This friendly little creature popped up one day when I was fiddling around with some of my AI art. I needed a new subject to work on and had no idea what. I’d previously been working on a Celtic styled tattoo idea for something else that included a pine martin. At the time I’d only been told a creature name and hadn’t thought any more of it. I honestly had no idea what a Pine Marten even was. Later after remembering the creature and doing some research into what the creature actually was and what it looked like to make sure my art work was going the right way I realised just how much the symbolism fitted. A few weeks later, I was just getting settled in my space for a day of reading at an Expo in Wagga when I felt the little creature pop in. It was sitting on my table watching me curiously. Something that can often be a little disconcerting when I’m trying to meditate. I got as far as his name was “Martin.” With emphasis on the spelling as I realised, I’d originally thought Marten the creature was spelt with “in” not “en” at the end. That of course should have been my first hint that someone was trying to get my attention and it wasn’t just a random coincidence. (I know there’s no such thing as coincidences. I’m slow on the uptake sometimes.) Of course, my utter lack of recognition for the signs from the previous couple of weeks was what had led me to creature scurrying around on my tabled doing it’s darned to get my attention. Finally giving in I decided to take a look at the spiritual symbolism of Pine Martens. Curious and resourceful creatures, a few of their attributes standing out. Their curious observant nature, wanting to know more details about thing that fascinated them. Storing the details away, even if they seemed irrelevant at present moment. (Something I had come to notice I had been doing over the years.) It said they communicated with a language all their own (a lesson in being who I am at heart and actually showing that rather than the people pleaser mask I’ve worn for most of my life); similar to the meaning behind different trees in Earth based beliefs. So, I took that to mean that “Pine” had something to do with the message knowing that “Martin” had popped up specifically as a “Pine Marten” when there is in fact a few different varieties of Marten. Pine trees in which case represented a few things: Longevity and Endurance (lasting through the hash opinions of others) Symbol of growth and development of psychic life (I took this as a positive sign, the fact that I had stepped out of my comfort zone and was actually attending the Expo to do readings what a step towards my goals.) Their instincts most often chose the “Flight” response. Not unexpected when you consider they are part of the weasel family and have the ability to “wriggle out” of explosive situations. They know there’s nothing wrong with backing away from a fight. The exception being situation regarding children in which the spirit may choose “Fight” over “Flight” By the time the expo opened, Martin had settled down considerably. I took that as a sign that I was on the right tract for understand why he was even present. Something I didn’t consider at the time is that although some animals may share a similar aspect of their energetic quality with another type of spirit guide, they come through as an animal spirit and not another type is for a reason. This was likely because at the time I needed to have these aspects grounded into me at the physical level. This was to help me from getting caught up in my own thoughts or the energy of several deities that came through that day for the clients I had.