Spirit Guide of the day is Porcupine! Increase the amount of nutrient rich greens in your diet. Relax and don't let others try to rush you or stop you from doing things. Rather, let yourself move at your own pace and realized that you are protected. Keep faith in yourself and hold yourself with respect. As long as you show respect to others it will be reciprocated to you. Porcupines have a unique taste for salt and will often eat anything with even a faint taste of it. This can be a sign to watch your salt intake. Even with their poor eyesight, these creatures are a guide of relaxed curiosity, investigating anything that interests them. They possess a connection with the element of water due to the air-filled, buoyant quality of their quills and allows them to flow through high emotions with calm behavior. This spirit guide can be a reminder to tap into the gentle rhythm of dance and can help in showing you how to enjoy life while resisting the negative that may be around you. People who connect with Porcupine are loving, gentle souls that enjoy most activities. They are not intimidated by others, taking time to grow angry by anything, but are known to sting when their anger is finally peaked. These curious individuals love to explore and are able to handle tense situations with a calm attitude.

Porcupines, Erethizon Dorsatum, omnivorous rodents that can live up to 12 years in the wild. The Latin name for Porcupine means "quill pig" in reference to the iconic array of quills each species possesses. There are approximately 30 species of Porcupine that live in a wide range of habitats all in places such as Asia, Europe, North and South America, and parts of Africa. They can be as small as the South American variety that only grows to a weight of 1 kilogram or as large as the African Crested Porcupine that weighs as much as 22 lbs. These animals are the third largest rodent possessing quills or spikes. The species are divided into either the New World or Old World Porcupines. Old World Porcupines are large with spines group in clusters while the New World porcupines are smaller with spines attached singly. The New World porcupines also have backward facing barbs on the end of their quills which latch into the skin when embedded. The New World porcupines are even known to live in trees. The Old World porcupines are strictly ground dwellers and can be found living in hollow logs, small caves, and rock crevices. All Porcupines are covered with spines or quills which can be white, brown, or grey in color. These quills are actually modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin. These quills are used both for defensive measures when flattened against their back or as an offensive reaction when forced upwards. They are extremely sensitive and easily detach from the porcupine if touched. Porcupines do not have quills on their stomach and they do have softer hair interspersed with the quills. Other traits shared by porcupine species are their short and sturdy legs, 5 toed feet possessing powerful claws, and their blunt muzzles with small eyes and ears. Porcupines have poor vision, but make up for it with a great sense of smell. This sense of smell can help them find their favorite treat: Salt licks. They will sometimes be found wandering into human areas in search of salt resources, gnawing at salt placed to thaw roads. At times, they will also gnaw on animal bones for a more natural source of salt. The rest of their diet consists of plants, shrubs, and leaves. Porcupines are not territorial and will range over an area as large as 200 acres. These creatures are also highly vocal and are able to make a wide range of noises including whines, screeches, and low grunts. They will live in family groups of around 6 members in complicated burrows. These family groups will huddle together during the winter to stay warm. However, some porcupines such as African Porcupines are known to live as monogamous pairs who will form groups with other pairs and their families to share their burrows. When threatened, a porcupine will growl, hiss, click it's teeth, stamp its feet, and vibrate its quills to intimidate whoever is threatening them. On the occasions this doesn't work, the porcupine will rapidly run backwards to ram their opponent with the full force of their backward facing quills. There is no breeding season for porcupines, rather they will only have one litter per year. A female porcupine will do the initiating, presenting herself to the male by flattening her spines. Depending on the species, they will have 1 to 4 babies in the grass and leaf lined burrow they have prepared. These young are called porcupettes and are born with no quills or spines, but, instead, with soft, sensitive bristles. Their small eyes will open not long after birth. One week old they will begin to leave the nest as their spines begin to harden and fully develop. It is around three weeks when they are able to consume solid food and begin to live in their own at approximately two months. They will not reach full maturity, however, until between 1 and 2 years old.