| Native Americans believe that each animal carries its | | | | make its nature known to you. Wait. Listen. Watch. |
| own special energies and gifts, and that each animal | | | | Remember to be patient. Don?t give up. You might |
| has a gift to give each of us. Do you know what | | | | not ?see? anything the first time you do this. |
| animals are guiding you on your individual journey? | | | | Sometimes your Animal Totem is nearby, just out of |
| Are you aware of the gifts they are offering you? | | | | your sight, watching you to see if you?re serious |
| Imaginary Guides | | | | about connecting with it. Continue to do this guided |
| You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary | | | | visualization until one of your animals makes itself |
| guides on your life journey. You might also think of | | | | known to you. |
| them as Power Animals because each one imparts a | | | | During your meditation, when you do ?meet? one of |
| special energy, or power, to your life. | | | | your Animal Totems, look it in the eye and |
| By observing how each animal lived, found mates, | | | | remember to greet it with affection and curiosity. |
| located food and protected itself, Native Americans | | | | Ask it how it?s feeling today. Ask it its name. |
| were able to define the animal's particular strengths | | | | Remember that this encounter is totally in your |
| and weaknesses. For example, bears hibernated | | | | imagination; therefore it is in your control. There is |
| during the winter, so it was said that they possessed | | | | nothing to fear. |
| the magic of dreams. They were also formidable | | | | At some point, move from your body into the body |
| foes, so Bear Energy was also about physical power | | | | of the animal. Look at yourself from the eyes of this |
| and strength. | | | | sacred animal and notice what you see. After a while, |
| It's fascinating to note that different cultures (not | | | | return to your own body and continue your |
| just Native Americans) came up with similar | | | | conversation with it. |
| interpretations for all individual animals. | | | | Ask your Animal Guide the following questions, so |
| Spiritual Energies | | | | that you can learn more about its meaning for you |
| Native Americans as well as other cultures used | | | | and its place on your journey: |
| Shamans to help them connect with the Earth around | | | | Who are you? |
| them, and with the power of the animals. Using | | | | What do you have to give me? |
| dreams and visions, these Shamen would connect | | | | What do you want from me? |
| with the "manitou" of the animals. The manitou of an | | | | How will I remember what you have taught me? |
| animal is its primal spiritual energy- wolfness, | | | | Be sure to give it ample time to respond, and expect |
| deerness, foxness...etc. | | | | to be surprised! |
| It was believed that every human being had a | | | | You might be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised by |
| particular manitou (or several) which they were | | | | an animal that makes itself known to you. Try to |
| especially attuned to. These were their personal | | | | accept the animal who wants to be with you rather |
| animal totems. | | | | than forcing a different one to be there. |
| They discovered their totems through vision quests, | | | | Trust the process- My Summer of Skunks |
| although sometimes the totem made themselves | | | | It is generally believed that an Animal Totem chooses |
| known in other ways. For example, if you were | | | | you, and not vice versa. The animals you love just |
| attacked by a wild animal, it was believed that that | | | | might be your totems but then again, they might not! |
| particular animal totem had chosen you itself. | | | | The animals which come to you when you are open |
| Physical and Spiritual Qualities | | | | and accepting are the ones you need to work with. |
| Each animal that exists has several qualities, both | | | | They will have the strengths and weaknesses that |
| physical and spiritual. The qualities in your personal | | | | you already posses, and they will have lessons for |
| Animal Totems are qualities that you might connect | | | | you to learn. |
| with, feel a deep affinity towards, or simply need | | | | A few years ago, I was continually seeing skunks in |
| more of in your life. | | | | our front yard, even in broad daylight. This is highly |
| Here are some brief descriptions of the qualities of a | | | | unusual skunk behavior, I assure you! A few times I |
| few animals. Read carefully. One of them just might | | | | also glimpsed a white skunk with a black stripe! |
| be one of your Animal Totems. | | | | Later, I learned that skunks are really about |
| Skunk: Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect, | | | | self-respect, self-esteem, and inner protection |
| creative energy, paying attention to intuition and inner | | | | through intuition. And I was seeing them at a season |
| knowings | | | | of my life when I felt completely powerless and |
| Alligator: Power to survive, keeper of ancient | | | | unprotected regarding some difficult family situations |
| wisdom, clairvoyance | | | | which directly affected my self-respect and |
| Cat: Magic, mystery, curiosity, independence, healing, | | | | self-esteem. |
| unpredictability, inner balance, moving through fears | | | | Coincidence? I think not! I haven?t seen them |
| Frog: Seeing in all directions, physical and emotional | | | | brazenly walk across my front yard since that |
| cleansing, metamorphosis, creative power | | | | summer several years ago. I believe that Skunk had |
| Shark: Peace, solitude, emotional transformation, | | | | a message for me that year, and I believe that if I |
| power of protection | | | | need him again, he will be there. |
| Your Animal Totems instruct and protect you | | | | Honor Your Animal Guides with SoulCollage? |
| throughout your life?s journey. When you discover an | | | | SoulCollage? is a personal growth tool that is a |
| animal that speaks strongly to you, an animal you | | | | mystical magical blend of intuitive art and imaginative |
| feel you must draw more deeply into your life, try | | | | play. It was created by Seena Frost in 1989 as she |
| surrounding yourself with images of this animal. This | | | | worked with clients in her therapy practice in |
| will let the animal know it is welcome in your space. | | | | California. |
| Finding Your Animal Totems | | | | One of the suits in the SoulCollage? deck is |
| One way to ?meet? one of your Animal Totems is | | | | Companions, where you can create unique collaged |
| to do a guided visualization. Create Sacred Space by | | | | cards to honor your special animal guides. Making a |
| using music, a candle, incense, or a smudge stick. Sit | | | | card like this, and working with it within the |
| quietly and very slowly scan your body, paying | | | | SoulCollage? process is an excellent way to honor |
| particular attention to each of the seven chakras. | | | | these special animal energies, and to get to know |
| Then choose one chakra to return to and focus your | | | | your animal totems in a creative, imaginative way. |
| attention there. Ask the animal who resides there to | | | | |