Monday, November 17, 2008

52. ~ Mouse/Rat ~

The mouse and the rat are 'not' one in the same! Rats can cause fires by chewing on wires. They can spread bubonic plague. However, mice and rats are creatures of habit. They repeat the same path of travel. Mice and rats re-travel their routes constantly so they can observe the slightest change to their area. The rat is a much bigger rodent than the mouse. Rats have a longer, thicker tail. A mouse weighs one to two ounces. A rat can weigh up to a pound. Mice are five to eight inches in length. Rats can be ten to twelve inches in length. Both have long whiskers they use for sensing. They are nocturnal animals. Mice nibble their food. Mice droppings can cause salmonella poisoning. Rats live to be twelve to eighteen months old. Rats live in packs of up to sixty or more. Mice and rats are highly adaptable. Neither rats nor mice bite unless they are protecting their babies or themselves. They are very timid, and they are easily frightened. They both produce a litter of eight to twelve babies. 'Fancy' rats or mice are comparable to a pure breed of dogs. For some people these creatures seem to make great pets.

Medicine:

White rats give us the message of successfully overcoming difficult times. Two white rats mean someone will be there to see us through. Black rats mean bad luck. This medicine reminds us to retrace our steps, because there seems to be something we are missing or not seeing. Mouse medicine reminds us to be careful we don't overlook the smallest gestures extended to us. The mouse and the rat tell us not to be so timid, but on the other hand we should be cautious, but not overly cautious. The trick in their medicine is to find the right balance. Lastly, people with these totems are generally very quiet people who prefer to work behind the scenes. They enjoy involvement with things where the smallest details make huge differences.

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