Animal Communication, Grasshoppers and Ants

My animal for the month of February is Grasshopper.  It’s rather fun to work with an animal of the month, a good way to learn about them and to learn what lessons they have to teach. It can also be quite humbling. Like when I’m sitting in meditation and Grasshopper tells me he got a bum rap in the Grasshopper and the Ant tale and I have to set the story straight.

Do you remember the Aesop’s Fable about the Grasshopper and the Ant?  It is from the 6th Century BC.  Here it is in its entirety, in case you’ve forgotten:

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil and ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”

“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”

“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and gram from the stores they had collected in the summer.

Then the Grasshopper knew: “It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.”

Original story from Bartleby.Com.

Here’s what Grasshopper had to say:

“You know what, the Ant and I have had to take a bum rap for too long.  We’ve had it up to here.  When people hear this story they think I’m the bad guy, and the ant is the good guy.  Nope, that’s not true.  We don’t know why you humans made up this story, probably to prove some far-fetched idea someone had, but it ain’t true, it never was true, and it’s time to set the record straight.  I’m tired of people thinking I’m lazy and Ant is tired, tired, like REALLY tired, you know, of people thinking he’s always industrious.  I know.  Ant told me so.

“You folks need to know your picture of us is not only false, it ain’t good PR for us.  So what if I like to sing?  Does that mean I’m lazy?  I gather my food differently than Ant, so what?  Big deal.

“And did you ever stop to think that maybe Ant likes to dance to my singing?  You people pick and choose what you want to hear.  You swallow this tall tale hook, line and sinker, and you turn blind eyes and ears to an adage you have:  “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

“Why is toil without joy celebrated by you humans?  I’m glad I’m not a human, because we grasshoppers think you are confused and scared.  We accept life as it is.  We don’t make up stories and lies about how we THINK life SHOULD be.  We take life for what it is, no more, no less.

“You folks can learn from us.  A little singing goes a long way in making you happy.”

What do you think of Grasshopper’s assessment?  Let’s hear what you have to say – leave your comments!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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