DISCOVERING YOUR PERSONAL ORACLES

By Ann Bolinger-McQuade

An old Apache storyteller reminds us:

The plants, trees, clouds, rocks, fire, water are all alive. They watch us and see our needs. They see when we have nothing to protect us and it is then they reveal themselves and speak to us.

The language of nature speaks to me and provides direction when least expected. The clouds are often my personal messengers, bringing jovial figures that remind me to lighten up when I get too serious, and providing images that offer a sense of warmth and acknowledgment when I am scared, lonely, or missing a friend or family member who has passed over. I am grateful for my Native American ancestry for seeding my sense of Spirit that speaks to me through symbols and signs that appear in nature. I call these signs and symbols that remind me of the interconnection to all that is seen and unseen personal oracles. These signals are charged with a special tug of energy and often come cloaked in nature’s forms because the natural world is where I feel most at ease and receptive to Spirit’s voice.
I believe that we all have personal oracles and that they are tailor-made for each one of us. Our life paths are as unique as fingerprints and, therefore, it follows that the spiritual tools we employ to enhance our understanding of our time on Earth are equally personal. So, to discover your own personal oracles, you must trust yourself and listen to that quiet inner voice of wisdom that whispers in your ear. You must pay attention to your five senses. Realize what catches your eye and resonates in your ear, what piques your elegant sense of smell, tempts your taste buds, and what calls for your fingertips to reach out and touch it. To come in contact with the Spirit messengers that are your personal oracles, you must first come to know the highly unique receiver that you are. Aiming to live each moment mindful of your surroundings and your interaction with them, as well as spending time in the places where you are most comfortable will also help you tune into the messages meant just for you.

To embrace your personal oracles, shake off the purely rational mindset that tells you coincidences, synchronicities, or images cannot grant you greater insight into your life. Chances are if you become focused on a sign or symbol, have a word or a significant song that pops up at a very significant moment, pick up the phone to call someone and that person is on the line, something meaningful is unfolding.

One day I was sitting near a bank of trees and noticed a shadow cast by a root that had left the earth and grown toward the sun. I was fascinated by this outgrowth and reflected upon it over the next several days. What I realized was that this root was a metaphor for me. The bank of trees symbolized my family. The group of trees was well established and prospering in the traditional way, and I was the root venturing boldly out into my life work. The support of my ancestors and family is key each time I strike out into new territory.

I find it very helpful to record the appearance of personal oracles, like the group of trees, and recommend this simple act to anyone who is trying to become more aware of them in his or her own daily life. When I note down the little things that draw my attention and collect photographs of the cloud images, individual signs or a pattern can appear that I might have otherwise missed.

Many times interconnections of small signs and intuitive leanings come together in a web of support for a new direction in life. For example, there are three sisters I know whose mother loved ladybugs. Now that their mother has passed over, these women see her favorite insect everywhere and they take this to mean their mother’s spirit is still present in their lives. What could be more reassuring to these grieving sisters than this custom-made sign? This recurring sense of their mother’s presence helped them move forward with peaceful hearts.

Through my awareness of personal oracles, I am able to experience on a daily basis my interconnectedness with all of life. I feel deeply blessed to have this confident, nurturing and supportive outlook that is especially helpful when challenges come my way, as they naturally do. To reap the same benefits, open your eyes and heart to see what signs and signals Spirit has for you. They are hiding in plain sight just awaiting your discovery!

To share your own oracle experiences, or for information regarding the author's workshops and personal appearances, contact Ann Bolinger-McQuade at anncloudspeak@aol.com.