Winterfire - Winterfire

The Red Panda - Uniqueness

6/16/2026

The Red Panda is a quick and agile agent of change and foxlike shapeshifter, that is neither a bear, nor a cat or a fox and despite being genetically close to raccoons, weasels and skunks, a completely unique species and being, a playful jack-of-all-trades, that is comfortable in their own fur being their authentic selves.

The Red Panda invites us to embrace being who we are to the fullest, our light and our shadows, to show our true colors, to let go of the masks we are wearing and to share our inner fire with all of creation.

In the different stories of the Peoples, the Red Panda is a guide and spirit that escorts travelers safely up and through the mountains.

There is a caveat albeit.

It emits a fire that is like a beacon, but like the fox’s or will-o’-the-whisp’s, it can lead you astray, confuse you or guide you to a different place than you thought you would end up in, depending on how you treated the Red Panda spirit.

“White Red Panda”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

"White Red Panda", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Carinthia)

Like all spirit guides and mentors, it is to be honored and respected and the way you have treated them, is reflected back to you in the way, your path unfolds before you and in where it is leading you.

Each and every single one of us, without exception, is a unique gift to this world, to all of creation. Each and every single heart bears healing and wisdom within, a seed of light, waiting to be seen and acknowledged, to take root, to grow and to come into full bloom and a shadow, that bears the power within to be soothing and protecting, if we get to know it, embrace and befriend it, instead of turning away.

The Red Panda invites us to embrace being who we are to the fullest, our light and our shadows, to show our true colors, to let go of the masks we are wearing and to share our inner fire with all of creation.

The natural habitat of the Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens) can be found in Tibet, Nepal and Western China.

The Koala - The Peacekeeper

5/31/2026

The Koala is a natural born leader and nurturer, it senses, when someone in its tribe needs help and offers a helping hand without strings attached.

The Koala is a peacekeeper, whose mere presence soothes the minds and ailing hearts of others. It takes much to upset a koala, because it finds joy in the smallest of things and peace even in the harshest of storms.

Its wisdom lies therein, that it knows, that help can only be given to those, who are willing to help themselves, and that change cannot be called forth, where there is no open heart to welcome it. Its instincts tell it, when to take someone’s hand and walk with them and when to patiently wait.

It is patient and gentle, filled with peace. It is able to calm down even the most restless mind and the greatest of storms with its loving and soothing embrace.

„White Koala“, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2025, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

The Koala is a peacekeeper, whose mere presence soothes the minds and ailing hearts of others. It takes much to upset a koala, because it finds joy in the smallest of things and peace even in the harshest of storms.

What is a Shaman? - You are unique

5/30/2026

Each and every single one of us, without exception, is a unique gift to this world, to all of creation.

Each and every single heart bears healing and wisdom within, a seed of light, waiting to be seen and acknowledged, to take root, to grow and to come into full bloom and a shadow, that bears the power within to be soothing and protecting, if we get to know it, embrace and befriend it, instead of turning away.

This picture was taken during the production of "Winterfire - Everyone can do something for Mother Earth" (c) 2023 Johannes Milchram

A shaman takes you by the hand, guiding you through your abyss and your light, so you can recognize your uniqueness and your incredible beauty, dance with and befriend your shadows, see yourself with bright and clear eyes again, embrace and love yourself and know yourself for the gift you are.

You.

In everything you are.

The Owl - Old Codger and Spring Chicken (A Shamanic Journey & Storytelling)

5/27/2026

Earlier this year I drew an ancestral owl, using the colours of the Northern Lights. It is an incredibly beautiful energy and what I sensed while drawing, was someone watching something playing out and enjoying it thoroughly – no malintent, no malice, no evil. I am looking more than forward to meeting the one this drawing is for.

I have drawn quite a few owls over the years. Owls are incredible guides and here is another story, a shamanic journey and also the remembering of a meeting with someone I hold dear I my heart.

