Indian woman with cougar
Animals of Spirit, Power and Totem have been a part of every major religion for centuries. The Greeks spoke to spirits and gods through oracles. The Ancient Native Americans imitated animals in dance and ceremonial rituals to estalblish links to the spirit world. The earliest recorded traditions teach that each person comes into life existence with one or more animal guides from the spirit world. It is also believed that the person and their “life-long” spirit totem animals share a spiritual, energetic connection in which the animals serves as an ally, guide, teacher, protector, and a source of power throughout the person’s life.
“If you talk to the animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” ~ Chief Dan George
Native American folklore also teaches that over the course of a person’s life, one may have nine spirit totem animals that represent their personal medicine, emulate their talents, and to also provide a source of inspiration for improving one’s self and life patterns. It is believed that seven of the spirit totem animals guide and teach during specific periods of the life journey, while the remaining two walk on the right and left sides of a person and provide influences all through one’s life. A spirit animal is referred to by many different terms, such as, “spirit guide”, “power”, or “totem” animal. Traditionally the totem power animal spirit would first come to an individual through a dream, vision quest or pilgrimage to a sacred place of power, meditation, or through an encounter with it in the physical world in which its presence and relationship availability is communicated.
Traditionally the totem power animal spirit would first come to an individual through a dream, vision quest or pilgrimage to a sacred place of power, meditation, or through an encounter with it in the physical world in which its presence and relationship availability is communicated.
The spirit totem animal offers its power, teaching, medicine, protection, wisdom and unique gifts to help a person learn and grow within one’s life. The totem spirit animal has the ability to enrich a person’s life and to empower them with its power. It serves as an intermediary between the spirit world and the physical world and helps one to realize, evolve and fulfil the full spectrum of their divine life purpose.
In opening the doorway to a spirit totem animal, it is essential for the animal to have a sacred home within the consciousness and life of the person to whom it is connected, and for the animal’s being to be honoured on a regular basis through prayer, song, tobacco or corn meal offering and other practices which enable the relationship to prosper. It is also important to invite the totem spirit in to your body, mind and spirit so it can teach you what it has to offer in the way of wisdom and guidance from the physical and spirit world.
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Spirit totem animals appear in a person’s life to teach attributes, powers or lessons, and for achieving a specific purpose. The following is a list of the different types of spirit totem animals that one may encounter within their life:
Life-Long Animal Spirit Totem is an animal from the spirit world that we are connected to from birth. This animal will be with us throughout our life. It will guide us and teach us it’s powers and serve as an intermediary between the physical and spirit world.
Journey Animal Spirit Totem is an animal that guides you for a period of days or even years. It will be with you until completion of the lesson or path it is guiding you on.
Message Animal Spirit Totem is an animal that appears to teach a lesson, a specific growth attribute or give a warning. These types of animals are usually an encounter that leaves a powerful impression or significance with a person.
Shadow Animal Spirit Totem is an animal that represents the inner self and fears that must be overcome or lessons to be learned in order to evolve spiritually. This animal has great power and will put us through life-lesson tests in order to gain wisdom and growth. This totem animal changes throughout your life in accordance with the level of evolvement being attained with its presence.
