Totem Animals and Their Symbols

Many of you will have seen totem poles, but do you know what they represent? The totem pole represents the totem animals. What is a totem animal? We all have our own individual totem animals.

Every animal has a powerful spirit. This spirit may be its own or that of a being who uses the animal image to communicate messages of the world to humans. Every animal has its own talents. A study of its talents will reveal the kind of medicine, magic, and power it can help you to develop within your own life. {every animal has its speciality}

Life long power animals are usually wild not domesticated, animals.

The animal chooses the person, not the other way around. Many believe that they can just choose an animal and start communicating with it. Usually ego gets in the way at these times. The individual chooses the animal he or she believes to be most glamorous and powerful, rather than what is harmonious to the individual. The results are ineffective and often frustrating. No animal is worse than any other. Every animal's medicine is unique. You will find the greatest success in the animal that comes to you.

We can find out what animal totem we have in many ways:

1)Meditation (ask to be shown your totem)

2)Your spiritual native teacher.

3) Look around you...what animal/bird/insect are you attracted to or what is attracted to you?

4) You may find you have many pictures, ornaments etc of a particular animal/bird/insect.5) Using medicine cards.

You must develop a relationship with your totem. To communicate with them demands respect. You must learn their point of view. Animals won't just warm up to you immediately. They must learn to trust you and your limitations, and you must learn to trust them and their limiations. This takes time, patience and practice.

You must honor your totem for its medicine to be effective in your life. The more you honor them-the more significance you give them within your life-the more powerful and effective they become. {your imagination is the real link to your totem}

Once you learn to work with the medicine of your power animal, it then becomes a doorway to connecting with others of the animal relm. You are not limited to just one totem. Each can teach or add something to your life that that others can't. Working with your power animal will help teach you how to align with others. Through your power animal, you learn to align with and shapeshift to the energies of other animals and beings.

Although there are one or even several totems that are the strongest in you rlife and remian with you through most of it, others do play a role. You may have a totem for a day. You may have a totem that assists you through a particularly rough period in your life.You are likely yo have different totems for different areas of your life. There's no limit to the totems you can work with. The key though is to connect strongly and fully with at least one. This expands the consciousness and opens the bridge to others more easily.

Discovering Your Animal Totems / Guides

Answer these questions to help you discover the Animal Totems in your life. For Journey and Message Animal Totems you will have to often ask yourself the same questions. Remember that you may not currently have a Journey or Message totem. And finding out your Life animal totem is not always easy. When answering these questions you may have more than one answer per question, just don't start listing out all animals - only the ones that are really important to you. Follow your instincts when answering the question - when in doubt, don't.

Life Long Animal Totems

When you were a child, what animal did you collect or obsess over that you are still attracted to today?

Of all animals if you could have any animal as a pet or companion what would it be?

When going to the zoo, which animal do you spend the most time with or are drawn to?

If you could be any animal what animal would it be?

What animal is in your dreams that you have had since childhood?

What animal are you afraid of that you have no idea why you are afraid of it?

Of all animals what animals are you most attracted to?

When you are out in nature, do you often seem to run into the same animal?

What animal have you bumped into over and over throughout your life?

What animal have you watched for hours?

Does art work or jewelry with a certain animal always attract you?

You Life Long Animal Totem will be the animal that you answered at least three times out of the eleven questions. The more time the same animal is listed in your answered the more important and stronger it is in your life.

Journey Animal Totems

What animal have you started to see occasionally that you never saw before?

What new animal are you attracted to?

Are you dreaming of an animal lately?

Are you thinking about an animal lately?

In the past two weeks what animals have you seen or dreamt of several times?

If you have a Journey Animal Totem you will have answered at least two of the questions with the same animal. Blessings on your new path.

Message Animal Totems

What animal surprised or startled you today?

What animal that you don't usually see, have you seen a couple of times today?

What animal entranced you today?

If you only answered one question then this is a message you should consider. If you answered the same animal to two question then this animal is your Message Totem with a very important message. Heed it's word quickly for the message is for now and today.

Shadow Animal Totems

What animal attacks have you been in?

What scary or traumatic animal situations have you been in?

Does seeing a certain animal bring up feelings of fear?

What animal do you run from?

What animals do you have reoccurring nightmares about?

Does just watching TV with that animal appearing scare you?

Answering two questions with the same animal means you have a Shadow Totem you must address. Remember that the Shadow Totem will continually test you and work against you for you are it's prey. You must embrace the lesson of the animal totem and conquer your fear, accept the power of the Shadow totem, and bring it into the light as your spiritual totem.

