Animal Totems

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Animal Totems
3
Wed, 01-19-2005 - 10:25pm

TOTEM: A spirit animal guide. A totem can be any natural object, animal or being whose phenomena and energy you feel closely associated with during your life. The book I am working with ("ANIMAL-SPEAK: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small" by Ted Andrews ) focuses on spirit totems in animal guise. Studying animals who appear in your life help you to understand more about what's going on in your life, by their very presence, as well as the characteristics of their particular species. They can point out things you need to look at it your life, provide warnings or a head's up, or show you areas in your life and yourself you need to work on.

SPIRITUALLY MEETING YOUR ANIMAL TOTEMS
(from http://www.spiritualnetwork.net/totems/)

Once you know your animal totem it is important that you take the time to understand it fully. You animal totem has many messages for you ~ for today, tomorrow and perhaps for the rest of your life. The best thing for you to do is to learn everything you can about your animal totem.

**Where does your animal live?
**What does it eat? How does it get food?
**What are the physical characteristics of your totem?
**How is it built?
**What special traits and skills does your totem have?
**How and where does it sleep? What is it's home like?
**What is it's social life like and it's mating habits?

Has anybody worked with Totems before or do you have any animal totems now? What kinds of experiences have you had? Any books/web sites to share?

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Thu, 01-20-2005 - 10:25pm
Hi Gypsy.
Just wanted to thank you for listing the great website. I have also read Animal-Speak, but was a bit confused by it. Felt like I needed more direction. Many questions. Hope people respond to the post.
Take Care.
~ltsdove

 

"In short, all good things in life are wild and free."  ~Thoreau

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Fri, 01-21-2005 - 4:11pm

You're welcome. I use "Animal Speak" more as a resource to read up on a particular animal and what it's appearance might indicate for me. In fact, this is a reminder to myself, to look up crows, as I saw quite a few on my weekend away. I need to read up on indications. :P

I find how the Universe communicates with us through so many ways to be fascinating!

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Sat, 01-22-2005 - 4:25pm

Hi Gypsy,

Thanks for the reply. I too am fascinated. I have, since I was a small child, felt a deep connection with nature. I however strayed from it over the years. Giving in to others views. I have returned to that place, though. Following my heart and trying to see the world through the eyes of that child. My parents always said I could talk to the animals…lol. I am feeling more at peace. I spent quite a long time trying to figure out where I fit in all of the different faiths, as though I had to pick just one. Now I know I can draw from many, in turn, this is the path I follow.

I believe that the Universe does in fact communicate through many ways. We receive messages through so many avenues, yes, even the animal world. I have not spent much time analyzing the situations. For me the key has just been to stop and recognize these moments. Give thanks…and go inside myself…prayer and meditation…and it seems we always find the answer:)

I looked through some of my books for more info on the Crow’s symbolism. It varies so much through so many traditions. I found a brief synopsis that seemed to cross many.

The crow possesses the power that joins the past,the present and the future together.
The crow is a symbol of change - rejection of old reality and seeing us and the world around us in some new light. (Lin)

Thanks for the posts & web info. Since I am new, I have simply been reading as many as I can. This is a fantastic board. Wish I had known about it earlier.

Take Care.
~ltsdove

 

"In short, all good things in life are wild and free."  ~Thoreau