Fun Poll: What Is Your Spiritual Animal? Options

In Animism, Animatism, and many other ancient religions, as well as shapeshifters and Native Americans, believed to have a strong bond with certain animals of their kin. To this day, the relevance has not been lost, we have the shapeshifters, as well as those of us who share spiritual aspects with our animal kin, which can be 1 or more.

We forget about our animal sides soon enough in the human world and take shame.

What animals represent you?


Animal dictionary




Alligator: Maternal power, revenge, quickness, aggression, basic survival instincts

Ant: Determination, industrious nature, hard-working, following a group mentality, action, patience, being a team player

Anteater: Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness

Antelope: Action, agility, sacrifice, jumpiness

Armadillo: Safety, boundaries, medicine shield, being grounded

Badger: Courage, aggression, healer, energy conduit, earth knowledge, having problems relating to others

Bat: Rebirth, longevity, secrecy & initiation, good listener, viewing past lives, letting go of our fears of or misinformation that no longer serves us

Bear: Watcher, world-guardian, giver of strength, courage/willpower, self-preservation, introspection, going inside yourself for answers, studying the importance of dreams, instinct, healing

Beaver: Overseer, strong will, determination, builder, protector

Bee: Organizer, productivity, wisdom, fertility, defensiveness, having an obsessive nature

Boar: Exemplary of the life-giving energy of the sun

Buffalo: Abundance, gratitude, strength, prayer

Bull: Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation

Butterfly: Balance, transformation/metamorphosis, successful project, grace, ability to accept change

Caribou: Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity

Cat: Hunter, meditation, independence, quick recovery, freedom of thought, seeing that the physical and spiritual realms are one

Cheetah: Swiftness, insight, focus

Cougar: Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility for your life, foresight

Cow: Moveable wealth, value, providing for daily needs, the power of community sharing

Coyote: Stealth, mischief, recognizing your mistakes, ability to laugh at yourself, bedevilment, clowning around, enforcer of karmic laws

Crane: Solitude, justice, longevity, vigilance, intelligence

Crocodile: Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately

Crow: Justice, balance, releasing past beliefs, greed, resourcefulness

Deer: Compassion, peace, gentleness, sensitivity, kindness, unconditional love

Dog: Loyalty, friendship, nobility

Dolphin: Wisdom/happiness, depth of emotions, playfulness, harmony, intelligence, communication, helper with dream interpretations, childlike, sexual

Dove: Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love

Dragon: Riches/Prosperity (can be intuitive/spiritual rather than material), knows the answer to riddles, ancient wisdom, longevity, infinity

Dragonfly: Instruction on breaking through illusions (especially those that are self-created), gaining power through dreams, imagination, higher aspirations, carefree nature

Duck: Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions

Eagle: Rising, sun-circling, potency, freedom, illumination, connection to the soul/creator

Elephant: Importance of discernment, affection, loyalty, caring for young/old/sick, peaceful strength, wisdom, royalty, regality

Elk: Power, majesty, pride, agility, honoring your gender

Falcon: New beginnings, adventure, leadership, healing the soul

Ferret: See "Weasel"

Fish: Gracefulness, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind

Fox: Cleverness, discretion, cunning, quick wit, camouflage

Frog: Emotional healing, cleansing, peace, change, adaptability, jumping from the material to the spiritual, water energy, poor character judgment

Gazelle: The soul, aggressiveness

Giraffe: Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the future

Goat: Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of foresight

Goose: Demanding of ones self, reliable, rigid, love of home, safe return, ever-searching nature

Gorilla: Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression

Grouse: Personal power, self-teaching, intuition, enlightenment

Hawk: All-seeing, observation, truth, awareness, perceptiveness, representative of primal life force

Hedgehog: Defensiveness, self-preservation, abrasive personality, possessing a solitary nature

Horse: Freedom, beauty through strength, movement, mobility, stamina, mobility, message-carrier, astral travel, sharing power with others

Hummingbird: Fierce warrior, pleasure, feathers bear love magic, job, ability to see beauty, easily distracted

