Mountain Lion,
on the
Power
of Leadership
Mitch Slomiak, Grunt 'n Pokers; NoM Chief, February
2006
Mountain Lion, or Cougar, medicine provides lessons on the use of
power in leadership.
It is the ability to lead without insisting that others follow.
It is the understanding that all beings are potential leaders in
their
own way.
By observing the graceful pounce of Mountain Lion, you will learn how
to balance power, intention, physical strength, and grace.
If Mountain Lion comes to you in dreams, it is a time to stand on your
convictions and lead yourself where your heart takes you. Others may
choose to follow and the lessons will multiply. You may be asked to
review the purpose behind your personal believes.
In assuming the place of power that Mountain Lion affords, you must
constantly be aware of keeping peace. However you can never make everyone
happy unless you lie to yourself or others. This is human nature. Therefore
the first responsibility of leadership is to tell the truth
Those with cougar medicine have past life connections relating to power
and leadership. When the cougar selects you as its student be prepared
for the ride of your life. It can shred you into little pieces, dissolving
karma and identity, then put you back together again with a pure heart
and purpose. True leadership through gentle assertiveness is what cougar
teaches those with this totem.
Cougar brings the power of balanced leadership. Cougar medicine
people make excellent teachers, leaders and facilitators. The other
side of
cougar is its illusive quality. It can appear without being noticed
and quietly take control of a situation.
Cougar is a difficult totem to have because it continually places you
in a position to be a target for the problems of others. Its power,
strength and assertiveness are often misunderstood. You would be wise
to listen to cougar and let it teach you how to balance intention,
power and strength in everything you do.
I have added a mountain lion to the Nation of Men staff.
- Mountain lion sits underneath “COURAGE”
- Mountain lion forepaw points
toward “PASSION” and “COMPASSION”
- Depending on perspective, mountain lion can be seen as being supported
by,
and resting on top of the word, “MEN” on the side of
the staff, or “MEN” are
carried on the back of the mountain lion.
Some of this text is adapted from "Medicine Cards: The Discovery
of Power through the Ways of Animals,” Jamie Sams & David
Carson.
Cougar added to Nation of Men Staff by Mitch Slomiak and "Staff
Surgeon" James McKeefrey, 2006
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