Otter Study by Robert Bateman, Courtesy of Snow Goose Gallery. |
The Otter Native American Birth Totem January 20 to February 18 |
Nature: A Time of Preparation Wind: North Wind Animal Totem: Otter Strengths: Creativity, Humor Element: Air Weakness: Volatility, Rebelliousness Clan: Butterfly |
The Animal Totem: Otters are quick and agile. They belong to the weasel family and are built to move on land as well as in the water. Watching them is a sheer delight. They are playful and boisterous animals. Particulary fascinating is how skillfully they move, given the fact that they are compact and almost 4 feet or over 1 meter long. The mischief they usually get into is very appealing. They like to slide on the belly down snowbanks. The Element: Otters are influenced by element air, which accounts for their flexibility, intelligence, communication, and wealth of ideas. Air also helps Otters to understand the connection that we have to the environment. It is reasonable to assume that someone born under this sign is always ready to provide intellectual stimulation. The Clan: Otters belong to the Butterfly clan, which explains their free spirit and verbal skill. On the other hand, Otters also have a tendency to waste their energies because they seem to weigh every possibility and often lose sight of essentials. The Wind: During the priod between January 20 and February 18 the wind blows from the North. The ground is still frozen, and the blanket of snow can seem to paralyze some activity. But underneath, something apparently dormant maintains its vitality. It is obvious that the power and influence of the Sun is increasing. While new life, waiting for the new cycle of the season, is still hidden, the promise and hope of renewal is invigorating and motivating. Otter Character: Knowing intuitively that nature will soon bring forth new and splendid life, people born under the sign of the Otter also are full of hope and confidence. They are active (particularly intellectually), well-liked and alruistic people. In addition, they are blessed with a wonderful sense of humor. Since they have a very keen sense of justice. Otters cannot tolerate the fact that very priviledged people exist side-by-side with people who are poor. Otters are revolutionaries and rebels. Individuality aside. Otters are still very cooperative and capable of positively influencing the team spirit in groups and organizations. Friendship and solidarity are very important for Otters. They will share or even give away their last shirt when a friend is in need or someone is helpless and needs support. They are also very sociable people who in company are often the life of the party. People born under the sign of the Otter love to support positive changes and progress in society at large, and they usually have very interesting ideas. Some of those ideas may be truly utopian, with very little chance of being put into practice. Love: When it comes to love, it is worth mentioning that, just as in the case of Owls, Otters are very particular about their personal freedom and independence. They expect their partner to respect that need, and they are tolerant enough to grant the same in return. While they view sexuality as part of a pleasant intimate relationship, for Otters sex is not the first priority. Intellectual compatibility is much more important. People who want to build and maintain a happy relationship need to know how to keep loose reins. In return, Otters make sure nothing becomes routine. Boredom will interude. They love diversion and surprises. In this way, Otters, influenced by the element air, can always be counted on to keep love fresh and new--provied they believe that they are doing it of their own free will. Career: People born under the sign of the Otter could never work in civil service, not even in the high ranks. I order to express their creative and intellectual talents, these witty, pioneering and independant people need a lot of elbow room and personal freedom, even in their working environment. Since Otters have so many talents, it is not important what kind of work they do. Much more important is that they work independently and are given serious responsibilities. They have a great deal of difficulty with orders from above. They do not deal well with authority. As children, many Otters probably wanted to be astronauts or explorers. Vitality: Full of intellectual ideas, Otters have high expectations of themselves and of people in general. Occasionally, this creates stress, particularly if they have not learned to take a break and relax, not from physical but from mental activities. From a physical point of view, Otters seldom overtax themselves. They know how to use their energies. Sometimes they even tend to be apathetic. They may occasionally experience difficulty with the heart and circulatory system. But with regular exercise, Otters can remain subtle and fit into old age. The Young Otter: Young Otters are very alert and interested children who begin asking "Why?" relatively early. Parents are often challenged. Most of all, thee children want to be treated as partners, having a well-deleloped sense of fairness early and believing in equal roghts for all. The question of age is of no interest to them. Young Otters begin early to analyze the family structure and to rearrange it. At least they will try! This child belives that he is competent to improve