Animal Totems

Each person has nine animal essences or totems that walk through life with them, teaching and guiding them and in some cases, protecting them. These nine totems usually remain the same throughout your lifetime; however, major life alterations can cause some or all of your totems to change. These totems are around your spirit: East, South, West, North, Above, Below and Within. The last two animals are walking beside you at all times; your Right Side (male) and your Left Side (feminine). While sometimes the living animal is around you, most often they are only the essence of the animal. At different times in your life, you may also have Special Helpers and/or Special Protectors. These stay with you for an limited period of time, depending on the challenges that you must face. They usually appear in person, in dreams or during meditation." 

The Different Types of Animal Souls 

There are three different types of animals souls: the high protector animal souls, the familiars, and the lower animal souls. 

There are only three high protectors: Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn/Pegasus (whose souls are interchangeable). These souls only incarnate when there is a living animal like them; if not, they stay in spirit form and are connected only to older souls. 

The familiars are animal souls that are connected through an energy link to only one person, usually someone who has psychic or magical abilities. There is nothing evil about them and they are not demons in way, shape or form. They are simply animal souls who have formed a bond with one person. Familiars are hive souls -- seven souls in total -- with one or two souls incarnating while the rest stay in spirit form. They are usually of the cat and dog genus (incl. tigers, wolves, etc.). People who work with Magic sometimes have birds familiars, usually Ravens, Crows, Magpies or Owls. The familiars take turns incarnating, although one soul might have closer ties to their person and incarnate more often than the others. Familiars only incarnate to their soul person -- when not incarnate, they stay in spirit form. 

All other animals (including dogs, cats and birds who are not familiars) are lower animal souls. They can move between species but stay on this planet, while high protectors and familiars stay with your soul in its various incarnations on different planets. 

Whales and Dolphins are higher souls than animal souls but younger souls than human souls. They are sentient beings. 

If you don't know what your Animal Totem is there are several questions you can ask yourself. All of the questions below are designed to get you thinking about a prominent animal in your life. There are no right or wrong answers. Only you can truly know which Animal Totem(s) are right for your journey. 

Since we are drawn to that which resonates with us, what animal, bird, or insect are you drawn to? When you go to the park, forest, or zoo what animal are you most interested in seeing? What animal do you most frequently see when you're out in nature or in the city? What animals are you currently interested in learning about? Which animal do you find most frightening or intriguing? Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal? Is there a recurring animal in your dreams or do you have one you have never forgotten? 

If you are still uncertain which animal is your totem, here a few exercises you can do to come closer to the answer. You must not try to force the animal to come, it can pick up on that energy and be put off. Being patient and doing the following exercises will draw your animal totem to you. 

Ask yourself what animal has played a meaningful part in your world? If you're unsure, make a list of animals that have drawn your interest or have left a deep impression on you from paintings, photographs, stories, movies, carvings, etc. Which animal shows up in your life most frequently? Keep a journal of the animals present in your dreams or that you encounter through the day for the next month. How did the animal behave? Did you interact with the animal? 

Find a place where you can be alone to meditate. Sit quietly and ask your animal to make it's nature known to you. Feel free to use tools such as incense, smudge, and candles to help you. Don't give up, sometimes your animal totem is nearby watching to see if you're serious about connecting with it. Keep doing the above exercises until your animal totem makes itself known to you. 

In simple terms, your animal guide instructs you, protects you and teaches you important lessons as you navigate your spiritual and physical life. They also help us reconnect with our earth roots, reminding us that everything is interconnected and we are all part of the same cycle of life. This knowledge is the most important and powerful truth that we can hold. Working with animal totems is a form of medicine in the Native American Indian tradition.  Animals that call to you in a particular way are calling to you in the way of power. They carry special medicine for you, and may well call to you through your dreams once you start learning about them. In learning to call on the medicine of any person, creature or natural force, one must maintain an attitude of reverence and be willing to accept help. This power is truly at its most effective when used from a space of unity – of each being having within itself a part of all other beings, the law of oneness.

Do We have more than One Animal Totem?

Because our personalities, just like Mother Earth, just like Creator, have many facets, we usually experience more than one totem animal in our lives. Various traditions have differing teachings on whether there is a specific number of totems we experience. The Native American tradition, for one, teaches that we are each connected with nine different animals that accompany us through life as our guides 

We experience the wisdom and assistance of these different animal guides as they come into and out of our lives throughout our journey. They join us during new tasks, changes in direction, lessons to be learnt, and all events involving spiritual growth including simply bettering ourselves in day to day living. Bear in mind that as old totems exit our life, so new totems arrive, and this is the way it must be in order to continue growing and learning. Remember to always give thanks and blessings to a departing or departed totem, when you become aware that its energy is moving away from you.

Despite the changing nature of life and our totems, most traditions agree that we usually experience at least one animal guide who stays with us for our whole life, in the spiritual world and often in physical manifestations. This animal acts as our main guardian spirit (Life Totem). You share a connection with this animal that will show itself in shared characteristics, your dreams, various interactions, and an ongoing interest in the animal throughout your life. This animal guide offers power and wisdom to you, and as you learn to communicate with it, a relationship of respect and trust will develop and deepen. It is with you to assist you in your soul’s purpose in life during this manifestation.

As the name implies, the animal messenger delivers messages from the spirit realm that you need to pay attention to in your current situation. They often appear in dreams and meditations or while you are on your spirit walk. Their visits are usually sudden and they often depart as quickly as they arrive, but they can also be quite persistent and repeatedly present themselves in a way that cannot be ignored. Look and listen carefully to what they have come to show you for you need to accept and  understand the message they are attempting to impart.

The Shadow Animal  

     The Shadow Animal arrives because of lessons you have not learned.  It will come to you repeatedly until there is change.  It may come at the time of your greatest adversity and confusion.

The Journey Animal

The Journey Animal comes to you as a guide when you set forth on a  new life path.  It is there to help you find the path home should you loose the Way.  The Journey Animal will travel along with you until you have completed this present challenge.

The Life Animal 

The Life Animal reflects your deeper, spiritual self and is always with you.  Life Animal may, at times, call upon other Animal Spirits to aid in your guardianship and this new Animal Spirit may come to awaken you to the abilities the two of you share or it may come to teach the life skills you need to learn.

The Medicine Animal

This type of animal spirit brings “medicine” to help heal and comfort you in times of illness and injury. These animal spirits only come when you call them and will stay only until you are well and are ready to let them go. These medicine animals have great wisdom and they will guide you through the process of healing.