Lexicon of spirit animals: monkey
Mode of life:
There are countless monkey species that are categorised as follows: on the one hand we have old-world monkeys, to which belong for example the gorilla, mandrill, orang-utan, baboon, chimpanzee, rhesus monkey and lemur, while on the other hand we have new-world monkeys, to which belong for example the capuchin monkey, black squirrel monkey or wooly monkey. Whether old-world monkey or new-world monkey: nearly all of these species live in tropical rainforests across the entire American continent, Africa, India and Asia. Main enemies of all species are the Philippine eagle, also called the monkey-eating eagle, boas and big cats. Depending on the species, monkeys live in relatively strictly or losely structured communities, while usually even solitary monkeys accept group dynamics. Monkeys are omnivores that have a very mobile scope: whether walking on two feet, jumping, climbing or brachiating, the monkey always finds a way. Many indigenous peoples considered the monkey as a sacrosanct animal with a highly-healing Heart. While Gorillas, orang-utans and chimpanzees can become up to 50 years old, most other monkey species like the mandrill or capuchin monkey usually don't exceed 20 years.
All images: Pixabay
Spiritually light aspects:
Even though there are many different monkey types, there is a golden thread of qualities and attributes that can be ascribed to all species. Connecting with monkeys, irrespective of the species, ameliorates our inventive spirit, mental mobility and lightheartedness. They have the ability to dissolve engrained patterns in unconventional ways and inrease our self-awareness by exaggeratedly humourously aping our human demeanor. Learning to laugh at ourselves scotches provocations in the most exhilarating manner and serves as a powerful healing tool that shifts our take on life from an unnecessary serious to a more playful expression. Nothing is ever to be taken personally, and laughing at ourselves is one of the best medicines to seal our energy field from any verbal attacks. With their mental mobility they advise us to expand our creative capacity in terms of life; we don't need to choose between community, family or our own way. Everything can be merged together in a harmonious unit whereby giving pure Love and acceptance to each is the magic glue that ties them all together. Monkeys also teach us to not bury our head in the sand after seeming failure. Sometimes not getting what we want can be true serendipity, because the human mind is not capable of grasping every nook and cranny of life's flow.
All images: Pixabay
Spiritually dark aspects:
Monkeys tend to have a low boredom threshold and poor concentration. No matter what the monkey is doing, usually it is never so immersed that it will stick to its occupation until finished because the monkey's playful nature detests repetition, something that it deems principally dull. Most likely, a minute distraction is enough to tempt away the monkey from its current activity with no incentive left to continue very same at a later point. If we cultivate that behavior we not only put off creative projects but recklessly abandon them altogether, eventually leaving us with the niggly feeling of never getting anything done. Those with the monkey as their spirit animal also have a hankering for no-holds-barred shenanigans to an extend that they often lack the delicacy of feeling when enough is enough. As a rule of thumb, a monkey's promise to refrain from playing tricks is monkeyshine in itself.
Much Love and Light,
Alex