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“You can learn more from animals than you can from a guru (religious teacher) or any (religious) book.”
– Jane Roberts
“When you practice the animals, do not imitate the animals, become them!”
– Kenneth Cohen
ILIFTED my right leg, knees high and stepped forward, a decisive pounding step. Slowly, I swayed back in a semi-circular fashion and repeated the movements.
For a moment I was a bear ... minutes later, I hopped ever so gingerly to my left, almost frivolously, knees bent with arms in a defensive posture. My head shimmied from left to right while my eyes darted in both directions. I became the monkey.
Later, with hands raised gracefully and standing on one leg I became the crane. And so it went, assuming the movements, postures and idiosyncrasies of animals.
This was all part of an ancient Chinese practice called the Five Animal Frolics or Wu Qin Xi that imitates the bear, dear, tiger, monkey and crane. It is a practice that increases longevity, promotes overall good health and even induces psychic abilities.
Animals have always played a key role in Chinese folklore. In fact, a one thousand-year-old legend speaks of goats carrying food in their mouth to save a village ravaged by drought.
Imitating the grace, balance, coordination, strength, intuition and agility of animals is not only particular to Chinese culture.
In Native American culture animals are afforded respect. Some tribes held that animals were at one time humans, and as such they share a common heritage.
In Egypt, animals were domesticated and revered as gods and goddesses in some cases. For example, the sheep and goat were associated with fertility and strength; the snake with justice, royalty and fertility; the crocodiles with power and respect; the monkey with resurrection and the falcon with royalty and protection.
In Inca culture, the snake, puma and condor held mystic attributes and were associated with gods. Raiment of the ancients bore animal motifs.
Unlike today, the ancients held that humankind are inextricably bound to nature and that animals in particular were spiritual guides and even gods. They were messenger guides, able to deliver warnings, and shadow guides who enhanced the spiritual experience through dreams.
GROUND EFFECT
The ancients believed that every person has an animal spirit guide throughout his or her lifetime. The animal guide also has a grounding effect, connecting the person to nature.
We can identify our animal spirit guide through the divinatory act of a shaman or through a series of meditative steps. Either way, the animal spirit guide is with a person whether made known or not.
It would be misleading to dismiss the ancients’ belief as mere superstition. Animals have proved to be more intuitive, familial, peaceful, loyal and endearing that humans. They are emotionally balanced and wise.
Unlike humans, they don’t kill for sport or out of envy and greed.
Humans can learn so much from the selfless behaviour of animals. The ancients understood the august position of animals; they understood that in many ways, animals were superior to them; they understood that the ways of animals could only be understood though religion, rituals and prayer.
In regard to their intuitive, almost magical acumen we should look no further that the 2004 tsunami. Telling are the words of Alan Rabiowitz, director for science and exploration at the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society in New York:
“Earthquakes bring vibrational changes on land and in water while storms cause electromagnetic changes in the atmosphere. Some animals have acute sense of hearing and smell that allow them to determine something coming towards them long before humans might know that something is there.”
Joyce Poole, director of the Savanna Elephant Vocalisation Project, added, “I have been with elephants during two small tremors, and on both occasions the elephants ran in alarm several seconds before I felt the tremor.” Animals are also able to detect emotions in humans and act accordingly.
Unquestionably, animals have a high sense of telepathic ability that humans cannot fathom. Interestingly, tens of millions of dollars spent on Psi research in the United States and the Soviet Union have produced nought.
The uncanny, godlike gifts of animals are not lost when they die. In the spirit world they are still there to teach us, to be our guides. The ancients recognised this and deferred to their wisdom.
The resurgence of the Five Animal Frolics is one indication that the wisdom of the ancients is still alive.
ITODAY OUR guest columnist, mortgage specialist Cassandra Francis, continues her response to a question from a reader. Here is a repeat of the question and Part two of the answer. Good day Mr Francis, I read your articles most weeks and I find them very informative, helpful and entertaining at times.
I now need your advice and would really like to hear from you. The situation is that my husband and I are interested in buying a property. What we want to know is: I How do we go about this? I What is our first step to achieving this goal?
How do we know how much monies we can get from a particular institution?
What are the steps we take to owning our first home?
I look forward to your response.
II– R.H.
Last week, I dealt with the preapproval process. This week, I want to look at the other aspects to home/property ownership.
After you have received the preapproval letter you can start your house or property hunting, as you now know your spending power and a letter from an institution that says it is willing to lend you a particular amount.
A realtor or vendor is now confident that you are able to purchase what it is that you want, as they now see what you are able to get from a particular lending institution.
So the search for your ideal property is your next step. As soon as the realtor or you find a property that you want there are some other steps that need to be taken.
First, you should ensure that you see a copy of the Certificate of Title to ensure that the vendor selling the property is authorised to do so. In the event of a housing development this may be waived as the splinter titles may not be yet available.
For all other instances, ensure that the rightful owner or someone so appointed is selling the property. This can be known from the title. If you use a realtor they would have checked this out for you already.
After you are satisfied with the legitimacy of the vendor then you can start doing business with them. However, before you make any deposit on the property consult an attorney to look at the draft agreement for sale presented to you by the vendor.
When your attorney gives the green light, then you may make your deposit at that time.
WHAT IS THE STANDARD DEPOSIT?
The standard deposit is 15 per cent; however, this amount may vary depending on the vendor and the lender.
In some instances, the vendor may require more than the standard amount so you may need to come up with more cash up front.
In some instances, you can make a deposit of five per cent as you may be able to get 95 per cent loan from the lending institution.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE MORTGAGE APPLICATION
After you have made your deposit and have a signed sales agreement, then you see a mortgage specialist with the sales agreement, then you will be instructed to complete a mortgage application form. Income verification letter and last two pay advices
SELF-EMPLOYED
Financial statements (audited) and bank statements.
Proof of funds to complete the transaction.
Proof of age (valid passport/birth certificate).
Tax Registration Number (TRN).
Contractors’ estimate (home construction/improvement).
Original surveyor’s Identification Report not more than 12 months old by a commissioned land surveyor.
Original copy of Valuation Report by an approved land valuator.
Photocopy of Certificate of Title.
NHT commitment letter (where applicable). I Property Tax Certificate. I Approved building plan (where applicable).
Quantity Surveyor’s Report (where applicable).
Evidence of strata coverage (where applicable).
As soon as the mortgage specialist has these documents he/she will go about getting approval for your loan in the quickest possible time. Often as quick as 10 days.
Until next time, traverse well.
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