Old Codger and Spring Chicken (A Shamanic Journey and Remembering a Meeting)

[…] When I was called back into the Native American settlement beyond the veils, where the council of shamans gathers, I was asked to sit together with a shaman, I know in this lifetime and whom I love very much, and the Eldest, to discuss a personal matter.

The jokester that I am, I had mused about the fact that I had felt like a spring chicken, when I had met the Eldest for the first time a long time ago, and my mind had come up with the English phrase “old codger” in regards to him, when I was writing about my first meeting with him.

“Ancestral Owl”, colored pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2026, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia) coming into being.

“Old Codger and Spring Chicken“, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

When we had finished discussing matters, the Eldest said solemnly, “Old Codger has spoken.” I froze and looked at him wide-eyed.

When we had finished discussing matters, the Eldest said solemnly, “Old Codger has spoken.” I froze and looked at him wide-eyed. I knew that my thoughts were my own, but I often spoke to the One-And-All aloud, praying, talking about matters that were on my mind and sometimes I talked about my journeys, what I had felt and learned, reflecting about what I had been shown about myself.

Had I talked aloud, about how it had felt, meeting him and sensing the difference in age and experience? I knew that I had mulled over our meeting in my head and I had used those phrases, not in a negative way, but simply to express my feelings and to rid myself of the tension that had built itself up inside of me.

That was me. But being who I am, I had reprimanded myself immediately for being disrespectful and I had started to worry about it.

The Eldest smiled at me, nothing but love in his heart and being and said with a twinkle in his eye, “There is nothing to worry about, Spring Chicken.”

© Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023, revised in 2026)

Shamanic journeying is going deep within yourself, walking both your shadows and your light, to unearth and reclaim the gifts hidden within. A shaman can guide you, but a shaman cannot walk your path for you.

Seahorse Wisdom

5/25/2026

Seahorses have three hearts beating simultaneously, so if one heart gets tired, the others keep the seahorse strong, until it is fully recovered. They show us, that we have many resources within us and that when the heart that has been wounded in the past, is tired, the one being in the here and now and the one dreaming our highest good into being will be able to keep us whole, until the wounded one is mended.

Seahorse knows, that it is vulnerable despite its armor-like plates, but it knows as well, that its vulnerabilities are not weaknesses. It acknowledges them and teaches us that recognizing our vulnerabilities is a way to empower and protect us and others

Seahorses are poor swimmers, yet they are able to rest even in the roughest of seas with their tails wound around a stationary object. They swim along their path, one stroke after the other, resting and securing themselves when needed and continue on their path, when they have regained their balance, showing us how to navigate the stormiest of emotions and situations.

"White Seahorse", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023, Café Westend, Vienna)

Never underestimate them albeit, for they are stealthy and apt hunters thriving on a carnivorous diet, able to camouflage themselves and due to the shape of their head, able to move silently with minimal interference while approaching even the most evasive prey.

"Shadow Seahorse", black pastels & crayons, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2026, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

They may be among the slowest moving of all fish, but they are among the most dexterous, teaching patience and being in the flow.

Their eyes move independently. They can see what lies behind them in the past, their present state and even glimpse into the future and see what lies in front of them at the same time. All of that while being able to anchor themselves to any object, while being completely at peace within themselves, finding their balance again if needed.

Seahorse knows, that it is vulnerable despite its armor-like plates, but it knows its vulnerabilities are not weaknesses. It acknowledges them and teaches us that recognizing our vulnerabilities is a way to empower and protect us and others. Instead of lamenting over the fact, that it is a poor swimmer and thus not able to speed along its path, it uses the time needed to anchor itself to reflect and rebalance, thus gaining insights and wisdom, constantly learning.

(written in 2023, revised in 2026)

The Gorilla - New World awaits with Open Arms (A Shamanic Journey & Storytelling)

5/24/2026

Let go of the games, your mind loves to play with you, your fears, smile, let your heart take the lead and walk, climb, swim, crawl or fly your path home to your authentic self.

