Alligators are aggressive, lurking hunters, and they hold power over every being that crosses their path. Seeing one initiates a jolt of awareness, its presence drawing out the fears of the ego that mirror it so similarly. Reptilian and prehistoric in their appearance, scales, claws, jaws, and deep guttural growls are the alligator’s most obvious traits. These beings are the embodiment of the deepest, most primal parts of the Earth creeping alongside and our own ego.
Alligators exist in the space between earth and water, the subconscious and the conscious, and choose when to be stealthy or to show their big scaly bodies in intimidation. They hold the control, and our lack of it is what makes them so scary. What part of us fears the lack of control most? Our ego.
Our eyes and our fear can be deceptive, though. The alligator is almost always not on the hunt for humans. They’re more scared of us than we are of them. The alligator’s presence is an invitation to see our ego in wholeness: the all-encompassing, unconscious, destructive one and the instinctual, subconscious, and protective one.
Our souls spend lifetimes battling the human ego tooth and tail, but there is no demolishing it. The ego is present in all its forms to protect us when needed and is our companion on this earthly journey. The alligator asks for awareness of our ego, to befriend it instead of fear it, learn to swim with and be at peace with it.
What if you weren't scared?
AFFIRMATION
I flow with the most primal parts of myself and the earth by my side.
REMEMBER YOUR CONNECTION
꩜ When is the last time you had a loving conversation with your ego?
꩜ List your biggest fears and then talk yourself out of them.
꩜ What would happen if you looked the scary parts of yourself in the eyes?