Recognizing Signs/Omens: Opossum
When certain plants, animals, natural elements show up in your life - the universe and/or your ancestors are trying to get your attention.
When opossum and its symbolism show in your life in a powerful way, pay attention! The universe is trying to get a message through to you about the power of opossum. Here’s a fun fact – did you know that opossums are North America’s only marsupial? Want another fun fact? Did you know female opossums are called “Jills” (thanks mom – I’ll assume you named me after Farrah Fawcett’s Charlie Angel’s Jill and not a doppelganger for Princess Bride’s R.O.U.S.’s, rodents of unusual size). I have to be honest, I was not an opossum fan until I met my husband but his love for these funky looking creatures made me realize just how truly special (I still can’t get to “cute” but there are special) creatures are and what they mean. So if the R.O.U.S.s, I mean opossum, is showing up in your life in a big way, here’s some things to think about. First, is surrender. Not the white flag kind with your tail between your legs but the actual intelligence of facing the reality of a situation you’re in and instead of fighting it, acknowledging it, and surrendering to it.
Opossums are notorious for their playing dead routine. I’ve often thought, how is that even a survival skill – so you’re easier to eat? But it’s a counterintuitive strategy in the human world that works surprisingly well in the animal kingdom (and nature is always smarter than humans). By playing dead, the opossum surrenders itself fully and totally to the reality of its situation. It is under real, immediate threat and danger. It lacks the resources to fight back against a predator like a coyote, so this strategy is a total acceptance of its skillset and assets and a brilliant strategy to deal with its reality. Surrender. By playing dead, ‘ole Jill there has a strategy that evolution has taught works surprisingly well. Predators don’t like old, dead food. Their evolution has taught them that old, dead food can actually be very dangerous for them and so they often sniff, paw, and then move on. The marsupial might be a little bruised or freaked out, but it picks itself up and moves on.
Sometimes in life we have to accept that we’re in a bad situation. It could be with a partner. It could be in a community. It could be financial. And we tend to thrash, to flail, to moan and bemoan and wish things were different. But they aren’t. So the wisdom in opossum is to recognize the immediate, short-term situation you are facing and get still. Pray. Meditate. Write it down. By getting clear about your immediate reality, you are coming face to face with the predator and from that honest, clear assessment, from that place of stillness, you can come up with a plan rooted in wisdom and acceptance, not fear and freaking out. There’s counterintuitive wisdom in being still.
Seeing opossum or opossum symbolism is a reminder that you, too, can survive any hardship. If you’re going through a hard time, grief, tragedy, financial obstacles, relationships ending, remember that sometimes the best strategy is to be brutally honest with yourself about the situation and get still. There is wisdom for seeing a situation for what it is and by addressing it head on, you can, from the stillness, move forward with steps to get better. To heal. To get the help you need from the right resources. All will be well again. Like North America’s only marsupial you are special and a survivor. Spirit wants you to know it’s time to be still and they will guide you through to a solution that will come through the stillness when they can connect with you.