Daily Divine: Crossing paths with spirit animals.

I often ride my bike at an 800-acre wildlife preserve near where we live. I ride a lot—four times a week if I can. And each time something different happens.

I'm often trance because of all the green: it’s a chlorophyll high out here, all these trees and bushes and grasses soaking in light.
 
My brain stops thinking.
My soul starts soaring.
 
And every time I’m on that bike, in that mind space, hurtling through green and light and breeze, I am met by something the Universe would like me to understand.

On yesterday’s ride, two very special things happen (I’ll mention one today).
 
I’d reached one of my very favorite parts of the ride, a long downhill stretch that lets you cry out “whoo hoo” as you sail down, wind in your face and speed at your back.
 
And as I started flying down the hill, three raccoons scooted across the path in front of me.
 
They were small, healthy, young adults. They moved fast and furtively: first one scampered across and then motioned the others to follow.
 
C’mon!
Hurry!
Faster!
 
They scurried across like scouts, and then the first one saw me, commandeered the others into the brush, and froze in place—sentinel at post.
 
Three young raccoons, crossing my path in the middle of 800 acres.

The chance of this is not coincidental.
The Universe doesn’t do random.
 
Whenever I receive an animal sign like this—when nature shows up out of the blue—I always relate it to totem animals. But don't use a spirit animal dictionary.
 
Instead, I relate it to the emotion I am feeling, or the memory I am remembering, or what I am thinking about at the time.

In this case, I thought of three. I saw the three raccoons, and I thought of my children, three young adults, all away this summer, going about their lives all over the world.  
 
The message from the Universe was clear: all is well.
Everyone is safely crossing the road.
No problem. No worry. All is well.
 
A very good message, for a mama riding her bike in the woods on a hot summer day.
 
Maybe you’ve seen some animal totems lately? Maybe some animals have been sending you messages? Remember: the Universe doesn’t do random. If something shows up, it is a gift—a sign for you to ponder.
 
Much love,
SARA