A Swimming Elephant?? for Faunabay

This post is in response to a comment by Faunabay about her reading... let's revisit... she got for her 2009 Animals Shark and Penguin. Somewhat at odds with each other in meaning and as animals in that Sharks eat Penguins. She asked for a card to help merge the two and/or for clarification.
OK... so I concentrated on another animal for the year that would help merge Shark and Penguin. May I present... Elephant. Yep, I know not big swimmers, but we are looking a more the animal's "medicine" I suppose.
Interestingly I believe this is the only black & white card in this entire deck. Like you can alter her message slightly by how you want to color the card. Elephants are another creature of Strength and power. These are fiercely Devoted animals, they actively help others in the herd if in need. Along with this Devotion is the fact their community is a Matriarchy. Really embrace your feminine energy. Elephants are more Compassionate than almost any other animal due to their devotion and helpfulness, they also actually cry and can mourn their dead. As we know "Elephants never forget"... they do posses an Ancient Wisdom also. I also see them oddly as being similar to whales... both big, powerful, hold ancient wisdom and communicate with other frequencies. Elephants communicate at such a low frequency we can't hear it, but it travel miles. This is how they can call to each other when in trouble, etc. Elephant is also very much about Prosperity... so much association with wealth, kings, and gods in India... think Ganesha.
How is Elephant going to help merge Penguin and Shark... I really think she's telling you to be powerful you don't have to be blunt or do it in a way that could be interpreted as vicious like Shark. Elephant seems to fit with Penguin better in aspects of family/group, etc. Pull out Shark when you need to really get something done with efficiency and precision. If you study Shark on its own, make sure you temper it with one of the others in the back of your mind.
Hope this helps... let me know what you think.

Reading for faunabay/Roxanne

Hi Roxanne,
Here is your Totem Animal Reading for 2009. Your animal guides/teachers/comforters are: Shark and Penguin.
I've gotten Penguin quite a bit in things lately. Wonder if that is a message for me in some way too. Anyway... Penguins are about family and this card confirms it with the baby penguin surrounded by mom and dad. The also are patient and have endurance, and a strong sense of community. Have you seen what they go through in the arctic winters to say warm and protected. Amazing. They are in a huddle that never quits moving, the penguins move from the outside of the circle to inside to always keep themselves and each other warm. Look to people with shared interest and values to be part of your community. I get a "feminine" energy about penguin, also because the card is in a night setting.
I really like this Shark card. All different types of sharks, but similar in message to me. Efficient is my best description. They are also sleek, fast, and focused. These are extremely good qualities, especially in business. You don't have to be mean or cruel... a shark isn't. It is quickly lethal because is just is... it doesn't toy with it's prey like say an alligator or cat. How can you become more efficient and focused on what you do, not just work either? Seminars maybe and put distractions to a minimum, meditation?
Both of these cards are based in the water... sea of emotion, but Shark hides theirs and I would gather Penguin doesn't. Also... um, Shark eats penguins if they head into the water (note the Shark is looking at the Penguin card). I see some of the messages of these animals being at odds with each other at times... nurturing vs. not for example.
Now for the book:
Shark: Guidance, Stamina, Keen Senses, Travel. Reading the commentary about sharks I think my meanings are actually pretty good, even if they don't match the keywords. Plus animals can have lots of different meanings.
Penguin: Balance, Patience, Walking Between Worlds, Teamwork, Family. Lots of these are similar.
Look forward to comments.

Reading for Lizard Sale

Well that is a damn blurry picture. Sorry, used my other camera. Anyway, my reading, which I did late Monday night, is about an event we have going on this weekend. If anyone's looked at my other blog you'll see we bred our Bearded Dragons. This Sunday we are going to have them for sale at the local, every 2 months, Reptile Show.
I asked the cards "what do we need to know for the sale prep and the sale"? I drew Dolphin and Penguin.
The message in both of these cards interestingly has some overlap. Dolphin is about intelligence, community, family, compassion, a journey. Penguin's message is family, willpower, patience, balance, teamwork.
First they both have family in them... ok, my wife and I are the breeder, seller, and of course doing the show together. We will also have a couple other friends (team) helping load/unload and maybe stick around for the show. The journey comes in since we've never bred before, though she has had lizards for 20 some years... before they were ever "cool" and even vets didn't know much. Plus the babies will be going on a journey of their own. This is a community event and we do know a lot of the people in the "reptile community" already. This could be a good chance to show them the quality of our little guys. We need to show our knowledge.
We are pretty picky about who we'll sell to. Not quite the normal "product" mentaility because these are living creatures, and they do have some pretty specific habit requirements. I think patience comes in and says we likely won't sell them all this weekend. We need to have the willpower, and compassion for the babies, to keep our standards we have for the buyers. We, especially my wife, to balance that with the goal of selling.
Also looking at both pictures there are a lot of blues... communication (key all around for this event), and notice how circular the patterns are? Circle of life idea and full circle with raising, now selling them.
Any other thoughts feel free to add...