The following is a partial listing from the animal, bird, fish, insect, mammal and reptile kingdom; and a brief description of the many attributes, lessons and power they bring into our lives:
| Alligator: Integration, Initiation Anaconda: Foresight Ant: Patience Antelope: Action Armadillo: Boundaries Badger: Aggressive Bat: Rebirth Bear: Introspection Beaver: Building, Goals Bee: Working together Beetle: Regeneration, Resurrection Blackbird: Energy, Understanding, New Blue Heron: Self-reflection, Self-reliance Blue Jay: Creative controversy Bobcat: Silence, Secrets Boar: Confrontation Buffalo: Abundance Bull: Fertility Butterfly: Transformation Camel: Use of resources Canary: Power of song and voice Cardinal: Renewed vitality Caribou: Physical fitness Cat: Magic, Mystery, Tactile senses Centipede: Coordinated efforts Chameleon: Mastering change Cheetah: Precision Chipmunk: Respect Cobra: Enlightenment Cow: Contentment Coyote: Trickster Cricket: Luck, Sound Crow: Divine law Deer: Gentleness Dinosaur: Ancient wisdom Dog: Loyalty Dolphin: Life energy, Power of breath Dove: Inner peace Dragon: Conscious awareness Dragonfly: Illusions Duck: Free will Eagle: Spiritual connection, Enlightenment Elephant: Obstacle remover Elk: Stamina Emu: Reason Falcon: Questioning Ferret: Solving mysteries Finch: Desire Firefly: Sharing self Flamingo: Open-heartedness Fox: Camouflage Giraffe: New horizons Goat: New endeavors, Blessings Goose: Elder wisdom Grasshopper: Leap forward Hawk: Messenger Hen: Nurturing Horse: Power Hummingbird: Joy Hyena: Laughter Jackal: Cleverness Jaguar: Personal integrity Jellyfish: Intent Kangaroo: Guardianship Kestrel: Proper values Koala: Thoughtfulness Ladybug: Unexpected gifts, Surprises |
Lark: Freedom from worry Leopard: Power of choice Lion: Pride Lizard: Dreaming Mockingbird: Soul Purpose, Counseling Mole: Retrieval Mongoose: Courage Monkey: Family Issues Moose: Self Esteem Moth: Out-of-body exploration Mountain Lion: Leadership Mouse: Scrutiny, detail oriented Mule: Allowance Newt: Miracles Octopus: Versatility Opossum: Strategy Oriole: Social Behavior Ostrich: Grounded, Astute Otter: Playfulness Owl: Wisdom, Discernment Ox: Sacredness Panther: Embracing unknown, Power Parakeet: Hospitality Parrot: Developing skill Peacock: Visualization Pegasus: Immortality Pelican: Hidden resources Penguin: Unity, Astral projection Pig: Intellect Porcupine: Innocence, Trust Praying Mantis: Positive focus Quail: Reservation Rabbit: Listening, Fear, Fertility Raccoon: Protection, Dexterity Ram: Breakthroughs Raven: Magic Rhinoceros: Forcefulness Roadrunner: Mental alertness Robin: Parenting Rooster: Ambition Salamander: Fire power and medicine Sea Horse: Androgyny Sea Lion: Intuition, Imagination Shark: Warning, Signs Sheep: Congeniality Shrimp: Recognition Skunk: Reputation Snail: Taking it easy Snake: Transmutation Spider: Creativity, Dream-Weaver Squirrel: Gatherer, Planner Starfish: Hope, Inspiration Stork: Growth Swan: Gracefulness Tiger: Unexpected lessons, Passion Turkey: Harvest, Shared blessings Turtle: Earth Mother, Fertility Unicorn: Unconditional love Vulture: Purification, Releasing Weasel: Stealth Whale: Destiny Wolf: Teacher, Pathfinder Wolverine: Fearlessness Woodchuck: Decisions Woodpecker: Protection Yak: Healing stillness or numbness Zebra: Non-judgmental behaviour |
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Pamela Nine
This article has been reproduced here with full permission of the author, Pamela Nine PhD. Her website is: Pamela Nine, Ph. D
Pamela is internationally known as a “Messenger of Spirit” and highly acclaimed Psychic, Medium, Counselor and Spiritual Teacher. She is also a Certified Reiki Master and Ordained Minister with a Doctorate Degree in Religion. She has been in the wellness profession for more than twenty years, and is the Owner of Nine Wellness Centre, located in Knoxville, TN. She specializes in Intuitive, Grief and Spiritual Counseling, Reiki Natural Energy Healing and Educational Programs.
Article source: Animals: Spirit, Power & Totem
Please comment on your own experiences in divining or meeting your animal totem or spirit guide.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Timberwolf,
I would like to thank you for including my article on your wonderful website! I am very pleased to know that there are people in the world like you….who care enough to provide inspirational and informative topics to educate those who are in search of avenues to learn. Keep up the good work!
With love and blessings to you….always,
Pamela Nine, Ph.D.
Email: pamelanine@msn.com
Website: http://www.ninewellnesscentre.com
Excellent blog – very informative!
Many thanks
Hi…….I need to know more about the newt.
