Cat’s Bits for July 2- 8: The Horned Lizard or You Can Never Have Too Much Camouflage
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July Events:
July 4: Independence Day USA
July 8: Celtic Month of Holly begins
July 9: Full “Blessing ” Moon at 12:07 am EST
July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:15 am EST
July 23: New Moon at 5:46 am EST
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The Horned Lizard or You Can Never Have Too Much Camouflage
Our desert has a number a unique and interesting creatures and the “horny toad” definitely fits the bill. These little fellows are also sometimes referred to as “horned frogs” but in reality they are neither toads or frogs but lizards. They are well adapted to hot, dry desert climates. The spines that appear on it’s sides and back are actually modified scales that prevent loss of water through the skin. The horned lizard is a master of camouflage which helps them hide from predators or people with cameras. They are non aggressive and prefer to remain unnoticed if possible. They blend in almost perfectly with the ground unless startled then they run like heck and then stop. If this tactic fails to deter the predator then they puff up and spike out to appear larger and less appetizing. In western Colorado we have the Texas Horned Lizard which is one of eight species that can shoot a stream of blood (up to 5 feet) from the corners of their eyes. This confuses the predator and it doesn’t taste very good either, particularly to felines and canines.
After my most recent sighting of a small horned lizard last month I started wondering about this creature as a Spirit Animal. After doing some research I was disappointed to learn that all lizards are basically lumped together in one category. However, let’s start with the basic connection and along the way I’ll give you my perspective on the symbolism. The common theme for all lizards is the Dreamtime. This includes dreams during sleep ans well as your personal dreams. So how does this relate to our little friend the horned lizard? Camouflage. This skill makes him hard to see and we must look closely to “see” him. The same goes with our dreams. While not all dreams have a deep spiritual or mystical meaning there are those that do. You may not remember the entire dream but there is usually one thing that you brought out of the Dreamtime. A number, word, feeling, color, person, etc. The symbolism is camouflaged and in order to understand we must be willing to look closely.
The horned lizard also teaches us about protecting our space without aggressiveness or violence and in fact he is pretty non confrontational. His first reaction is to let things flow around him and not engage in “combat” and even going so far as to to remove himself from an unpleasant situation. However if he is pursued he can and will stand his ground by puffing up (gathering his courage) and making his “point”. Although he prefers not to horned lizard is more than capable of protecting himself if forced to do so. While his methods may seem odd or extreme they are merely more for the shock value. The final lesson that horned lizard has for us involves paying attention to our surroundings and the use of quick thinking if something goes awry. Always take in as much information as you can because you never know just what might be useful or help you out of a tight spot.
I hope that you have enjoyed our look at this unusual creature. As habitat dwindles we are seeing fewer of them. It would be a real shame to lose his wisdom altogether. be kind to Mother Earth and all her children!
Bright Blessings for a Magickal Week!
Cat
(C) LBolotin 2017
Laura (Cat) Bolotin has been following an eclectic pagan/spiritual path for over 25 years. She currently lives in Western Colorado where she enjoys communing with nature, desert crawling, belly dancing, nature photography, jewelry crafting and writing stuff she hopes will help others along their path. She is married and owned by 5 cats.
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Please feel free to check out my websites!
Cat’s Treasure Trove: An Eclectic Collection of Jewelry and Gifts! http://catstreasuretrove.weebly.com
The Desert Path: The Dusty Ramblings of a Desert Pagan. https://catsister.wordpress.com
Sacred Spirals on Facebook: The Place Where All Paths Meet https://www.facebook.com/groups/sacredSpirals/
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