Totems and their meanings





A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. Native
American tradition provides that each individual is connected with nine
different animals that will accompany each person through life, acting as
guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives depending on
the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed
along our journey.

Native beliefs further explain that a totem animal is one that is with you
for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people may
identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes, it is this
one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit.

With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in the
animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.





This Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they
"communicate" with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not
necessarily mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal, more
that you are open to learning its lessons.

For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It's
as if they've always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a
special feeling for the animal's energy. For others, they wonder how to tell
what their animal totem is.




Here are some questions to ask yourself if you're wondering what your animal
totem is:
Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to
explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.

Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn't
necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be represented in
other ways such as receiving card and letters with the same animal pictured
over and over, unexplainable dreams of a particular animal, watching
television and seeing the same animal featured time and time again, or,
actually having the animal show up.

When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most
interested in seeing?

Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or
intriguing?

Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you're out in
nature?

Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?

Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from
childhood that you have never been able to forget?

Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?

The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal.  This could be any
number of items - a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine or
anything else that depicts your animal guide.





Animal Characteristics & Meaning

Alligator - Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic
survival instincts.
Ant Group - minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious
Anteater - Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.
Antelope - Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice
Armadillo - Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries

Badger - Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others,
and energy conduit
Bat - Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life
Bear - Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of
the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection,
and great strength Beaver - Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer,
and protector
Bee - Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration,
fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life
Buffalo - Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.
Bull -  Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper
preparation.
Butterfly - Metamorphosis, transformation, balance, grace, ability to accept
change

Caribou - Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to
adversity
Cat - Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence
Cheetah Swiftness, insight, focus,  Nourishment and mother figure
Cougar - Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight
Cow - Swift, insightful, and focused
Cobra - Swift and decisive
Coyote -  Stealth, mischief, trickster, intelligent, clowining around,
ability to recognize mistakes.
Crab - Good luck, protection and success
Crane - Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant
Crocodile - Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately
Crow - Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength,
energy, community sharing, and balance

Deer - Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety,
gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure
Dog - Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance
Dolphin - Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable
of deep emotion, and happy.
Dove - Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love
Dragon - Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery
Dragonfly - Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.
Duck - Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions

Eagle - Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence,
renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and
risk-taker
Elephant - Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom
Elk - Strength and agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification,
strength, and nobility

Falcon - New beginnings, adventure, passionate, and leadership.
Fish - Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind.
Fox - Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of
camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility
Frog - Water energy, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden
beauty, peace, adaptability, poor character judgment and power

Gazelle - Aggressive
Giraffe - Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the
future
Goat - Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of
foresight
Goose - Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, and
productive
Gorilla - Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector,
keeps peace through aggression

Hawk - Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection,
cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship
Horse - Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom
Hummingbird - Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior

Jaguar - Chaos and shape-shifter

Lion - Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector
Lizard - Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses.
Llama - Comforting to others
Lynx - Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide

Monkey - Ability to change the environment, health, success
Moose - Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom
Mouse - Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details

Opossum - Diversion, strategist, and deceiver
Otter - Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, and sharing
Owl - Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger,
Ox - Sacrifice, chastity and self-denial

Panther - Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful
decisions
Parrot - Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before
speaking
Peacock - Immortality, dignity, and self-confidence
Penguin - Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual
Porcupine - Innocence, companionship, and trust
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 - Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth,
Raccoon - Curiosity and cleanliness
Rat - Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury
Raven - Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic
Rooster - Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early
riser, settling for nothing less than the best

Salmon - Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration
Seagull - Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness
Seahorse - Confidence and grace
Seal - Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity
Shark - Hunter, survival, and adaptability
Skunk - Reputation, presence, and strength
Snake - Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and
wisdom
Squirrel - Planner and gatherer
Stag - Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.
Swan - Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self

Tiger - Strength, valor, power, and energy
Turkey - Generosity, life-giver, and sharer
Turtle - Nurturer, shy, and protecting

Weasel - Strength, energy, ingenuity and stealth
Whale - Wisdom, provider, intelligence, and kindness.
Wolf - Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit
Woodpecker - Sensitive, protective, and devotion

Zebra - Agility and individuality