Last night on a chilly damp UK night, I shone my torch right outside my back door and there were four newts just looking at me ! knowing a bit about amphibians, this shocked me as it was cold and at night !
It struck me that they had a powerful message to tell me, but as yet I have not fathomed it out.
Can you help ?
Hi Chris. I’m sorry it has taken this long to respond to your comment, however I wanted to do the proper research. I have located a number of references to “newts” as an animal spirit. Mostly, though, the references deal with other amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. The upshot is that there is both a light and a dark side to the appearance of a “newt”. On the darker side of the animal spirit is: posturing defence, poisonous reaction…living between the waking and dreaming state. On the lighter side, the one which I always take being a positive person, is: Anyone with an amphibian as a totem has access to ancient truths. Change or metamorphosis is taking place or soon to take place whenever an amphibian totem shows up. If a frog or toad appears it may very well be time to leap into a new life path.
Hope this helps. Please let me know how things have progressed for you.
With the “darker” side, the newt is definitely reminding me to continue to do my psychic protection as I let my guard down once recently and payed the price with someone draining my energy.
The “lighter side” is a boost to me as I am at a career crossroads really not knowing what to do and how to progress and it look likes the newts were telling me to take a chance on making that leap down a new road. Interestingly as well, a few months ago I had a psychic reading which mentioned ancient truths, which puzzled me, but now this is mentioned again ! So, I will pay attention to “old ways” and see where I am drawn.
Thanks for your help Timberwolf !
Hi, I’m new to your sight. Maybe you can help me. I find myself looking for information to help me with explaining my experience. I guess the technical term would be a “vision”. [In the vision, I found myself at the edge of thick wooded area, and off to my right, from behind a large bush a very large black cat appeared [a black panther]. An stood before me. I didn’t feel like I was in danger. But we did made eye contact for a moment. And it was like she was staring into my very soul. She then turn and dissappeared into the wood. As I watch I got the impression I was in the presence of “power and beauty”. Can you provide me with some insight as why this happened. Tally
Hi Tally. It would seem to me that you have met your spirit guide for this portion of your journey on this turn of the wheel. The following is an excerpt from Spirit Walk Ministry regarding the black panther and its meaning.
I hope this helps you understand your vision.
Timberwolf
Hello, Thankyou for your kind reponse. Very interesting. Get well soon. Tally
Ps. As for our Lady Panther. She seem to slip in and out of my thoughts more and more as of late. As if to say “I’m here”. Part of me is longing to follow her.
Thank you Timberwolf for your link to our animal spirit guide site at “Spirit Walk Ministry”, which is a Shamanic Studies Ministry out of Massachusetts on the internet since 2007.
I would like however to correct you on your listing us as “Spirit Walk Ministries”, which is an evangelical Christian Ministry recently established in Texas and is no way a part of or affiliated with Spirit Walk Ministry.
John – thank you for your comment and correction. I am very sorry to have mixed you up with the other establishment. I have corrected the error. Please accept my apologies.
Timberwolf
Hello Timberwolf,
I have 3 life spirit animals an anaconda, unicorn, and a phoenix. I found a place where I could find spirit stones for all my spirit animals but a phoenix. I have been searching for months trying to find any phoenix spirit stones, but I still can’t find any.. Do you know any places that may have what I’m looking for?
Hi Katie and welcome to Timberwolf HQ
I have tried doing some research for you in relation to spirit stones and phoenix. I am sorry to say that I only come up with games like warhammer and some other games. Perhaps one of my readers may have some information that will assist in your search.
Does anyone have any information that may assist Katie in locating a spirit stone for her totem spirit guide – the phoenix?
Thank you
Timberwolf
I just stumbled upon this page and despite the question being almost two years old I would like to add azeztulite and phenacite to the list as both resonate with the higher vibrations of the eternal light and cosmic energy of the phoenix. It is, however, a good idea to use these stones in tandem a grounding stone such as carnelian or hematite.
For any other seekers that happen along as well.
Eternal love and light ~
sunstone, ruby or garnet.
Namaste April
Thank you so much for assisting Katie with the spirit stone question. It is wonderful to see such community spirit at work here on Timberwolf HQ.
