Starlings are great mentors and companions, harbingers of spring, that fly together in murmurations of thousands of birds, protecting each other. They sing of unity and purpose and the power of collective strength. The power of the collective is transformative and many voices united create a beautiful choir, when there is balance in cooperation.
 

​The starling says, “Be careful about who you let into your inner circle!” A murmuration of starlings is a gathering of smaller circles working together. In those circles, there is absolute trust and seven birds fly together in perfect unison.

​The starling is a shapeshifter and mimic, constantly learning from the beings and nature around her, absorbing new sounds and energies. She says, “Be careful that you don’t lose yourself when trying to make yourself into someone’s image! Fly side by side, heart to heart, but never follow blindly. Observe, how the words and actions of those around you influence you and your behavior.”

​Starlings are both, the void between the stars and the stars sown into the fertile grounds of the in-between. 

When you look at them from afar, their feathers look grey and colorless, but as soon as the sun shines upon them, their feathers are shimmering and glittering purple and emerald green, showing their heart. Starling says, “Who are you, when you are walking in your shadows? Who are you, when the sun is shining on you? Let your true colors shine and embrace, honor and celebrate who you are!”
 
Every heart knows a sacred song, bears a medicine within. Starling says, “Be still and listen! There is a song in your heart, sung with the voice of love and truth. Embrace your true voice and let it be heard loud and clear.” Starlings communicate and vocalize their needs without shame and are not afraid of speaking their truth. They know that relationships require clarity in communication.

Lessons and learning often come, when you least expect them. Naturally, for more often than not, they are connected to a part of yourself you have kept hidden very well, be it because you were afraid of shining your light or of looking into your own eyes reflecting a part of your soul you had seen in others and told yourself you would not find inside your own being.
 

When I was still in the beginning stages of remembering aspects of mine, having them return and show themselves, I was on my way to my off-season strength training one summer day. I love walking and since our house is outside town it is about a thirty-minute walk to the fitness studio. Walking in silence is very healing and relaxing and I enjoy it. 
 
While I was walking, I was called. While I kept on walking, my surroundings changed and I found myself in Peru. I walked right into the middle of a circle of shamans, that were leading a healing ceremony for a man that was lying on a colorful woven carpet on the ground. They were wearing their ceremonial garments, while I was walking in in shorts, a sweaty T-shirt, worn sneakers and my training bag slung over my shoulder. I didn’t stop walking, but simply said “Hello”, turned myself into a white jaguar and went straight into the man on the ground. I guided him through his healing in the underworld, then we returned into the material realm. He went back into his body and I walked out of him, turned myself back into my human form, said “Have a nice day!” and left the gaping shamans behind. 
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​I never stopped walking and seemingly seamlessly I was back on my way to the fitness studio. An ordinary day at the office, except for the fact that I had never shapeshifted into a white jaguar before, I had never been called that way and I had never guided anyone through a healing like that, meaning that I had solely been a guide, scout and guardian and not the one doing the talking. That it had felt perfectly normal and as if I had done that a million times before, didn’t even faze me anymore at that point.   

​A few days later I was called by the guardian spirits that were protecting the farm of a friend of my mother’s. She had told my mother and me, that there were dark spirits haunting the farm she and her sons had bought and they had had accidents happen that they could not explain. 

Her guardians told me, that they wanted me to scout for them and lead them to the parts of the premises, where I scented darkness. I was not to interfere. I had been summoned to scout, remember and learn. I turned myself into my white jaguar aspect and began to scout. Whenever I scented darkness, I called them. They went in and took care of business. 
 
