Boundaries as Shields: July's Animal Medicine Reading

A sacred Animal Medicine card pull reveals powerful boundary medicine for July through the wisdom of the Armadillo. 

Drawing from the respected Animal Medicine card deck by Jamie Sands and David Carson, Lizzy shares a profound reading rooted in Native American wisdom that speaks directly to our collective need for healthier boundaries this month. The Armadillo - with its natural armor as part of its physical being - teaches us about creating energetic protection that allows harmful words or intentions to simply roll off.

The reading explores how many of us struggle with saying "no" even when it means canceling our own plans, feeling like emotional sponges unable to distinguish between others' feelings and our own, and consistently putting everyone else's needs before our personal well-being. Through the Armadillo's medicine, we're guided to create a metaphorical shield that clearly defines what experiences we welcome into our lives versus what we'll accept only by invitation.

This episode offers practical reflections and visualization techniques for honoring your energetic boundaries. You'll learn how to recognize when you've been unconsciously absorbing others' emotions, reclaim your sense of self through intentional boundary-setting, and create space for what truly brings you joy. The Armadillo appears now because there's a part of you ready to awaken to this protective energy - to stop being a doormat and start honoring your authentic needs.

Ready to transform your relationship with boundaries? Listen now, then download the ModernZen Collective app to continue your journey with guided meditations, soulful workshops, and intuitive channeling - all created to support your spiritual and holistic wellness.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm Nikki.
Have you ever felt that yourlife was missing purpose, joy or
deep connection?
Welcome to the Modern ZenCollective podcast, where we
embrace holistic living for ajoyful, purpose-driven life.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
In this podcast, we'll explore holistic practices
, consciousness expansion andspiritual alignment.
We will dive into personaldevelopment practices that
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cultures have known forcenturies.
Together, we aim to guide,educate and connect individuals
eager to transform their lives.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Join us weekly on the Modern Zen Collective podcast
and elevate your mind, body andspirit.
And now on to today's episode.
Hello, friends, and welcome toa very special episode of the

(01:12):
Modern Zen Collective Podcast.
Today, myself, lizzie, will beoffering a sacred card pull for
the month of July, using theAnimal Medicine card Deck by
Jamie Sands and David Carson.
This is my favorite deck ofcards that I have.

(01:32):
It's the first card deck that Iever was introduced to when I
was working at a place calledPacific Quest on the island of
Hawaii.
One of the other leads with meat this wilderness therapy
program.
Read my animal medicine cardsand it was a big realization and
turning point in my life and myfaith in things outside of

(01:53):
myself, helping me discern whatI needed to pay attention to in
my life, and it was.
It was just really, really cooland just really hit home for me
.
So I want to share this withyou.
These cards are really rootedin indigenous Native American
wisdom and they offer guidancethrough the energy of animal

(02:16):
totems.
So they're messengers fromnature that can reflect, awaken
and activate something deepwithin us.
Awaken and activate somethingdeep within us, our fellow
creatures, the animals you know.
They often exhibit habitpatterns that will relay
messages of healing to anyonethat is paying enough attention

(02:37):
to observe their lessons on howto live.
These precious gifts of thistrue medicine are free, and each
lesson is based on one majoridea or concept, and so, for the
sake of simplicity, each animalhas been assigned one of the
lessons.
But in reality, each animal increation has hundreds of lessons
to impart, and all of thoselessons are powers that can be

(02:59):
called upon.
So today I will be practicingmy own ritual of card pulling,
and when I pull cards, whetherfor myself or a client, or here
for the Modern Zen community,you know I'm not trying to
predict the future.
I'm really just opening upspace and connection so that I

(03:23):
can receive guidance and be achannel for the divine, so that
I can listen to what they haveto share, what they have to
bring us for this moment in time, for the people that are here
listening.
It's really a practice of beingquiet, being still being quiet,
being still reflection,presence and really trust in

(03:51):
something greater than ourselvesand something that weaves
throughout our lives.
So why I choose animal medicineis that I am just so connected
to nature.
I always feel so connected tospirit to the divine when I'm
out in nature and that has beena through line throughout my
entire life.
And animal medicine reallyreminds us that we're not

(04:14):
separate from nature, that we'renot separate from Mother Earth
and all of this around us.
Each animal holds that uniquerhythm, instinct and gift, one
that mirrors something within us, something that we may be being
asked to reclaim or rememberthis month.
So each creature carriessymbolic wisdom, but also

(04:34):
energetic medicine.
So it carries ways of beingthat can help us navigate our
paths to be more aligned withwho we really are.
So, before I draw this card foryou, I would like to invite you
to take a deep breath with me,maybe place a hand on your heart
if that feels right, maybe oneon your belly that's my go-to

