Let's Go Woo Woo
Essay from June 2026 edition of "Loving Intention Connection"
(Please read the above title again, but this time, sing it to the tune of Prince’s, “Let’s Go Crazy.” Why? Because when that popped into my head, it made me laugh and I am hoping that it just did the same thing for you.)
Last night, at our Ananda Mandala breathwork meditation, I had a phenomenal experience. The full backstory for this experience requires more words than I am willing to subject you to at the moment, so the mere highlights will have to do.
In the late ‘90’s, I had my first encounter with one of my guides. It was brief, and it wasn’t until the last day of my initial mediumship training course in 2022 that I met one of my primary guides in a guided meditation in a much more profound, extended experience. This encounter was undeniable and mind-blowingly powerful. She introduced herself as Padma Shakti (who I later came to realize is also known as the Hindu goddess Lakshmi).
After my sister died in November 2023, I was in profound grief and depression. In January of 2024, I was at a loss for how to pull myself up and out of these depths, and I was quite a bit annoyed that after a lifetime of spiritual work that I found myself where I did. I raised my fist to the heavens and strongly suggested that something needed to change. Very quickly after that, I discovered a new daily meditation practice, and a few days after that, an old friend reached out and introduced me to the weekly Ananda Mandala breathwork meditation. These two practices have transformed my life. (Ask and you shall receive…or in this case, throw a mini temper tantrum and make demands because you forgot that all you needed to do was ask politely. Silly me.)
At the end of that month, I attended my first breathwork meditation and it was in this circle that another one of my guides made himself known to me. He is Native American and he calls himself, Grandfather. Over the past two years, he has come to me in many ways and has taught me many things. He continues to come to me in the weekly group meditation, in my daily meditation, during the monthly journey class at Stillpoint, and even to my incredible, intuitive astrologer friend, Julie Fauxe, when she meditated before giving me a reading last March. He is amazing and is such a patient teacher.
Last summer, he came to me in my daily meditation and said something that I did not understand. He said, “Wakan Tanka.” After the meditation, I turned to Google and learned that Wakan Tanka is Lakota for “Great Spirit” or “Great Mystery.” It is said to represent the supreme sacred force, divine energy, and the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. Wow.
Speaking of wow, my experience last night was so detailed and stunning that it is far too long to include all of it here. In fact, I’m sure that I don’t even remember all of it. However, I am being nudged to share one specific part and I have learned to listen to these nudges for a variety of reasons, but in this case, it is Grandfather himself who taught me an important lesson in regards to listening and sharing. On June 19, 2024, he came to me in the weekly meditation circle and shared a beautiful message with me, but I hesitated to share it because I felt conscientious about speaking about my Native American guide because I am not Native American in this lifetime. Grandfather set me straight by putting a bird in my left hand and saying, “these gifts must be set free so that they may fly.” I cried, and I shared my experience with the circle.
Okay, so last night…
Early on in the meditation, I had a vision of a fox in the center of the circle. The fox then shapeshifted into a hare, and then the hare transformed into a tortoise. I was enthralled because I haven’t seen so many animal friends together while in meditation. The scene then shifted and there was a huge boulder filling the entire center of the circle. On top of the boulder was the tortoise, on top of the tortoise was the fox, on the fox was the hare, and on top of the hare was a woodpecker. Next, I saw three rings of lights that moved up and down the tower of animals. So, while I didn’t see Grandfather in that moment, the animals looked like a totem and the experience felt Native American to me. My meditation continued with many other visions and loveliness.
After the meditation, I turned to Google and found this:
“These animals represent a blend of patience, cunning, speed, and resourcefulness. The tortoise represents longevity and grounded perseverance, while the fox acts as a teacher of adaptability, intellect, and trickster wisdom. The hare represents fast-paced intuition, creativity, and potential, balanced by the woodpecker’s focus on tenacity, deep communication, and unlocking hidden opportunities. These creatures, in a combined context, highlight the balance required for success: the need for both rapid, intuitive action (hare / fox) and patient, determined persistence (tortoise / woodpecker).”
Next, I excitedly added “Lakota” to my search terms, and found this:
“In Lakota culture, animals are regarded as teachers and spirits rather than simple “totems,” with roles focused on lessons, survival, and deep connection to nature. The turtle / tortoise, fox, and woodpecker hold specific symbolic meanings in Lakota lore, while the hare is not typically highlighted in the same way.
Tortoise / Turtle is a highly sacred figure representing Mother Earth, it is associated with long life, fortitude, and protective healing.
Fox is recognized as a medicine animal, associated with intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to find hidden things, such as medicinal herbs.
Woodpecker is seen as a drum-beater, creating a rhythmic sound that connects to the heart and spirit. In some interpretations, the woodpecker’s drumming is considered a call back to community and tradition, symbolizing a guardian that speaks through the rhythm of nature.
Hare / Rabbit is not a central figure in Lakota stories, though in many Native American traditions, the hare often plays a role as a trickster, representing swiftness, cleverness, or sometimes insecurity.”
This morning, I was nudged to research what the giant boulder may have represented. This is what I found:
“In Lakota culture, a giant boulder represents the “grandfathers” holding immense sacred power, spiritual wisdom, and for many, the embodiment of a spirit. Stones are considered alive, capable of communication, and act as witnesses to history, often representing deep spiritual connection to the land and ancestral resilience.
Boulders are central to creation stories and are used in ceremonies, symbolizing the permanence and stability of the earth.
Six Grandfathers (Mount Rushmore) represents the six sacred directions (north, south, east, west, sky, earth). [Aside: we call in the directions before the meditation and represent north, south, east, and west on the altar with earth, fire, air, and water, respectively.]
These stones are seen as enduring, and when they are large, they are regarded as powerful, tangible manifestations of the sacred, serving as a place to connect with the divine.”
While proofreading this writing a few minutes ago, I realized that I hadn’t researched the possible symbolism of the rings of light. I searched, “Lakota three rings of light” and this is what I found:
“The “three rings of light” mentioned in the context of Lakota spiritual practice refers to the experience of, or representation of, the three distinct rings of steam and light that can be seen within a Lakota inipi (purification sweat lodge) ceremony. These rings appear as the steam fills the initially dark, enclosed structure, representing a sacred, transformative, and purifying space.”
What does it all mean? I’m still pondering and feeling my way, but in the meantime, I am setting this bird free so that it may fly.
If this experience resonates for you, I would love to hear about it. Also, if you haven’t yet consciously met with any of your guides and would like to do so, please ask them to make themselves known to you. While you are waiting for the call to be connected, do what you can to make it easier for the call to be received: meditate, exercise, eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, and make sure that you are getting good sleep. Or, better still, listen to your own intuition as to what will serve you best. All of the answers are within you.
Until next time, wishing you all things Bright and True…
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