ARTICLE BY MOTHER MAGE

JANUARY 11, 2024

as i was rolling up a blunt the other day during wind down time, i looked down at the book i was using as a substitute rolling tray and noticed that it had a panda printed on the cover of it. now, understand that i’m one of those people that feels like everything is a sign, so of course i instantly started looking for more dots to connect. i’d specifically asked the clerk at the corner store for bob marley rolling papers earlier that day due to the fact that i knew that they come with literal affirmations printed on the packaging. i guess you can say that i’ve found my own lil version of fortune cookie messages. anyways, i immediately honed in on the rolling papers to see exactly what the affirmation was. it read: “just can’t live that negative way… make room for the positive day.” then, my intuition led me to google, which led me to search the meaning of the panda spirit animal. this is the part where it all clicked. and i quote, “the panda symbolizes luck and peace. it's a spirit animal that brings both gentleness and power. it teaches you the importance of patience and helps you always keep a positive attitude.”

coincidence?

i think not.

anything or anyone can be a guru

if you know how to listen.

the overall message itself was honestly like a warm hug from the universe for me, and it was definitely a gentle reminder from my late grandfather. rest his soul. i still remember him telling me to “slow down or you’ll miss something.” and i remember not understanding exactly what he meant by it at the time. it took many lessons, many obstacles and several cyclical resets for it to actually resonate with me.

one word. patience.

patience is one of those words that we hear all the time. it’s a word that we have all most likely been introduced to. but not many of us truly understand it, honor it and embody the qualities of it. why? because, it’s easier said than done.

in a world that was redesigned to keep us overstimulated and constantly racing with time, feeling like we have to be a part of the rat race or else we failed at life… it’s up to us to realize that very mindset and programming is a direct attack on our spiritual, mental, physical and emotional bodies. it is spiritual warfare in its purest form.

life’s experiences taught me that attempting to force outcomes and thinking too far ahead is the root of anxiety. speaking for me. however, one of my favorite books (the alchemist by paul coelho) helped me to shift my perspective and shake that shit off. it taught me the importance of being present. “in magic - and in life - there is only the present moment, the now. you can't measure time the way you measure the distance between two points. 'time' doesn't pass. we human beings have enormous difficulty in focusing on the present; we're always thinking about what we did, about how we could have done it better, about the consequences of our actions, and about why we didn't act as we should have. or else we think about the future, about what we're going to do tomorrow, what precautions we should take, what dangers await us around the next corner, how to avoid what we don't want and how to get what we have always dreamed of. the secret is here in the present. if you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. and, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better." in simpler terms, balance out practicality and spirituality.

the panda spirit animal teaches us that mastering tranquility requires one to be open-minded and adaptable during a time of transformation. the language of god is silence, and to adapt is to surrender to the divine mission and allow the creator and co-creator partnership between you and the universe to properly coexist and thrive. one must be still. one must understand and set healthy boundaries to protect their privacy and personal space. one must be learn to be comfortable in solitude while simultaneously holding space for community. one must honor the qualities of unity. one must master all elements of self to properly integrate masculine and feminine energies (yin and yang). one must be calm, yet determined, while striding at a steady pace.

you are not required to pick up your speed. you were not sent here to rush anything. you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you were created to do. honestly, the only thing you are truly called to do is to ask your higher power (god) to order your steps and then simply take the first step + keep the faith. one must wholeheartedly trust and believe that the rest will work itself out, while having no specific expectations. it has already been written. we are just walking the path chosen for us. yes, move your feet, but at the pace that suits you. and when god says be still, be still. rest is a part of the great work. your steps are guided. your soul remembers. your heart is your compass. the world is yours.