The July Page in My Field Guide

The messengers 🐌

I’m going to start this post with a public service announcement for all my fellow snail enthusiasts.

It’s called tap, release, move.

If you ever need to move a snail out of harm’s way, give its shell a wee tap first. The snail will retreat safely into its shell, and then you can carefully pick it up and move it to a safer spot.

The other morning I watched a man walk up, yank a snail right off the sidewalk, and set it in the grass. I might have gasped. While his intentions were good, the snail’s delicate body may be irreparably damaged. I told myself to keep quiet. Then I walked up to him and kindly suggested the tap-release-move method, but he gave me a blank stare. He didn’t speak English.

I was a little sad, to be honest. I had just snapped a photo of this snail. Snails are my spirit animal. When I walked home, I had a thought. Maybe I should share this online. It will send a tiny ripple through the universe as they tell everyone they know. This could save countless snails.

One must always seek a ray of light in the darkness.

Now onto this month’s page.

The July theme for The Field Guide to You is Signs.

I have quite a list of signs, if I’m being honest. But today I will share my story of the snails with you. And how it became one of my most beloved signs.