Animal Totems

[STORMDANCER]

Someone close to me today asked my what totem animals were so I have added this post to join the others on here:

Animal totems play huge roles in our lives. They aid in self-discovery and capture our imagination, giving us incredible avenues of self-expression and awareness.

Additionally, they assist in understanding our past, and if we are attentive, our animal totems can reveal glimpses of our future.

Webster's Dictionary defines a totem as: "A natural object, usually an animal that serves as a distinctive, often venerated emblem or symbol – usually a means of personal or spiritual identity."

Native American animal totems most commonly come to mind when discussing this topic. However, animal signs are found throughout all cultures spanning the globe.

Since time immemorial, animals have served as harbingers of personality traits we, as humans, all aspire to achieve. This makes animals some of the most powerful symbols in our spiritual toolbox.

Storm

[Blacknight]

Most magical people begin working with totem animals by choosing their favourite creature........One that has fascinated them for most of their lives . You will find, however, that once the animal kingdom feels the positive vibrations of your interest in communication, others will step forward at different times in your life to lend you aid or to simply allow you to feel the harmony of the worlds as they work together on another plane.

Your only requirement is to pay attention and honour that communication. A simple ' thank you' from your lips once you have received the information will often suffice. For example, whenever I am worried about something and I am away from home, ravens and crows will show up to let me know that everything is ok. They've also warned me of auto accidents and other hazards on the road, repeatedly. In books about Omens, this is exactly the opposite of what such a flock is supposed to eman, so be careful and don't let old superstitions colour the communication the animals may have for you.

Sometimes your favourite animal is not necessarily your strongest totem animal. If this is the case, the animal energy closest to yours will show up in the oddest places. Eventually you'll get the hint. Don't feel bad if you tire of a particular animal and move on to something else. They won't be offended. Just like people, each animal has its own individual energy. As your spirituality heightens, you may grow into communication with a different species......something that better matches your vibratory patterns.

blacknight

[shadowfox]

A very interesting topic to start off the Shaman section. In my personal opinion, and also in my experience, animal totems come from our inner self. They represent things we need to learn, and understand in order for us to grow. By growing i am talking about inner growth, but also outer as well, as both are very closely intertwined. There are many ways to find out what your animal totem is. Sometimes as mentioned in the previous posting, they can be your favorite animal, or an animal that holds a great deal of mystery to you. Or you can go on a spirit walk, as shamans do, and again there are many methods to do so. Sometimes our animal totems is an animal that shows itself or makes itself known to us either by appearing quite a few times in a short period of time. Or even appear to us in dreams.

Once you discover what your animal totem is, learn all you can about it. Living habits, eating habits, everything. Take notes. And soon you will start to discover just what it is this totem is trying to teach you.

It is all about being open to what you can and will discover. Both about yourself and your totem.

[Shadowwolf]

In my opinion as a medicineman the totem isnt always something we choose often the animal will choose you for instance in my carse iam the 15th generation to have the same totem and was chosen at the second of birth the wolf even appeard at my mothers bed as i was born