ANIMAL SYMBOLISM
When we come across certain animals in our lives it can be an indication that they are put in our path to give us messages from Spirit about what it is that we need to focus on in our personal healing at that moment in time. Below are some generalities about different animals and what it means when we have contact with them.
ARMADILLO - putting up boundaries. We learn from the armadillo - which, by rolling into a ball, can be completely armored against attack - how to consciously define our own emotional and physical boundaries. Carrying our protection with us and using it when it is necessary for our well being.
BADGER - about using the roots, minerals, plants and herbs. When badger appears in our life we should turn to those things nature can provide to help us heal. It is about tapping our inner resources to make changes in our lives, as well. Keeping focused on the goal.
BAT - is about rebirth. Shaman initiates undergo a ritual death in which they face their fears and are reborn without their old identities. Bat medicine teaches us to release fear and any pattern which no longer fits in with our pattern of growth. A new beginning, trusting one's instincts, the bat is powerful medicine.
BEAR - teaches us about introspection. Bear medicine teaches us to go within, in order to digest our experiences and to discover that we contain within ourselves the answers to all of our questions. We are our own best teacher. Then bring what we find within to the surface and share it with others.
BEAVER - is the builder. Beavers work in cooperation to build their homes, and this medicine teaches us that we can create and fulfill most powerfully when all involved appreciate the talents of each and work together in harmony. Pay attention to our dreams, then in turn make those dreams a reality.
BUFFALO - teaches us about prayer and abundance. Buffalo teaches us that true prosperity comes when we are grateful for what we have and when we live in harmony and love with all other beings. We can truly manifest whatever we want in our life and buffalo reminds us of this fact. When buffalo appears in our lives, the universe is presenting us with opportunity for abundance, pay attention.
BUTTERFLY - is about transformation. Butterfly fearlessly leaves the safety of its cocoon to meet a new world in a new form, trusting its untried wings to allow it to fly. It is a powerful symbol for anyone who's contemplating or in the midst of a major change. It is about bringing color and joy to our lives, learning to dance with joy as we make those changes in our lives transforming us and our lives.
CANADIAN GOOSE - remind us of the Sacred Circle, how life cycles on and about family. The migration of Canadian Geese marks the passages of the Great Circle of the Year, and reminds us of the sacredness of the cycles of our own life. We can also learn from the cooperative and communal behavior of these birds, who never abandon a sick or wounded member of the flock, and who know when to lead and when to seek guidance and follow. The goose is also about traveling to distant places, it is about breaking free from one place to move on in your life in order to survive. If you are stuck in an old pattern, goose can help you move forward bringing new patterns in.
CANARY - it is about the power of music, the voice and song. Learning to use the power of music to heal your life, to connect to the universe. We have a tendency to forget just how powerful music can be, it can change our brainwaves and make entry into different meditative states possible for those of us who cannot quiet the mind on our own.
CAT- brings us to wholeness and acts as a spiritual link between humans and the universe. It is about magic, mystery and being independent. The cat, a creature which combines a high degree of sensuality with a deeply psychic and spiritual nature, teaches us that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one. Be careful when your cat does not take to someone - you do not want them around you.
CHEETAH - teaches us about speed and focus. Unlike other felines who stalk, then pounce on their prey for the kill, cheetahs, the fastest four-footed animals alive, run down their prey. Their lesson to us is that of accomplishing our goals with speed and focus. When we feel stuck, cheetah medicine can launch us into motion. If we are moving with great speed but little direction, cheetah energy helps us to keep our eyes on our goals and to find the most direct way of achieving them.
CHIMPANZEE - reminds us to live in harmony. Chimpanzees are close to humans on the evolutionary scale, and the medicine of this animal can help to restore to us the simple ways of life that create joy. Chimpanzee medicine can nurture in us playfulness, curiosity, and self expression. They teach us about living in a community and being part of the group and family, taking care of one another.
COUGAR - is about personal power. When cougar appears in our life, it is time to learn about power, strength, and using the personal tools we have been gifted with by spirit. Learning to be assertive.
