Totems- Who Has One, And How To Use 'em?, Totems Options

Firstly I hope this thread is ok here, move it if not.

Okay, so how about totems?

Although I'm no newbie to occultism as such, I've never until recently had my totem come through.
It came through recently, in meditation at first, and since then the spirit of this animal is clearly doing all it can to get me to notice it;
turning up in mail offers, depitctions in books I happen to pick up, stories I happen to read, sites I surf by chance etc.

I'm not sure how to go about responding and getting closer to it, though. How do you work with your totem[s]?
I can't do the obvious and get one as a pet, it's a wild animal that needs meat and a large area!

howdy, redbreast

notice: this is from my whacked path and use of my primal methods can cause you to nuts

sit quietly, relax, close your eyes but look at the forms and shapes behind the lids, wait until they dissipate and when it is just flat, then call your totem to come and it should appear where you are looking

es

If you already know what your totem animal is and it is trying to get your attention, then just meditate and quieten your mind. Then listen!!!!!

It shouldn't be hard as it sounds as if your totem is about to wack you over the head with a 2 X 4 to get your attention. It wants to tell you something and it is likely important. They tend to do that sort of thing and are not subtle about it.. So just find some quiet spot where you won't be disturbed and allow your mind to quieten down. Then you should be able to hear what it is trying to tell you. By the way, isn't it weird when you have a large totem animal hanging out with you at the mall? I find it a fascinating juxtaposition of modern society and shamanic spirituality. I wonder what animal spirits make of shopping malls?

Thanks for that guys.

Yes, I've done so and it appears it's both come to help protect me from pompous and spiteful people [I have been getting hassle from someone I dared stand up to] but the Totem also seems to have come through now because it thinks I'm "ready" and wants to help me on my path.

My totem is seemingly the Owl. It appeared first in meditation as I say, it landed on my left shoulder, a big one that barely had room to perch there. Since then I've been getting begging letters from owl sanctuaries, owl gift catalogues, owl turning up in books, films, conversation etc. Saw my first real one too, a barn owl flew across the car's path at night last week. I also dreamt a large bird fell and died in a courtyard and left a baby owl in its' place, which I picked up and it was smiling [???] and talking to me; the deal was that I'd been chosen to look after it???!!

I've done research and there seems no particular link to either Athena nor Lilith, despite their owl connotations; but I found that Merlin was often depicted with an owl on his shoulder. I can't work out which path/tradition it's trying to set me on; Does anyone know other traditions or gods/godesses linked with the Owl?

Hi redbreast,

Would you say your owl has egrets (kind of like small ears) or is it more of a round head? I'm curious because the mythologies are not the same, based on the species.

I discovered mine using dream incubation techniques. As some have suggested, once I knew what it was from the results of that I realised it had been staring me in the face since childhood.

It is sometimes easy to guess at what a person's totem might be based on their appearance or mannerisms, where it can come through really strongly in some cases. I have done this successfully on a few occasions.

In terms of what you do with it, I don't really know, not being down with the whole shamanic thing. One use presents itself though. If you know what totem someone has you can use this to alter their impression of you, most obviously to control them. e.g. if someone has a totem like a mouse, try and concentrate on assuming the etheric form of a cat. I have done similar when someone was spouting rubbish at me in a domineering fashion and it was quite gratifying how quickly they got off their soapbox and shut up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If by totems you mean power animals, then yes: there are a few techniques you could use and alter to your liking. First of all, you need to dance your power animals. By this, I mean getting two rattles, or a rattle and a rattlestaff, and shake them in a slow tempo and dance in a wide circle. Visualize where your power animal is at that time and wait for him to travel to you from wherever he may be. Use shamanic visioning skills to see and communicate with the power animal. You could also ask for advise. It may express its answer in a yes or no fashion, usually, at least at first.

While shaking the rattles and/or rattlestaff, begin to increase the tempo; dance to the rhythm until you have sufficiently altered your consciousness and are in a trance state. At this moment you may feel what is called shamanic ecstasy. You could follow your guardian spirit in the spirit world and gain access to realms unknown to most humans but visible to every spirit of the earth. You could climb on its back and ascend to the sky or follow him through the underworld. He makes a trusty guide and very loyal. Totems, as you call them, or living beings, only on a higher plane of existence, possibly the astral.