Below are: Turtle, Frog and Mouse in the order in which they came on this New Moon in Cancer at the Ceremony I did.... I started off my New Moon in Cancer Intentions at the sacred Wellspring at the Black Madonna Shrine, a sacred Dark Goddess Spring and her healing waters of the Slavic Diety both Kupalo of the Waters and Black Madonna of the Great Void, two Slavic deities. My sister and I did the ceremony to honor the Goddess for the next three months of the cycle of this Summer Solstice and the first of three new moons in that cycle, first one in the sign of Caner .

We each called in the Goddess we wished to work with. I am working with Kupalo which is a Slavic Goddess of the Water and my sister called in the Goddess Castalia / Kastalia. On our little walk into the woods before we got to the Spring, along the creek, I saw a beautiful large snapping turtle just quietly laying there in the water looking at us. We bowed, said hello and told her how grateful we were for her to show up on the New Moon of Cancer, with her thick shell showing us how she protections her sensitive inner nature around emotion (because she was 'in' the water) when we met with her.

My sister told me that before the Crab ruled the astrological sign of Cancer, it was the 13 moons of the turtles back as the astrological totem, which made complete sense to me because Cancer rules the Mother and Mother Earth at least here on the Natives Turtle Island. When we finally got to the spring, five frogs were waiting and actually joined us in our ceremony. They climbed out of the caves spring and sat on the edge and watched us and even sang during certain parts of our spoken intention talking to us.

My intention for the New Moon in Cancer was driven by the day before, having to set boundaries between those I teach and those who are friends, which becomes blurry and sometimes I feel used. I teach all the time and this has been an issue, but with those who wish to be just friends, and me doing the same full time work with them as a shaman, there is no energetic exchange such as trade or paying me for my work. This has been an issue with me, and third time is a charm, taking full responsibility with awareness, it was time to let friends go.

Even when I was in high school - working on the horse farm five days a week tending to mastering equestrian riding and working full time to pay for my lessons, it was much more satisfying to be with the horses than hanging out with friends who were just into partying. Partying was fun for one year and then it was completely boring and I moved on.

It was time for me to truly acknowledge, that Aquarian's have friend issues, just as Scorpio have sex issues and so on. So it was time to let go of friends in a healthy way and move on in my life, with what makes me truly happy.

Our ceremony was beautiful and we thanked the animals. That night my apprentice and her sister came over to work out their intention and after we were done a little mouse appeared in the kitchen, just sitting there and we met eyes and it was very relaxed and calm and then left. So with that I have Grandmother Star Spider Dancing at her website: www.starspiderdancing.net comments on Mouse, the others are below that...

MOUSE TOTEM:
Spirit Keeper of Introspection. The Spirits that represent and assist with Introspection are Mouse, Chamomile, and Lapis Lazuli.

Our Native ancestors and many Elders and others even today have a different kind of regard for Mouse. Many spend time enjoying the small miracles, and have observed that Mouse lives in a small territory. Although they do not see the larger picture, they see clearly what is under their wiggly little noses. We too need to look closely and see that which is around us is also within us. Mouse has few defenses, so she must depend on her inner knowledge and wisdom for survival. They also spend a lot of time sleeping (dreaming, going within).

In some traditions Mouse is the totem for the Spirit Keeper of the South. To others Mouse symbolizes innocence because, living in his small world, she stays completely unaware of what is going on in the larger world. So although we need to learn to soar with Hawk or Eagle to see the larger picture, we also need to learn to see clearly what is "right here" and within ourselves. Working with Mouse can help us learn this important skill.

The gestation period for Mouse totem is 21 days and average lifespan is only three years so those become important. You might be starting off a new three year cycle and a 21 day cycle. So pay attention to the details of who and what is in your home or tries to get into your inner home (dreams).

TURTLE & SNAPPING TURTLE TOTEM:
Motherhood, longevity, awaking to Opportunities. Turtle is the symbol of the primal mother. If turtle has shown up in your life, it is time to get connected to your most primal essence. Go within your shell and protect yourself so you can be both kind, with a hard shell of healthy boundaries with others. Of course I saw a Snapping Turtle which has the ability to grasp things and use the mouth in new ways.

As a group, turtles are more ancient than any other vertebrate animal. There are around 250 kinds, 48 of which are found in the United States. Turtles are usually distinguished from tortoises in that tortoises are land bound. Turtles live in and around the water. In the Far East, the shell was a symbol of heaven and the square underside was a symbol of the earth. The turtle was an animal whose magic could help you unite heaven and earth within your own life. A symbol of the turtle showing up is always an invitation for the blessings of both heaven and earth.

The turtle is a shore creature, using the land and the water. All shore areas are associated with doorways to the Faerie Realm. The turtle is sometimes known as the keeper to the doors. Turtles thus were often seen as signs of fairy contact and the promise of fairy rewards. In Nigeria, the turtle is a symbol of the female sexuality. To the Native Americans, it is associated with the lunar cycle, menstruation, and the power of the female energies and power. The markings and sections on some turtles total thirteen which is and always will be nature's lunar calendar, there are either thirteen full moons or thirteen new moons alternating each year. Many believe this is where the association with the female energies originated.

Turtle hear well. Actually they sense vibrations in the water through their skin and shell. Turtles are also to distinguish some colors, and they do not have a sense of smell. Turtle totems hold the mystery of awakening of the senses ~ on both physical and spiritual levels. Turtle stimulates hearing and clair-audience. It can help with vision and clairvoyance. It heightens the sense of smell and higher discrimination.

Identify the turtle. Turtles are omnivorous. They eat insects, plants, fish, amphibians, and even small mammals on occasion. They are opportunistic. When a turtle shows up in your life it is usually a reminder to pay attention or you will miss opportunities. To the Native Americans, the turtle was a symbol of Mother Earth. Turtles remind us to that the way to heaven is through the earth. In Mother Earth is all that we need. She will care for us, protect us, and nurture us, as long as we do the same for her. For that to happen, we must slow down and heighten our sensibilities. We must see the connection to all things. Just as the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we separate ourselves from what we do to the Earth.

FROG TOTEM
Frog's song calls down the cleansing power of water. Frog is a reminder of the sacred power to transform and cleanse away. Frogs will die if away from moisture (emotoin) for too long, and thus Frog reminds us to refresh ourselves, and allow joy to moisten our lives and our passions. If you are feeling "muddied", take a moment to dream, to laugh and cry and renew yourself. Frog is also about taking a leap forward. Sometimes fears or beliefs stagnate us, and sometimes the things we think are bad to change are actually the correct medicine for growth and change. Frog always says leap forward.

Frog also reminds us to cleanse our bodies, our environments and our auric fields. People with Frog energy should learn and utilize methods of psychic cleansing as they work with others who are not consciously aware. Frog is able to work equally well in the realms of Earth/Air (conscious) and in Water (unconscious), taking in the unconscious almost by osmosis. Frog people are often artists, mystics, shamans and healers. They are often empathic, excellent at reading others and in knowing how to help them heal and also this can be taken advantage of by others and this is when frog says jump and grow even if others cannot.

Frog reminds us to cleanse our people, situations and circumstances that are draining energy or making us angry, and to cleanse them out of our aura so that you may sing freely. Frog people may go through many metamorphoses during their lives, and may change several times. Balance will come through respecting these changes and learning to go with the flow.