.: Bear :.

Animal Guide Spagyric

Species:  American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Secured: Spring 2024 in NJ

Parts Used: All parts were used

Method of Extraction:  Advanced Alchemical lab processes combining Plant, Animal, and Mineral works to achieve the secretive and powerful Animal Alchemy. -- The Spirit/Alcohol used was rectified from raw honey mead and Sulfurs/Essential Oils were extracted from propolis, royal jelly, and fresh - unprocessed - local bee pollen. --

Correspondences: Saturnian, Lunar, Earth Element, Hermit and Strength Tarot

Highlights: Primal strength and grounded power, Introspection and inner knowing, Sovereignty and personal boundaries, The wisdom of cycles (hibernation/awakening), Protection of what is sacred, Foraging and knowing what sustains you, Confronting the shadow with courage, Motherhood and fierce guardianship, Healing through solitude and rest, Connection to earth magic and plant wisdom, In Kundalini work, it is the Root (foundation, safety) and Solar Plexus (personal power, will) chakras, Digestion and transformation of experience, Resilience and adaptability, Leadership through quiet confidence

"It is said that once on a time long ago in the winter, at the beginning of the season of snow after the first fall of snow, three men went on a hunt for game early on a morning. Upon a hillside into a place where the bush was thick a bear they trailed. One of the men went in following the trail of the bear. And then he started it up running. "Towards the place whence comes the cold is he speeding away!" he said to his companions.

He that headed off on the side which lay towards the source of the cold, "In the direction of the place of the noonday sky is he running!" he said.

Back and forth amongst themselves they kept the bear fleeing. They say that after a while he that was coming up behind chanced to look down at the ground. Behold, green was the surface of the earth lying face up! Now of a truth up into the sky were they conveyed by the bear! When round about the bush they were chasing it then truly was the time that up into the sky they went. And then he that came up behind cried out to him that was next ahead: "O River-that-joins-Another, let us go back! We are being carried up into the sky!" Thus said he to River-that-joins-Another. But by him was he not heeded.

Now River-that-joins-Another was he who ran in between the two, and a little puppy Hold-Tight he had for a pet.

In the autumn they overtook the bear, then they slew it. After they had slain it, then boughs of the oak they cut, likewise boughs of the sumac, then laying the bear on top of the leaves they flayed and cut up the bear; after they had flayed and cut it up, then they began slinging and scattering the meat in every direction. Towards the place of the coming of the morning they flung the head; in the winter-time when the morning is about to appear some stars usually rise; it is said that they came from the head of the bear. And also his backbone, towards the place of the morning they flung it too. They too are commonly seen in the winter-time; they are stars that lie huddled close together; it is said that they came from the backbone.

And they say that these four stars in the lead were the bear, and the three stars at the rear were they who were chasing after the bear. In between two of them is a tiny little star, it hangs near by another; they say that it was the puppy, the pet Hold-Tight of River-that-joins-Another.

Every autumn the oaks and sumacs redden in the leaf because it is then that the hunters lay the bear on top of the leaves and flay and cut it up; then red with blood become the leaves. Such is the reason why every autumn red become the leaves of the oaks and sumacs."

              - William Jones' 1907 collection of Mesquakie stories -

The Bear stands as one of nature's most commanding sovereigns, an archetype of grounded power that has commanded respect and inspired myth across northern cultures. "Bear" conjures a universal essence of formidable strength and introspection, yet focusing on the American Black Bear reveals a more nuanced story of adaptable intelligence, deep cyclical wisdom, and a powerful, earth-bound presence.

.:Biology:.

The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common and widely distributed bear species on the continent. Contrary to its name, its fur can range from glossy black and cinnamon brown to a rare bluish-gray (found in the Glacier Bear of Alaska) and even white (the Kermode or "Spirit Bear" of British Columbia). This adaptability in form mirrors its incredible adaptability in habitat.

An omnivore of great intelligence, its diet shifts with the seasons: spring greens and grasses, summer berries and insects, and the critical autumn hyperphagia where it consumes nuts, acorns, and fruit to build fat reserves. This biological imperative to prepare for winter is central to its being. Black bears inhabit forests, swamps, and mountainous regions, requiring large territories for foraging. They are excellent climbers as cubs and often as adults, using trees for safety, food, and rest.

Adult males typically weigh 130-500 lbs, while females range from 90-250 lbs. They stand about 2-3 feet at the shoulder and 4-7 feet when upright. Lifespan in the wild is around 18-20 years, though they can live longer. Their keen sense of smell is legendary, estimated to be over seven times stronger than a bloodhound's, guiding them to food sources miles away and defining their experience of the world.

.:The Cycle of Seasons:.

The bear's life is a profound embodiment of nature's rhythms, most powerfully expressed in the cycle of hibernation. This is not a true sleep, but a state of torpor where heart rate and metabolism slow dramatically, allowing survival for months without eating, drinking, or eliminating waste.

In late autumn, driven by photoperiod and food scarcity, the bear seeks a den—a hollow tree, a excavated hillside, or a rock crevice. Here, it enters its winter rest, a state of deep introspection and conservation. During this time, the sow gives birth to one to three tiny, blind cubs, nurturing them from her own body's reserves until spring.

Emergence in spring is a slow rebirth. The bear, having lost a significant portion of its body weight, is focused on replenishment. This annual journey from abundant activity to silent hibernation and back again teaches the wisdom of necessary retreat, the power of stored resources (both physical and spiritual), and the courage required for re-emergence into the world renewed. Through bear we honor and celebrate the realm of death during the winter solstice and rebirth during the spring equinox.

