How To FInd Your Totem Animal

[ladyanastasia]

How do you find your totem animal?

How do you find out what your totems animals are... This is a question that pops up periodically.

It's a good question, but, finding your personal totem is a little bit of work.

It's become more of a fad than any thing else these days, to find an individuals totem. For some, I suppose that it gives them weight, or a title, or makes them feel special to be able to claim ties to a certain animal.

I suggest that if that is what you are after, you wander away now.


There are many ways to find your totem animal.

Though this link may be geared towards beginners, some of the information is still quite helpful.


href="http://www.crystalinks.com/poweranimals.html

[ladyanastasia]

Discovering your Totem animals.

The best ways to find your Totem Animals are to keep your eyes open to new animals that come your way in everyday life and through meditation. Meditation can be a very powerful asset when meeting and working with your Spirit Guide and other Totems. Find a quiet place, get comfy, close your eyes and open your mind to the animal and hear what it has to say. If you open yourself to them, your Totems will find you.

Holding Rainbow Warrior Woman designed some questions to help you discover the Animal Totems that are in your life. Follow your instincts when answering, just don't write down every animal that comes to mind.

Life Long Animal Totems

* When you were a child, what animal did you collect or obsess over that you are still attracted to today?
* Of all animals if you could have any animal as a pet or companion what would it be?
* When going to the zoo, which animal do you spend the most time with or are drawn to?
* If you could be any animal what animal would it be?
* What animal is in your dreams that you have had since childhood?
* What animal are you afraid of that you have no idea why you are afraid of it?
* Of all animals what animals are you most attracted to?
* When you are out in nature, do you often seem to run into the same animal?
* What animal have you bumped into over and over throughout your life?
* What animal have you watched for hours?
* Does art work or jewelry with a certain animal always attract you?


You Life Long Animal Totem will be the animal that you answered at least three times out of the eleven questions. The more times the same animal is listed in your answers the more important and stronger it is in your life. The one that appeared most is your current Animal Spirit totem.



Journey Animal Totems

* What animal have you started to see occasionally that you never saw before?
* What new animal are you attracted to?
* Are you dreaming of an animal lately?
* Are you thinking about an animal lately?
* In the past two weeks what animals have you seen or dreamt of several times?


If you have a Journey Animal Totem you will have answered at least three of the questions with the same animal.



Message Animal Totems

* What animal surprised or startled you today?
* What animal that you don't usually see, have you seen a couple of times today?
* What animal entranced you today?


If you answered the same animal to two question then this animal is your Message Totem with a very important message. Heed it's word quickly for the message is for now and today. If you only answered one question then this is a message you should still consider.



Shadow Animal Totems

* What animal attacks have you been in?
* What scary or traumatic animal situations have you been in?
* Does seeing a certain animal bring up feelings of fear?
* What animal do you run from?
* What animals do you have reoccurring nightmares about?
* Does just watching TV with that animal appearing scare you?


Answering two questions with the same animal means you have a Shadow Totem you must address. Remember that the Shadow Totem will continually test you and work against you for you are it's prey. You must embrace the lesson of the animal totem and conquer your fear, accept the power of the Shadow totem, and bring it into the light as your spiritual totem.

* Please note: While I find these questions to be very helpful for someone who is searching for their totem animal, I do not necessarily agree with the categorization of totem animals.

[ladyanastasia]

~Birth Totem~

This is the Totem Role that we will begin with, as most individuals who have studied Native Astrology are already familiar with this particular Role. It is the Animal Totem most often equated with the Sun Sign in traditional, esoteric astrology.



~Clan Totem~

Each of the individual Birth Totems will also belong to one of the four Elemental Clans, as delineated on the Clan Totem page.



~Power Totem~

Where the ~Birth Totem~ is the chief Teacher we have chosen to "study under" this Earth Walk, the ~Power Totem~ is the most basic and eternal expression of our Soul.



~Life Theme Totem~

In addition to the "generalized" Totems of Birth and Clan, which cover a group of people born under a certain day and month, there are several other Animal Totems that will figure strongly in our lives as we walk the good Red Road of Physical Life. One such of these Totem Roles is the Life Theme Totem.



~Life Mission Totem~

Just as the Life Theme Animal Spirit is only with us for the current earthwalk, the same holds true for our ~Life Mission Totem, ~ with he/she possessing the Wisdom and Medicine that will assist us in fulfilling our chosen Life Mission.



