Its just the Bear Neccessities
Bear # 10
My heart came alive this morning on my walk. The wind is whipping and the air very chilly, was today the last day of Fall? There are chances of freezing rain to settle into the Gorge late tonight ( let’s hope not). While the air was brisk, that is not what jump started my heart.
Winter is not here yet, with a reminder from the bear. There is at least one bear still awake on Bearcreek. Today I viewed bear number 10 for the year. It is most likely one of the same bears I saw earlier this year, and maybe not. I should say I have seen a bear 10 times, I have identified some sightings as the same bear.
The dogs and I were headed back, and I only caught a quick glimpse of his head and those round ears. If bears could see, I would swear he was looking right at me. He sat below the road, but how brilliant that shiny black fur stands out against the brown leaves. Bears will either hold very still but usually run off. They do not want encounters with people and especially dogs. Bosco, the fierce warrior, is my protector on the walks. He has treed and chased many a bear, I think it terrifies me more than the bear.
Bears have a strong sense of smell and hearing. It makes up for the lack of eye sight. You don’t want to startle a bear in the woods, its fear can turn to force. Making lots of noise if you think a bear is near, he will keep his distance.
We only encounter black bears in our area, the Grizzly is a little different in nature than the black bear. Either way, never run, and present as prey! Do not look them in the eye! If the ears go back, it’s not going to be pretty.
I so hoped to see a bear one more time before Winter settles in, and I did. What an amazing feeling when you encounter wildlife in its natural setting. Some people believe we have a spirit animal, some people trust the stars, horoscopes, faith and prayers. I believe in a little of all.
The spirit of a bear and its meaning:
Bear Meaning
The bear has several meanings that will inspire those who have this animal as totem:
The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength and confidence
Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership
The spirit of the the bear, indicates it’s time for healing or using healing abilities to help self or others
The bear medicine emphasizes the importance of solitude, quiet time, rest
The spirit of the bear provides strong grounding forces
Bear spirit animal and grounding forces
The bear is an animal that lives a solitary life. Having a bear as a spirit animal can mean that you find balance and comfort in solitude. The presence of this power animal could point to the need to “regroup” and set up boundaries, so you feel comfortable in your own space. It may be a call to find time away from the crowd or busyness and favor quiet time and rest.
The bear spirit can also be a great helper to dedicate time and energy to more introspective practices, such as self-inquiry or meditation. Call on the spirit of the bear to help you find your center and ground yourself in a strong foundation that will support you in more busy and noisy times.
The magnificence of the bear holds a strong place in my heart. Seeing any wildlife, large like a bear or small like the mouse that visited last night, is a reminder of how small our part sometimes can be in the balance of it all.
Truly, seeing a bear, lifts my energy. After all, I do live on Bearcreek.