Animal Spirit Medicine for Lyme

by Kara Zahl, coauthor of Liberating Yourself from Lyme

We are blessed to have many life-forms surrounding us on this planet. There are both plants and animals who can help us remember why we are here and where we came from. We are all intimately interconnected in this web of life. Since the beginning of time, people have been deeply connected to the natural world, relating to it as a source of food, shelter, clothing, and medicine and as a way to interface with their gods. It was once commonplace for people to know which herbs grew in their area to cure both common ailments and severe illnesses or which animals one could pray to for healing, strength, or courage. Though most Western cultures have long forgotten these ways, we are fortunate enough to be alive during a time when many of these beliefs are reemerging to help humanity and our planet heal. We have the fantastic opportunity to reconnect with the hidden wisdom and power latent in the natural world by working with plants and animals for healing just as our ancestors once did.

Throughout my journey with Lyme, I worked with several shamanic practitioners, both Western and traditional indigenous medicine people, who greatly helped me connect to the healing power in plants and animals—a connection that had always been at my fingertips without my even realizing it. After those early days of opening the door to other ways of perceiving the world around me, I began to see teachers in many living things—from the plants growing in my backyard to the animals I would see when hiking in the woods. I don’t believe in coincidences, and I feel that everything that crosses our path has medicine or teachings for us.

The bear was one of the first and strongest allies to come to me as I worked with Lyme. I was fragile and vulnerable when I had a session with a healer who was the teacher of a dear friend. She asked me who my animal guides were, which was something I had never considered before. When I told her that I wasn’t sure, she led me on a journey to call forward my guides. I sat in a chair, closed my eyes, and began to consciously enter a meditative state by breathing deeply and relaxing into the rhythm of the drum she was beating. After a few minutes, I was amazed to see a bear coming forward in my mind’s eye. The bear stood up on her hind legs and roared furiously, letting me know that she was there to protect me during this time when I needed strength and protection. After that initial time, I would often call that fierce, protective bear energy in by dancing (or sitting when I was very ill). While shaking my rattle to enter into a trance-like state, I would call her spirit into my body and receive the wisdom and power of the bear. A few times when intending to connect with the bear, other animal spirits came to offer me their aid as well. I would always give thanks to these beings for their presence and guidance in my journey.

The snake was another ally that came to me many times during my journey with Lyme, mainly as a symbol of death and rebirth. I was given a snakeskin that now sits on my altar as a reminder of transformation. The shedding of its skin is one of the most remarkable features of a snake. It must release the old skin of what it once was, literally splitting open, to reveal the new skin underneath. This process dramatically parallels the journey I experienced with Lyme—needing to release who I was before the illness, particularly the unhealthy habits and thought-forms that engaged Lyme, so that the resilient, healing warrior I would become through facing all of those challenges could emerge.

Many shamanic traditions believe that there are different realms of existence. We live in one realm, with what we see and perceive here, but upper and lower realms simultaneously exist, where the spirits and ancestors live. In many traditions, it is possible to enter a trance-like state, where the veils between the worlds grow thin, through drumming, rattling, breathing, prayer, and working with plants in certain traditions. While in these realms, we have access to information and guidance we are otherwise unable to perceive or receive.

Exploring our connection to plants and animals can provide us with profound guidance in our healing. Think for just a moment about the different stages of Lyme. The adult spirochete can feel like a spider and physically looks like a spiral worm, while the cysts are akin to little eggs. The thought or experience of spiders, worms, and eggs living inside our bodies can evoke a wide range of emotions, from fear and anxiety to anger and frustration. When considering working with animal or plant spirits, you may want to think about what life-forms eat spiders, worms, and eggs. Who can help you face your fear by helping you find your inner fire and strength? Who can comfort you or stand by your side on this journey? Who can you call on for help?

Music Journeying Exercise

Find a drum or a rattle and try to let go of any preconceived sense of yourself that you may have about not being musical or having rhythm. There is an African proverb that says, “If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.” The ability to express ourselves creatively lives within our bones. We need to get out of our heads and awaken to it. It is not hard to shake a rattle or play a simple, repetitive beat on a small drum: you can use the rhythm of your heartbeat as a guide. Even just patting your hand on your leg will work. Most indigenous cultures use these methods to pray and enter trance states—they are as ancient as humanity. The goal is to enter a mental state that goes beyond the thinking mind and opens you up to the spirit realm, that place that exists just beyond the veil of what most people experience as reality.

Always begin by setting your intention with as much love as possible, calling in only the highest and most helpful guides for support. Close your eyes and notice your breath. Deepen your breath and start a beat with a rattle or drum. It can be helpful if you have a mantra or something to sing or chant repetitively, especially when beginning this type of journeying. Your chant could be as simple as “I am light, I am love, I am powerful, I am strong” or any phrase that resonates with you and your healing. Lighting candles or a fire can be a great addition.

As you drum and chant, continue to focus on deepening the breath and relaxing the body. Call for help from nature, inviting any plant or animal guides who have something to teach you to come forward. You can also call upon your inner guidance to provide insights into your healing.

You may be amazed at what is revealed to you through this exercise. If thoughts or judgments emerge, just come back to your breath and stay focused on your intention. Try to sustain this for fifteen to twenty minutes. This is an invitation to walk the path of healing called the Beauty Way, used by many North American native cultures. Always thank the spirit animals or plants that come to assist you, as your gratitude is part of what feeds and nourishes them.