Gorilla invites us to be in the moment, present, and let our heart lead the way, let go of our fears step by step and become aware of our strength, resilience and our gifts.

A New World awaits with Open Arms (A Shamanic Journey)

A few years back, when I was still working in the corporate world trying to find my path amidst the chaos of being uprooted and facing adversity, I was called onto a Shamanic journey. I found myself following a sandy mountain trail, walking side by side with a white gorilla whose gentle eyes were soothing the emotions raging in my mind.

After a time of walking in silence and enjoying the songs of the mountains around us, we reached a wall of rock, a steep cliff, blocking the path. Moving forward would mean to climb the cliff that was towering over us. The gentle gorilla looked at me and said with a smile, “Follow me.”

“White Gorilla”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

He began climbing the cliff with ease, not looking back at me, but simply being one with the rock and thus being in the moment with every step he was taking. He reached the top of the cliff, sat down and I felt his gaze on me.

I hesitated and began fidgeting. At that point in time, I was afraid of heights, I did not even like to climb on ladders, the first rung being fine, the second rung being a challenge and the third one feeling like Mount Everest.

I touched the rock wall in front of me and after swallowing, shaking my head and going through the motions, I started climbing.

I did not like it one bit.

After a while I reached a point, where I could not climb on following a straight path, because the rock was crumbling beneath my fingers.

“White Gorilla”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

I set my focus fully on the rock wall, sensing and feeling the stone, the nooks and crannies and its rough surface and it turned into a game. I went up and down again, left then right, then up again and down, not my mind leading the way, but my heart.

I knew that I had to climb down again for a bit and simply take another route. But looking down meant becoming aware of the heights I had reached and letting my mind have a ball with all of the different ways I could possibly fall to my demise.

I looked up, straight into the white gorilla’s face. He was still smiling his gentle smile. I took a deep breath. Instead of looking down I took a look to the right. There was a small crack in the rock. I had not noticed it before.

I set my focus fully on the rock wall, sensing and feeling the stone, the nooks and crannies and its rough surface and it turned into a game. I went up and down again, left then right, then up again and down, not my mind leading the way, but my heart. And then – all of a sudden – I had reached the top of the cliff. I was in complete disbelief.

The white gorilla smiled gently at me and said, “Look!” I looked up and saw a vast, lush green valley stretching out before our eyes, the sun rising in the distance bathing it in golden light. The gorilla made an inviting gesture with his left arm, “A whole new world is waiting for you with open arms.”

I sat down next to the gorilla elder, calmness filling me, and we watched the sunrise, at peace, enjoying the moment.

A few months after my journey, I realized that my fear of heights was gone. The realization came when I was standing on the top of a shaky ladder cleaning the windows looking down on the streets of Vienna.

© Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023, revised in 2026)

Shamanic journeying is going deep within yourself, walking both your shadows and your light, to unearth and reclaim the gifts hidden within. A shaman can guide you, but a shaman cannot walk your path for you.

The Puffin - Home in your Heart

5/23/2026

Puffins are the clowns of the sea. They know that the world is not black and white, but a colorful place in which laughter can be turned into medicine, when we laugh with each other at each other and at each other with each other embracing that life is funny at times and we are the slapstick comedians leading it. Puffin teaches us to approach life with playfulness, joy and a glint in the eye.

"You will find shelter and warmth wherever you go, for you carry them within and when you dare look into your own eyes, the gates to your soul, you will understand that home is everywhere."

Puffin says, „When you feel home in yourself, your heart is the hearth warming you. There is no winter, no snowstorm or icy rain that can extinguish the fire you are bearing within your heart. You will find shelter and warmth wherever you go, for you carry them within and when you dare look into your own eyes, the gates to your soul, you will understand that home is everywhere."

