Unlike the honeybee, the bumblebee usually has fewer individuals in its colony. They do not store large amounts of honey like the honeybee does. Bumblebees are one of the few insects that can control their body temperature. In cold weather the queen and her workers can shiver their flight muscles to warm themselves allowing them to fly and work at lower temperatures than most other insects. Their large size and hairy coat also helps to keep them warm.

Yogi masters have been known to quiet their heartbeat and adjust their body temperatures when in an altered state. This skill is linked to the ancient initiations of mastering the body, mind and spirit. Those with this totem usually have strong past life ties connected to the ancient secrets of longevity and can benefit from the study and practice of yoga. They also make good hypnotherapists.

All bees are productive. They remain focused in their activities and do not get distracted from their goal. Their legs are one of their most sensitive organs. A bee actually tastes through its legs and reminds us to slow down, smell the roses and taste the sweet nectar of life. Hypoglycemia and diabetes can sometimes occur in those who carry this medicine. Therefore daily exercise and good nutrition is advised.

The bumblebee carries the power of service. They are important pollinators of many plants. As a bee lands upon one flower, collecting its nectar, pollen also attaches itself to the leg fibers. It is then transferred to other flowers, creating a fertilization process. Their movement from one plant to another symbolizes the interconnectedness of all living things. The bumblebee is a messenger that holds the secrets of life and service.

If your energy is scattered the bumblebee can show you how to regain focus. If it stings you, it is saying, wake up and follow the rhythm of your own heartbeat. When a bumblebee buzzes you it is asking you to follow its lead. In so doing you will arrive at the destination most appropriate for your new life awakening.

Bee animal totem

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The bee seems to be a universal symbol of diligence, obedience, and the
work ethic. Many ancient cultures considered bees to be the messengers
of the gods. The "busy" little bee in a number of traditions also becomes a
symbol of the human soul. The bee is a totem symbol for St. Ambrose and
St. John of Chrysostom.

The sign of the bee in Egyptian hieroglyphs seems to be analogous to royalty,
epitomizing the ideals of industry, creativity, and wealth, which are associated
with the diligent insects' production of honey. A very old myth portrays the bee
as having been created from the tears of Ra. In Medieval Europe, the myth was
converted to the bees having originated from the tears of Christ on the cross.

In ancient Greece, bees were considered to be the surviving souls of
priestesses who in their physical lives had served the goddess Aphrodite.
Mortal priestesses were called melissae (bees). According to tradition, the
second of the great temples constructed at Delphi was constructed by bees.

In British folklore, bees are often associated with mortality. If bees are seen to
be vacating a hive, it is an omen that the beekeeper is not long for this world. It
was also customary to "tell" the bees when there was a death in the family so
they would not fly away to another hive.

Among Native American tribes of the eastern seaboard, an old children's song
laments the sad fact that the hardworking bee has only one stinger with which
to defend the honey that all creatures-including humans-seem to prize so highly.
' The poor little bee/That lives in a tree/The poor little bee/That lives in a tree/Has
only one arrow/In his quiver.

Grandmother Twylab of the Seneca has said that the bee is the symbol of an
industrious, selfless, self-sufficient person who can deal with great success in
a wide range of activities.

If the bee is your totem guide, you will be given help in organizing the chaos
and confusion that life can often deal to us humans. You may also expect help
in cultivating your social skills. Your spirit helper will serve you well as a messenger
to the Great Mystery, and it will also bring you messages from higher realms of
consciousness in your dreams and visions.

An entity of peaceful organization and construction, the bee will also teach you how
to keep your "stinger" sheathed until you really need it.

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Bumblebee -Community, Celebration, Personal Power For the ancient Druids the bee symbolized the sun, the Goddess, celebration, and community. At festival times, people often drank mead, whose main ingredient is fermented honey, and in later Christian times monks lived in beehive-shaped huts, symbolizing the goal of a harmonious community, whether it included oneself and Spirit or other people as well.