Iguana: Patience, understanding

Jaguar: Chaos, shape-shifting, psychic empowerment

Lion: Royalty, sun-symbol, courageous guardian, protector, pride, leadership, wisdom, power, family, the power of feminine energy

Lizard: Vision, letting go, self-protection, brings forth subconscious hopes and fears, conservation, letting go of the ego, dream recall, hidden defenses, knowing when to back off

Llama: Comforting others

Loon: Serenity, good orator, judgmental, can come across as uncaring or unsympathetic

Lynx: Secret-keeper, guardian, guide, listener, manifestation of spiritual force and controlled power

Manatee: Gentleness, loving, childlike

Monkey: Ability to change the environment, health, success

Moose: Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, wisdom, self-esteem

Moth: Transformation, movement into shadows, finding the light

Mouse: Eye for detail, noticing the little things, scrutiny, organizer

Nightingale: Soft-tempered, easy demeanor, soothing speaker, graceful movements, keeper of the night

Octopus: Protection through distraction, intelligence, getting past negative barriers, multifaceted, skilled in many areas

Opossum: Diversion, deceit, strategy, sensibility

Otter: Joy, laughter, Lightness, dynamic energy, playfulness and the importance of playtime, freedom from jealousy or suspicion, feminine power and nurturing

Owl: Wise, watcher, fate-seer, riddler, silence, vision, insight, seeing hidden motives in others, clairvoyance

Ox: Sacrifice, self-denial, chastity

Panda: Importance of slow, determined pace, adaptability

Panther: Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions

Parrot: Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before speaking

Peacock: Immortality, dignity, self-confidence

Penguin: Father-nurturing, patience, astral projection, sexes working together, family orientation

Pig: See "Sow"

Polar Bear: Solitude, overcoming adversity, rebirth, patience, spirit communication, strength, breaking through emotional barriers

Porcupine: Innocence, trust, companionship, humility

Possum: See "Opossum"

Prairie Dog: Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness

Puma: Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power

Quail: Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)

Rabbit: Fertility, fear, timidity, humility, hidden skills, borrower

Raccoon: Curiosity, cleanliness

Rat: Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury

Raven: Trickster, introspection, self-knowledge, wise in oracles/omens, messenger, mystery, otherworldly travel, watcher for the gods, need to make changes in the way you perceive things

Rooster: Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early riser, settling for nothing less than the best

Salamander: Hidden things or traits, camouflage in the face of adversity

Salmon: Determination, persistence, pride, intensity, trusting but not trustworthy

Seagull: Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness

Seahorse: Confidence, grace, male energy, good at dealing with emotions, courtship posturing, beauty of the ocean

Seal: Contentment, lucid dreaming, protection from danger, creativity, listening to our inner voice, gentleness, adaptability, talkative, playfulness

Shark: Survival, hunter, adaptability, power, danger, senses injury, ever-moving

Sheep: Group comfort, warmth, patience, fertility, rebirth

Skunk: Presence, reputation, self-respect, expression of the self without ego

Snail: Perseverance, tender nature (sometimes despite a cold façade)

Snake: Transformation, sexual potency, prophecy, life-force, letting go the things that no longer serve you, impulsiveness

Sow: Earth magic, intelligence, things sacred, ancestral knowledge

Spider: Fate, creativity, seeing how things you do in the present affect your future, balance between past and future

Squirrel: Anticipation of future, planning ahead, being prepared, swiftness

Stag: Forest-lord, masculine regeneration, giver of bounty and beauty, mystical signs

Stork: Messenger of rebirth

Swan: Guide into dreams, handling change with grace and dignity, dream interpretation, divination, spiritual growth

Tiger: Passion/sensuality, silent solitary power, heightened sense of touch, valor

Toad: Altered state of consciousness, changing luck, adversity, longevity, courtship via the use of sound

Tortoise: Feeling at home anywhere, grounding, patience, peaceful nature, ancient wisdom, feminine energy and healing, psychic protection

Turkey: Generosity, sharing, patience, attentiveness, following the group, challenge

Turtle: Shyness, nurturing, mother energy, protection, healing, knowledge, grounded, earth magic

Unicorn: Making dreams come true, virtue, beauty, weather patterns, connection with the woodland and the beings within

