In this week's External Influence, we see the Spirit Guide Porcupine! Adjust your diet this week by adding in more rich greens. Allow yourself to find nourishment in simple, healthy meals throughout the week. The Porcupine can also be a reminder to watch your salt intake for these animals are known for loving to eat anything with even a hint of salt taste to them. As we move through the week, the Porcupine Guide will be a reminder to hold yourself tall with self respect and to give this respect to others around you, as well. Keep faith in your own skills and know that you are protected this week in your endeavors. The Porcupine reminds us to tap into the movement of gentle dance in a way that can teach you how to enjoy life while resisting the negative that can come with it. Engage in the gentle, loving part of yourself knowing that you are protected throughout this week. You have the resources and skills to get through this week.

This week's Rune is Jera. This symbol is depicted as being the union of heaven and earth or as the ever changing flow of the cycle between winter and summer. When Jera shows up in a reading, it can often be a strong sign to take a look at what cycles you are going through, what goals you are attempting to achieve, and what actions you must take in going forward. Looking at time, particularly a single year, is an important action when Jera appears. Look at your past year to see what struggles you have overcome and what goals you still wish to accomplish by the end of this year. Jera can aid you in seeing your goals in this wider view in order to see how far you have come. This week will be an important time to connect with Jera in order to understand the circular flow of time and the divine, how to work within natural patterns, and how to work with polarities to create a complete whole. The Jera rune can increase creativity, harmony, and is known for it's connection to fertility. In this way, we can become more grounded and able to bring about our goals and abundance. Jera brings us completion through dynamic change. We gain our completed goals only through correct action. Jera will aid you this week in that push to get things done to reach your goals.

In the Internal Influence, we see Alligator. Don't rush. Let this week be about gathering information and organizing your thoughts as well as your environment. If making a decision, take the extra time to gather as much research as possibly from multiple perspectives before making your decision. This week's challenges may make you feel like nothing but the negative exists, but remember that where there is death there is life. Where there is darkness, there is light. Alligator represents the principles of land and water, life and death. Without one, there is no other. Others may think you are doing nothing, but in silence there is contemplation. In slowness, there is deliberation. Allow yourself to be strong as you work on protecting yourself and your territory. It may help to spend time cleaning and refreshing your home environment in order to aid in dealing with the outer environment of the world. Meditation will be beneficial to you in order to clean your inner mind, as well. Digest the information that has come to you, gather and absorb more research, and consider your options before making a decision. Alligator is a symbol of new knowledge and beginnings. Allow whatever challenges appear this week to promote growth rather than destruction. The Alligator represents death as well as life and mimics Naudhiz in a reminder that one can either live a life of destruction or use their inner knowledge and ability to grow in a positive light for themselves as well as those around them. Do not be dragged down by your past experiences. Gather knowledge from all around and do not let yourself be too afraid to heed the knowledge you may even be hiding from yourself. Transformation and growth is all around us if only we listen and work.