Symbols - What does heaven look like
Mouse
A mouse is a symbol largely of resourcefulness and courage. Despite its small size and apparent timidity, a mouse is capable of rather amazing feats of bravery, as such the mouse takes on this symbolism – heroism despite size and despite apparently overwhelming odds against them.
Soul Retrieval – Dr Alberto Villoldo
...we like to think of mice and other rodents as pests, but as with all animals, we need to consider the entire ‘nature of the beast’ … mice are survivors – they can squeeze into small places and travel underground, ..... Mice are seen by some African cultures as the couriers of messages to the underworld, making them a powerful connection to one’s ancestors
And lest you think the symbolism is not very apt, here are two examples of just how courageous a mouse can be
Pictured: The moment a tiny mouse turned the tables on a Deadly snake and turned from hunted to hunter - By Daily Mail Reporter [Last updated at 12:15 AM on 10th October 2008]
Whiskers twitching, the mouse stares into the jaws of death - and then pounces on them
The little fellow had no intention of being lunch for the deadly viper whose cage he had been thrown into. During a vicious 30-minute struggle the mouse tore at the serpent's head with its tiny paws and jaws, finally killing it.
The outcome amazed firemen in Nantou, Taiwan, who had rescued the footlong snake from a local home and taken it to their fire station as a pet. Fireman Lan Sengqiu said the snake might have used up all its venom trying to bite them when they caught it, adding: 'The mouse barely had a scratch on him.
Vipers have a pair of long hollow fangs, that are used to inject venom from glands at the back of the jaw. During a strike the mouth can open to nearly 180 degrees, and jaws snap shut on impact.
Death is usually caused by a collapse in blood pressure from the venom.
But snakes do have enemies. They can fall prey to large birds, wild boars, mongooses, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, other snakes. . . and apparently mice.
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Face-off: The snake and mouse stare each other down as battle commences |
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Open wide: The mouse served up as lunch makes a counter-attack on the viper, leading to a 30-minute fight to the death. |
Solent News story UK June 2010-06-07
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This mouse diced with death when it tucked into the lunch of a hungry leopard. Seemingly unaware of the beast towering over it, the mischievous rodent grabbed at scraps of meat thrown into the African Leopard's enclosure. But instead of pouncing on the tiny intruder the 12-year-old leopard, called Sheena, appeared to be afraid of the daring mouse and kept her distance. At one stage she tried to nudge the mouse away with her nose, but the determined little chap carried on chewing away until he was full. The extraordinary scene was captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire. The 19-year-old, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, who was photographing the leopard for a course project, was astounded by the mouse's behaviour. He said: 'I have no idea where the mouse came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard. He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself. But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed the mouse and flinched a bit like she was scared. In the meantime the mouse just carried on eating like nothing had happened.’ ...so the mouse continued to eat the leopard's lunch and show the leopard who was boss. |
Observations
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