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....
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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