On one of my (pre-) dawn walks with my pups last weekend, I saw what at first I thought was a small black dog walking down a street. I did not see a human and was concerned it might have gotten out or lost. I waited and watched it walk closer to me only to realize that it was actually a skunk. This was my first sighting (or hearing of) a skunk in the city (or even the Bay Area), and so I was quite surprised as well as curious about what messages this animal spirit might be bringing to me.

Despite most people’s fear, skunks are peace loving creatures. They will only spray their skunky stink if they absolutely have to because it can take several days to refill their glands, and so they would prefer to settle matters peacefully. They are natural practitioners of Ahimsa, non-violence. Skunks can also be domesticated and kept as pets, showing their ability to co-operate with other creatures.

Skunks are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. They confidently move about during the dark twilight hours, when the energy is shifting from day to night and night to day.

The Skunk symbolizes:

• Peace, Patience, and Non-violence
• Self-confidence, Courage, and Self-respect
• Awareness of and Understanding Energy
• Prudence