39. ~ Groundhog ~

February 2nd is officially Groundhog Day on Turtle Island! When the groundhog pokes his head out of his hole, he supposedly can determine the ending of a winter season and the coming of spring. Legend states, if the groundhog sees his shadow, we can expect to see six more weeks of winter. If it is cloudy and no shadow is seen, then spring is soon on its way. The groundhog is also called a woodchuck, or a whistling pig. Their life span is about eight years. They can weigh more than fourteen pounds. but this will depend on the area in which it lives. The groundhog is about two feet in length. The groundhog is known for it's loud, clear, whistle which they used to communicate danger. It has short legs, a stubby tail, and it has strong claws. The groundhog has a curved spine. They are good at both climbing, and swimming. The Algonquian name for groundhog is "wuchak." Their name woodchuck has lead to many tongue twisters, like - "How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?" These animals have black feet and are brown to reddish-brown fur which is frosted with white tips. The groundhog is a very organized worker and they always clean up after themselves.

Medicine:

Groundhog medicine reminds us to whistle while we work! They teach us to become great organizers. The groundhog teaches us to respectfully set boundaries, and to know when we need to draw the line. Groundhog medicine tells us to not be afraid of shadows, our own, or those of others. Groundhog medicine says to poke our head up and take a good look around and to carefully explore where we want to go next on our journey. Groundhogs teach us to pay close attention to our winter dreams. Lastly, the groundhog teaches us to never play dirtry and to always maintain our dignity!