COYOTE - is the trickster. When we're being too serious about life Coyote may come along to teach us to laugh at ourselves. It is also the karmic enforcer, reminding us that whatever we do to others will be done to us. Learning to balance wisdom with a sense of humor to make life work for us.
CROW - integrity and doing unto others as we would like them to do to us. Crow teaches us to know ourselves beyond the limitations of one-dimensional thinking and laws. It is about bringing magic into our lives. This animal teaches to appreciate the many dimensions both of reality and ourselves, and to learn to trust our intuition and personal integrity. There is magic wherever crows are. They give us the message that there is magic alive in our world and this magic is ours to use and create a new world for ourselves with.
DEER - gentleness and unconditional love. The power of Deer medicine is that of unconditional love. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, can dissolve the barriers which prevent us from realizing wholeness. Be gentle with others and self.
DOGS - protection, companionship, faithfulness. When dog comes into our lives it is to teach us about being a companion to others, being loyal and protecting others.
DOLPHIN - brings to us earth wisdom. Dolphin teaches us that in attuning to the rhythms and patterns of nature we can learn true communication with the wisdom of All That Is and share this wisdom with others. It is also about learning to breathe, we forget sometimes to breathe deeply and fully. Remember that to breathe is to live.
DOVE - reminds us how important peace is. The peace symbolized by Dove is that of the deepest kind. It quiets our worried and troubled thoughts, and allows us to find renewal in the silence of mind. In such moments of stillness we are able to appreciate simple blessings. It reminds us that no matter what is happening in our lives, there are always new possibilities open to us.
DRAGON - teaches us about transformation. Though Celtic tradition gives specific qualities for dragons of the elements of earth, fire, water, and air, in general terms, Dragon's power is that of shedding its skin and emerging as a new, transformed being. Dragon is also about magic, using the magic within to transform your life.
DRAGONFLY - lets us see past the illusion, letting light in so that we can see what we need to see to make our lives better. When we've tricked ourselves into believing that the limitations of physical existence prevent us from changing and growing Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-created illusions. Dragonfly reminds us to let our colors shine by using the light within.
EAGLE - reminds us of courage and spirit. Eagle flies fearlessly, bridging heaven and earth, and teaches us to courageously face our fear of the unknown in order to fly as high as our heart's joy can take us. Finding out the true emotional aspects within self, using them to rediscover the child within, and awaken a higher sense of passion, creativity, spirituality, strength and healing.
ELEPHANT - can teach us the power of gentleness, commitment, and communication in relationships. They are are deeply committed to all creatures with whom they have relationships, are powerful when protecting others and gentle in nurturing them. The matriarch of a herd practices leadership in a way that is both gentle and inclusive. Elephants' ability to communicate telepathically can teach us how to truly listen to others.
ELK - is about stamina and strength. This medicine teaches us the best use of our energy, helping us to take on no more than we need to accomplish, and to endure on our chosen path until we've reached our goals.
FOX - being able to camouflage self. It is about using our instincts and creative energies. When we learn to detach from our surroundings and to observe with all of our senses we will be able to anticipate and create the future as we wish it to be.
FROG - bring healing. As water cleanses the arid earth and returns life to it so Frog's medicine can wash away any physical and mental energies which deprive us of harmony and peace, and helps to replenish our own ability to heal ourselves on all levels. It is a symbol of recognizing one's own power, of adaptation and using sound and nature to make changes in our life.
GAZELLE - remind us to be alert and aware. Gazelles, as the intended dinner of the big cats, are vulnerable, and maintain a high alertness to what goes on in their surroundings. Because cheetahs can run faster than them, gazelles have evolved the ability to nimbly dart from side to side, thus putting themselves out of the path of the cheetah's straight-line dash. They teach us that with awareness and skill, we can be comfortable in our own vulnerability.
GIRAFFE - is about grounded vision. The giraffe, the tallest of animals, may be as tall as 18 feet, with a neck as long as 7 feet. Ungainly as this animal may seem, its weight is well distributed, and it's vulnerable only when it bends down to drink water. Giraffe teaches us to view our lives in a way that is both grounded and expansive and that in our desire to evolve spiritually, we must always remember we are physical creatures.