It was a very interesting experience. I realized, that I was not afraid of any kind of darkness or dark being. I was a hunter on the prowl. And there was another thing: The night and the shadows were my friends. I was perfectly hidden, completely invisible. I wanted to go into the darkness, understand it and find the light hidden within. Not interfering and not walking in was the challenge. When we were done, I sat down on a bench in her garden. I had decided to keep watch over the premises for a while in case we had not found all the dark spirits. 
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The next morning, I texted the friend of my mother’s and told her, that her guardians had taken care of the dark spirits. She was enthusiastic and texted back, that she would go for a walk and take a look around. She called me about half an hour later and said: “I could see it! There was a white jaguar walking around and everywhere it went, there were explosions of light soon after! The jaguar is sitting on a bench in the garden now. But you know, there is something very strange about it. It is not sitting there like an ordinary cat would. It is sitting there like a statue, stiffly and at full attention!” 
 
Well, that is what you get, when you meet a jaguar that was born in Capricorn season. 
 
I love walking into my shadows. Part of being jaguar is learning how to walk in, become perfectly still, observe and not react immediately. See, what is there and understand, what is not there. 
 
Every darkness, every abyss holds a hidden seed of light. There is no night in which you cannot find a star to guide you. Look into your heart. It is there. Shine your light and be yourself. Be the unique and incredibly beautiful flower you are.

Yaks are gentle giants, who build their friendships on trust, equality and reciprocity, stay balanced and calm amidst raging storms. No matter, how harsh a winter might be, they keep on walking their path step by step, until the first snowdrop blossoms and blooms and a new spring is dawning.
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​They stay and walk in the truth of their souls and are tirelessly working towards, what they want to bring into this realm. Yaks do not expect from others, what they are not willing to do themselves, and neither will they ever force someone else to do their bidding or sacrifice, what they are not willing to sacrifice themselves. 

​Yaks patiently take one step after the other, for they live in the here and now, using the gift of the present moment. Yak says, “There is no guilt in taking your time in healing and nourishing your soul and walking in solitude for as long as need be.”

When Yak is walking with you as a companion and mentor, she will never pressure you, but warm you and huddle with you, when you get tired amidst the storms of winter, until you are ready to take another step.
 
Yaks allow no pressure. Their herds split to avoid unnecessary fights or to end a looming conflict in the most sensible way. They form groups of true friends, with friendships built on trust, that has grown over time, and equal give and take. 

When you ask for learning and deeper insights, your wish may be granted in unexpected ways. Last year I began to paint and draw again. Out of the blue. I had loved painting and drawing as a child, I had even specialized in arts for a short while in high school, until I asked for permission to change departments and started studying the jazz guitar. I did not know, why I was called to painting again, but I kept painting nonetheless and whenever I see a spirit animal in front of my mind’s eye now, I paint it. Why I paint a certain guide, is usually answered a short while after I have finished the painting. 
 
When I am working in Vienna, I am being called to draw and paint spirit guides quite often now. During one of my visits to Vienna last year I was called to draw a very specific animal spirit. On the first day, when I was sitting in a café, I felt a seahorse spirit in my energy field. I painted it, but did not think of it again for a while. 

A few days later, I got on the subway and there were no empty seats except three around a man whose energy screamed “Go away!” Me being me, I sat down opposite of him. I saw the seahorse again and was faced with a decision. Speak and be myself, risk to be hurt or keep my mouth shut and never open it again. 
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​He was completely startled and surprised by the fact, that someone would talk to him instead of running away. The energy he had been in had felt like anger at first, but in truth it was fear of getting hurt. At first, he did not want to look at the drawing, but then he did and fell in love with it. He told me his story. He was an artist, fighting depression. He was fighting to get back to living his life again.

​When we were about to say our goodbyes, he told me that he was embarrassed, because he had not been able to give me anything in return. But he had. A smile. His whole energy changed after I had told him that. He added, that he was not used to having good things happen to him in his life. I simply said, that something good had just happened. Just like that, no strings attached. Then we parted ways. 

​I asked myself, why I had seen a seahorse and why I had been called to give him seahorse medicine in form of a drawing and the answer came a while later. 

