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Another good session painting Snake, although a short one, maybe an hour. I redrew some of the patterns where Snake’s body curves so that it is reading better. I also lightened the lighter bands to create more contrast with the black and red, and muted the background a little more. I feel like the painting is moving along well, albeit slowly. But something tells me not to rush, to let things develop in a relaxed way. I’m pretty close to knowing what I’ll write: maybe “The Heart of Snake Reinvents Itself” or “The Heart of Snake Opens New Dimensions.”  I have to be patient with the words as well.

I started Session III with Snake by once again finding places in my drawing that were off, mostly in the pattern of skin. This is certainly a challenge; I haven’t had to draw and redraw something this much since I was in Patti André’s class (she is a wonderful artist and teacher, by the way!) But the patterns have to be drawn correctly so that it appears that Snake’s body is turning.

I painted in the background a little more – started making it very abstract with lots of shapes, but then they were too distracting, so I muted it down and it is looking better. I felt more analytical while painting, lots of assessing, but, thankfully, not Obsessing!

It is interesting what Snake teaches. Creativity is definitely at the forefront. There also seems to be a sense of connecting two worlds; that of the natural and the supernatural. One strange – but good – “side effect” of painting Snake is that as my awareness of the shape and feel of Snake grows, so does my awareness that my own body has become less limber. I could just say it is age, but in reality I know that it is because I spend too many hours sitting in front of a computer or standing in front of my easel. So I’ve begun to do a combination of Tai Chi and Yoga before each painting session. It seems to limber up not only my body but my mind as well.

The picture at left was taken after my second painting session with Snake. A lot of mental energy used in drawing and redrawing the coils and trying to make the snake look round. This is where some of my lack of practice in drawing and shading shows up. Note to self: bring your sketchpad everywhere! I know what it "should" look like, but getting my hand to draw what my eye sees is a challenge.

The music I am listening to while painting Snake is "Spirit of the Wind". (I tend to find one CD to listen to while I complete a piece, which usually takes several “sessions”.)The Native American flute music and Snake are perfectly partnered.

November 23 - December 22. Birth Totem Owl is an individual whose outer personality is focused upon understanding all of Life’s myriad mysteries.

In Nature, the Owl is known for her ability to quietly observe her prey as she sits perched atop a nearby tree limb, waiting for the opportune moment in which to strike.  When the moment comes, Owl will fly silently, taking the intended prey by complete surprise.

Like their Birth Totem, individuals born under Owl will fly into new situations and encounters with their eyes wide open and their ears attuned to the slight nuances and mannerisms that will reveal much to them about their new environment or companions.  This knowledge may be utilized to gain better understanding and appreciation for Others, or (if the Owl person is operating from contrary Personality), the information obtained may be used to strike down those who they may perceive as a threat.

Perhaps the greatest natural ability of Birth Totem Owl individual is his/her ability to see the good in nearly any situation they encounter.  One who is operating from a well integrated Owl center, may inspire Others to rise above their own indifference and  succumb to the contagious enthusiasm of the Owl, thereby participating in a group effort to effect positive change in the world around them.

One of the greatest challenges to this particular Birth Totem is that these individuals have a difficult time in settling their own restless inclinations to be forever on the move, if not literally, then metaphorically speaking.  So intent are they upon seeing all they can see, and experiencing everything that can possibly be squeezed into one lifetime, that they often miss the deeper sense of satisfaction that can come with setting up nest and nurturing a deeper understanding of a few select topics, rather than skimming the surface of many varied subjects and hence, gleaning little useful knowledge.

When Birth Totem Owl individual can come to the Ultimate understanding of their own restless nature and quell the impulse to fly in fear of what they may find within themselves, then the Higher Self may be met and embraced through their new-found skill of focused concentration.

For more info on birth totem animals, please visit Wolf's Moon. 

The writing on "The Heart of Owl" came to me during the last painting session. The song "Better Man" (by Pearl Jam) popped into my head, and I knew that was what I wanted to write.

Depending on what source you use, the birth totem animal for November 23 - December 21 can also be an elk. I may end up doing another painting with Elk. I wonder how many people born in this time frame feel more aligned with Owl and how many feel more aligned with Elk?