Walrus: Trickster, solitude, appreciates individuality and creativity, can be disrespectful of others

Weasel: Seeing beneath the surface for intent/meaning, developing clairaudience, ingenuity, paying attention to inner voice, keen, tricky, revenge, cunning, playful, observant

Whale: Wisdom of the ages, provider, intelligence, kindness, gentle nature, highly psychic and intuitive, telepathic, clairaudient, record-keeping

Wolf: Pathfinder for the human spirit, knowledge, teaching skill, helping in finding the life-path, loyalty, cooperation, free spirited, mating for life, facing death with dignity, perseverance, fighting only when necessary, taking advantage of change

Woodpecker: Sensitivity, protection, devotion

Yak: Ancient wisdom, understanding of higher purpose, self-doubt, lack of control over emotions

Zebra: Seeing things in stark contrast, certainty, individuality amidst a crowd, balance, trusting your path

Greetings Deathstalker,

I do have totem friends as well as totem enemies. I was taught that this should never be revealed to anyone as it could be used magically against you. Of course totems are easily known among Native American tribes. For example Papago is Bear. Personal totems may differ a bit from tribal ones. Another good way of judging this is by looking at a totem pole. Friends are at the top and enemies are at the bottom of the pole.

Peace

Greetings Deathstalker,

I do have totem friends as well as totem enemies. I was taught that this should never be revealed to anyone as it could be used magically against you. Of course totems are easily known among Native American tribes. For example Papago is Bear. Personal totems may differ a bit from tribal ones. Another good way of judging this is by looking at a totem pole. Friends are at the top and enemies are at the bottom of the pole.

Peace

I was actually reading an interesting shapeshifting book which suggested that we all have our animalistic natures, which have been lingering with us from incarnations, but we have forgotten them by nature of materialism.

I thought it would be nice if I could come intune with my animal side, but I deemed it a cessation to my spiritual growth, and too arduous a task anyhow. It requires one to act as his/her animal by all means: eating habbits, sleeping, gowing out to the forest, etc. - Too much for me.

Greetings Deathstalker,

If you want to discover your spirit animal I would really recommend this book http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritu...ie=UTF8&s=books

Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. I am quite surprised by some of his writings. He has written about some of the oral tradition usually taught only by word of mouth among Shamans.

I guess it was about time someone moved out of the reservation trailer park and published a book. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Animal Speak's a great book. I found my "totems" or animal guides the natural way, though. (Sister Coyote is my left (female) totem -- I don't believe there's any harm in sharing your totems -- unlike a magick or secret name, I cant imagine how it could be used against you -- they're not YOU (unlike your name) and they can't be influenced to misguide you by another magician). I'm fortunate because we're on a farm far from the city. All of my totems live with us on the farm. One of my totems is "supposed" to be a carnivore (Coyote), but mingles with our herd of horses (who don't bother her one bit). I've had "conversations" with my physical totem. I'll be on the tractor, she'll come up to me, even with the the diesel belching. Then I'll stop, get out, sit with her for awhile. She's amazingly tame, brings her babies by for visits, too (she's a little afraid of my German Shepherd, so it's mostly when I'm alone). The other farmers around want her shot, but she lives in peace on our farm. We have many rabbits, deer and (tons!) of groundhogs, but I only ever see her preying on the groundhogs (cudos -- all the more reason to have her as totem!). She has amazing eyes. We'll just sit and stare at each other and then she speaks to me (in my mind, certainly, but I hear her).

My other totems are Brother Red Ant and Sister Badger. In some traditions, you typically have eight (I do have eight). But Sister Coyote and Brother Ant are the two I commune with the most -- my life totems.

Totems or animal guides are not meant to be glamorous (I'm always suspicious of friends who immediately claim the bear or the wolf -- it's unlikely) Bears hibernate and can only really be guides part of the year, and everyone "wants" them. Wolf is similar. Or mountain lion... anything fierce and strong. But ants, dragonflies, blue jays -- these are all more likely to be real totems attracted at special times in a person's life cycle. I believe in left/right life totems (who stay with you for life, yin/yang, male/female -- in my case Sister Coyote and Brother Ant) -- then in six animals who will CHANGE as your life path evolves. They bring what' needed. I needed "stubborness" and I'm sure that's when Sister Badger appeared in my life.