Please check out our new Forum as well. It needs the support of readers like you to contribute your knowledge and wisdom to help foster even greater community spirit.
Thank you
Timberwolf
hai April,
Could you tell me how to care for phoenix spirit?
I have Phoenix on my bloodstone pendant, and I would know how to take care her…
thank you
Namaste Remandhia
It would appear that April has not responded to your request. I will pass it on and ask her to respond.
Thank you for your question.
I love your site and the photographic art you have.
Timberwolf
Hello, I recently had an encounter with a hawk – as I was driving along he swooped down to my car, flew past my window (driver’s side) then flew past the windshield. I had to swerve the car to miss him! Any insights?
Thank you
Namaste MonksNature
My apologies for taking so long to respond. I was wondering if you had found a meaning for your encounter with the hawk?
My thoughts on this encounter are that the hawk was attempting to divert you from a particular course. This would indicate that you were approaching a decision point and that you may have been going to make the wrong choice. The hawk was trying to get your attention and divert you from your contemplated course to the correct one.
I would be interested in hearing how things have been going for you.
Timberwolf
Hello, I am new to this whole “totem animal” thing.
I so dearly would like to discover what my animal is.
When looking up instructions on how to find my totem animal, it said to try an remember a recurring dream, or an animal that I have some sort of connection to.
The only thing I could think of would be a T-Rex or some sort of raptor.
I often have dreams with both of these animals, but they usually result in me getting, well, eaten.
I would like to know if that means anything.
Hi Olivia
Sorry it has taken so long to respond. I have just returned from illness and the holiday season. I understand that you want to learn more about your totem animal. Have you tried any meditations to assist in meeting and getting to know your animal spirit guide. I have posted a very good one on: Discovering Your Animal Totem. Please try this meditation as quite a few of my readers have indicated it was very useful. I too have found it helps.
Once you have met with your spirit guide and become known to each other come back and let my readers and I know how it worked for you.
Namaste
Timberwolf
Hi Timberwolf. My friend and I attended a power animal workshop. I was joined by an EMU kicking smallish rocks away from my path.My friend had a zebra peeking out at him. I feel there is a connexion but would like some guidance please. Thank you and a Happy New Year. Twice I typed Mew year so maybe cats will be powerful for you!
Namaste Judith
My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. There is a meditation on my site at an article called: Discovering Your Animal Totem which may help you meet your guide and get to know him/her. If you both do this mediation, one could guide the other and vice versa, then you should get some good results.
Please try this and let me know how things go.
Timberwolf
i have no idea what i am though i have a strong passion for horses ever since i was a little girl i find i can communicate with them so much easier than people, im not sure where my totem is or what it is any help?
Namaste Tahlia
Thank you for visiting Timberwolf HQ. You may very well be a person who has Horse as a spirit guide. There is a meditation on my site at an article called: Discovering Your Animal Totem which may help you meet your guide and get to know him/her. Please try this and let me know how things go.
Timberwolf.
I don’t know if you can help me or not but I have been searching for an answer for a long time. As a child I moved around for a very long time and still do sometimes, anyways as a kid I had dreams about horses all the time and each one was usually the same type of dream. I always feel a special connection with horses everytime that I am near one, like I have to be close to it or just see it and whenever I am near one i always feel better no matter what is happening so in truth i want to know if the horse is my spirit animal, I am 15 now and recently I was in wisconsin and our neighbors had horses and I had what i thought was a connection with one of their palamino horses. Just to let you know I do believe in this sort of thing, I am really just looking for clarity and hopefully an answer as to if this is my spirit animal or not.
I was wondering if you could help me. I was wondering if there was a way of finding my spirit animal or animals I believe that one may be a horse but I am unclear and would like to know how to find my spirit animal and if there are other ways of going about it besides meditation.
Namaste Christian
There may be other ways to find your spirit guide, however meditation is usually the best. The article: Discovering Your Animal Totem has a short meditation that should help you get in touch with your animal spirit guide.
Try it and leave a comment to let my readers and I know how things go.
