In earlier days we
understood that we were simply a part of the earth. We knew we were
only one small part. Now many think humans are the greatest and most
important part. But still, we are only a part of the earth, only a part
of nature, only a child of Mother, only a part of Spirit. We used to
know respect of Nature and killed only what we ate and used only the
skins of what we killed and ate. We did not waste life nor disrespect
spirits but honored and thanked them for providing us with life,
nourishment, and comfort. In earlier days we gave recognition to the
power of the animal spirits by wearing skins, masks, mimicking, singing
praise, and prayers 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 all animals, were our sisters, brothers, and
cousins and most importantly our teachers and our friends. It reminded
us that we too are animals with spirit.
The Natural Power of animal totems has not been lost. They still hold
the power and the knowledge we can use. Only we must remember how to be
One with Nature and all that is, has been, and will be. Cultures of the
past understood the connections. We must not lose this connection now
that we are 'cultured'. For what was will always be and all those
cultures could not have been wrong. 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. They seek to give us a gift of
understanding,universal love, energy and knowledge. 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. You can
not think, 'gee a bear is cute or powerful and I like what it
represents so the Bear will be my Animal Totem'. No, the animal will
choose you and make itself known to you. You will only need to pay
attention to discover what your totems are. After you define the types
of animal totems you can go to a questionnaire to learn what animals
are your totems.
Mistakenly people often think of animals as non-spiritual, uncultured,
and less intelligent than humans. Some people do not even think animals
have Spirit. Not so - an animal is close to Spirit, is Spirit because
they have never been taught differently. Think of these things to
remind you....
- Could you, for your whole life without tools or weapons, even survive in the wild?
- Could you weave a bird's nest or spider's web?
- Could you catch a fish with your hands?
- Would you know how to migrate without a compass? Or even know when it was time to migrate?
- Can you carry things ten times your own body weight?
- Do you know what you can and can't eat in the wild?
- Can you go through life happy like animals do?
- Can you experience the moment like an animal does?
- Could you get along with five to twenty other beings for your entire life and remain in the herd?
- Could you, for hours, simply sit resting and contemplate (meditate perhaps, perhaps talk directly with Spirit)?
- Do you take hours a day to just be with your family and to simply play and hug like most mammals?
Types of Animal Totems
When discovering
totems you must first understand if the totem is a Life Totem, A
Journey Totem, Shadow Totem, or a Message Totem. All totems are
powerful but the meaning that the totem brings will vary on your action
depending on what type of totem has come to you.
Your Life
Long Animal Totem works with you throughout your entire life
or until such time that you no longer need that animal totem. It is
always there when you need it's powers. Always reminding you of your
power and connectivity. You may have only one or a few Life totems.
They may become your Life totem at any time. But the primary Life Totem
will be our focus at this time. The messages that your Life Totem
brings are a hard reminder from Mother. Your Life Totem is always there
for you and generally reflects your inner spiritual nature. Many call
your Life Long animal totem your Spirit totem. For example if your Life
Totem was a Penguin you would be a person who should be very spiritual
since the penguin moves better in water (the symbol of the astral plane
- which is were we go when we dream) than it does on land. Being able
to leap out of the water (up to six feet) represents the ability of out
of body experiences. It is also important to understand which type of
penguin is your animal totem since some have additional characteristics
that are important to consider, like most penguins life in tropical
conditions not arctic ones.
A Journey
Animal Totem reflects a period of time. Not just a day but
weeks, months, or maybe year s- the time it takes you to walk the path
that the Animal Totem is reminding or guiding you on. During this
journey you will find that this animal is always showing up in your
life or that several animal totems will appear in your life all to
guide you on the path. When you find one, two or three animals all of a
sudden making an appearance and their nature all has the same basis
then you have found the basis of your path. The difference between the
Journey Animal Totem and the Message Animal Totem is a period of time.
A Message animal Totem will bring itself to you quickly and impartially
where a Journey Animal Totem will slip in and out of your life over the
course of a period. Looking into the cycle of the animal also can give
insight to the length of the journey.
A Message
Animal Totem usually is bringing you a self growth, spiritual
message, or a cautionary warning. It is often a wake up call or slap in
the face. It will usually be a very unusual experience making it very
powerful at that time and very impartial. A Message Totem is a brief
period of time, a day, a week, and occasionally as much as a couple of
months but can be immediate for just a few hours. Sometimes a Message
totem is not bringing you a message but causing a delay in your life.
This delay, such as when you are trying to leave to go somewhere, is
often in assistance for you; to be sure you are not in a place at a
certain time so that you avoid an accident or can catch a phone call or
meet someone you are supposed to run into.
Shadow Animal
Totems are those totems that test us. They have great power
for us, but will put us through tests before they will let their power
work with and for us, instead of against us. In all of nature there is
prey and predator. In the spiritual or Shadow World there is the same.
A Shadow Animal Totem is one that initially you fear. The Shadow Totem
often represents inner fears that you must overcome. You may have even
been attracted by the animal; a very vivid test to see if you are ready
to accept the power of the animal totem. Until you face the fears of
the Shadow Animal Totem it's powers will work against you, not letting
you soar high. When you overcome the fear of the Shadow Animal Totem
you bring it into the Light World as a Spirit animal totem and they
become one of your most powerful Animal Totems. Your goal with a Shadow
Totem is to learn the lessons and incorporate that animal into your
life. If you are scared by something over and over then you still have
not accepted the lesson that animal has for you.
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