HAWK - is the messenger. IT is also about visionary power and guardianship, the hawk is very protective of the young in its nest. It teaches us about providing for family and self. Hawk teaches us to be observant and to pay attention to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we don't use, a blessing for which we haven't expressed gratitude, or a message from Spirit. The hawk has keen eyesight, it is about opening our eyes and seeing that which is there to guide us.
HIPPOPOTAMUS - emotional clearing. The hippopotamus, sacred in Egyptian and African traditions, is the second largest mammal on earth. Its name means "Water Horse," and it spends most of its day in water. This animal, very substantial in physical terms, can guide us in grounding ourselves so we can face and dissolve emotional issues (the power of water).
HORSE - travel, freedom and personal power. Personal power is our servant, to be neither abused, squandered, nor kept to ourselves. When we share our power with others and teach them how to nurture their own power, our journey becomes faster and more joyful. It teaches us to travel forward on new journeys to discover our own power and freedom.
In Celtic tradition the horse-goddess governs the life cycle of birth, death, the afterlife, and rebirth; thus, to work with Horse medicine enables us to feel comfortable with all aspects of this cycle.
HUMMINGBIRD - joy, love an beauty. Hummingbird darts lightly through the world, spreading its message of joy and beauty, and teaching us to appreciate the wonder and magic of everyday existence. It teaches you how to live in joy and peace.
LION - brings us courage to make the right choices. The Lion symbolizes the astrological sign of Leo, which rules the heart. Courage comes from the heart and from one's deep sense of personal authority, which creates the power to act in a way that accords with one's spirit. One who acts truly from the heart is capable of leadership, achievement, and the kind of success that encourages the accomplishments of others. It is also about not being able to speak one's own truth, or to "roar" if you feel threatened in any way.
LIZARD - is about dreaming. In our dreams we imagine different futures and choose which we will materialize. Lizard teaches us the importance of respecting and remembering our dreams, incorporating the messages from our dreams into our lives.
MOOSE - helps us with self-esteem. It is also about the magic of life and death. Moose represents expressing the joy of accomplishment, not to boast or seek recognition, but in a spirit of sharing, born of the understanding that joy is contagious. It is about learning to explore new depths of awareness within self and your environment.
MOUSE - is about awareness, paying attention to detail. Mouse teaches us to pay attention to the little details which might get overlooked in our mad dash to see the big picture, and reminds us not to overlook the obvious.
MOUNTAIN LION - teaches us how to lead others. To be true to oneself, allowing neither fear of responsibility nor the jealousy and insecurities of others to divert one from one's path, is the mark of a genuine leader.
OTTER - female energy. Otter is receptive, playful, and free of jealousy. As both women and men begin to express the highest qualities of this medicine the world can become a joyful place where all can play without fear of harm or loss. It is about finding the time to play, not just work.
OWL - brings us wisdom, teaches us about the mystery of magic, vision in the night. Owl, the night hunter, has the ability to see what others may miss. The gift of this medicine is to be undeceived by external appearances and to discover the truth beneath them.
PEACOCK - individual beauty and wholeness. This bird, honored around the world for the beauty of its feathers, has also an association with resurrection. For us it can help in shedding the old and drab feathers of the past and to claim our the true beauty of our individual natures. As such, it helps to enhance confidence and self-esteem.
PRAIRIE DOG - about community. When this animal appears in your totem it is about being more active in the community, taking part in community affairs.
RABBIT - helps conquer fear. It is also about fertility and new life. The more we focus on our fears the more we attract them to us. Rabbit medicine teaches us to attract to us abundance, love, health, and a warm, dry burrow. Rabbit sacrifices self for others to live.
RACCOON - is about dexterity and disguise. Though Raccoon's mask is commonly associated with its so-called banditry (it has been know to open house doors with its clever hands in order to take human food) the mask has a deeper meaning. It teaches us that none of us are quite what we seem, even to ourselves, that in our lives we can experience the freedom of many identities. This medicine helps us to assume and release the many roles we play.
