A year or so ago, the family visited an animal park near Port Douglas. It was very busy, with all ages learning about crocodiles and snakes and their lifestyles. It was at the Snake Show that the message came to me about the formation of our beliefs.
Before we came to Australia, we were made aware that this continent is home to some of the most venomous snakes and spiders in the world – a fact. By many, we were led to believe that they lurked in every dark place intent on hunting us down and killing us – people’s belief based on a fact but fed by a fear.
If you think it through, animals are only interested in two things: food and survival. They know what they can eat and they are on the constant look out for anything delicious that is in their environment. When they see a creature bigger or more dangerous than themselves, they employ their instinctual good sense and move away. They will defend themselves only when they feel threatened. The Snake Keeper reiterated this and explained that, in fact, there have been very few deaths from snake bites since the 1980’s due to antivenom advances and education. Strikes mainly occur when they are cornered and there is no escape. Obvious behaviour if you think about it: don’t we strike out when we feel we are threatened in some way? Usually verbally but sometimes physically – it is a natural response.
The Keeper went on to tell us that surprisingly there were far more deaths caused in Australia yearly by interaction with another animal; not sharks, not spiders, not snakes but horses!
It reminded me that we must monitor our mental framework, as our beliefs are often created by misinformation passed from person to person, each with their own agenda and which, in many cases, are not based in fact but are the reflection of another’s fears. We then take that information on board unchallenged and make decisions based on a misnomer. Little wonder we suffer with low self-esteem. We believe we are responsible for making other people’s lives happy or harmonious by suppressing our own need and that, along with all the other undermining thoughts that play out in our mind, go on to create our life.
Incidentally, another more obvious message was graphically displayed that shows we often don’t connect the dots. We tend to live our lives as a series of separate events, rather than a continuous interconnected flow.
There was a large amount of people at the Park, looking and learning about the fascinating animals and their habitats on this amazing and beautiful planet. We were encouraged to honour the environment of these wonderful creatures and told of how we are impacting it daily. There was much nodding in agreement and applause at the end of the talk. As they left the area, behind them was a huge amount of the rubbish thrown to the ground and left on the seats they had occupied, despite the large number of rubbish bins provided. Not a thought about our environment in their heads.
What an interesting and complex race of beings we are!
Jane Offer
Jane is a Soul Mastery Facilitator, Counsellor, Meditation Facilitator and Psychneuroimmunology Practitioner. Jane is passionate about the empowerment of the individual. She has worked with the holistic approach to life for 50 years, starting in the UK as a teacher and counsellor.
She is the owner at The Purple Dragonfly, and Director of The Oak Tree Organisation Australia, a not for profit training organization where she creates and delivers accredited courses in Personal Growth, Natural Health and Healing, Metaphysics, Spiritual Approach to Empowered Living and Career Related programs.