Animals come into our lives for a myriad of reasons. Today I will speak of self love.

The importance of self love, particularly over the holidays, has been drawn to my attention by Suzette Faith Foster.*

I have listened to many clients express that they feel selfish for acts of helping them self. Yet, when one does not take care of oneself they begin to feel empty, tired, and frustrated, the list goes on and on. Does this actually serve others? It is important to lovingly nurture oneself. When we are happy and fulfilled it is a gift to many. Give the gift of love to your self and encourage others to do the same.

So what does this have to do with animals? I witness quite often that when a client does not love them self enough to take care of their own needs, they reflect their unbalanced behavior or thoughts on to their animal. Many do not realize that when they are out of balance they soon will see an issue with their animal. Their animal companion could be peeing on the floor, become more vocal, or other unwanted behaviors. Animals know when we feel good or bad, and usually take these traits on themselves. I have said many times animals reflect us. Through the selfless act of wanting a loved animal to be happy one learns it is good to be selfish or love thyself for the greater good.

*Suzette Faith Foster became a quadriplegic after a bicycling accident. Through spirit, with love, faith and a strong belief system she healed in three months. Her experience has been documented at Duke University.  Suzette, now healthy and happy has a business named, “Thrive Now,” to help others.

Symbolism of the Nativity Scene Animals

Nativity Animals

Christmas Season is in full force.  As I witnessed the multifaceted aspects Christmas brings―Jesus’ birthday, retailers focused on sell sell sell, customers on buy buy buy, Santa Claus, glitter and lights―I felt incomplete. I then began thinking of the nativity scene. Over and over it kept coming to mind. And there is always a reason when something keeps popping into my awareness. I walked my mind through questions:  Should I buy a nativity scene?  No.  Should I look at a nativity scene?  Maybe. My mind then brought me to the animals at the nativity. I realized there is little mention of the nativity animals. I got it… I was to bring them to life.

My first thought was to research the animals at the nativity in the book, Animal-Speak. As I picked up the book to look up the animals I am accustomed to seeing at the nativity―cow, sheep and camel―I felt a pull to the computer. I put down the book and went straight to Wikipedia searching “nativity scene.”

I was thrilled when I found that “Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 (a ‘living’ one) intending thereby to cultivate the worship of Christ.” Saint Francis of Assisi is known as the patron saint of animals.

I looked further down the page and found “Animals in nativity scenes.” With no basis in the canonical narratives of the birth of Jesus, an ox and ass are usually part of the nativity scene.[15] The tradition may arise from an extracanonical text, the Pseudo-Matthew gospel of the 8th century:  ‘And on the third day after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary went out of the cave, and, entering a stable, placed the child in a manger, and an ox and an ass adored him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by the prophet Isaiah, “The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib.” Therefore, the animals, the ox and the ass, with him in their midst incessantly adored him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Habakkuk the prophet, saying, “Between two animals you are made manifest.”[15]‘

“Considerable symbolism is attached to the ox and the ass. The ox traditionally represents patience, the nation of Israel, and Old Testament sacrificial worship, while the ass represents humility, readiness to serve, and the Gentiles.[16]

“The ox and the ass, as well as other animals, became a part of nativity scene tradition. In a 1415, Corpus Christi celebration, the Ordo paginarum notes that Jesus was lying between an ox and an ass.[17]”

It is mentioned that other animals were added later to nativity scenes. A few are sheep, camels, cows, and elephants. After reading about the ox and the ass, I felt I should represent only the animals mentioned at the original nativity scene.

Animal-Speak,  Author, Ted Andrews

In the book Animal-Speak, the ass represents wisdom and humility.

The last paragraph about the ass gives summary:  “The ass is the promise of awakening wisdom and the approach of new opportunities of even greater work. Don’t be stubborn and refuse to move with the flow. Don’t hold on only to what you have done to this point. Remember that it is not the goal but the path to that goal. Do not become content and complacent, for the ass promises even higher wisdom and greater opportunities.”

Unfortunately I could not find information about ox in that edition of the book.

The information below is from D.D. Delaney. Her response from my e- news letter about the nativity animals gives further understand to the significance of the ox at the nativity.

Hi Karen,
I found your information on the Nativity animals intriguing and though you might like to know that in a fairly popular book among Tarot folks is a book by one Paul Foster Case called, simply, The Tarot. In that book Case goes into some detail about the ox, which is associated with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph (or ALP, in translation to our Roman alphabet), “meaning Bull or Ox.” Case also associates that letter with the Tarot Fool, the Zero card in Tarot. He has several paragraphs about this. In one key quote he notes that the symbol of the ox in association with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet goes back to the Taurean Age, “when the bull was the god-symbol dominant in the leading religions of the world. Apis in Egypt, Mithra among the Persians, Dionysos among the Greeks, all had the bull or ox as a symbol.” So the ox at Jesus’ nativity would fit right into that ancient line of special souls or saviors.

Thanks for your e-news letter.

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Thank you, Saint Frances of Assisi, Ox, and Ass for helping bring humility, patience and wisdom into this world.

As I was typing the last sentence I broke out laughing when I heard in my mind:  “If you are called an ass, respond to them – ‘And proud of it!’ “   I then felt a serious wave come over me, and heard:  “And tell them the story of the nativity scene.”