ROBIN - teaches us about growth and renewal. Like many birds, robins are good parents, and one aspect of this power animal is the ability to nurture oneself into true adulthood. This concept also relates to Robin's traditional connection to spring. This is the season of renewal, and when we let go of the past (much of which comes from childhood experiences) we are renewed, and free to nurture and serve both ourselves and others.
SEAL - helps us listen to our inner voice. Using our imagination, creativity. The seal reminds us of our connection to our deep inner rhythms, feelings, and knowing, as represented by the sea. When we fear drowning in these depths, Seal reminds us how to swim.
SALAMANDER - is about transformation and disguise. This animal helps to connect us to the mysteries of the earth and to feel grounded in the present moment. Some salamanders are terrestrial, others and aquatic; while in magical traditions, Salamander also relates to the element of fire,
SKUNK - brings us an awareness of self-respect. When we fully accept who we are and learn to express the essence of ourselves, without ego, we attract those who share our path and repel those who don't. Skunk medicine is the original "Walk your talk." It is about developing a good self-image. In brings increased sensuality spiritually, sexually, psychically.
SALMON - perseverance. Salmon journeys to its ultimate goal against all obstacles in its quest to be reunited with the Divine. The energy of this animal helps us develop the wisdom to find the meaning and purpose of our lives, and to move with perseverance on our spiritual path. The salmon would not survive as a species unless they persevere and take on life's challenges, so too must we press forward no matter what difficulties or roadblocks in our way.
SNAKE - is about shedding the past and changing the future, rebirth. As Snake sheds its skin so we can shed our illusions and limitations in order to fully use our vitality and desires to achieve wholeness. Snake is about transition in our lives from one phase to another.
SPIDER - teaches us to weave our lives. As Spider weaves her web so we weave our realities. This medicine teaches to remember that we are the creators of our lives. When spider appears in your life think about writing down your thoughts, telling your story.
SQUIRREL - teaches us to gather and prepare for the future. Squirrel, in preparing for winter, gathers only what it needs. This medicine teaches us to discard not only unnecessary physical objects but those negative beliefs which limit our trust in love and abundance.
SWAN - teaches us to walk in grace. Swan teaches us to trust the grace of our being as it operates in both the physical and spiritual planes, and urges us to rejoice in the gifts of our physical bodies and our intuitive minds.
TIGER - being focused, living in today. The tiger is one of the most powerful of the big cats. A solitary, silent hunter, it symbolizes removing all distractions from the mind and being purely focused on the present moment. Thus, Tiger is able to call on all of its abilities in order to achieve success.
TURKEY - about shared blessings and harvest. Another name for the turkey is earth eagle. Turkey is about combining spirituality and the blessings the earth gives us, harvesting and using them to make your life better.
TURTLE - teaches us the importance of the Earth. By following the example of Turtle we can learn to ground ourselves in the nurturing and protective energy of the earth and to flow with its energies at a pace which assures completion of our tasks. It is also about knowing when to retreat, go into our homes and look within for strength and protection.
WHALE - is the record keeper. Through the rhythm and patterns of sound Whale teaches us to hear our inner voices, to be in touch with our personal truths, and thus to know the wisdom and feel the heartbeat of the universe.
WOLF - learning wisdom. Though the moon rises every night Wolf always finds something new to learn from it. We, too, in exploring the hidden paths of consciousness, may discover new truths to share with the rest of our clan, the human race.
ZEBRA - teaches us the beauty in individuality. The zebra's distinctive stripes serves as a protective camouflage against predators, who are often unable to pick an individual out from the herd. For herd members, the stripe patterns, unique to each zebra, have the opposite effect of helping to identify individual zebras. This power animal thus helps us to both maintain our individuality in group settings and helps us to be supportive members of our communities. A third spiritual meaning for the stripes has to do with the integration of opposites, thus enabling us to see a deeper truth.
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