Not living in the country or possessing a garden, I don't have much occasion to see snails. That's why when I saw one this morning crossing the sidewalk, still wet from the earlier rain, I was surprised. He was bright, shiny green with a yellow shell. I wished I'd brought a camera along on my morning coffee run.

Since his presence was so out of the ordinary, I felt compelled to learn what a snail represents as a spirit guide and what "medicine" and magickal correspondences they bring.

The snail's wisdom includes:

• Importance of keeping yourself mobile
  
• Understanding the value of leaving a trail
  
• Ability to use slow movement to one's advantage
  
• Defense through retreat
  
• Understanding the value of humor
  

The snail symbolizes not just the necessity but often the freedom to take things slow and steady. Consider, for example, the tarot's Nine of Pentacles I discussed in an earlier post. The Snail depicted in this card represents the ability this woman has to take her life at a snail's pace - slow and easy - because she has worked hard to achieve a level of success that affords her this luxury. Most people can't afford the luxury of time, spending much of the time they have working hard. When that hard work pays off, often after patient perseverance and dedication, then we have earned the luxury of spending our time as we please. Therefore, the snail becomes a reminder of success. Slow and steady wins the race.

Mathematically (and by extension, one could argue, spiritually) the snail is connected to everything in nature. What is the size difference between each spiral on a snail cross section? 1.618033963. This number is referred to as the "golden ratio," which repeats itself in all living things and has numerous associations within aesthetics, philosophy and spirituality.

The Manataka American Indian Council has a terrific reference on spirit guides. From them, I learned that my little snail friend is a "messenger guide."

A Messenger Guide quickly comes into your life and then leaves once a message is understood. The time a Message Guide stays in your psychic is relative to you seeing and accepting the message. The message itself can be spiritual in nature, or it can be a warning. The message may deal with a seemingly mundane aspect of your life or it may be a wake-up call for some important action you must make. Sometimes the animal messenger will come during an unusual event and make a powerful statement and others come on the wind as a whisper. A messenger guide can cause you delays or some unforeseen help in your life. They can be both negative and positive in nature for they are totally impartial.

On my way back I looked for the snail; he was gone. I guess he decided his work here was done!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 12:10 PM