Has a Rat come running into your life, your dreams or maybe your property??? Well, that is why I am writing this blog, because it has for me and many people all over the world.
My neighbors and I have recently been seeing rats in our streets, backyards, compost piles, trash and gardens sparking a few questions from me…. What does Rat Totem symbolize (of course I automatically wonder), but also more importantly, why is this happening all of a sudden? For my town and in many areas, sanitation worker shortages are everywhere and that means our trash has not been picked up as often as it used to. In some cases, I had trash or yard waste sitting out for pick up for up to 5 weeks. The actual garbage never went more than two weeks without pick up, but during Summer months, that can get pungently disgusting. In further research, the world wide pandemic has caused restaurants, pubs, schools to close and people to stay home for long periods of time cutting off typical food supplies to these rodents and forcing them to search for food, which unfortunately are in our homes and trash cans in residential areas. This rat epidemic is occurring everywhere. So there is the logical explanation. Just a a warning or caution – Rats are living creatures and deserve the respect of any living being, but you want to ensure they do not make way into our homes. First and foremost – DO NOT use poison as a defense because if a rat eats the poison, there is a good chance that your cat or dog may interact with the rat and also become poisoned (I have seen this happen when I was younger) – but even if you don’t have a vulnerable pet, rats are food for many wild animals and birds such as Owls and birds of prey and if they eat the rat, they too will be poisoned. Best bet is to use no kill traps (because small animals could also fall victim to a kill trap); once captured in a no kill trap, you take it somewhere and release it. Check all possible openings around the outside of your house as mice and rats will squeeze in to the smallest of cracks and opening around doors, windows and pipes. I am also using an organic, pet and child safe repellent that looks like tan colored sprinkles that can be distributed around the outside along the foundation or inside wear evidence has been seen. Also, clean up outdoor gardens and spaces as well as clear the clutter in basements and attics. You can also you a search engine for more tips and tricks do handle this situation in a humane and intelligent manner – Don’t Panic!
Now, for the energetic and spiritual side of this.
When I see a rat, it brings the feeling of EEEEK! – Fear and disgust immediately come to mind. Then I wonder, who in my life is a “Rat?” Rats are often associated with enemies, but there are beautiful sides to this Totem and it is sad that most people’s reaction is negative because they are extremely intelligent, gentle and social. Rats are wonderful Mothers and are prolifically fertile; so abundance comes to mind. They are resourceful and will go the distance when they are looking to provide for themselves or their brood (that is why they are showing up in residential neighborhoods in unprecedented numbers). So if you are looking to launch or sustain a project, business or a daunting task, Rat Totem is a great spirit to call in. Think about just how resourceful they are, they will utilize what others have thrown away and discarded, they will endure, going to great lengths to survive. During this pandemic of the big “C” and in the coming lean times that I can see in the Astrology, Rat will either become our friend or we will perish. They, like Squirrel, will create stockpiles in preparation for leaner times.
Rat Totem shows up when it is time to consider our careers, legacies and our home and family. It is about balance. Have we been working too much or gotten lazy and we are barely getting by? How are we engaging with our families? Spending too much or too little time, are we connected or disconnected? The lock downs and restrictions have really changed the way we interact with our loved ones that may be living outside of our homes. How can we spruce up our living and working spaces? Rat also comes to us when we need to focus on the nurturing of our loved ones, especially during times of illness or may foretell of a new birth coming. These are all topics to consider.
If you see a Rat, whether in person or in a dream, pay attention to its direction; was it moving towards you or away from you? Was it moving in the direction of North, South, East or West? The Directions can also represent: Stages of life: birth, youth, adult (or elder), death. Seasons of the year: spring, summer, winter, fall. Aspects of life: spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical. Elements of nature: fire (or sun), air, water, and earth.
In Shamanic traditions, the Rat symbolizes security and survival. The smallest scrap gives Rat Spirit enough to get by for a little while longer, allowing the creature to survive by its wits alone. Rat is also a partner for protecting one’s health because it has a strong immunity to disease and the toxins in the environment and food.
While Rats were sometimes messengers in Celtic lore, folklore often paints the creature in a negative light. Sighting a white Rat is about the only positive sign noted, indicating good luck. Finding Rat-chewed items foretells of misfortune.
Because rats leave a ship before sinking, they have symbolic ties to foreknowledge and psychic abilities. The creature’s ability to find what it wants depicts the creature as clever. Defending its belongings or territory aggressively when necessary, causes Rat to signify courage.
Finally, Rat really wants us to pay attention to the people and situations around us. The opportunities or demise that could be surrounding us if we do not pay attention. They do warn of leaners times, but also the possibility of abundance if we are prepared. Of course, our perception or lack of abundance is just that -Our Perception.