The dream this morning is full of major symbolism and meaning. I felt compelled to take some affirmative action because of it. Before I get into recounting my response, first, we need to look at what occurred in this dream and then get into what it means, and how it is connected to what is going on in my current waking life. This, I think, will help us best interpret the entire experience.
The dream takes place in my childhood home in Northern Lower Michigan. It must be the early 1970's. I look to be a ten year old kid again. I am the oldest of six children. It is Sunday morning and my father and other siblings are gathered around in the living room watching television. It's dad's day off. He is in his underwear and with a blanket draped over his legs, sitting on the middle of the couch. Pops is determined to enjoy his day off and not to do anything for the rest of the day. There is nothing interesting on TV so I glance out the window. It is the first warm sunny day of spring. The snow has been gone for at least a week. Immediately, I am stunned to see a young male black bear in the yard!
The bear has been hibernating all winter. He has been stirred from his slumber by the warm temperatures and a gnawing hunger. This bear has discovered an empty box. This empty box once contained glazed donuts. The bear is squatting down with his head in the box. He is tearing this box up. He is licking, chewing and destroying this box. Sweet donut glaze is coated all over the inside of this box. I rap on the window to get his attention. He sees me and runs off a short distance but his hunger brings him right back to the box. We do this ritual about 3 to 4 times. Finally, the bear runs in a circle around the house, hoping I have lost interest in him, so he can finish off the box.
I turn to my dad on the couch and say to him, "There's a bear in the yard." Dad is unbelieving and really annoyed at having his day off interrupted, and says, "There's no bear in the yard! Brother Bruce and sister Sheri both look out to the yard and come back with, "Yes, there is!" and "There's a bear! What are you going to do dad? Shoot it?" Dad then stands up in his skivvy's. His blanket falls to the floor and I then wake up.
Next, let's briefly, explore some of the Native American symbolism associated with the black bear and put it into context with how I ended up responding to this dream. A bear is the symbol of the warrior and of power. Here is the quick list of descriptive words:
- Bravery
- Peace
- Resurrection
- Powerful
- Benevolence
- Sovereignty
- Motherhood
- Duality
At first glance all these admirable characteristics might seem to have some glaring contradictions, but in fact, bears do actually embody them all in their behaviors and personalities. Native Americans hold brother bear in high esteem. He is as much a warrior, survivor and hunter as anyone one of them. Wild bears can also have a mellow easy going nature about them when times are not so hard.
Brother bear, as a totem animal, offers the following key concepts:
Patience and Connection
Bear is the consummate hibernating creature. The power of hibernation can be useful and suggests that an idea can be held in reserve until an optimal time to awaken it presents itself. Furthermore, bear will speak to you about connecting to the energy and seasons of life, and with the celestial forces of sun, and moon.
Confidence and Authority
Bear has a commanding physical presence. No one can question that he can be a bad ass. His lesson is that you too can stand with your own authority.
Nurturing and Protection
Bear mothers are legendary in how well they nurture and protect their babies. Mother bear is symbolic of motherhood and infant protection. This motherhood can be applied to everything from children to ideas. Mother Bear is caring and devoted to it's young. Bear always has the determination to succeed whether it is raising offspring or bringing an idea to maturity.
The bear has unimaginable strength and is territorial. It is powerful in defense and aggression. It is lord of it's own sovereignty and a courageous warrior.
All of this just scratches the surface of the symbolic meanings to be found with the black bear. So much more could be said and expanded on. This, however, gives us a basic understanding to discuss next what has been going on in my life, and how this is connected to my dream and our response to it.
The last few weeks have presented me with certain challenges. I was put upon to jump through many bureaucratic hoops from several unmentioned federal agencies. None of the final results were favorable to me. I did all this work only to be denied what I was after. It drove me insane to be doing all this work to only be told, time after time, a big fat "NO!". It got to the point where I was muttering all day long that I am tired of being told "NO!". The only person who says "YES!" in my life is my girlfriend who lives 4,000 miles away.
The dream about the black bear offers me some symbolic hope that a blessing could be coming if I stay open to the possibility. I ponder if I could ask brother bear for help or guidance, and if I could to find the bear powers that might be latent within me.
So what was my response? What did I do? I did what any good post modern shaman might do. I went to the best bakery in town and bought two doughnuts. One doughnut I ate and the other I took to my property that used to be the location of my boyhood home. I presented the doughnut as an offering in the exact spot in which the bear of my dream devoured an empty box. Next to the doughnut, I placed an offering of tobacco. Tobacco is the preferred offering that Native Americans give to the animal spirits. I asked the great spirit and brother bear for help.
The house I grew up in here burned down in 1980. The vacant lot is my inheritance. My home territory so to speak. I have a dream to build a new home here. I hope to marry my girlfriend this year and have children here. It will take all the qualities and powers of the bear if I have any hope of pulling this mission off. I need all the allies I can get. I hope brother bear likes the doughnut and looks on me with favor. Why eat the box when he can have the real thing!
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