There are as many animal totems, or spirit guides, as there are animals. Meditate with the intention of meeting your animal spirit guide, and it will come to you. It is eagerly waiting to meet you, teach you, and help you with your life. Don't worry if you don't have any success right away, it will come if you continue to search. Once you have a familiar, you can summon them for a spell or ritual whenever you need their energy or help.

A Meditation for a Familiar

The first thing to concentrate on during the meditation is the relaxing of the body. Begin with the toes and feet. Mentally tell the muscles to relax. Slowly move up through the body relaxing the muscles as you go.

Don't strain at this. Take as long as necessary. Spend more time working on the muscles of the shoulders, neck, and jaw as these are the ones we tense almost constantly.

When you are relaxed, surround yourself with a white light. Breathe it in; wrap it around you. Now visualize a well before you; you can also imagine a pond or a river, if you like. Mentally take allthe problems, including people, that are bothering you and drop them into the well. If the problems or people won't stay in the well, visualize a lid with a stout lock to keep them inside. Doing this symbolizes to your subconcious mind that these need to be taken care of. You don't want to go into a meditation carrying negative feelings with you.

Visualize scenery around you. This can be forests, jungles, deserts, whatever, but picture a place without buildings or other humans. You may be surprised to find yourself a place you didn't have in mind at all.

Accept whatever scenery is shown and begin a leisurely walk around. Be observant for any creatures that appear.

If a creature approaches you, try to communicate with it. Watch what it does and how it responds to you. Since this is the astral plane, it is possible to communicate with and creature you see. Communication is commonly by telepathic conversations in the mind. You may be told that this creature will be one of your astral familiars or that it has come to make you aware you have need of some of its traits.You may find yourself communicating with several astral beings before you are ready to return to this plane of existence.

When you have wandered through this landscape, and perhaps through others, and observed several astral creatures who show an interest in you, thank them and begin to pull yourself back into your physical body.

Once you have chosen a familiar (and that familiar has chosen you), you can place pictures or statues of that animal on your alter. This will help your subconcious keep a contact point open between you and your familiar.

Animals have meant different things to different people and cultures all through time. When we talk about the meanings of an animal or its symbolism it is this body of knowledge that we are talking about. However no definition will ever be truly comprehensive. For instance if you asked ten people to picture a "ball" in thier mind you would get at least ten different images, from a beach ball to a baseball, from a medicine ball to a cotton ball. This is just an example of how diverse something as simple as a "ball" can be as seen by different people. It is our personal experiences that mold how we see animals just as it does how we see everything else. A person who was bitten by a dog as a child may see them as viscious beasts while someone else might see them as man's best friend.

When it comes right down to it it is what you believe an animal symbolizes that matters most. Sit down and meditate about the animal. Think about when, where and why it is appearing in your life. Look for a common thread. Learn about the animal from books, online or just go out there and experience it in its own environment if possible.

With that in mind this list was created to help you on your search for animal symbolisms. It was drawn from many sources including my own experience. To name a few, Animal magick by D.J. Conway, Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson, Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards, and many wonderful individuals that have donated thier personal experiences to this project, as well as countless other books, hikes, animal companions and animal spirits. Many of the entries have contradictions in them. This is because different cultures and time periods have ascribed vastly different meanings to the same creatures. It is for this reason that what the animal symbolizes to you is what should be most important to you over anything that you read.

Each section contains the animals, insects and birds that are most commonly associated with that area, although some are cross-listed if they clearly fit more than one area.

Land Animal Symbology

Ant:

Ants are industrious, community oriented, single minded builders. They symbolize patience, self-sacrifice, planning, trust in the future, stamina, completion, storing energy, work, thrift, forethought, virtue, and orderliness. They are connected to Wang-ta Hsien, Demeter, and Ceres.

Bat:

Bats symbolize rebirth, reincarnation, ritual death, initiation, confronting fear, letting go of old habits, happiness, good luck, health, wealth, long life, peace, unhappiness, unrest, chaos, incomplete understanding, avoiding obstacles, transformation, and past lives. They are connected to Shou-Hsing and the Underworld.

Bear:

Bears symbolize healing, divinity, invulnerability, spirit helper, protection, introspection, truth, female receptive energy, prophesy, stamina, harmony, patience, defense, revenge, transformation, intuition, answers from the Dreamworld, benevolence, strength and bravery. They are connected to Artemis, Zeus, Callisto, Dea Artia, Thor, Odhinn, Freya, and Norse lunar water goddesses.

Bobcat:

See Lynx

Cat

Cats as protectors. They symbolize strength, cunning, agility, aloofness, independence and seeing spirits. They are connected to Freya, Artemis, Diana, Liberty, Shasti, Bast and Pasht.