 
Seahorse medicine is incredibly strong. Seahorses have three hearts beating simultaneously, so if one heart gets tired, the others keep the seahorse strong until it is fully recovered. ​They show us, that we have many resources within us and that when the heart that has been wounded in the past is tired, the one being in the here and now and the one dreaming our highest good into being, our future, will be able to keep us whole until the wounded one is mended.  

​Seahorses are poor swimmers, yet they are able to rest even in the roughest of seas with their tails wound around a stationary object. They swim along their path, one stroke after the other, resting and securing themselves when needed and continue on their path, when they have regained their balance, showing us how to navigate the stormiest of emotions and situations.
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Their eyes move independently, they can see what lies behind them in the past, their present state and even glimpse into the future and see what lies in front of them at the same time. All while being able to anchor themselves to any object, while being completely at peace within themselves, finding their balance again if needed. 
 
Seahorse knows that it is vulnerable, but it knows its vulnerabilities, acknowledges them and teaches us that recognizing our vulnerabilities is a way to empower and protect us and others. Instead of lamenting over the fact, that it is a poor swimmer and thus not able to speed along its path, it uses the time needed to anchor itself to reflect and rebalance, thus gaining insights and wisdom, learning. 
 
Meeting the artist on the subway was a gift in many ways. I was granted the gift of facing my own fears and my own vulnerability again. Life in itself is a teacher and mentor, when you take the time to anchor yourself for a while and try not to rush through.
 
It takes courage to speak to a complete stranger, see him or her for who he or she truly is. We tend to rush through our days, not looking left or right. To be seen and recognized is healing.

​Smile. In my eyes, a smile from the heart is the most precious gift of them all.  

The peacock is a great companion and teacher. It is not afraid of being itself and showing its true colors. It is standing tall and proud, its feathers glistening in the sunlight, showing its talents and gifts openly for everyone to see. Its inner light is emanating from its heart, nothing is hidden away. The Peacock teaches us to show our true colors, to shine and be ourselves, for standing in our power and shining our light has nothing to do with being arrogant but everything to do with daring to be the unique gift we are. 

​It sees true beauty in every being and everything. Like a swan it has grown into its precious colorful feathers after a long time of learning and experienced and seen the beauty and uniqueness of the beings around it before the sunlight has touched its own beautiful feathers for the first time.

​It has gotten to know its inner strength and power by taking one step after the other on its path and thus it knows, that whatever is needed to achieve its dream, is already inside its heart and growing and will see the light of day at the right moment in time. 
 
The peacock does not hide, it shows its true colors. It has never learned to sing, a songbird it is not. It has no heart for shallow and fake compliments and flattery does not stop it from speaking its truth. ​It knows, when it is time to speak up. It does not mask its words; it speaks with a loud and clear voice. 

 It sees through a thousand eyes, what was, what is and all the paths that lead into tomorrow. The Peacock knows its past lives and can see through any falsehood and deception. It sees true and is able to mend the eyes of those, that have seen, what they should not have had to see, so they can see the beauty of the world around them once more. 
 
The peacock was asked to guard this realm and protect the peace. Nothing goes by its eyes; it finds the viper among a thousand snakes and calls it out. There is no place in his heart for lies and deceit, it is incorruptible and will keep those under its protection from harm. 

A few years back, when I was still working in the corporate world, trying to find my path amidst the chaos of being uprooted and facing adversity, I was called onto a journey. I found myself following a sandy mountain trail, walking side by side with a white gorilla whose gentle eyes were soothing the emotions raging in my mind. 
 
After a time of walking in silence and enjoying the songs of the mountains around us, we reached a wall made of solid rock, a steep cliff, blocking the path. Moving forward would mean to climb the cliff that was towering over us. The gentle gorilla looked at me and said with a smile, “Follow me.” He began climbing the cliff with ease, not looking back at me, but simply being one with the rock and in the moment with every step he was taking. He reached the top of the cliff, sat down and I felt his gaze upon me. 
 
