Native and tribal peoples believe that all living things have lessons to teach us. By observing the characteristics and behaviors of our creature and feathered relatives, we can become aware of these lessons. Many native peoples carry or wear carvings of animals or birds (fetishes) as a reminder of the wisdom, experience, understanding and medicine power of that animal or bird. These likenesses honor these teachers, as well as inspire us toward a clearer understanding of our own strengths and remind us of where we may need to concentrate more effort in our own lives.    

Ant: patience, stamina, community-mindedness

Antelope: knowledgeable action, speed, rapid growth, grace

Armadillo: knowledge of boundaries, objectivity

Badger: aggressiveness, persistence, centeredness

Bat: releasing old habits, new growth, rebirth

Bear: strength, introspection, self-knowledge

Beaver: balance, alterations, building, shaping

Bee: service, gathering, community

Bird: unity, freedom, community

Buffalo: abundance, prayer, healing, good fortune

Butterfly: transformation, courage to change, balance, grace

Caribou: travel, mobility

Cat: grace, independence, sensuality, psychic vision

Cougar/Mt.Lion: balanced leadership, cunning, wit

Coyote: humor, trickiness, adaptability, reversal of fortune

Crow: council, intuitive knowledge of universal law, assertiveness

Deer: gentleness, sensitivity, alertness, peace

Dog: loyalty, courage, unconditional love

Dolphin: harmony, love, wisdom, connection with self

Dragonfly: refinement of skills, illusion, need for change, relentlessness

Duck:female-mothering energy, male-coping with stress

Elephant: memory, learning abilitly, health, good luck

Elk: stamina, friendship, pride, power, majesty

Falcon accuracy, rapid progress, restraint

Fox: cleverness, adaptability, cunning, subtlety, discretion

Frog: emotional healing, cleansing, peace

Goat :tenacity, diligence

Goose: safe return, love of home

Gopher: gathering, preparation for the future

Grouse: completion, sacred spiral dance, fulfillment

Hawk: messenger, truth seeker, clear vision, heightened awareness

Hedgehog: self-preservation

Horse: inner power, freedom, safe movement

Hummingbird: beauty, wonder,joy, agility

Lion: association with the sun, courage, nobleness, prosperity

Lizard: caution, regeneration, renewal, growth

Loon: communication, serenity

Lynx: subtlety, silence, secretiveness, elusiveness

Manatee: serenity, gentleness, trust

Moose: self-esteem, confidence, strength, spontaneity, unpredictability

Mouse: scrutiny, caution, success, awareness of danger, illusion, charm

Opossum: peaceful alternatives, deception

Otter: playfulness, efficiency, female energy, healing power of laughter

Owl: wisdom, insight, great vision

Pidgeon: romantic love, loyalty, peace, innocence

Porcupine: self-protection, memory, security, innocence, humility

Quail: protectiveness, group harmony

Rabbit: conquering fear, safety, gentleness with self

Raccoon: curiosity, skillful investigation, playful energy

Raven: prophecy, clairvoyant vision, magic, mystery, exploring unknown

Salmon: determination, persistence

Sandpiper: quickness, foraging, scavenging

Seagull: observation, swift action, opportunity,carefree attitude, versatility

Seal: contentment

Skunk: reputation, self-preservation, respect

Snake: transmutation, fertility, regeneration, life force,sexual potency

Spider: creativity, balance, interconnectedness, industry

Squirrel: planning ahead, playfulness, trust

Swan: grace, faithfulness, committment

Tiger: caution, appropriate timing, stealth

Turkey: setting limits, appreciation, renewal

Turtle: protection,grounding,longevity,healing,symbol of the bounty of Mother Earth

Weasel: stealth, seeing beneath the surface, supernatural power

Whale: intelligence, self-expression, intuition, creativity

Woodpecker: sacred heartbeat, rain caller, growth, fertility, cleansing

Wolf: eliminating weakness, committment, family loyalty, teaching skill

Zebra: power, alertness, community

BIRDS:

Blackbird: understanding of the energies of Mother Nature

Bluebird: modesty, unassuming, confidence and happiness

Blue Jay: proper use of power

Canary: power of song and voice. heightened sensitivity

Cardinal: renewed vitality through recognizing our importance

Catbird: language and communication

Chickadee: cheerful expression of truth

Chicken: fertility and sacrifice

Cock: sexuality, watchfulness and resurrection, optimism

Cowbird: parent and child relationships, resolving old issues

Crane: longevity and creation through focus, exression of feminine energies

Crow: magic, creation, spiritual strength

Cuckoo: heralding new fate, intuitive ability

Dove: feminine energies of peace, maternity, prophecy and promise of future

Ducks: emotional comfort and protection

Eagle: spiritual enlightenment, clarity of vision, transcendence, messengers, healing and creation

Finch: energy of variety and multiplicity, increased potentials

Flicker: rapid growth and trust, increased healing love, new sensitivity of heart

Goldfinch: awakening to the nature spirits- fairies, elves and devas

Goose: call of the quest, travels to legendary places, search new dimensions

Grackle: overcoming excess, dealing with emotions

Grosbeak: Healing the family heart

Hawk: Awakening visionary power, guardianship, awareness, truth

Heron: Aggressive self-determination, self-reliance

Hummingbird: Tireless joy, accomplishing the impossible, beauty, agility

Kestrel: Mental speed, agility, grace, control

Kingfisher: New warmth, sunshine, prosperity, and love

Loon: Lucid dreaming and re-awakening of old hopes, wishes and dreams

Magpie: The proper use of intelligence, familiars, and occult knowledge

Martin: Good luck and community peace, peaceful living energies

Meadowlark: Cheerful journey inward, discovery of intuition, innate abilities

Mockingbird: Finding your Sacred Song (soul purpose) and recognition of your innate abilities

Nuthatch: Grounding of faith and higher wisdom, teaches true path to realization is learning to manifest the spiritual within the physical

Oriole: The weaving of new sunshine, can open doors to positive relationship with all members of nature realm

Ostrich: Becoming grounded

Owl: The mystery of magic, omens, silent wisdom, and vision in the night; symbol of the feminine, the moon and the night

Parrott: Sunshine and color healing; teaches power of light and colors

Peacock: Resurrection and wise vision (watchfulness)

Pelican: Renewed buoyancy and unselfishness; teaches how not to be overcome by emotion

Penguin: Lucid dreaming and astral projection

Pheasant: Family fertility and sexuality

Pigeon: Return to the love and security of home; very gentle and loving energy

Quail: Group nourishment and protection

Raven: Magic,  and creation

Road Runner: Mental speed and agility

Robin: Spread of New Growth in a variety of areas of life

Sparrow: Awakening and triumph of common nobility; shows how to survive

Starling: Group behavior and etiquette; clear communication

Stork: Birth and unspoken communication

Swallow: Protection and warmth for the home and proper perspective

Swans: Awakening the true beauty and power of the self

Swift: Speed and agility in the great quest; responding to opportunity

Swisher: Awakening to the Fairy realm

Turkey: Sharing blessings and harvest

Vulture: Purification - death and rebirth - new vision

Waxwing: Gentleness and courtesy

Woodpecker: The power of rhythm and determination; stimulates new rhythms

Wren: Resourcefulness and boldness

 

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