Squirrels belong to a large family of
small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. Squirrels are
indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia and Africa, and have been introduced to Australia.
Squirrels typically have slender bodies
with bushy tails and large eyes. Their fur is generally soft and silky,
although much thicker in some species than others. The color of squirrels is highly variable
between—and often even within species.
Squirrels live in almost every habitat from tropical
rainforest to semiarid desert, avoiding only the high polar regions and the
driest of deserts. They are predominantly herbivorous, subsisting on seeds and
nuts, but many will eat insects and even small vertebrates. They can be domesticated into a pet in a home
while in other areas they are used as meat.
The life span of the Gray squirrel is approximately
six years. Most urban squirrels do not
reach their first birthday. This is due not to predators, but rather to
automobiles. Compared to its rural
counterpart, which often perishes from lack of food.
Whether Urban or Country Pagan, most people have
seen or heard a squirrel, or a member of the squirrel family, throughout the
world. They are playful, curious and quick
climbers. The gathering power of Squirrel is a great gift. It teaches us balance within the circle of
gathering and giving out. They remind us
that in our quest for our goals, it is
vital to make time for play and socializing.
Squirrels teaches us to conserve our energy for times of need.
In
Native American folktales, squirrels are most noted for their noisy and
aggressive behavior. Squirrel characters
frequently spread gossip, instigate trouble between other animals, or annoy
others with their rudeness and bossiness. However, in some stories they are praised for
their industrious food-gathering and courage, and among southeastern tribes,
squirrels are honored as caretakers of the forest. Some Northwest Coast tribes consider the
squirrel a messenger who may bring warnings of danger to the people.
We’ve all heard not to shoot the
messenger, and that may hold true even in the case of the gossipy messenger of
Norse myth known as Ratatoskr. In Norse mythology, Ratatoskr
is a squirrel who runs up and down the world tree Yggdrasil to carry messages
between the eagle, perched atop Yggdrasil, and the serpent, who dwells beneath
one of the three roots of the tree. Information must come fast and furious.
One theory for the origin of the squirrel likens Ratatoskr to malicious
gossips, explaining why the messenger role went to a lowly animal or person. Another says the role may have arisen due to
the tree squirrel’s shrieking warning call, which can easily sound like he’s
screaming nasty things.
Ask
yourself are you too active, not active enough, afraid of enough, hung up on
accumulating and collecting. Squirrel
people tend to be a little erratic – trying to do many things at once. Take the time to stop and listen to your
inner self – and don’t forget to play!
On the ash-tree Yggdrasil;
From above the words of the eagle he bears,
And tells them to Nithhogg beneath."
-Grimnismal
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