I hesitated and began fidgeting. At that point in time, I was afraid of heights, I did not even like to climb on ladders, the first rung being fine, the second rung being a challenge and the third one feeling like Mount Everest. I touched the rock wall in front of me and after swallowing, shaking my head and going through the motions, I started climbing. I did not like it one bit.

After a while I reached a point, where I could not climb on following a straight path, because the rock was crumbling beneath my fingers. I knew that I had to climb down again for a bit and simply take another route. But looking down meant becoming aware of the heights I had reached and letting my mind have a ball with all of the different ways I could possibly fall to my demise. I looked up, straight into the white gorilla’s face. He was still smiling his gentle smile. I took a deep breath. Instead of looking down I took a look to the right. There was a small crack in the rock. I had not noticed it before.

​I set my focus fully on the rock wall, sensing and feeling the stone, the nooks and crannies and its rough surface and it turned into a game. 

​I went up and down again, left then right, then up again and down, not my mind leading the way, but my heart. And then – all of a sudden – I had reached the top of the cliff. I was in complete disbelief.
 
The white gorilla smiled gently at me and said, “Look!” I looked up and saw a vast, lush green valley stretching out before our eyes, the sun rising in the distance bathing it in golden light. The gorilla made an inviting gesture with his left arm, “A whole new world is waiting for you with open arms.”
 
I sat down next to the gorilla elder, calmness filling me, and we watched the sunrise, at peace, enjoying the moment. 
 
A few months after my journey I noticed something. My fear of heights was gone. It hit me, when I was standing on top of a shaky ladder cleaning the windows looking down on the streets of Vienna. 

Anja, Julia and I had felt the call to hold a water ceremony on World Water Day, March 22nd 2024. We met beforehand, planning not only a ceremony to honor the waters, but also a gathering of storytellers. While getting to know each other and building trust, a circle came into being and went into ceremony on Water Day, heart-to-heart. 

I opened space and lit my fire, opening my heart. “Calm your mind”, a gentle voice whispered. I became still, one with the ocean, the waters. Time and space ceased to exist. I was called back into the here and now after a while and saw, that Julia had taken her seat in the circle, calmly and gently. A message was to be given. Julia had been invited to journey deep into the sea. Anja had arrived, equally calmly and gently taken her seat in the circle and a message was to be given: “Great Grandmother Ocean wants to speak to you.” We became still again, sitting together in silence, one with the waters again. I found myself swimming alongside a gentle blue whale elder. 

​“We are the Ocean, for we are one. The Ocean is us, for we are one. We are the waters. We are the clouds. We are the rain. Father Sun calls the waters into the sky, so they can return to Mother Earth, nourishing her, healing and cleansing her, thus nourishing us, cleansing us, healing us, for we are one.”
 
I saw a battlefield, a sea of blood and Father Sun called the blood into the sky. The blood became the rain, nourishing Mother Earth, nourishing us with blood spilt and cries of pain. For we are one.

​I saw violence, a hand inflicting pain, and Father Sun called the tears into the sky. The tears became the rain, nourishing Mother Earth, nourishing us with screams of pain. For we are one.

I saw compassion, gentle hands, caressing, loving, embracing, and Father Sun called the tears of joy into the sky. The tears became the rain, healing and mending Mother Earth, healing and mending our hearts with love unconditional. For we are one. 
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We are one.
 
We are the boon.
 
We are the bane.
 
We are the heart.
 
We are the mind.

We are the soul.
 
We are the spirit.
 
We are one.
 
We swam out into the ocean of stars and I saw a giant tear drop slowly falling down on Mother Earth. “This tear is of our creation.” I saw floods of times past, the raging waters of our own creation. “This tear is of our own creation. It is us. For we are one.”
 
We are the laughter.
 
We are the pain.
 
We are the healing.
 
We are the storm.
 
We are the flood. 
 
We are the medicine.
 
We are one.