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| Punxsutawney Phil |
The celebration started as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries and has its origins in ancient European weather lore. A badger or sacred bear was central to the prediction of weather, based on their hibernation habits. How the Groundhog got caught up in it is unclear.
The Groundhog custom is similar to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, (the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar,) which is celebrated on February 1, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
Groundhog facts:
•"Groundhog" and "woodchuck" are different names for the same animal, from the ground squirrel family.
•Using only their teeth, claws and strong limbs, groundhogs dig burrows up to 5 feet deep and 45 feet long.
• Their noisy reactions to being disturbed, includes whistling, squealing, barking, chattering and grinding their teeth.
•While most squirrels eat seeds and nuts, groundhogs mainly graze on grass and leaves, & sometimes insects, snails and bird eggs
•Groundhogs are one of the few true hibernators, relying entirely on body fat to make it through winter. Their heartbeat slows from 75 beats per minute to as few as 4, and body temperature drops from the 90s into the 40s (F).
•Groundhogs have an average lifespan of ten years in captivity and six years in the wild, with a maximum lifespan of 14 years in captivity documented
•An internal biological clock controls when wild groundhogs wake up from hibernation, but coming out of the burrow depends more on temperature than intuition.
• Groundhogs have been known to be aggressive & usually try to avoid contact with people.
•According to records kept since 1887, Punxatawney Phil's predictions have been correct 39% of the time
Native American Legends
Native American lore tells us that the Groundhog is a symbol of understanding the power of cycles, knowing when to hibernate, building & the ability to go underground. Groundhog inspires us to pay attention to our dreams, dig beneath the surface to get to the truth, study a specific subject or area of interest, such as yoga, or meditation and learn to relax. He is a reminder to not paint ourselves into a corner and always have several ways to exit from negative situations, add more vegetables to our diet, study the seasonal changes and apply the wisdom of changing cycles in daily life.
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| Groundhog Pose Photo ©B.Gini 2008 |
To modify, you can practice this posture by remaining in your chair, & setting your head on your desk. Arms can relax at sides (in this photo the Groundhog was "digging".) Close your eyes and breathe deeply into the belly and then breathe deeply into the back of the body. Breathe in relaxation and breathe out all the thoughts that don't serve you any more.
Imagery:
Imagine you are a little groundhog, safely hibernating in your warm, comfortable burrow.
Benefits of this pose:
•Gently stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles
•Calms the brain and helps *relax stress and fatigue
•Relieves back and neck pain when head and torso are supported on pillows
*(Enhance the relaxing effect of this posture by playing nature sound music or Native American Flute music such as N.Carlos Nakai or Mary Youngblood. Students may rest foreheadon hands, and use shawls or warm, heavy blankets to cover themselves to create their own"burrow". Blankets help create a sensation of body awareness, and of safety and security, which further relaxes the body and brain.)
*Download a free "Groundhog Pose" Photo flash card here!
Tell us your "Inner Groundhog" experience in the comments below!
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