| Animal spirit totems can be viewed in different ways | | | | harness the medicine that comes with these |
| according to each of us as individual people. The basic | | | | wonderous and intelligent creatures of nature, |
| principle of an animal totem is an animal spirit who | | | | enlightening our perceptions, spiritually and personally |
| gives us insight into ourselves, a glimpse of the divine | | | | growing as people, and sharing that new found |
| powers at work in our world, and can transcend us | | | | source of energy with others in the world. |
| to a place of healing for ourselves and other people. | | | | Our animal totems and guides choose us according to |
| The author of Animal-Speak, Ted Andrews defines | | | | what is necessary for growth at that particular time. |
| animal totems as such: "Any natural object, animal, or | | | | We can also have one main power totem who does |
| being whose phenomena and energy you feel closely | | | | not come and go but encompasses 'who we are'. |
| associated with during your life". A totem is | | | | This animal will many times be the one who you have |
| considered to be a power, also called 'medicine' and is | | | | felt connected with most strongly during your life, |
| capable of walking down our path with us on our | | | | but doesn't necessarily have to be. Develop a |
| spiritual and personal journey in this lifetime. We can | | | | relationship with your animal totems. Study the |
| tap into the energies of the animal totems for | | | | animal's behaviors, hunting habits, natural instincts, life |
| strength, healing for ouselves, and for others. Higher | | | | rythym cycles and how it lives. Honor them by |
| level beings along with Spirit Guides can shapeshift, | | | | keeping physical reminders of them near you such as |
| transforming their energy bodies into animals and | | | | figurines, pictures that you can draw, etc...Even if you |
| sending us important messages that will guide us | | | | don't physically have the animal in your geographical |
| along and teach us what we need to know. | | | | area you can still draw pictures of them. Meditate and |
| How many of you have been attracted to particular | | | | calm your mind, ask Spirit for help and you will draw |
| animals over the course of your lifetime? Own | | | | what naturally comes to you. |
| figurines of a certain animal, hang pictures up of | | | | Everything in nature is connected....There is one hoop |
| them, watch them at the zoo? How many of you | | | | for everything, and everything has it's place and |
| see a particular animal on a regular basis and at times | | | | purpose. You may want to study the location of |
| thought it seemed 'out of the ordinary' for this to | | | | where the animal lives, nearby plants, streams, lakes, |
| happen? Many of us overlook and miss the animals | | | | rocks, stones, cliffs, trees etc...By doing so you are |
| when they are speaking to us. Because of today's | | | | keeping the sacred balance of all things and learning all |
| busy society and hectic lives we often take natural, | | | | there is to know about your totems. Make an effort |
| spiritual occurances and sluff them off or don't even | | | | to communicate with the animals. Pay attention to |
| notice them at all. | | | | your surroundings and know what animal(s) speak to |
| If we take the time and effort to connect with | | | | you. You will be on your way to connecting with |
| Mother Earth and her animal children we can learn to | | | | your personal animal totems if you do these things........ |