| Animal Totems An Animal Totem is an important symbolic object used by a person to get in touch with specific qualities found within an animal which the person needs, connects with, or feels a deep affinity toward. One can have several animal guides through out life. Sometimes an animal guide will come into one’s life for a short period of time, and then be replaced by another depending on the journey or direction one is headed toward. Our guide will instruct and protect us as we learn how to navigate through our spiritual and mundane life. When one finds an animal which speaks strongly to them or feel they must draw more deeply into their lives, they fill their environment with images of the animal to let the animal know they are welcome in the person’s space. Animal guides can help us get back to our Earthly roots, and reconnect with nature by reminding us we are all interconnected. Animals share with us intimate relation with the starry heavens, they too are touched by the movement of the celestial bodies and also react according to the Zodiac configuration at any given time. Just like ourselves, animals are connected to the essential Elements (some of which do seem very obvious: birds with air and whales with water for example) and also to a governing planet which can help determine their characters and reactions toward a stimulus. Learning to appreciate this other facet of the Zodiac can help us to better appreciate our own link with this vast interactive network. Each essential element, Water, Earth, Fire and Air has particular animals connected to it.
About Animal Totems
In earlier days we gave recognition to the power of the animal spirits by wearing skins, masks, mimicking, singing praise, and prayer to specific animals. We painted the animals on our homes, caves, death chambers, and asked the Spirit to guide us to the animal that we consumed and bless the spirit of the animal we kill for we are a predator in the part of Nature and we honored the spirit of our prey. These acts allowed us to remain linked to the animal guides and to accept the power they offer us in lessons, in life, and in death. It reminded us that we too are animals with spirit. Cultures of the past understood the connections. There is a reason that Spirit has put all of us together, has given us so many healing stones, and has given us medicine, for the body and the spirit. We are all one. Using Animal Totems will allow you to see and love the earth better, to know life better, to know yourself better, and to commune better with Mother and Spirit. You can be healthier and happier physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in understanding and honoring your animal totems. Animals come to us because they have a lesson we need to learn a power they are willing to share with a friend. In general, animals remind us that we are part of the earth; that each creature has a place; that each creature has a skill of it's own; that we have instincts given to us from Mother, wisdom born to us that we must awaken. The Animal Totem that comes to you offers you power and wisdom if you will learn to communicate with it, with respect, trust, and understanding. Developing a relationship with a live animal totem takes time, practice, patience and could be very dangerous. Having an animal totem does not mean that you are to pet the animal or even be with it physically. Having an animal totem means that you have lessons to learn and a powerful spiritual friend. Each animal has it's own special power and message, for each animal has a powerful spirit and an inherent skill. Animal Spirits choose a person to be a companion to, a friend to, not the other way around.
Please feel free to browse the pages which open in the list below. They offer more information on finding your animal totem and what each animal means! Enjoy! |
