Following in the series of moving through each animal in the Wild Unknown Animal Spirit deck, we are now at the Beaver. The Beaver sits at the number six position in the element of water.
Numerology of the number six includes themes of beauty, harmony, loyalty, duty, divine love, and connection. This number resonates with the planet Venus, and is in connection with the Lovers from the tarot.
With Venus and the Lovers, six is number for those who seek to be of service, helpfulness, and nurture their relationships tirelessly. People with the life path number of six perceive a world through the sacred bonds they create. It is a beautiful give and take, if it can remain healthy, balanced, and mindful
We will see all these themes with the Beaver, within the deck, as well as the role that Beavers serve to their ecosystems. Coming after the the Octopus, which you can read here, we have hopefully learned how to create mindful boundaries and meaningful engagement. If we haven’t, we will find ourselves being out of balance when it comes to our connection to the beaver, and how we emotionally process situations without either becoming a door mat or a martyr. Read all about the numerology of six here.
Working to serve and enhance the world with the Beaver
Before we get into the invitations from the card, it is important to highlight the important role that Beavers play in their ecosystems, and in the world. Beavers are known as a keystone species. This means that their presence in the ecosystem shapes and supports the entire ecosystem, and the other animals that live alongside them.
To illustrate this point, during the 1900’s the Beavers were almost trapped to extinction as they were prized for their fur, meat, and scent glands. There is archeological evidence that many places that are now arid and dry were once wetlands because of the beavers. Areas that were once rich in biodiversity became flat and barren as people diverted the remaining water from streams, and used the land for farming or development. Beavers are also an integral factor in wildfire mitigation and climate resilience.
Bringing these cornerstone facts into working with the Beaver from this deck, or any deck, it is easy to see that the invitations with the Beaver immediately anchor into hard work, resilience, dependability, and loyalty, to the benefit of all. The Beaver as an an animal spirit asks you to work from your purpose, and to do it with your full heart. The Beaver is, or at least should be, a welcome sight. They illuminate the message that we are all part of this world, and all have our unique role to play.
Beavers are going to continue doing what they do best, build sturdy dams for their family, but in doing so, they benefit the world around them. The same can be said in the metaphorical ways to work with this card. When you build physically supportive foundations and places for you, your loved ones, and your community to thrive, all benefit. One important reminder is to engage with these connections from an honest and authentic place.
Again, the Beaver is going to do what it is going to do. However, there are still many people who hunt and lethally trap beavers because they see them as a nuisance Those people are unable to see the bigger picture, an interconnected picture. They merely see the “nuisance” of the beaver, but fail to realize that the world does not revolve around them. Given the state of the climate crisis, humans could use some humility and recenter their perception that the world revolves around humans. All deserve to live and thrive on this beautiful planet, and that is what the Beaver teaches and invites.
Guidance from the guidebook
Some key references from the guidebook
Keywords / phrases: Hard worker, Loyal, Tireless, Family First
When in balance: meaningful work
When out of balance: feels useless, worn out
To bring into balance: selfless service
Following the guidance from the guidebook, working with the Beaver is to show your divine love for others through your actions. The Beaver speaks to seeing the higher potential that is possible and acting to make that a reality. The Beaver speaks to not only see self and other, but the mutual, reciprocal dynamic of all in this particular, and creating stability for the dynamic. This is why it is important to make honesty, integrity, and authenticity a part of this foundational stability. It won’t work another way.
There are many families that claim to be inclusive, tolerant, and loving. However, these themes are at the expense of someone’s conformity. Families like this will preach they are tolerant, but only if their loved ones do, act, and believe in what they believe. This is almost worse than intolerance because it forces someone to choose between their autonomy and their support system.
In the light, the Beaver takes pleasure in doing the things that support their loved ones, friends, and communities. These are the lovers that willingly take on extra work so their partner can accomplish something personally. Beaver type friends will champion, support, and scream someone’s name from the rooftops so they will get the notice and credit they deserve. These are the workers that value everyone’s opinions, and make sure others feel heard. Beavers are the literal builders of community.
Because this is how the beaver manifests as an animal spirit, it is easy to see that burnout, compassion fatigue, and worthlessness are a natural possibility. That is why the balance when working with Beaver energy also must include mindfulness and boundaries. Unfortunately, there are those who will exploit, use, and profit from Beaver-types, and they will not feel bad about it. While Beavers are about everyone else, there are those who are only focused on themselves.
It may be hard, but creating strong boundaries and clear communication is going to be one of the best ways to keep this energy in balance. Also, creating time for yourself, and practicing self-love as a ritual is going to be important when working with the Beaver. Give to yourself as you give to others. Receive the help of others, and know where your limits are in situations. More than anything, know that in a world where a lot of people are all talk, physical actions that show you care about someone speak loud and resonate.