See, sometimes animal totems appear to us as lifelong guides and sometimes they're with us for only a little while. They're spiritual friends that aid us in our time of need and then once we've learned what we need to know, they disappear back to the spirit realm. At the time that he arrived, I was very new to a true study of animal guides. I remember being rather surprised at his persistence. It was right about the time I was awakening to the thought of using my gifts to serve others openly. I saw groundhogs in fields during my commute. I even accompanied my partner to an appointment and found myself face to face with a wall full of groundhog ephemera; including a groundhog clock! Really, who has those??? Then Tedmund showed up where I could see him every day puttering around the oak tree in the grass directly across from where I always park. I had always liked the furry little guys but wouldn't have expected to find myself with one as a totem. With all the animal friends who were making themselves known at that time, how would I know if one was visiting or in it for the long haul?

Once I started reading up on them, I discovered that groundhogs were actually a pretty great totem to have. I know most wouldn't consider them the most graceful or majestic animal but they're without a doubt one of the most dramatic. Groundhogs time of power is the Winter. They slow down all their bodily functions to hibernate through the dark time-- Winter also being representative of sleep and dreamtime.-- Hibernation is symbolically a really big deal. It is death without dying. Many societies have used all kinds of substances and techniques to mimic this state of being that allows them access to dreamtime and to use it more powerfully. Groundhog medicine is one of initiation, resurrection, and delving into dreams; all completely relevant to me at that time. I was in a process of rebuilding myself in truth from the ground up. It's common for groundhogs to come into your awareness in times of beginning an in depth study of new subjects or projects. Dreams are very special to me and groundhog energy allows a deeper understanding, added vividness, and clarity to them.

Groundhogs aren't very territorial animals; however, they won't allow another to enter into their elaborate burrows. That spoke to me of boundaries; how to commune closely with others yet still maintain a clear and defined limit for my own well-being. I had always struggled with this concept. Tedmund taught me that it's alright and even healthy to say no sometimes and to have personal space. Groundhogs may move to another burrow but only when it's empty. When they inhabit one, a little pile of fresh dirt at the entrance lets others know that there's no vacancy. This showed me that having a clear signal ahead of time sets expectations with others and often reduces confrontation. Also when warnings aren't heeded, I'm entitled to and worth defending.

It was several months into Tedmund's residence when I became aware of another significant aspect of his presentation to me. I had realized by this time that I wanted to make a career out of helping others with my intuition and dream study but hadn't acted on it at all yet. There he was in the grass over yonder and here I was watching him from a second floor window; an expanse of concrete, a 6 foot chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, and a busy city street between us every day. I was feeling that cut off from my dreams at times. So what was I going to do about it? Since then, I took steps. I got a website and, most importantly, I began to talk about it and share.

I've come such a long way over the last year. Again, I ask myself what he would teach me if he did come back? I believe he's actually taught me more by not doing so. I understand better now the role of a visiting totem and I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that if I hadn't "gotten it" he might have been back again. There may be other times I see him in situations where I might need to invoke his energy to help with dreams or journeying but we have an understanding between us now about what his medicine means to me. I'm learning the language of my guides and they know I'm listening. I'll miss his cuteness brightening my day but I get it. It is significant that I've thought this all through but part of my lessons are to bring Spirit out of the realm of thought and into practice too, so I'll leave an offering for him at the base of the tree in gratitude for his teaching.