~Lesson Totem~

As we enter onto the Sacred Hoop, we choose the general Path, Theme and Mission of our current Earthwalk. Additionally, we will chose the major and minor lessons that our soul will encounter so that it may evolve and move beyond the "need" to take up the ~Robe of Physical Life.~



~Messenger Totems~

In addition to the Animal Totems that we have either for the current Earthwalk (as in the Birth, Theme and Mission Totems), the Animal Spirit that is with us from lifetime to lifetime (Power Totem), and the Lesson Totems (which change within the current incarnation), there are also Spirit Totems that hover at the edge of our consciousness, acting as emissaries between the Blue Road of Spirit and the Red Road of Physical Life.



~Shadow Totems~

The Shadow Totem is the Animal Spirit that brings forth unresolved issues for resolving, unhealed pain that it may be healed, and the Personality Center operating from destructive tendencies that we might absorb and integrate the Lessons of the Past.


This system seems to be based on Native American beliefs. Not all cultures feel the need to categorize totems into "Shadow Totems" , "Messenger Totems", etc.

I caution against it, because when you place too much focus on keeping a totem, (or any aspect of your life or spirituality) in a box, you tend to miss out on a great many things.

[ladyanastasia]

Great Spirit Speaks

"My children, in my love for you I have given you nine guides that will bless you, and walk with you this Earth Walk which you have chosen

These guides come in the form of animal totems, and represent the power and medicine which we carry within us...all we need do is recognize and call upon them for the guidance and love which they are waiting to provide.

The animal totems sit in the 4 cardinal directions (East, South, West, and North) they also dwell in the 3 spiritual directions
(above, below and within)
There is also a totem animal which walks on each side of us.

East: The guide that presents us our spiritual challenges, and guards our path as walk the Trail to Wisdom

South: This animal protects that child that dwells within each of our spirits, and teaches us to find the balance of humility and sacred trust.. This animal brings to us the quality of innocence .

West: From this animal we learn our personal truth, and find our answers that reside within. This animal with show us the path to reach our personal goals

North: The animal in the North brings with it wise counsel, and teaches us when to speak, and when to listen. With this animal comes the ability and wisdom to recognize and be grateful for the blessings which are bestowed upon us each day.

Above: The guide which dwells above is our teacher about the Great Star Nation, and shows us the way to honor those Great Spirits which come from the stars. This animal is a constant reminder that you came from the stars and to the stars you shall return.

The spirit which Walks Above is the guardian of you the Dreamtime, and will guide you as you walk to the other dimensions, and explore the expanse of the other worlds.

Below: This is your spirit of the inner Earth, and will teach you the ways of keeping yourself grounded, and your moccasins on the path.

Within: This is the way to finding the joy that your heart, soul, and spirit desire on this walk. The spirit from within shows you how to be faithful and true to yourself. This animal is the protector of that sacred space which is yours alone, and no one else can enter without your permission

The animal which walks with us on our left side is the protector of our female side, and teaches us the value of loving, and caring for ourselves in a nurturing way.

From this animal we are to learn to receive the abundance that Grandfather has provided for us.

There is also a totem animal which walks with us on the right side, and protects our male side, and teaches us that Grandfather is there to protect and guide us at all times, this animal also carries our warrior spirit, and provides us with the courage to walk our walk upon our path

[ladyanastasia]

I felt the need to address this threads information. I first gathered the information and put this thread together to answer a question that one of my group members had in Banned.

That was about 2 years ago, since then, I've come to the conclusion that the site that I got the information from has a great deal of fluff and misinformation on it.

There are some helpful bits of information here, and, things that I do still agree with.

Meditation is a wonderful way to find your totem animal. I always suggest that method when I'm asked how to approach the matter.

I also believe that the list of questions that is included can be very helpful. They may not be 100% accurate, but, they are a good starting point for someone who isnt' quite sure where they should start their search.

To put it bluntly though, I've come to really dispise the categorization of totem animals.

To me, a totem is a totem. Putting the classification of shadow, guide, messenger, or guide make little difference. In fact, I believe that it's actually doing more harm than it is good. The need to classify things, including totems often leads to missing the real meanings and lessons that an individual is supposed to be finding and learning.

When dealing with animal totems, I personally only believe in two categories. A totem, is a totem, that animal will be with you for a lifetime.

A messenger is a spirit that will come into your life when you need to learn a specific lesson.

Kind of takes the complication out of things doesnt it....

I don't ever think that one should focus on the shadow, or only positive/negative attributes of an animal. When you only focus on half, you're missing sooo much. You need to see both the positive and the negative, that's where you find the truth.

I hope that this addition to the thread clears up any confusion or misinformation that may have been included in this thread.

[Felan]

My totem animal is a wolf then?