The Salmon’s aim is to overcome all obstacles that may present themselves. Its aim is to be reunited with All That Is. We are assisted by salmon in developing the necessary wisdom needed to find the meaning and purpose of our lives, and also to move steadily on our spiritual journey. Celtic tales tell of legendary salmon that lived in a sacred well, which was the source of the river Boyne which flowed past ancient Druid temples. These salmon would feed on hazelnuts, the source of wisdom. The salmon was considered the oldest and wisest of animals. Comparing the salmons journey to our own life journey helps us comprehend why the salmon was regarded as the wisest of animals. In our life we frequently seem to be face low times, be it external or internal hindrances.
Generally the internal state of affairs are most difficult - resistance and fear of change. Taking salmon as an example can make life a lot easier! It may seem that the salmons up-river journey to the spawning grounds appears a struggle, similar to a humans journey. However, the truth is very different. Difficulties are present, but when jumping upstream the salmon in fact does NOT fight the current, rather it travels with the reverse current flowing beneath the surface. The word summersault was inspired by the salmons leaping and in fact stems from the word salmon - sault. Somersaulting children are being playful and nimble. Being able to be childlike is yet another lesson to be learned from salmon. The salmons long upstream journey every 5-7 years takes it to the place where it was spawned. If this is your power animal, then life changes often take place in this time period. The end of each cycle means a new start. Salmons have an acute sense of smell, assisting them in finding their way home to spawn - they can smell the one stream where they were hatched! They have unbreakable bonds with their past. Because the salmon’s origins are so important to them we are reminded to honour our true heritage. They are extremely determined and even jump 10 foot waterfalls to reach their destinations. They may struggle past many predators, including birds of prey, bears and humans to reach their home waters. They have an admirable drive to get to their place of origin, hardly eating along the way and display hardly any interest in anything but getting there. Once they arrive they spawn and die.
When the salmon lays its eggs in the coarse gravel and sand beds of streams it implies that the birth of a new idea is close. However - for us humans there is a warning here to ensure that a new idea is not laid on a rough foundation. So we are able to complete our journey, we must understand our own history, we must frequently go back in our minds to our childhood for that understanding - and not just in our minds. We can learn from the salmon how to leap with joy and anticipation at the prospect of a new day, and also to know that no matter where we are we are always on our way home. Being light-hearted, open, innocent and childlike is not the aid to reaching the goal, but the goal itself. Flow with the currents beneath the surface. If you don’t know how to incorporate this medicine you may have to stop battling the currents of life.
In general people with this power animal are tough and can persevere when others arent able to. Often they pick a life filled with challenges knowing that within each challenge lies positive-ness and the opportunity for growth. They also have strong spiritual desires and work tirelessly to manifest them. Studying genealogy is important..
