This week's External Influence is the Spirit Guide Quagga. While it was thought to be it's own species for a long time, recent studies have determined that the Quagga is a subspecies of the South African plains Zebra which is still found today. This creatures was hunted to extinction in the late 19th century and was noticeable due to it's unique variation of brown and striped patterns. A Quagga's markings included a brown, horse-like rump with a series of stripes located on it's head, neck, and scattered down it's shoulders. Only one was every photographed alive. As a Spirit Guide, the Quagga can come as a sign of a lost opportunity or a possibly regretful decision. Did you give up something special to you or drop a hobby or interest that made you feel unique and fulfilled? Take time in silence for introspective thought. Analyze what you have been doing and consider what you can do to adjust into better balance. The Quagga is not a sad card, however, but does offer hope. Scientists have created breeding programs in which to use selective breeding of the closest subspecies of Zebra to Quagga in order to encourage the specific traits of the species and bring back a creature hunted to extinction by humans. Over two and a half decades, this project has produced a number of young with little to no stripes on their rumps and continues in hopes of righting a wrong. Use this inspiration to fix something you made have broken. Know that it is never too late to heal or help if you are willing to make the effort.

This week's Rune is Uruz. This rune is symbolized by the rain and the great Auroch, or European Ox. It is a rune of structure, formation, inner strength, and wisdom. It's strength lies in patterned force. It is the energy that takes the passionate life of the Fehu rune and knits it into the strong fabric of the world. Strength can be inflexible and unbending, keeping you from moving through obstacles. However, this strength can also aid you in holding strong in the face of fear and help you in rising above challenges. Uruz reminds us we are woven into the existence of nature and our strength, or our destruction, is shown in our environment. Uruz will help you create a structure to build a passionate, healthy life from. This is a rune to pull from when looking to heal, understand the self, or to bring together and realize your goals. Uruz is growth by overcoming obstacles. Assert yourself in the world positively in order to grow into a new life and new you. Remember to remain flexible so as not to break under pressure.


This week's Internal Influence is the spirit guide Spider. Tap into your inner self this week to search for your personal wisdom. This guide teaches us how to pull from within our knowledge to bring it into our daily life. Try new hobbies or bring up old ones. Consider expressing yourself through writing or weaving. Spider is a strong sign of creativity, expression, and talent. This week will be an opportune moment to challenge yourself to find new ways to express yourself in a creative way. Spider has been seen as a guardian of ancient languages and alphabets. This may be a week for expressing your feelings that you may have kept under wraps or a time to spread your talents to foreign languages. Spider urges us to weave our own future. This week, it is time for us to tap into our depths of wisdom and strength in order to bring lessons from the past flowing into a positive and bright future. It is time to connect the past and future, spiritual and physical, male and female. We are the writers of our own destiny and now is the time to show that.