"The strength of Bear medicine is the power of introspection. To become like Bear and enter the safety of the womb-cave, we must attune ourselves to the energies of the Eternal Mother, and receive nourishment from the placenta of the Great Void. Many tribes have called this space if inner-knowing the Dream Lodge, where the death of the illusion of physical reality overlays the expansiveness of eternity."
"Like their animal totem, Brown Bear people are self-reliant and prefer to stand on their own two feet rather than rely on others. They take time to acclimatize to change, preferring the security and comfort of the familiar. They are constructive and good fixers, with an innate ability to get things working, whether in dealing with the break-down of a piece of equipment or in human relations."
"The bear has lunar symbology, giving it ties to the subconscious and even unconscious mind. It was an animal associated with the goddess Diana, a goddess of the Moon. It is also a symbol for alchemy, the nigredo of prime matter. It relates to all initial stages and primal instincts."
"A bear in your dream may indicate the need to pay attention to your own instincts, instead of mindlessly following others. The bear follows its own wisdom. Bears hibernate in the winter, so you may be receiving a message to withdraw from some of your activities and rest for a period of time."
The bear looks slow as it wanders along, looking for food or following its cubs. Don't let this fool you. The bear can move astonishingly fast, catching fish or chasing anyone or anything that offends its sensibilities. This is also true of our instinctual nature - it can rise up and take hold of us without any warning. Martial arts teach us a great deal about bear energy. We learn the movements slowly and diligently, building strength of mind and body. When attacked, we respond without hesitation, as the body knows how to defend itself because of earlier mind training. Often we find that by being prepared, we don't need to fight at all.
Sources
Andrews, Ted, Animal Speak. St. Paul, Llewellyn 1995.
Clement, Stephanie and Terry Rosen, Dreams: Working Interactive. St. Paul, Llewellyn, 2000.
Meadows, Kenneth, Earth Medicine,. Rockport, Element, 1991.
Sams, Jamie and David Carson, Medicine Cards. Santa Fe, Bear & Company, 1988.
