34 - Grouse - Sacred Spiral

34

Grouse

Sacred Spiral

Grouse . . . of the Sacred Spiral

      Leading us on,

            To reach the everlasting heights,

Where we can live as one.

Grouse once flocked in abundance throughout North America, but now, even on the plains, where these birds were so plentiful, there is an absence of them. 

Many Plains Indian tribes dance the Grouse Dance to honour these birds. 

The movement of the dance follows a spiral, which is the ancient symbol of birth and rebirth, the ribbed tunnel of

eternal return.

The Sacred Spiral is also one of the oldest know symbols for personal power.

When you think of Grouse medicine, visualize a whirlpool or even a tornado, for the Sacred Spiral will take you to the Centre. 

The spiral is a metaphor for personal vision

and enlightenment. 

Many initiates on Vision Quests paint spirals on their bodies and believe that the Great Mystery will favour them with visions of power and purpose because of this symbol.

The whirling dervishes of certain Sufi orders are masters of the spiral dance and can transcend to higher states of awareness through the repetition of this sacred movement. 

It is said that dervishes can travel to the centre of the spiral and return with any magical power they choose. 

In the dervish state, on enters the Great Silence and has direct communication with the Creator. 

By spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise, the

dervish draws or repulses specific energies. 

Sufi dancing is a system which connects one with the Divine Source through ritual treatment of motion.

If you have Grouse Medicine, undertake a meditation on the various qualities of movement within your world. 

Begin by visualizing the sun as one member of a huge group of stars swirling in the massive pinwheel shape of the Milky Way. 

Then draw yourself out of this pinwheel of light and into the spiralling of your own DNA's double helix, an arrangement similar to a rope ladder coiled like a corkscrew.

Analyze the way you move through your world. 

How do you picture yourself in the act of locomotion? 

What kind of reaction do you create with the energy you send into the universe? 

What words would you use to describe the way you move through both the material and spiritual worlds?

 In the final analysis, is your movement compatible with your greatest desires and goals?

Many spiritual disciplines ask that you cease all external movement in order to recognize the inner life. Grouse medicine, however, is an invitation to the dance. 

Grouse celebrates the Divine Source through its sacred spiral dance, and offers this dance to you

as a gift. 

You can spend a lifetime learning Grouse's lesson on how to harmonize your dance with Mother Earth's cycles, and how to offer the dance as a creation of selfless beauty.

Drawing the Grouse medicine card in the reverse position signals a dissipation of energy and lack of control and discipline. 

It is symbolic of a lost connection to the Source, and signifies a lack of clear intent behind an outpouring of energy. 

You may feel like you are in a tailspin or going down the drain. 

Confront confusion either in yourself or in others who may be in the picture.

 Examine the way your energy may be causing

friction, sparks, or a convolution of a situation that needs clarification. 

Work towards harnessing your energy and directing it towards clearly defined goals. 

Such is the nature of the Sacred Grouse Dance.

In using this sacred dance as a tool to right contrary Grouse, you may also find that it is a tool to centre or ground you. 

In grounding, you are once again connecting to

Mother Earth and balancing out the spinning in your head. 

If you have become so involved with an idea or problem that you are no longer seeing it clearly, you may feel dizzy or lacking in concentration. 

This is a sign that you have entered the thought universe and are not connected to physical reality. 

You need grounding if this occurs.

Dancing or walking will put you back in touch with Earth and your body. 

Grouse may then teach you how to notice the energy flows that put you in harmony and balance

with body, mind, and spirit.

Find your rhythm. 

Honour the synchronicity. 

Spiral into your potential.

Source: 

Sams, Jamie and Carson, David. 
Medicine Cards

Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1988