Cats have always been near me and they come to me when they need help of some sort. This is WHY I LOVE CATS

Here is another article of mine that tells HOW THE BLACK CAT BECAME EVIL

Coyote

Coyotes are tricksters telling you not to be so serious! They symbolize lessons about yourself, humor, whimsy, night, shape-shifting, opportunity, stealth, creativity, opportunity and experience.

Deer

Deer symbolize gentleness, grace, swiftness, abundance, intuition, introspection, alternative paths to a goal, messages from guides, love, safety, serenity, sun, fertility and the warrior aspect (stag). They are connected to Artemis, Aphrodite, Athene, Diana, Elaphaia, Dionysus, Apollo, Vayu, Lu-Hsing, Cernunnos, Cocidius and Shou-Hsien.

Dog

Dogs are service-oriented protectors. They symbolize loyalty, friendship, unconditional love, compassion, understanding, need for approval, tracking, companionship, intuition and truth. They are connected to Gula, Belit-ili, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Amenti, Cybelle, Artemis, Diana, Hecate, Celtice Mother Goddesses, Arawn, Nodens, Hel, Odhinn, Saramam, moon goddesses, Quezalcoatl and Xolotl.

Fox

Foxes are tricksters. They symbolize camouflage, observation, adabtability, cunning, family, travel, oneness, shape-shifting, slyness, wisdom and invisibility. They are co nnected to Enki, Dionysus and Inari.

Frog/Toad:

Frogs and toads symbolize feminine energy, fecundity, water, new life, new beginnings, the mystery of creation, cleansing, refreshing, purifying, refilling, clearing negativity, replenishment, positive energy, transformation, beginning a new cycle, long life, good luck, changing luck, starting new projects and prosperity. They are a Goddess symbol and are connected to the moon. They are connected to Heket, Isis, Hathor, Ch'ing-Wa Sheng, Aphrodite, Sabazius and Ahriman.

Horse

Horses symbolize strength, the ability to work alone or in groups, speed, stamina, endurance, faithfulness, friendship, cooperation, travel, overcoming obstacles, loyalty, independence, cautiousness, unconditional support, selflessness, freedom, power, balance, compassion and sharing. They are connected to Epona, Kwannon, Anahita, Vesta, Apollo, Mithras, Surya, Odhinn, Freya, Rhiannon, Leukippe, Waelsi and Volos.

Leopard

See Panther

Lion

:Lions symbolize regality, calmness, family, strength, courage and relaxation. They have a strong connection to the Sun and are connected with Ra, Osiris, Sekmet, Apollo, Durga, and solar dieties in general.

Lizard

Lizards symbolize understanding what you dream of, wisdom, good fortune, facing fears and confrontations, death and rebirth. They are connected to the dreamworld, Hermes, Sarapis, Ahriman and Moko.

Lynx/Bobcat:

Lynx is the knower of secrets. They symbolize honesty, open-hearted, non-judgmental counsel, stealth, silence, clairvioyance of secrets of others, suspicion and vigilence. They can help with psychic skills, specifically divination.

Mouse

Mice symbolize silence, stealth, foresight, scrutiny, attention to detail, order, organization, shyness, inconspicuous, invisibility, stealth, trust, innocence, initiative and discovery. Be careful because they can fail to see the big picture. They are connected to Apollo and Zeus.

Panther/Leopard:

Panthers and Leopards symbolize the unknown, stillness, silence, stealth, night, healing, darkness, hidden truth, fearlessness, swiftness, perserverance, beauty, cunning and strength. They teach you to not fear the future. They are connected to Dionysus, Pan and Argus.

Praying Mantis:

The praying mantis symbolizes strength, adaptability and ease of communication.

Rabbit

Rabbits are tricksters, companions to witches and "gatekeepers" to the night and to a different type of consciousness. Rabbits symbolize fertility, mystery, fear of tragedy, long life, quick-thinking, strengthening intuition, illness and disaster. They call your mental fears to you in real life. They teach you to stop "what if" thinking. They are connected to Eostra, Holda, Andraste, Freya, Hermes, Aphrodite, Eros and Chandra.

Raccoon

Raccons symbolize ingenuity, adaptabilty, generosity, caring for others, benevolence, lack of greed, creativity, playfulness, curiosity, new ideas and new jobs or schooling. They are protectors of those who cannot protect themselves.

Rat

Rats symbolize fertility, wealth, cunning, timidity, meanness, wisdom, ingenuity, prudence and foresight. They are connected to Daikoku and Ganesha.