Timberwolf
Hi, Timberwolf
I was wondering if you could explain something to me. Iv been haveing these dreams where i am near a river and on the other side is a wolf pack. I hear screaming and all of a sudden a boat floats down the river with a group of hunters in it. the hunters are shooting at the wolves. i jump in the river and scream at them to stop one of the hunters poinrt a gun twords me and smiles. i dont know what happens next because it all goes dark.Pitch black exept for silverfawn,my guide,who is glowing white at my side.I wake up in cold sweats every time i have that dream.Is silverfawn trying to tell me something.What am i suppost to do
~Dawn
Hi , Timberwolf
I was wondering if you could help me. When i was 12 years old i had a strange dream IN MY BIRTHDAY NIGHT . I was playing in the garden with beautiful flowers. And i think it was like a gods place . I was playing with a snow white wolf . I can remember that very well . That wolf had a sky blue eyes , and a snow white color . We were playing in the garden like we now each other for very long time . That wolf was very powerful , i could sense it from his eyes . White wolfs eyes were a warm and full of kindness . BUT SUDDENLY DARK BLACK WOLF APPEAR . DARK WOLF HAD A YELLOW EYES AND BLACK COLOR .I COULD FELL FROM HIM A FEAR AND EMPTIHNESS . WHEN WOLF STEPPED IN THE GARDEN , HE WAS SEEKING ENERGY FROM FLOWERS AND AIR . WHITE WOLF TOLD TO ME : NOW MATTER WHAT HAPPENS NEVER GIVE UP . AND THEN HE SMILED GENTLY AND LEFT ME . AND THEN THE WHITE WOLF AND A BLACK WOLF HAD A VERY LONG FIGHT . I had no idea what this means but sense that day i had a dreams whit wolves . PLEASE HELP ME.
Welcome to Timberwolf HQ Nomin
White wolf brings with it the understanding of our power as co-creators. This means that we can choose our own reality and determine our own destiny. My feeling on your dream is that dark wolf indicates what is expected of you by others and that white wolf has come to you to let you know that “no matter what, don’t give up on being who you really are”.
I hope this helps you understand a little more of your dreams Nomin.
Please come back and let me know how things are going.
Timberwolf
Merry Meet Timberwolf,
I have a theoretical question for you. As you can tell from the name I have a very dominant cat for my Totem. I fully accept the Lynx as my totem and have for many years. I find however that all of the relationships I have in my life whether it be friends or more intimate are all Wolves. What is your take on this? I have not found anything that shows this to be the natural order of things, however it appears to be how it is for me. Would love your feedback on this.
Blessed Be,
Jessica Lynx
Merry Meet Jessica
The Lynx is a seer and a discoverer of the unknown. With Lynx as your guide you are able to detect falsehood and avoid difficult situations. Te fact that you are surrounded by people guided by wolf is not anachronistic as wolf Is also a discoverer of hidden secrets with the added benefit of being a pathfinder in difficult situations. Wolf also brings balance to life and teaches that family is important.
To me, this means that you and those close to you are working to unlock deeper meaning within your lives and there is a co-dependency to find, learn, teach and guide those closest to you.
I would love to hear your impressions of this response.
Namaste
Timberwolf
Namaste Timberwolf,
I find myself intrigued by your thoughts on this. It will definitely require some time and meditation before I have a firm response for you. However I am interested in any information you have specifically on the Lynx as a Totem. I have found lots on cats of various forms but nothing specific to the Lynx. Could you perhaps send me some information or direct me where to go?
Blessings,
Jessica
Welcome back Jessica
I am happy to direct you to Spirit Walk Ministry. They have a wealth of information that I believe you will find fascinating.
Please continue to come back and update myself and my readers on anything you find intriguing. I would love you to share your insights here at Timberwolf HQ as well.
