Part 3, of four
November 5, 2025
“You were once wild here. Don’t let them tame you!”
Isadora Duncan (1878-1927) American modern interpretive dancer
Dreams can give vivid direction to us in many aspects of our waking lives, and they can certainly direct us toward our power animals. I once had a special dream, one that I call a “power dream.” A power dream is one that you know is more than simply a dream, and you know this because you feel it to the depth of your being; it is a dream that you never forget.
A power dream has a magnitude unlike other dreams, and it remains firmly planted in your memory, often throughout your entire lifetime. I believe these dreams come from a Divine Source, a gift of guidance from above.
While vacationing with my Gordon Setter Molly in a little cabin on Lake Huron in Michigan, I asked spirit for insight into my power animal, during my dreams as well as in the waking state; I requested clues to help me track this animal. It wasn’t long until I had a “power dream” stocked with plenty of confirmation of my innate dog/wolf sense.
It was late afternoon, I planned to take a brief nap, and then treating myself to a dinner of fish and chips in the nearby town of Oscoda. I quickly fell into a deep sleep, and with vivid lucidity, I dreamt I was napping in that very cabin. While dreaming, I saw myself get up from the bed and walk outside. There on the beach were an old man and an old woman sitting in lawn chairs, looking toward Lake Huron. They were surrounded by a variety of dogs, including my own dog, Molly, all frolicking around them.
As I sat in a chair beside the man, a big dog that looked like a combination of shepherd and wolf, came up behind me and placed her large front paws upon my shoulders. The man hollered, “Get down off her.” But I said, “No, no, it’s okay, she’s like a dog hat!” (Hey, it’s a dream, okay?)
At that moment, this creature tightened her grip and firmly hugged me around my neck and shoulders. She then placed her head on top of my head, and the next thing I knew, through the magic of a dream, we somehow became the same being; we merged. I felt like me, and I felt like this dog/wolf, all at the same time.
Suddenly, all of my senses became excited, as if an inner dimmer switch had been turned up high. My vision became so keen I easily saw for miles, all the way over to the opposite side of the lake—to the shore of Canada! My vision quickly scanned the area, noticing any and all subtle movements. My ears perked up and I felt them twitching as I detected sounds from all around me, near and far. My sense of smell became acute; I picked up hundreds of scents, not only through my moist nose, but through my mouth as well; I could taste the scents!
I felt like a detective of nature, able to see, to hear, to taste and to smell to such an incredible degree that I was awestruck. I felt the wind as it danced through my fur, and my paws loved the touch of the sand where I proudly stood.
Before I knew it, my moment ended as I shook myself fiercely, separating from my “dog self.” I just sat there, knowing full well what I had just experienced. I said to the old man, “Well, I’ve got to wake up now.” He asked me, “Where are you going?” I said, “To town to eat fish and chips!” I rose from the chair, went into the cabin and observed myself as I slipped back into my body, and woke up.
To this day, I clearly remember feeling like a dog—my power animal. When I recall the sensations I felt in that dream, my senses seem to respond through a cellular, primal memory, feeling more enhanced and alive. I’ve always had acute senses, but the energy and magic of my power animal help me to turn to those dog/wolf senses when I need them. When I’m outdoors, I can feel that same wonderful feeling of wind in my fur, and I love it.
The connection with your power animal is a bridge between you and nature. I felt immense gratitude to the Divine Spirit for the teaching of those insights.
That evening, I went to that restaurant for dinner. I sat down at a little table and pushed away an empty beer bottle and ashtray. There on the table in front of me, I noticed something; it was a little rubber stamp, the kind kids use for decorating. On the face of the stamp was Disney’s Goofy, the dog, wearing a magician’s hat! (Ironically, ever since my dog Molly was a puppy, people have said she reminded them of Disney’s Goofy.)
Another coincidence? I like to think of it as another clue, a simple little thing with deep personal meaning for me. That stamp sits with all sorts of simple little things that have special meaning to me, like a placemat with the Chinese Zodiac on it. Being born in 1958, my “animal sign” is, naturally, the dog!
Perhaps you have identified your power animal. If you’re not sure, ask for some direction from above, in whatever manner you find comfortable, be that prayer, meditation, whatever feels right to you. Trust that the Divine Source will hear your request. You must be willing to listen for answers; sometimes they come through metaphor and imagery, sometimes through coincidences like redbirds and rubber stamps!
The key is to listen with your heart and hear it with your soul, and it won’t be long before you know.
——end of Part Three (of four)
Based on The Spirit of Health: Mind-to-Toe Self-Care for Women
From the segment: Tools for Self-Discovery & Life Enhancement
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