4. ~ Armadillo ~

The armadillo clearly makes a fashion statement with its extraordinary body coat. In Spanish its name means "little armored one." They have a powerful sense of smell. Beneath their suit of armor is a soft belly. They have an elongated muzzle and the tongue is smooth and slender, covered with a sticky saliva which makes capturing their dinner of ants and insects much easier. They are supported by very strong and very short legs. Their special claws are great for burrowing and digging. They have bony plates which form bands of body shields. When threatened by danger they will roll themselves into a ball of protection. Some Native American nations call them "rabbit-turtles". Perhaps this comes from their long ears and their ability to swim underwater for long periods of time.

Medicine:

Armadillo medicine teaches it's time to dig deep on our journey. Time to get to the root of issues and when necessary, protect ourselves without bringing harm to anyone else. Armadillos teach to grant ourselves some time to relax near the water and to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Or, perhaps, it's time to prepare yourself a bath to re-energize and cleanse in. Allow aroma therapy to sooth your sense of smell and stimulate new experiences. Protect yourself and loved ones in sensitive matters and keep your private life just that - private! Armadillos remind us to take a stroll out in nature and reexamine how good it feels to slow our pace down. The armadillo tells us, now is the time to pamper ourselves and focus on our own inner needs.