The mountain lion sits at the top of the food chain and helps balance local wildlife populations. They are solitary creatures and very territorial. Considered opportunistic ambush hunters, they are nocturnal and hunt alone between dusk and dawn. A fun fact about these cats is that they hold the Guinness record (at least as of this writing) for the animal with the most names: over forty in English alone, and more than two hundred in total, including puma, mountain lion, catamount, panther, and ghost cat.
Key Attributes
Courage, power, strength, silence, dignity, nobility, guardianship, patience, self-assurance, intuition, ability to take charge of a situation, primal feminine grace, sensuality, and the capacity to claim one’s power or authority.
Chakra Interpretations
Root
As mentioned above, mountain lions are very territorial and require a lot of room. In fact, only a few cats can survive within a thirty-square-mile area, and only by a system of mutual avoidance. You have a stubborn nature and need a great deal of personal space and solitude. Even if you are in a relationship, you need a lot of alone time. Others may not understand that, but as long as you make it clear to anyone you care about that it isn’t about them, they will learn to respect this need without being hurt. Another aspect of the mountain lion in this chakra speaks to the fact that the mountain lions will travel long distances in search of food. You could have a long commute for your job and are always relieved to finally get home.
Sacral
All cats have a natural sensuality, and the mountain lion acknowledges that you are comfortable in your skin and have an innate, voluptuous mystique. Mountain lions are solitary, so perhaps your perfect match is someone else with mountain lion energy. As far as creative passions are concerned, whatever you undertake, you do so with clarity and confidence, never wavering from or questioning your talent or skill. You may be someone who likes to hide out in your studio and do nothing but create, be it writing, art, or music. Those are the passions that drive you and help you feel alive.
Solar Plexus
You carry yourself with confidence while still respecting the personal space of others. Being a leader comes naturally to you, and you are someone who can lead from a position of strength and intelligence and not from the need to control. Your very presence exudes leadership and few people challenge or question your right to the role. This elusive cat can also be a caution not to be too independent and lose connection to others and the world around you. Another trait of the animal is patience. A mountain lion will hide silently before pouncing on its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to act. This says you are someone who does their due diligence and research before committing to anything. You take your time to observe and won’t act until you know the timing is right. You have learned through experience that doing so ensures your success.
Heart
As confident as the mountain lion seems, it is afraid of humans and will try to avoid them. Most likely, you are very self-assured but may be fearful of opening your heart to another. The only time a mountain lion lives with others is when the mother is raising her kittens; the father is never present. It could be that you are a single parent and your children mean everything to you. The definition for children isn’t necessarily human; it could be companion animals or even plants. The key interpretation here is that you tend to give your heart not to a partner but to those who cannot care for themselves. Another possibility is if you are in a relationship, it is most likely with someone who has an equally strong independent streak, and you respect each other’s need for autonomy.
Throat
As with many predator species, communication is typically achieved through scent marking one’s territory. It is possible that you like to wear some form of fragrance, and your scent tends to linger after you have left the room, letting people know that you have been there. Little is known about vocalization in the wild because most of the studies have been done with cats that are in captivity, but it has been observed that the mother communicates with her kittens in a variety of ways. It may be that you aren’t comfortable talking with other adults, that you may prefer talking to children or your pets. You may even be a grade school teacher. A word of caution that relates back to patience: while you are usually very tolerant, it is possible for you to lash out quickly with little or no warning if annoyed or threatened. If this is the case for you, it may be wise to learn how to take a breath so you are sure the recipient is deserving of your wrath.
Third Eye
Mountain lions have excellent night vision, and their field of vision is much greater than ours. All of this could be saying that you see the big picture in all situations. As mentioned above, these cats have incredible patience and will stare at an object or potential prey, unmoving, for what may seem like an eternity. This says that you have intense focus, clarity of vision, and perseverance.
Crown
The mountain lion in this chakra says that when you connect with Spirit, you do so from a position of equality, pride, and respect, not from a fearful posture or one of ego. Most likely, your spiritual practice is solitary—just you and what you identify as a higher power—and you don’t feel the need to practice with other people. Possibly, you use your leadership skills to guide others in ways to connect with their higher selves so they can do so without fear.