Animal Wisdom Speaks - Month of the Giraffe

Giraffe is a great mentor and guide. She teaches us to be patient and balanced, while moving forward, to face any tension with calm and to maintain our composure. She looks at everything from above and has a clear understanding of the bigger picture.

While she favors expressing her needs and emotions calmly, she will stand up for herself. She is a keeper of peace, that won’t start a fight, but she will finish it, if need be. 
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Giraffes follow their path and no-one can stop them. Even when they are hunted by a pride of lions and some of the lionesses have already sunken their teeth into their flesh clinging on to them,  giraffes keep on walking. They are so balanced, that they cannot be taken down. They simply keep on walking, taking one step after the other.

A few years ago, I visited a shop, that sells ingredients for ceremonies, tarot cards, crystals and excellent tea. While I was there, the owner and I had a chat about the tarot. I had shown interest in a spirit animal themed deck and the owner asked me, which spirit animal and energy was with her at the moment. I looked at her and said, “Giraffe.” She was surprised. 
 
I smiled at her and explained, “Giraffes follow their path and no-one can stop them. Even when they are hunted by a pride of lions and some of the lionesses have already sunken their teeth into their flesh clinging on to them,  giraffes keep on walking. They are so balanced, that they cannot be taken down. They simply keep on walking, taking one step after the other.”

"Shadow Giraffe", black pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2026, Carinthia)

I continued, “The lions would say, that giraffes are too stubborn to give up, but the giraffes would just gently remind them, that if you keep on walking your path patiently and peacefully looking at the situation from above, not giving in to your emotions and keeping your composure, anything placed in your way will look like a molehill and not like a mountain. Eventually the lions will give up and start their hunt for easier prey, while the giraffe continues on her path.” The owner looked at me and said, “I do have a problem with a Leo, but you know, I won’t give up. I keep on moving.”

Kristin Raphaela Otti

"White Reticulated Giraffe", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024)

"Shadow Giraffe", black pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2026, Carinthia)