Weather, Skunk and Snake

Oh, my word! So many magical things have happened within the past few weeks. I'm lost as to where I might begin! Let's start at the very beginning; a very good place to start. *~_^*

As you all now know, I celebrated my birthday two weeks ago. The weather, I had heard, was supposed to be relatively rainy/cloudy all that weekend. Now, I know, as do all of you I hope, that weather magic is a form of manipulation that is verboten.
(As the Rede of the Wiccae asks of us: An Harm Ye None, Do What Ye Will, all forms of manipulation magic (unless they are for the good of all) are simply not done, should you decide to adhere to the Three-Fold Rule. Weather magic is not all bad. However, if it is not in the best interests of the world, it can have very dramatic, very dire effects elsewhere, either in the world or in time. Of course, this is up for debate in the magical communities all over the world, but I am one of this rule's followers.)
I broke that rule a few days before my birthday. Wish Magic can be especially potent if one truly believes. This, also, is up for debate, but I have had many wishes made in childhood come true from early on even until now! I digress, though I work alone, many children wish that the "rain, rain, go away. Come around another day!" When the clouds apeared, I am certain that I was not alone in my hopes that weekend, cementing the magic in place (as I cannot move a weekend-long storm on my own, and don't really ever want to because of the effects.)
SO, that Saturday, as I worked, the rain came down steady and true. Sunday morning I awoke to a heavy fog, but as Anam Cara(for those of you who are new to this blog, Anam Cara is Celtic for "Soul Friend" and is what I call my closest, spiritual friend) and I drove to the Ren Faire (we go every year on my birthday weekend), the clouds parted and a soft light dappled the leaves, and through the leaves onto the ground. We had a marvelous Fall day! The following day, my birthday, fluffy clouds drifted in a cerulean sky! The ground was dry enough for Auntie, Uncle and I to lie in the old cemetary on the bank of the pond and chase clouds while we mused on all that had transpired since the year before.
Now, since last Wednesday, we have had cloudy, drizzley days. I am not complaining. It's my comeupence, and the Earth needs and wants its balance. As a Libra, I fully understand and wants this for the Universe. I am completely content with the gorgeous weather I was given (or, with help, unbeknownst to the children of the area, had made.) Now, our Jack-o-Lanterns are shiney with rain and the yellow leaves of the Locust trees are all the more bright against the seal gray sky!

What else has happened? Well, I came across a skunk on the farm two weeks ago. I've never seen a skunk up close and personal-like. Bad Axe was full of them, so the smell never bothered me; but I never saw them. I could smell it and it was driving me up the wall not knowing where it was. One of the guys found it hiding behind a detached plow by the tractors. He called me over and pointed into the garage. I asked him what it was, but he wouldn't say. So I excitedly, but cautiously took a peek.
"Is it dead?" he asked.
I looked again. "No!" I exclaimed in a whisper, "It just moved it's head a little. I don't see any blood, so I don't think it's hurt. I think it's just scared and trying to hide. Oh, it's so sweet!"
"Sweet?! A skunk? Girl! You're crazy," he laughed, and we both went back to what we were doing.
I didn't think anything of it.
Until I was on my way down the hill to finish feeding and head home about one week ago. At first, I thought what I saw was a length of black wire covering (sometimes I see them around the work sheds). Then I thought is was an especially dark twig, maybe a little damp from the rain. No matter. I stayed true to the path and realized, almost too late that was actually a darling, little garder snake in the walkway! I had thought, as my foot went down, "Oh, no! I stepped on it's head!" But it recoiled, mouth agape, asking me for a reason to strike. I stepped back quickly, realizing that, had I stepped on it's head, I would have felt a little bump underfoot and it would surely have been far too injured to threaten retribution! My heart soared knowing that the serpent would be alright. I backed out of the fight quickly, but carefully, apologizing on my way. A few steps back and it stayed in position, but it closed its mouth and proceeded to sniff me out. Doing that must have calmed it some, because I took one or two steps up to it to see if it looked hurt or damaged in any way. Content and immobile, it flicked it's tongue and I could see that it was absolutely alright. Phew!
Again, I didn't think anything of it until the next day. Dragon/Damselfly is slowly disappearing from my everyday life (he/she is my most prominent Spirit Guide) as the air grows cooler. Of course! I had to look up what Skunk and Snake were teaching me in their sudden appearances. Those of you who are interested in Spirit Guides and what they can teach you everyday of your life, I highly, highly recommend Ted Andrews' book Animal-Speak. It was a gift given me by Anam Cara on the day of my high school graduation, and it has been a never-ending source of information and guidance henceforth.
Skunk and Snake have many things in common, and I think it is those lessons in particular that I am meant to learn now, since I didn't seem to pay much attention to Skunk until Snake showed up.
Skunk: silence is key. Don't strike unless neccessary, because you can move at your own pace. Aim is important, and one spray is all it takes to hit the mark. (Keynote:Sensuality, Respect and Self-Esteem pg.312 in Animal-Speak)
Snake: again, don't strike unless necessary. But one attack is all you need. Travel between the Worlds and seek out the information you need or desire. Snake can and will help you with this. (Keynote: Rebirth, Resurrection, Initiation and Wisdom pg.360 in Animal-Speak)
Both creatures are associated with the Kundalini, the serpent of the lower spine, the energy of creativity and the primal lifeforce in all that is. I think that these spirits are telling me that the Universe is waiting for me to make my move. (It has been for a few years now. Everything that I have read and have been told for the past two or three years has been telling me that I can make the most of my life, my creativities and my world as I make it. But I have to make it.) Skunk tells me to work at my own pace and stay true to the course I set for myself. Snake agrees and tells me to make the most of what the Eternal Fairy Godmother gave me before birth. After all, my first name means Rebirth, while my middle name means Pure. I am being told to do what I feel is right for me. Feel what I want to feel and be that which I am meant to be. I have come into my power, have tapped into it and all I need do now is do with it as I see fit. However, the exception that the Universe has set before me is the wasting of that which I have been given. That is why, year after year, as I continue to slowly make progress (thank you Skunk), the Creator gently nudges me from time to time. "Don't leave it behind. You will never lose it," the Galaxies say, "but sometimes you may lose sight of it. You cannot shatter this golden orb We have bestowed upon you, nor is it a trifle with which to play. Guard it and use it well. It is your Spirit, and you have found it."
...
Wow! What a revelation!