(05:01):
and just ask your inner selfwhat energy am I ready to embody
this month, what is ready toguide me forward?
And let's see what the universehas to offer us.
So the card that I pulled forus for the month of July is

(05:25):
number 28, the armadillo.
And the armadillo is all aboutboundaries Yay, our favorite
word, boundaries.
So I'm going to read you alittle excerpt from the book.
That's all about the armadillo,and this is something that you

(05:45):
can pause and rewind and listento this over.
There's going to be differentpieces of this that stick out to
you and really feel likesomething that's meant for you,
and there's going to be otherpieces that you don't remember.
So it's not about the wholething.
It's about what reallyinstinctually allows you to feel
that urge inside your body,something that awakens in you

(06:06):
that says that is what's for me,that is what I'm supposed to be
paying attention to.
So again, number 28, thearmadillo all about boundaries.
Armadillo wears its armor onits back, its medicine a part of
its body.
Its boundaries of safety are apart of its total being.
Armadillo can roll into a balland never be penetrated by

(06:30):
enemies.
What a gift it is to set yourboundaries so that harmful words
or intentions just roll off.
Your lesson is in setting upwhat you are willing to
experience.
If you do not wish toexperience feeling invaded, just
call on Armadillo Medicine.
A clue to how to proceed is tomake a circle on a piece of

(06:51):
paper and see it as a medicineshield.
In the body of the shield,write all that you are desiring
to have, do or experience.
Include all the things thatgive you joy.
This sets up boundaries thatallow only these chosen
experiences to be part of yourlife.
These boundaries become ashield that ward off the things
which are undesirable to you.

(07:12):
The shield reflects what youare and what your will is to
others on an unconscious level.
Outside of the shield, you mayput what you are willing to
experience by invitation only.
For example, a visit from along-lost relative, maybe
criticism from friends or peopleneeding handouts.
If Armadillo has waddled intothe cards you chose.

(07:36):
It is time to define your space.
You may have been too willingto let your home become a bus
station.
You may find that you cannotsay no, even when you know that
you will have to cancel plans tobe obliging.
This routine can get old in ahurry.
It may be time to ask yourselfthe following questions Am I

(07:56):
honoring the time I need for mypersonal enjoyment?
Do others treat me like adoormat?
Why do I always get upset whenI'm taken for granted?
Is there a reason for my beinga yes person?
All of the answers to thesequestions relate to setting up

(08:18):
boundaries.
What you will and won't do,what makes you feel
uncomfortable and what iscomforting to you, how you react
in any circumstance has to dowith your ability to be
objective.
You cannot be objective if youcannot tell where the other
person's personality stops andwhere yours begins.
If you have no boundaries, youare like a sponge.

(08:40):
It will seem as if all thefeelings in the room full of
people must be yours.
Ask yourself if you are reallya sponge.
It will seem as if all thefeelings in the room full of
people must be yours.
Ask yourself if you are reallyfeeling depressed or if this
feeling actually belongs to theperson you are talking to.
Then allow armadillo's armor toslice in between, giving you
back your sense of self.

(09:00):
Let's take a moment to breatheinto the energy of this guide,
the armadillo.
You may already feel aconnection to this animal, or it
may be inviting you intosomething unfamiliar.
Either way, its presence isnever random and it arrives

(09:21):
because there's a part of youthat's ready to awaken to this
energy.
So here are a few questions foryou to explore this month,
inspired by the medicine of thearmadillo.
Where in your life is thisenergy already alive and asking
to be honored?
Where have you been resistingcreating boundaries?

(09:47):
How might embodying themedicine of the armadillo help
you reclaim your power, peace orpurpose.
You can return to thesequestions anytime throughout the
month.
Also, the questions that I readstraight from the book journal

(10:10):
with them, sit with them or letthem guide your decisions and
presence.
And if you want to deepen yourconnection with this animal
medicine, you might tryobserving how the armadillo
moves in nature or in stillness,maybe placing an image or
symbol of the armadillo on youraltar or somewhere secret,

(10:38):
reflecting on dreams orsynchronicities that bring the
armadillo to you, or using thearmadillo's traits to set your
intention or energy each morning.
I'm sure many of you do not seearmadillos out in the wild.
I am actually one of the luckyfew.
I live in Texas now and I haveseen an armadillo out and about
and I have seen them in reallife, and so I will be

(10:58):
reflecting and hopefully beingable to observe this animal out
in nature over the course of thenext month.
But just remember that thearmadillo, this animal, came
forward for a reason.
Trust that its message willcontinue to unfold in divine
timing and let it be a gentlecompanion, a mirror or a guide

(11:20):
for this month of july ahead.
So thank you so much for joiningme today on this special
podcast episode with yours truly, lizzie sutton, and I can't
wait to see you guys on the nextone.
Thank you you so much.
Love y'all.
Thank you so much for joiningus today on the Modern Zen

(11:48):
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