Consulting Your Companions for a Check-Up
by Dr. Michele Manos
When I first learned about the Companions Suit, it became a welcome container for my cast of animal spirit helpers. I appreciated the opportunity to include universal, non-human energies or “animal medicine” in my deck. More recently, as health and well-being are more challenging to control and maintain, I see them as crucial consultants. They have become a team of specialists to whom I can self-refer for assessments, examinations, insights and recommendations regarding my physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Seena Frost tells us these Neters reflect “the energies of your physical and subtle bodies.” The Companions anchor us to Nature, and provide a grounding force. They have the power to link us directly and energetically with the natural world, without human imposition or interference. Seena suggested that an animal (this includes any non-human natural beings) ally be identified for each of the seven chakras, creating a totem of sorts. Seena also suggested that regardless of whether chakra assignments are being used, each of our animal helpers may be included in our Companion suit.
The seven chakras certainly provide a useful system for organizing essential core energies, whether or not we assign Companions to them. In her book, SoulCollage® Evolving, Seena Frost provides a wise and provocative list of needs associated with each of the seven chakras. (SEE CHART BELOW). I’ve been using this list, along with my Companion Neters, to monitor my well-being and to gain wisdom about how to best care for myself during this pandemic. I’ll describe my process, and then share some of what I’ve learned. Here we go:
- Regardless of whether your Companions are organized into chakras, collect them all for this exploration. You may want to journal or make an audio recording of your experiences.
- Examine your current state of being with the list of needs in mind (see link above for the list). You may want to sit quietly, perhaps with your eyes closed, and conduct an assessment to identify your own needs that are most pronounced at this moment.
- Choose one need that requires attention, assistance, nurturing, or understanding at this moment. Note that need and the associated chakra from Seena’s list.
- If you have a Companion card(s) specific to that chakra, you will consult with that Neter(s). (If you do not yet have a card for that chakra, consider choosing a need within a chakra for which you do have a card.) If your Companions are not assigned to chakras (mine aren’t), consult them as a group, allowing one or more to come forward to speak.
- Now ask for an expert opinion about your wellness and that specific need. Seek an understanding of your current condition and request a wellness plan. You may get started by asking the Neter to complete these prompts.
- I am …
- My specialty is …
- This need requires attention because…
- I can teach you to help yourself by…
- You can meet this need, in balance, …
- For your general welfare, I prescribe …
- After your consultation has concluded, ask the Companion(s) whether there are any additional Neters (of any suit) in your deck with whom you should consult. If they offer a suggestion, ask how that Neter fits into your need and your wellness.
- Seena reminds us that each of the listed needs can be “shadowed.” Consider that one can be unwell with “not enough” or with “too much.”
- Repeat this exercise with other needs. Perhaps explore the needs of all seven chakras.
- Do you work with the hand or foot chakras? If so, what needs reside there for you?
Now for my own examinations: my first assessment led me to the need to receive and give love. Since my Companions are not assigned to chakras, I invited whoever wanted to come forward for a consultation. It was Bear. “My specialty includes hugs, and the feeling of being embraced by unconditional support. This need requires attention because you are so very isolated.” He offered to teach me to appreciate the comfort of a warm winter home, and prescribed daily acts of self-compassion. Specifically, he suggested reading poetry to myself, starting with Shakespeare’s sonnets! He referred me to two Neters: my “Beloved Self” (Committee) and “Dairy Calves” (Community), suggesting that I keep these cards visible. I realized that these Neters reflect a crucial dichotomy: the hardest one to love (myself) and the beings that instantly make me ooze love and care (every calf I’ve ever met).
My next assessment was for the need of security and safety. Ironically, it was Bat who took over this consultation. Yes, Bat, the source of the virus that has brought us this pandemic. Bat had no interest in completing prompts or answering questions! “Chill. Just chill! Your understanding and scientific curiosity about me and my viruses is not always good medicine.” I was encouraged to take a break from being an expert, and to spend time “just being.” I look forward to balancing my isolation with safe journeys, and to tempering my sense of responsibility for the outcome of this pandemic.
May you find meaningful ways to consult with your Companions to nurture health in these uncertain times. The magic of SoulCollage® is always good medicine.
| CHAKRA | Associated Needs |
| First | security and safety |
| Second | regeneration in sexuality, emotions, creativity |
| Third | personal sense of mastery and centeredness |
| Fourth | receive and give the agape type of love and compassion |
| Fifth | communicate and receive information and wisdom |
| Sixth | intuit and know, and to envision the larger picture |
| Seventh | yearning towards Oneness and wholeness |
Adapted from: Frost, Seena B.; SoulCollage® Evolving: An Intuitive Collage Process for Self-Discovery and Community; Hanford Mead Publishers, 2017
This essay originally appeared in the February 2021 issue of
Soul Songs: Your KaleidoSoul SoulCollage Newsletter.
Click here to read the whole issue.