Scorpion

Scorpions symbolize revenge, returning negativity to those who send it and dark magick. They are often thought of as a sign of evil. They are connected to South and Sun, Ishtar, Nanna, Siduri Sabitu, Set, Selket, Isis, Dadophori and Sabazius.

Snake

Snakes symbolize knowledge, change, creation, wisdom, secrets, mystery, reincarnation, immortality, sexuality, reproduction, the element of Fire, duality, solar/lunar, good/evil, healing/poison, life/death/rebirth. They are an early symbol of the Great Mother Goddesses. They are connected to Isis, Thoth, Apep, Hermes, Sabazius, Bel, Ra, Ahriamn, Mithras, Kadi, Kadru, Akkadian Ninhursag, Atargatis, Syria, Asclepias, Hygeia, Persephone, Apollo, Hera, Athene, Hecate, Gaea, Domovoj, Shakti, Ananta, Susanoo, Uga-Jin, Nu Kua, Fu Xi, Brigit, Quetzalcoatl, Kulkulcan, Coatlicue, Coyolxauhqui, Huitzilopochtli and Julungghul.

Spider

Spiders are weavers and tricksters. They symbolize fate, female energy, creative energy, female energy, wisdom, creativity, new life, entanglement, caution, divine inspiration, starting a project, becoming pregnant, being industrious, warning signals, illusions. they can act as hazard ahead signposts. They are connected to Neith, Ishtar, Atargatis, Athene, the Fates, the Norns, Holda, Inktomi, Kokyangwuti, Tsitsicnako and Sussistanako.

Squirrel:

Squirrels symbolize gathering, foresight, energy, eratic behavior, storing, gossip, warning, change, discovery, truth, balance and harmony. They are messengers of the Gods and mischief-makers. They warn you to be careful of useless hoarding and teach you to take life lightly.

Tiger:

Tigers are quick to act, subtle and inconcspicuous. They symbolize ferocity, royalty, fearlessness, authority, the warrior aspect, a lack of procrastination and will-power. They are connected to Duga, Shiva, Dionysus and Tsai Chen.

Toad:

See Frog Turtle/Turtoise: Turtles and Tortoises symbolize longevity, strength, endurance, wisdom, patience, knowledge of the defensive position, goddess energy, grounding, shielding, treachery, perserverance and slowing down to enjoy life. They are connected to the elements of earth(turtle and tortoise) and water(turtle) and the moon. They are connected to Prajapati, P'an Ku, Pan, Aphrodite, Venu, Hermes and Mercury.

Wolf:

Wolves symbolize family, teaching, co-operation, insight, stealth, strength, leadership, loyalty, freedom, individuality, psychic energy connected to the moon (hidden wisdom), sharing knowledge and wisdom, cunning, hunting, seeking, introspection, listening, magick, dreams, They are connection to the moon and to Wepwawet, Zeus Lycaeus, Apollo, Ares, Mars, Silvanus, Cernunnos and Odhinn

Dolphin/Porpoise:

Dolphins and porpoises are guides to the Underworld and messengers of the dreamworld and of progress. They symbolize joy, playfulness, lack of inhibitions, power, swiftness, the sea, eloquence, magick (specifically water magick), discovery, communication, truth, trust, balance, harmony, breathing, rythm, patterns and relaxation. They are connected to Water and to Astarte, Ishtar, Isis, Apollo Delphinos and sea dieties in general.

Fish:

Fish symbolize love, fertility, victory over death, healing, prophesy, abundance, wealth, harmony, regeneration, children, pregnancy and bringing love into your life. They are connected to the Moon, to Water, Atargatis, Ishtar, Derceto, Isis, Aphrodite, Freyja, Venus, Dagon, Poseidon and Kuan Yin.

Frog/Toad:

Frogs and toads symbolize feminine energy, fecundity, water, new life, new beginnings, the mystery of creation, cleansing, refreshing, purifying, refilling, clearing negativity, replenishment, positive energy, transformation, beginning a new cycle, long life, good luck, changing luck, starting new projects and prosperity. They are a Goddess symbol and are connected to the Moon and Heket, Isis, Hathor, Ch'ing-Wa Sheng, Aphrodite, Sabazius and Ahriman.

Otter:

Otters symbolize playfulness, balanced female energy, curiousity, joy for self and others, lack of jealousy and envy, lack of worry, talent, faithfulness, social life and happiness. They are tricksters. They are connectes to the elements of Earth and Water and are connected to Cernunnos.

Seal:

Seals symbolize playfulness, parenting and protection (specifically protection during travel over water, when changing your life completely, when facing divorce or a traumatic separation form a loved one, and from gossip and danger).

