I love when nature reflects messages to me and especially love when it comes in the form of an animal spirit guide. I cherish my time outdoors connecting with our dear Gaia (Mother Earth) and am grateful for the blessings she is always so generous in gifting.

I see many animals always and sometimes they are reflecting a magical moment, confirmation of something that I just was thinking about or asking, reflecting what I’m currently focused on or moving into, or are providing guiding wisdom for things currently in my life.

After an 8-mile hike, which I enjoyed once again in my flip flops – the best way to go for me these days – we made our way to the beach for a picnic lunch, reading, and napping. I usually see a lot of interesting things at my favorite beach, Crystal Cove, and today I was instantly greeted, as I approached the water’s edge, by a large male California Sea Lion. He was not more than 20 feet away swimming and playing in the waves and following me as I walked the same direction. It was really a sweet experience.

Of course I wondered about his appearance and while I knew some basics about Sea Lion symbolism, I wanted to delve into it further, so I started doing some researching and came upon some info that I thought I’d share, as I know people not only have similar experiences, but they may come up in dreams, thoughts, or be an animal totem for you. I also felt that the Sea Lion medicine was particularly timely and relevant to things collectively and even in terms of my post yesterday on intuition and the importance of listening to that inner guidance.

Sea Lion wisdom includes such things as creativity, protection during change, lucid dreaming, movement through emotions, and the inner voice. They are symbols of abundance in many Northwest Coast tribes and in some Nuu-chah-nulth tribes, Sea-Lion plays the mythologically important role of Earthdiver, bringing mud from the bottom of the ocean for Raven to use to create the earth.

The new info I found was in Ina Woolcott’s piece “Seal, Sea Lion, Power Animal Symbol of The Inner Voice” of ShamanicJourney.com, which was particularly interesting to me. Here is what she shares, alongside the same wisdom I already mentioned above:

Seals spend much of their lives in the sea, but they give birth on land. This shows us that there are 2 necessary things that help fulfill our dreams and visions. These are formed deep within us, and are nurtured through the power of our ability to envision them using all our senses. They are most easily made ‘real’ by us when we implement practical and material acts. A lot of the time when us humans are ‘creating’ something, the feeling side of things is absent. 

During the mating season, males can partake in extremely savage battles one minute and be playful and amusing the next. Seals have the agility to move from anger to complete calm. 

Seals are (obviously) sea mammals, and are highly symbolic of our feeling, sensual selves. The seal helps us to remember our connection to our deep inner rhythms, feelings, and knowing, as represented by the sea. As humans generally believe themselves to be apart from ‘animals’, when really we are a-part of them, we often fight giving in to these deep rhythms and are afraid of ‘losing’ what we consider to be ourselves. When we are afraid of drowning in these depths, Seal being a good swimmer and knowing how to flow with the ever changing current, reminds us how to swim with the current. When we do this the negative feelings we have created such as worry, fear and anxiety are released from our minds. If seal enters your life, you are being asked to review the ebb and flow of your thoughts and emotions and find and keep up a point of balance.

Water is a creative element and symbolizes the feminine imagination and intuition. If the seal appears in your life, pay close attention to your imagination and insight – in the waking state and in dreamtime. A lot of what you imagine generally has a strong basis in reality, no matter how far-off it may seem. People with seal as a power animal are generally highly imaginative and very creative. They will need activities that channel and direct this. The Seal/Sea Lion can show you how to develop and focus your imagination.

Rather than having external ears, seals have small openings. This shows their deep affinity with their inner voice, and can show you how to listen to your inner self, balance your life to it. Your dreams will become more vivid and significant.

Seals swim both below and above water, giving them the ability to experience both the inner and outer worlds.

They teach those with this totem how to flow, how to hear, and how to discover the deeper mysteries of their true nature. Seals are keepers of wisdom. They reveal to us what is hidden deep within ourselves, and teach us how to integrate our imagination with the reasoning power of the intellect. This will give balance and harmony on all levels. 

The seal which is so sleek and gorgeous in the water, teaches us how to feel at home in our bodies, and to uncover our inner beauty. 

I LOVE Sea Lion’s message and I feel that he was definitely another added nod to yesterday’s post and provided a fluid continuum to the theme of honoring that voice within, the importance of staying balanced so that you can sustain clarity, the importance of flowing and not attaching to any emotions and things, embracing cycles and swimming with the currents of life, be willing to courageously explore the depths of experience and your creative expression, and trusting the feelings and visions you receive.

All answers lie within your beautiful heart and will be reflected for you – As within, so without – As above, so below.