the quality of his life as well as those of others. He will take apart things that have already been tested and proven to work, and he will suggest changes. Whjile that may appear funny at times, it can also be stressful. His early improvements may not have been well thought out. The task of Otters parents is to teach this resourseful child the art of compromise. In school, too, young Otters do not take everything as given. While good and quick learners, Otters are much more interested in what is not taught. They are always interested in things that they believe can be improved. Otter's friendly personality also becomes apparent early on. Nothing makes him happier than having his classmates around him, and he chooses that as often a possible. Before his parents know what is happening, they discover that their home has a revolving front door with people coming and going. But they need not worry. Their child has interesting friends, and the family may profit from the fresh air the young Otter brings into th house. |
The Otter and His or Her Partner |
Otter and Falcon The elements air and fire in this relationship will prove to be stimulating and refreshing. Both will quickly be smitten with each other, and what was just a little flirtation may soon turn into something serious. However it would be prudent for the passionate Falcon to tone down his feelings, saving some of his energy for a more intellectual exchange with Otter. Otter and Beaver Otter and Beaver need to take care of a few differences before they can hope to have a satisfying relationship. This is a relationship between an idealist and a materialist. Both positions have their place. But to make this relationship work, they have to compromise. Are the compromises they have to make too numerous? Otter and Deer Both Otter and Deer, inflenced by the element air, are restless and chafing at the bit. They could stimulate and positively influence each other. Since both are active and adventurous, they would rather be living with chronic scheduling stress than in a routine everyday existence. The latter will create problems much more quickly. This couple will be constantly on the go. Otter and Woodpecker Woodpecker, given her dependency and need for security, will most likely try to interfere with Otter's cherished need for freedom. At worst, this relationship will not survive. Otter, as soon as he senses that his independence is in serious danger, will take off in a hurry, even if this means leaving behind a heartbroken Woodpecker, Otter and Salmon Otter and Salmon, what a tension-filled relationship! Although air and fire, usually harmonize, their other characteristics are diametrically opposed. However, this can be stimulating as well as stressful for a partnership. On the positive side, both can learn from and with each other under one condition: that both are willing and gracious enough to make concessions. This, of course, means that both must compromise--Otter, her ideals and Salmon, his ego. Otter and Brown Bear Neither will fall down on his or her knees as soon as they meet. Otter influenced by the element air. needs time to get used to earth-bound Brown Bear, particulary when Bear gets petty, persnickety, and a little intolerant. But one thing unites Otter and Brown Bear: in their own way, both are intellectually interesting, nimble, and open-minded. Otter and Raven Air influences both signs or partners. This allows Otter and Raven to create and support a harmonious and uncomlicated relationship. While Otter's strong idealistic engagement is not always to Raven's liking, Otter can certainly contribute intellectual stimulation. Moreover, many of their activities will enrich this relationship. Otter and Serpent Otter and Serpent will often be on a warpath, and seemingly incompatible differences will make it difficult for this relationship to succeed. Serpent has a tendency to want her partner all to herself. Otter sees red and quickly disappears. If he stays, the relationship will contain never-ending compromises, and that does not bode well for a long-lasting relationship. Otter and Owl Otter and Owl are not only connected by the elements air and fire, they also compliment each other in their idealism and desire for truth. These two signs encourage each other. Otter and Owl are mutually stimulating in all areas of life. This relationship deserves the adjective precious. Otter and Goose In this relationship the road to happiness is paved with many obstacles, but they can be overcome. However, Goose is very disciplined and she my try to counter Otter's idealism with reason. The result would be a relationship built on compromise and trust. Otter and Otter Two Otters can frolic together. They can improve each other and the whole world. They both share the element air, which promotes intellectual energy and openness. This does, however, push emotional issues to second place and encourages a certain amount of superficiality. That, however, is not a problem if both partners are satisfied. Otter and Wolf When taking a close look, Otter and Wolf are strangers. Both approach life from different sides. Otter, however, is always open to differing views. Wolf, thanks to his sensitivity, can empathize with others. Both might be able to find common ground. The keys are Otter's broad intuitive sense and Wolf's fine instincts. |
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