Whale:

Whales symbolize elegance, ancient teachings, history, clariaudience, telepathy, psychic abilities, sound and music healing, death and rebirth, initiation, the waters of life, regeneration, the sea, music, longevity, family and friends, learning magick, elelmental magick and trust. Whales are the record keepers. They are connected to Derceto.

Bee:

Bees symbolize industry, community, concentration, planning and saving, working with the spirits of the deceased, industry, prosperity, purity, acheiving the so-called impossible, birth, death, resurection, luck, misfortune and Otherworld wisdom. They are connected to Bridgid, Ra, Vishnu, Krishna, Indra, Aphrodite, Demeter, Cybele, Artemis, aDiana, Rhea, Zues, Dionysus, Pan and Priapus.

Butterfly:

Butterflies symbolize joy, freedom, living in the moment, transformation, the birth-death-rerbirth circle, mental powers, reincarnation, magick, divination concerning the life cycle, understanding where you are in the cycle of your life, inspiration, immortality, leisure, beauty in old age, longevity, love, happiness, falseness, vanity and the soul. They are connected to the element of Air and the Horae and Zochiquetzal.

Crow/Rook:

Crows and rooks symbolize resourcefulness, survival, death, a call to the magick and the mystery around us, the law, the supernatural, the mysteries of creation, shape-shifting, change, harmony, justice, integrity, bad omens, boldness, skill, cunning, prophecy, eloquence and divination. They are tricksters connected to Morrigan, Varuna, Rhea Kronia, Apollo, Macha and Babd.

Dragonfly:

Dragonflies symbolize illusion, dreams, change, enlightenment, irresponsibility, unrealiability, weakness, instability, swiftness, dreams and seeing the truth. They are messengers of the elemental world and the god/esses. They are connected to Summer.

Eagle:

Eagles symbolize nobility, clarity of vision, balance between the spirit world and everyday life, the ability to soar above everyday life, lightning, rising above material in search of spiritual, connecting with the spirit world, helpful rain, the warrior spirit, fearlessness, keen vision, war, freedom, majesty, authority, strength, victory and courage. They have a connection to the divine and to the Sun, as well as to Air, Fire and Spirit. They are connected to Ninurta, Marduk, Asshur, Pan, Zeus, Indra, Vishnu, Mithras and Ohdinn.

Falcon:

Falcons symbolize freedom, speed in action, far-sightedness, magick, astral travel, clear vision and healing. They help those who are dying through the process. They are connected to Horus, Circe, Ra, Menthu, Freya and Odhinn.

Hawk:

Hawks are observant and perceptive messengers from the spirit world. They symbolize noticing the big picture, using your talents, omens, dreams, courage, defense, wisdom, illumination, truth and experience. They are connected to Horus, Ptah, Rehu, Seker, Amenti, Apollo, Artemis, INdra, Ahura Mazda, and Mithras.

Hummingbird:

Hummingbirds symbolize freedom of movement, energy, tireless joy and living from life's nectar, accomplishing things that are said to be impossible, finding the joy in living and learning from your own life experiences, flowers, love, beauty, art, relaxation and fearlessness. They are connected to Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli.

Owl (general):

Owls symbolize wisdom, the ability to see things that are hidden, stealth, swiftness, darkness, freedom, dreams, shape-shifting, secrets, omens, clairvoyance, astral projection, magick, deception, observation, total truth, night, death and misfortune. They are connected to the Underworld and the Moon. They are connected to The Goddess in general, as well as Athena, Mari, Lilith, Anath, Gwynn ap Nudd, Blodeuwedd, Yama and Cailleach. Barn Owl: Barn owls are the ones who see without seeing and hear without hearing; the ones who can hear what is not spoken and ones that see things without physical sight.

Raven:

Ravens symbolize magick, inner fears, the spirit world, a change in consciousness, healing, dispelling "dis-ease," the unknown, mischieviousness, adabtability, intelligence, ingenuity, death, war, bloodshed, battle, divination and the destruction required for creation. They are the messengers of the spirit world. They are connected to the Crone, the Sun, and to Odhinn, Apollo, Athene, Cronus, Asclepias, Brahma, Morrigan, Babd, Nantosuelta and Lugh.

Swan:

Swans symbolize grace, healing, altered states, intuition, transformation, transitions, spiritual evolution, hunches, omens, spiritual divination, dignity, monogamy, loyalty and silence. They are connected to Apollo, Aphrodite, the Muses, Venus, Zeus, Aphrodite, Sarasvati, Brahma and Devi.

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