“The Clown of the Sea”, white crayons & pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2025, Carinthia)

They care deeply for the ones they love. In English a group of puffins is called an “improbability”, yet they stay together for life embracing each other’s uniqueness, flashing their colorful beaks and orange feet with joy.

“Clown of the Sea”, black & golden crayons & pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2026, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

The Frilled Lizard - Your Inner Fire

5/22/2026

The Frilled Lizard is a mentor and guide who teaches us to walk fearlessly on the evermoving sands of the desert, where the grounds under her feet are constantly changing in an everlasting dance between the winds and the earth.

"Make your presence known, raise your head and face your sun, your fire. Let her burn away your mask and watch the ashes being carried away by the ghostly fingers of memories past, fears instilled and nightmares created by your mind and whispers of passersby.”

She says, “Fear is like the wind that riles up the desert sands, shifting them and turning them over constantly, never letting them settle. Make your presence known, raise your head and face your sun, your fire. Let her burn away your mask and watch the ashes being carried away by the ghostly fingers of memories past, fears instilled and nightmares created by your mind and whispers of passersby.”

“White Frilled Lizard”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

“White Frilled Lizard”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)

She adds, “Face your sun and inner fire and keep on walking over the treacherous sands, feel the grains of sand turn into pebbles, the pebbles into rocks, the rocks into boulders and the boulders into a mountain. Watch, as the desertscape turns into a lush forest leading onto the mountain top and then take flight like friend Eagle. Fly into your sun, dive into your light and catch fire. Where your fear has gone, no masks remain, but you will stand tall and powerful once again, a heart re-opened, reborn and ablaze, singing its song loud and clear.”

The Badger - Darkness & Lightning

5/21/2026

The Badger is a fiercely loyal friend who shows patience, courage and tenacity when engaging with a friend who is in emotion. Like the black and white stripes on her face – her mask – symbolize, she will either hold space and guide her friend through the darkness, so they can go deep and find the root of the emotion, sit with it and feel and experience it through, or she will stand her ground in the open, endure the storm of emotions, the thunder and lightning, while not letting her heart harden or turn to stone.

The Badger teaches that the seed that sprouts afterwards, often bears the medicine that allows the ones involved to heal, grow and bring about change together.

“White Badger”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

The Royal Flycatcher - The Sentinel

5/20/2026

The Royal Flycatcher says, “Each and every single one of us has had experiences that caused pain and harm or brought joy and elation. Let the past be a mentor and teacher, not a place to live in and dwell on. Let us put our experiences to good use for all the circles we are working together in."

"Intimidating size, brute force and open threats cannot defeat courage, determination and sheer will. Speak from your heart and the truth will be known.”

"Let us be guides and healers to one another, trust each other and use our knowledge and wisdom wisely. Let us walk side by side, heart to heart, shoulder to shoulder, let all we have experienced help mend the heart of creation and help Mother Earth blossom and bloom.”

Flycatchers are a family of well over 800 different species of birds, of which every single one is completely unique. They all sport a different look, sing different songs and tell different stories, and no plumage or crest is the same. No matter where they live or their roots are, Flycatchers are the sentinels of the habitat they are sharing with other beings.

“White Royal Flycatcher”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Café de L’Europe, Vienna)

“White Royal Flycatcher”, white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Café de L’Europe, Vienna)

Sentinel species are organisms that are more susceptible to environmental hazards, because they have been exposed to them a lot more, experienced them, gotten to know them inside out and have adapted to them. They have survived and live to tell a tale of healing.

Flycatchers always show their colors to the fullest, not hiding who they are. They face their challenges with enthusiasm, resilience and determination and are not shy of putting in the work that needs to be done. When all seems lost, they meet their challenge head on, singing a merry song with a glint in the eye, their sole focus on fulfilling their task.

The Flycatcher says, “No matter how small you think you are, speak up and let the truth be heard. Intimidating size, brute force and open threats cannot defeat courage, determination and sheer will. Speak from your heart and the truth will be known.”