37. ~ Goose ~

Snow geese fly in v-formation to reduce wind drag and the risks that accompany collisions in flight. The goose's honk can be heard much sooner than it can be spotted in the skies. They are extremely aggressive during their breeding season. They have a wingspan of fifty to sixty-five inches. Their body length is twenty-five to thirty inches. A goose is a long-necked bird that walks about with webbed feet. The male is a gander. A baby goose is called a gosling. These creatures are travelers. They are community and group birds. For some Native Amecian nations, the snow goose is the totem for the winter solstice. Generations before us, people wrote with a goose feather. Goose feathers are used to make bedding and goose down jackets and coats. Some believe if the breast bones of a goose were brown it predicted a mild winter. Geese will mate for life. These are migratory birds.

Medicine:

Goose medicine is one of inspiration. Their medicine is the power of community cooperation. This medicine reminds us to try different solutions to solve a problem. They remind us to make good use of our voices and to speak up about injustices in our community. Learning of new places and finding out where we fit into the neighbourhood is part of goose medicine. If we become a leader, others will follow us. This medicine many also be a message to cut back on our meat intake for twenty-two to twenty-three days. It may represent someone behaving in a silly fashion. Goose medicine advises us to take a more serious gander at things. This is a time to follow a system of traditional hierarchy. Listen to those in positions of authority. Goose medicine teaches if we have things of importance to share, now would be a good time to write them down. The goose represents the direction of the north.