How to Use These Sacred Journey Medicine Cards

You find yourself struggling against a torrent of resistance. This power, the work of external beings or internal demons, relentlessly opposes your progress. How will you ever overcome it? Koi fish are a symbol of hope, worldly ambition, and progress. Koi delivers to you the capacity to move swiftly against the current, arriving upstream against seemingly insurmountable odds. Try not to be distracted or deterred; this is not the time to give up or turn back. According to legend, if Koi swimming the Yellow River succeeds in climbing the falls at the Dragon Gate, it will be transformed into a dragon. Your determination and strong sense of purpose facing these difficult circumstances will carry you. Insist on wisdom and miracles, and you will receive them. Have faith.

Koi photograph, Key West, Florida, USA.

Traveling on an island, you discover a young Burrowing Owl. This wide-eyed owlet, perched on a post so it can see all that surrounds it, is the gatekeeper of secrets: it sees through the darkness, through the illusions. This is an adventure of clear vision, of discovery, of deep intuitive self-knowledge. You may feel that the company of the baby owl is sparking the remembrance of an ancient prophecy. What you see now can be disturbing and can trigger transition, change, even a kind of death. Draw upon Owl Medicine to tune into your part in the fulfillment of the prophecy and embrace the change. It is possible, too, that you are the gatekeeper. Can you see your role as one who identifies and opens doors for others, creating a channel to connect with the Ancestors? Rely on your inner voice to guide you. Take this opportunity to explore the unseen, revealing what lies concealed in darkness, for yourself and others.

Burrowing Owlet photograph, Marco Island, Florida, USA.

Soon you will be joining with others to create something that will require a collaborative effort. Each person will bring their skills to the table. There may be some overlap, but each voice and vision offers a unique contribution. You are connected with these individuals like the mycelial network of the Mushroom, embedded in the soil of this earth. Your leadership may be called on to build community; you will be guided by the unseen world in this process. Like the Mushrooms, this community may fluctuate in size but will have the potential to remain in one spot for years. Pay attention to the visions and insights that you receive from the sacred fungi; there is an unseen aspect of this process that may be challenging to discern. Detours might happen along the way, but in the end you are bringing something significant, valuable, and life-changing into being.

Psilocybe subaeruginosa photograph by Bob Ericos, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia Mushroom Observer.

You are experiencing the calm within a storm. The howling winds swirl and hiss eagerly, and yet you remain centered. You are anticipating the fruits of your labors, remaining serene as you wait for what comes next. Like the Caracara perched on top of a cactus, you have a perfect view of all that surrounds you. Stay awake and vigilant: an opportunity is about to present itself. You may have a healthy urge to reach out to others now, but be careful not to overdo it and get too pushy. Remaining tranquil, rest assured that what you seek is seeking you. Wait and watch for it to enter your field of vision. You will know when it arrives, and then you will claim it.

Crested Caracara photograph, La Paz, Baja California Sur.

A figure traces a line across the sky, whispering to you about your true nature. The figure shows you how the experiences of your lifetimes have shaped you, distorting your thoughts and the alignment of your subtle bodies. Red-tailed Hawk holds the key to a higher consciousness. Even in a skewed and fractured existence, Red-tailed Hawk signals a strength and clarity that will ultimately generate the alignment that you seek. Its movement will create harmony and balance and bring relief, contentment, and even joy into the fractured places. There is great beauty in all that you have carried and transformed during this journey on Earth. Notice the radiance that is brought forth in this expression of imperfection.

Red-tailed Hawk photograph, Telluride, Colorado, USA.