.:The Forager & The Sovereign:.

The bear is the ultimate adept forager, a creature of disciplined opportunism. It does not waste energy; it moves with a deliberate, powerful gait through its territory, using its extraordinary nose to map the landscape for calories. It flips rocks for insects, strips bark for grubs, and remembers the locations of berry patches and oak stands year after year.

This foraging intelligence speaks to a deeper wisdom: knowing what is truly nourishing and having the discernment to seek it out. The bear embodies a quiet sovereignty over its domain. It is generally non-confrontational but possesses immense, readily accessible power when its boundaries are crossed, when its cubs are threatened, or when its sustenance is challenged. Its strength is not for show; it is a latent, potent fact of its being.

.:The Spiritual:.

Bear medicine is the medicine of the Earth itself—grounded, potent, and cyclical. It calls us to retreat into our own "den" for introspection, to digest our experiences, and to connect with the deep, instinctual self that knows without being told. Bear teaches that true power comes from within, from a well of quiet confidence and self-sufficiency.

It challenges us to establish strong boundaries and to protect what is sacred to us with gentle firmness or fierce determination as needed. As the guide of the great wheel of the seasons, Bear shows that periods of outward activity must be balanced with periods of inward restoration. There is no growth without rest, no action without contemplation.

Bear tends to emerge as a lifelong Totem Guide for those who require its foundational lessons of strength, sovereignty, and cyclical wisdom. It is not a fleeting visitor but a permanent companion, teaching that our greatest power is found not in constant noise and motion, but in the grounded, patient, and resilient heart of the wild self.

.:Why Bear May Be Showing Up in Your Life:.

When Bear emerges as your guide, it often signals a need to focus on core, foundational energies. Consider its appearance if you are experiencing:

• A Call for Introspection & Rest: You feel chronically busy, drained, or mentally scattered. Bear urges you to retreat, "hibernate," and turn inward to restore your energy and find answers within.

• A Need to Reclaim Personal Power: You are facing situations that require you to set firm boundaries, stand your ground, or protect what you value (your energy, time, family, or projects).

• A Time of Major Transition or Healing: You are in a cycle of ending and renewal—recovering from an illness, processing a significant life change, or seeking deep emotional healing. Bear guides you through the "dark" phase of transformation.

• A Disconnect from Your Body or Nature: You feel ungrounded, anxious, or overly cerebral. Bear calls you back to the wisdom of your physical body, your instincts, and the natural world.

• A Need for Nourishment & Discernment: You may be consuming what does not truly serve you—be it food, information, or relationships. Bear teaches you to forage wisely for what genuinely sustains your body and spirit.

.:What Bear May Be Asking You to Focus On:.

As your spiritual guide, Bear’s wisdom directs your attention to specific practices and perspectives:

.:Bear in Native and Ancient Traditions:.

Across the Northern Hemisphere, Bear has been revered as a sacred, archetypal force. Here is how its wisdom was understood and utilized by various cultures:

• A Sacred Ancestor and Healer: Many indigenous cultures of North America and Northern Europe viewed Bear as a close relative or ancient ancestor. The Ainu of Japan and the Saami of Scandinavia held bear ceremonies to escort its spirit back to the spirit world, ensuring its return and the community's continuation.

• Master of Medicine and Plants: Bear's intimate knowledge of roots, herbs, and berries led to its association with healing. Native American traditions, like those of the Cherokee and Lakota, often call Bear "The Medicine Keeper." Shamans would seek Bear's spirit in dreams to learn the use of medicinal plants.

• Symbol of Resurrection and the Underworld: Due to its annual disappearance into the earth (hibernation) and re-emergence in spring, Bear became a powerful symbol of death, rebirth, and accessing hidden knowledge. In Celtic and some Siberian shamanic traditions, Bear was a guide to the underworld, helping souls transition and shamans retrieve wisdom.

• Embodiment of Sovereign Power and Justice: For many tribes, including the Haida and Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest, Bear represented unstoppable strength, authority, and law. Clan leaders and warriors sought its power, and its image adorned totems as a guardian of lineage and territory.

• The Great Mother and Protector: The she-bear's ferocity in protecting her cubs made her a universal symbol of maternal defense, nurturing, and fierce love. This aspect is echoed in Greek mythology with the goddess Artemis, whose priestesses were called arktoi (bears).

.:Integrating Bear Wisdom into Practice:.

To respectfully work with this energy, consider these actionable alignments based on ancient and nature-honoring principles:

• Create a "Hibernation" Ritual: Dedicate regular time (an hour, a day, a weekend) for a digital detox and silent retreat in your home.

• Practice Earth-Grounding: Walk barefoot on soil or grass, garden with your hands, or meditate while holding a stone.

• Study Local Plants: Learn about the native, edible, or medicinal plants in your region as an act of connecting with Bear's foraging wisdom.

• Work with the Shadow: Use journaling prompts like, "What fear or habit am I avoiding that needs my courageous attention?"

• Honor the Seasons: Align your projects and rest periods with the natural year—planing in spring, active work in summer, harvesting/releasing in fall, and rest/inward focus in winter.

The core message of Bear is timeless: true strength is born of quiet confidence, resilience is forged in rest, and the deepest wisdom is found not outside, but within the sacred dark of your own being. It is a permanent guide for those called to walk a path of grounded, sovereign power.