The past several months presented a medical challenge that profoundly changed the quality of my life. I was not prepared to be so out of control and emotionally shaken up, financially impacted and socially dis-connected. I pushed and struggled along, stopping at one point to seek inspiration from inner "wise ones" in my deck of SoulCollage® cards, which I've been working joyfully with for about two years now. One of the four card suits described in Seena Frost's book "SoulCollage® Evolving" is called the "Companion" suit. It's comprised of animal guide images for each of seven body energy centers (also known as chakras).
 
A card from this suit burst forward with remarkable relevance and inspiration to help me endure invasive and painful treatment of kidney stones.
 
For centuries, people have drawn enormous energy, clarity, and understanding from all kinds of literal and imaginative, instinctual learning from animals. Those who are animal lovers can deeply relate to the visceral bond and energetic connection we feel with these living beings. What I discovered from journal writing about the image of one very special SoulCollage® Companion card opened my eyes to powerful messages that animal guides have to share.
  

During my SoulCollage® Facilitator training, I was invited to meditate with guided imagery and explore the energies within the seven chakra energy centers of my physical body. I was open to the experience and found it relaxing and fun to follow. When my attention was drawn to the second energy center, located in the sacrum, I was curious to focus there and see what my intuition and imagination might reveal. A golden-eyed goose presented itself, floating in crystal clear water. Through the guided imagery and an exercise to reveal "I Am One Who..." wisdom, I contemplated what this animal guide had to say to me, what it wanted from me, and how I would remember its messages.

I was excited about creating a SoulCollage® Companion suit card for my first animal guide, but couldn't find the right visual imagery. Another card maker shared her Companion suit of seven cards with amazing chakra-colored backgrounds framing the animal guide images. I had the brainstorm of searching copyright-free digital photo resources and - voila! The perfect photo image of my golden-eyed goose. Using the corresponding chakra background color, I then created my second chakra card. It was so much fun reading about the sacral energy center and taking time to write in my journal, asking these images for their energetic wisdom. Who knew that this chakra, in the region where the kidneys are located, would become the focus of a major medical challenge? 
  

You might be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised, at first, by an animal that makes itself known to you. Try to accept the animal that wants to be with you rather than forcing a different one to be there. Be still and trust the process. It is thought that animal guides actually choose us. Animals you love may be revealed, and they might not! But whether you feel open and accepting, or don't initially like the idea of a particular animal, staying with the SoulCollage® process can result in profound enlightenment and amazing synchronicity!