Bison/Buffalo Medicine
by Felina Lune Kavi
“To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part
of my vision for the people to see.” –Black Elk
Keywords:
Prayer, Abundance, Generosity, Support, Shouldering Burdens,
Self-Reliance, Empowerment, Affirmation, Manifestation, Patience, Strength of
Will, Protection of Resources, Releasing Fear and Stress, Clearing Obstacles,
Moving Forward, Living by Example, Perseverance, Standing Ground, Proper Use of
Energy and Resources, Exploring New Ground, Trust in the Universe/God, Healthy
Expression of Anger, Gratitude, Mother Earth, Grounding Energy
The American and European Bison* are the largest land
animals in North America and Europe. Because of their massive size as well as
all that they have provided for people, Buffalo medicine is one of abundance,
prosperity, generosity, and gratitude.
People with this totem are often very generous with their time and
resources, and without the proper use of energy and resources that this totem
teaches, they often shoulder more burdens than they should actually handle, leading to stress which leads to physical ailments.
These people learn to rely on
themselves for all that they need but must also learn to teach others
self-reliance as well, so others don’t take advantage of their giving nature. Buffalo teaches the power of prayer but
also teaches to back that up with right action and give thanks for what the
Universe/God provides. Waiting for
what you want to come to you, or demanding that of others, does not manifest
what you want. Knowing your
intention (and putting that intention forth through prayer) is only the first
step to receiving a blessing in your life. Your actions must follow accordingly to attract what it is
you want. And, finally, when you
receive what you asked for…gratitude keeps you open to more prosperity to come.
Essentially, Buffalo Medicine teaches the Law of Attraction
to receive what you need, the wisdom of reciprocity to balance giving and
receiving, and the power of gratitude to keep right relations. Putting these teachings in practice helps
those with this totem to release fear and stress, trust in the Universe and a
higher power, and move forward with strength of will and a sense of
empowerment.
Health problems often arise in people with this totem
because of stubborn refusal to release unwanted burdens, stress and fears. Often, they are prone to keep doing the
same things over and over but still expecting a different result. Changing one’s thinking toward
positivity and affirmation in a world where so many things can go wrong is a
difficult task, but Buffalo is a patient creature teacher. Through Buffalo, we can learn that if
we want to receive abundance and prosperity…whether it be good health, a better
job, financial gain, etc…we must believe not only in the possibility of these
things coming to us, but that we must live in gratitude for having already
received them.
Like the Buffalo’s
tendency to ‘wallow’ in the ground…those with this totem are prone to wallowing
in grief, sadness, and negative thought patterns until they learn to forge new
paths…both neurologically and in life.
Just as the Buffalo’s wallowing creates depressions in the earth…those
with this totem are prone to depression when negative thought patterns take
hold. Buffalo is there to support
you in exploring new ground…teaching how to live by example so that others
around you become just as empowered to achieve their goals.
In winter, Buffalo will use its massive head to shovel snow
out of its way in order to eat the grass below it. This totem teaches how to clear obstacles in order to get
what you need and move forward...understanding that you will always be provided
for even in bleak times when you take action on your own behalf and provide a
channel for the manifestation to flow through to you from the Universe. People with Buffalo as their totem know
that perseverance is key to getting through tough times.
It is the females, or cows, that lead family groups while
bulls remain solitary or in small groups for most of the year until mating
season when they rejoin the herd. Bulls and cows do not mingle until breeding season. Dominant bulls
“tend” to cows, following the cow around until the cow chooses to mate. During
this period, the bull blocks the cow’s vision so that she may not see other
competing bulls, and bellows at males striving for the cow’s attention.
Fights between the males often
occur during this season. They
will use their heads and horns as battering rams, effectively using the
momentum of 2000 pounds moving at 30 mph.
The hind legs can also be used to maim or kill. The herd is often very restless during
mating season…when the animals are most dangerous and unpredictable.
Just as the Buffalo, people with this
totem may appear peaceful or unconcerned…yet they may attack
anything or anyone without warning or apparent reason. They may find that they need to learn
to express anger clearly and cautiously.
Because of their patience as well as a reluctance to express themselves
in the moment, they may let things build up until they explode. Buffalo teaches to respond more quickly
to your anger…examining where it is coming from instead of just the triggering
person or event. Anger is best
used as ignition to make necessary changes rather than to hurt others or distance
yourself from them. Despite being
fully capable of severe damage, Buffalo often chooses peace while still
standing their ground.
Because the males and females segregate themselves from each
other until necessary, people with this totem often find that they have a hard
time understanding the opposite sex and will often close themselves off to them
until they need something from them.
Males with this totem often have a strong bond to their mother and a
good relationship with women early on…but as they grow older, they may feel
they lose that connection. But
Buffalo will help you to establish a deep connection to Mother Earth and teach
you to understand that all creatures are equal.
In addition to all of this, the White Buffalo is considered
sacred and spiritually significant.
They are extremely rare and only occur in one out of about 10 million
births. The White Buffalo is often
visited for prayer and other religious rituals. People with this specific totem may find that teaching the
sacred way is part of their soul journey.
They are here to awaken the souls of others and bring them to the place
where the Blue Road of Spirit and the Red Road of Physical Life intersect. They are bringers of light and builders
of bridges between disparate groups.
The white color symbolizes purity, peace, and spiritual truth. They are aware that they have a ‘higher
purpose’ in life to create understanding and peace between different nations,
creeds, religions and beliefs.
This is not an easy task, and it is one that necessitates integrating
the disparate parts within you and bringing them into the light to reflect that
wholeness and oneness to others.
If Buffalo is one of your totems, these and many other
lessons will be prevalent in your life.
Buffalo will encourage you to refine your mastery of this medicine. If you see a buffalo, but it is not one
of your totems, respect it as a messenger for that time. You may need its medicine for what is
happening then or what is coming up in the near future. Buffalo asks that you open yourself up
to abundance and prosperity by trusting that the best possible outcome is
always in your field of opportunity.
By relying on yourself and your ability to take action and make
necessary choices, the world opens up to you. Ask, and you shall receive. Do, and you shall receive more quickly.
*While the
terms bison and buffalo are interchangeable to refer to these animals,
‘buffalo’ is not as accurate since bison are only distantly related to the true
buffalo and closer in relationship to the cow, especially with much of the
cross-breeding that brought them back from near extinction. However, the term Buffalo is historically older and,
for our purposes, refers to all species of this animal.
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