Greetings'Mezu,

The old one who told me these things would go off on 15 minute rants about how we should do everything exactly like he said. He would go off on even longer rants about how if you tell people the magick which you are trying to work it would become weaker. He must have said a million times that magick is like peanut butter and the more you spread it the thinner it gets.

One morning the old man was drunk and drowned in a drainage ditch. At that moment I believe he transmitted all of his power to his Grandson Indio. For shortly after that Indio became a healer.

It was a tragic and strange death. I was very impressed by some of the things he did in life though so I want to honor my pact with him and keep my mouth shut.

Female Coyote? Keyote is male from all that I have ever heard. U referring to his wife? The old man loved Keyote.

Peace!

This post has been edited by Edunpanna: Feb 13 2007, 05:26 PM

I can't remember the name of the book but I have one on finding your totem animal spirit guide. It came with cards too and worked much like tarot cards do. Anyhow it told me my spirit guide was the Raven only I think it used magician instead of trickster. Somewhere else I also read that our dreams show us our spirit guides. In that case mine would be the snake or spider. In some tribes spiders are often associated with dream power and that certainly would apply to myself I believe. Personally though I think I identify most with the wolf, which incidently also appears frequently in my dreams. If we're only suppose to have one spirit guide I think I must be special or something. Because I do think that any of these animals does properly demonstrate aspects of my nature and none seems to be more dominating than the other.

This post has been edited by Acid09: Feb 13 2007, 05:52 PM

A mix between frog, octopus, and gorilla. Frog holds precedence though. I just feel it.

Tashi dele Edunpanna

"I want to honor my pact with him and keep my mouth shut." TOTALLY! (I just meant I'm not worried about personally revealing my own totems-- I'm a Chaote!)

"Female Coyote? Keyote is male from all that I have ever heard." GOOD ONE. YUP, Female. My totems are physical. I know's she's female -- she had babies! I totally respect and admire all native traditions, and spent many years studying and practicing. But I'm not aligning with the spirtual Coyote, the trickster, but actually to my friend Mama Coyote. She hangs out with me whenever I'm out in the field. Neato part of this, is she communicates with me in a very kick-ass way, eye to eye. I love that about her.

Greetings 'Mezu' ,

There is much to be said for spirit friends. They are guides. I think everyone experiences the astral in a different way. Each mind is different. I agree totem animals are a beautiful thing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/922.gif)

Peace!

This post has been edited by Edunpanna: Feb 13 2007, 10:32 PM

Ave

I put Crow because that was my last verified spirit animal, but I haven't performed rites of those kinds in some time, and I have an intuition that it is now the Ant, this being recent inspiration for my art and general attitude. It was interesting reading the interpretations that are listed above in relation to this.

Ad Scientiam

This post has been edited by Lucian: Feb 14 2007, 01:56 AM

My birth year sign (in Chinese) is the dragon, not sure how significant that is with the spirit animal.

i am at odds with some of the attributes (as usual, what else is new)

if anything i am a sun-bear

"The smallest of all the bear species, the Malayan sun bear is so-named because the crescent-shaped white to orange patch on the chest resembles a rising or setting sun. Other than this patch and the short, light brown fur of the muzzle, the coat is entirely black, and whilst it appears sleek and shiny, it is actually coarse to the touch. The short, wide and flat head of the Malayan sun bear, with its low set, small, round ears gives it an endearing appearance. The paws are large with long, curved claws and naked palms to help with tree-climbing. Unlike most mammals, the Malayan sun bear walks on the whole foot, and all four legs turn in when walking. It has a short, stubby tail."

(IMG:http://www.arkive.org/media/8A083546-46D8-48BB-8AD9-488092937511/Presentation.Medium/info-Malayan-sun-bear---showing-sun-shaped-marking-on-chest.jpg)

i love my short stubby tail, and that's no sunrise, that's a pectoral!

e.

This post has been edited by esoterica: Feb 14 2007, 07:46 AM