Namaste
Timberwolf
Hi Timberwolf,
I just stumbled across your website and I am very pleased at what I see so far. I would like to share something with you and get your thoughts on it. I have been trying to practice the old ways to the best of my ability and from what I can learn from books and the internet and from what I feel in my heart and soul. During my meditations I often have the same experience with subtle differences. I will explain. Always I am soaring just above the tree tops, a pine forest with a small lake or pond that has formed where several mountains have created a nice pristine valley. At the shore of the lake is a young man dressed in animal skins. He has a bow over his shoulder and is leading his horse to drink from the lake. Now this is where it changes from time to time. Sometimes the young man will look up to me. He holds a hand up to the sky as if to shield his eyes from the sun that is behind me and other times he seems to not even know that I am there watching him. The form that I take is that of the Red Tailed Hawk, I know this as I have seen my reflection in the lake. This is not something that has happened only once or twice this is a recurring experience that has occurred for years now. I just read the medicine that accompanies the Red Tailed Hawk and meditated on that information for a while and I just had a really interesting thought. Is the Red Tailed Hawk my Spirit Guide or am I that young man’s Spirit Guide in the form of the hawk? Could the young man be me and sometimes I am aware of what the Great Spirit is trying to tell me and other times I am just clueless!
Your thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Jim
Namaste Jim
First let me welcome you to Timberwolf HQ and offer my apologies for not responding to you before now. I could extend many excuses, however none would be adequate for my silence in response to your questions.
First let me say that you are the second person I have now met who has an involvement with the Red Tailed Hawk. The first is a good friend of mine, Pamela Nine, who is an intuitive counsellor. I have included a link to her site for you.
Now to answer your questions, I have read your comment a number of times to ensure that what I felt was the same. I have left it and come back to it over a period of time, again, to ensure that my feelings were focussing on the same elements. Transfiguration dreams can teach us a lot about ourselves. You have read the medicine associated with the totem so apart from reiterating that the Red Tailed Hawk signifies long term commitments and the ability to understand the bigger picture unfolding due to the heights at which it flies, I would like to add the following:
I feel that you are in two minds as to what is expected of you now that you have commenced this journey, hence the subtle differences in your (the young man) observation of his guide (you as the Red Tailed Hawk). You need to resolve this conflict to move past this recurring dream. Accept that you are both the guide and the guided and commit yourself to ensuring what you learn is passed on to new generations. This is a difficult, yet rewarding path.
Jim, I also feel that you have a lot to add to the fabric of Timberwolf HQ and would love to see you return and post comments, perhaps even write a guest article as others have done. Please use the contact form link at the bottom of the page to reach me if you are willing to write an article. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you back and reading your additional comments.
In love and light
Timberwolf
Greetings, Timberwolf. I have long known my life totems as they have been in my dreams and constant fascination since a child. Fox, Hyena, and Dog. Specifically Siberian Husky. My journey totem which I am still spotting constantly all around me, my home and even decorations at friends house, is Dragonfly, who has been appearing for many years. I am trying to figure him out myself. The issue I am having, again since childhood is with what I assume to be my shadow totem, Wasp. I have huge phobia of them yet was interested in entomology as a kid. I have no clue where to start to actually accept and understand Wasp. I know what he represents, but how do I overcome my fear and replace it with respect so that I might gain my spirit totem? Thank you in advance, and be well!
Star
Hello and welcome to Timberwolf HQ. It has been a very busy time here in Australia in the lead up to the holiday period and as such I have fallen behind in responding to comments.
One way many of the readers here at Timberwolf HQ have found to be of use in meeting and speaking with their spirit guide is to undertake the meditation in this article: Discovering Your Animal Totem
I would suggest that you take the time to read the article and then in a quiet space where you know that you will not be disturbed, undertake the meditation. Please come back and tell my readers and I how you went and what new and wonderful things you have uncovered about your guides.
Namaste
Timberwolf
dose anything about deja vu have to do with totems? because i have them LOTS
I had a dream about this white wolf. It transformed from a regular-sized white wolf into this huge white wolf with wings. Within the dream, the white wolf kept communicating with me but others within my dream could not hear it. It told me that it’s name is ‘Cula’ (what a weird name) but it called me by another name which is not mine. What does this mean?
Tsubasa, welcome to Timberwolf HQ
Your dream indicates to me that you wish to break free of a particular situation you find yourself in at the moment and would dearly love not to be. The fact that your guide sprouts wings and has the ability to fly is your way of telling yourself to leave now before things hold you down. Being called by a name that is not your own is also a way of telling you that you should be doing something else. All in all, you dream and your guide are asking you to reconsider whether the path you are currently on is the right one.
Timberwolf
Thanks
Tsubasa
You are most welcome.
Timberwolf
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