ANT

By, Ted Andrews; Animal Speak 1993

Keynote: Industriousness, Order and Discipline

The ant has long been a symbol of work and industry. Partly this is due to the Greek tales of the ant, such is found in Aesop's Fables. Their wisdom and intellect in their endeavors is often acclaimed. There are many types of ants, some of which are solitary, but most of which are part of a larger community. Though drudgery is often associated with them, this is far from true. When by themselves, they display simple and uncomplicated behavior patterns. Within the community, there is a repertory of activities and behaviors.

Ants are social. Much of their work centers on community activity. The primary activities are gathering, hunting, and growing. Yes, some ants do farm, growing a kind of fungus. Ants also participate in food exchanges within the community, and they will often make slaves of other ants to perform labors.

There is discipline and order within most ant communities, and everyone knows his/her place. Predominately there are three castes: (1) the queens who found new colonies, (2) the winged males who fertilize the queens for life, and (3) the sterile females who serve as babysitters and laborers.

The queen ant has wings and the ability of flight until fertilized. Once she is fertilized, she pulls off her own wings, sacrificing her flight for the birth of newborn. The queen usually dies after twelve years. Thos with ant totems may find that the cycle of industriousness and building goals may increase over a period of twelve years. The cycle of twelve - days, months, years will be of significance. For those who are into numerology, this would be a beneficial number to study if the ant is your totem.

The worker ants are skilled architects. They build complex homes, galleries, and even vaulted ceilings. Their skill and undaunted efforts reflect much about what this totem can awaken. The ant is the teacher of how to build how to become the architect of your own life. It can show you how to construct your dreams into a reality. It will show you that the greatest success occurs with persistence.

If the ant has shown up as a totem, examine your own industriousness:

Are you disciplining yourself enough to accomplish the tasks at hand?

Are you or those around you looking for the quick and easy way?

Are you neglecting important activities?

Are you laying a good foundation?

Are you adding new structures to your life with each passing year in some fashion - education, jobs, hobbies, etc?

Are you being patient with your efforts?

Are you being patient with yourself and others?

Are you making things greater and more difficult than they need to be?

Are you missing an opportunity to initiate new creations and endeavors?

Ant can teach you how to harness your own power to design and recreate your life and its circumstances from the ground up. Ant can show you how best to work with others for the good of everyone. Ant teaches us that regardless of circumstances, if the effort is true, the rewards will follow - in the most beneficial time and manner. Ant is the promise of success through effort.