Thread: What's your spirit animal?

Originally Posted by stateofmind

That's really great that you did that for your daughter! Even though you thought it was going to be a boy lol.

What are these guides that you speak of? How did you meet them?

I always knew that Bear was my totem. "Bear" was always my nickname from the time I was a baby. When I was 9 or 10, I was picking Blackberries and came across a Black Bear munching on the same bush I was picking on. We surprised each other so much that neither of us quite knew what to do. We just sort of stared at one another for what seemed like forever until the bear just huffed at me and wandered away. When I was 13, my Uncle presented me with a Bearskin Medicine Bag that had been in the family for over 150 years and told me, "I think you'll want this someday...."

When I was about 20, I took my first Shamanic Journey and met my Benefactor. This is the spiritual entity responsible for you in this life. From there, I was introduced to my other Guides and numerous Allies trhough other Journeys; Raven, Owl, Coyote, Trout, Rattlesnake, Spider... but Bear is my constant companion and my Life Totem.

My Guides direct me in Healing and in the Psychopomp work I do.

Originally Posted by spaceexplorer

Why are totems always something cool and dramatic?
I'm yet to meet someone who has a slug or gerbil totem.
Does it not make you question how much ego is at play in these things?

Just a thought. Not trying to be negative... but i do think to get to the truth one has to question ones own motives. Mine i've always belived to be some kind of hawk... however, Why is it not the snail or gerbil?
A hawk is cool, a gerbil is not.
I think i just wanted a cool totem so on some level i chose an animal i think is cool. Which to me kind of ruins the whole thing. Seems far less genuine.

For those who truly understand and follow Wamaka Ska Medicine, ALL animals have value and a message to give. My Wife's Life Totem is Moose. Not exactly your "coolest" animal. But its Medicine is icredibly strong. Trout has been an ally to me and Nut Hatch and Woodpecker...

That being said, most small animals don't have enough Powerful Medicine to be a Warrior's Life Totem. It takes a fairly substantial Spirit to support us two-leggeds.

well, if we are to go buy which kind of animals we have always been attracted to...Im at an impasse because I have always and still do love dragons and dinosaurs...Ive had a few dreams involving them too. after that though...it would be a split between dolphins and falcons...I find both to be utterly facinating, but they are so different...what to do...

found another interesting site, it has a HUGE list of animals over 300 it states. http://www.animalspirits.com/index1.html

my spirit animal is a hawk. named david.

Originally Posted by tkdyo

found another interesting site, it has a HUGE list of animals over 300 it states. http://www.animalspirits.com/index1.html

That's crazy!

I never really thought of totems outside of the normal spectrum. (Dog, cat, lion, bear, wolf, tiger...) Now I'm really interested in finding my totem...

My spirit animal is the trilobite. Most definitely. The first animal to have sight. I feel more aware of my surroundings, I notice the detail in my environment. I am versatile and adaptable, boding well in abrasive and pressuring environments. I will die out, but will leave a legacy.

bump...kind of interested in what saxon has to say about that site I found, and possibly my animal

I once shapeshifted into a wolf in a LD, and this is the only time I can remember an animal playing a specific/important role in one of my dreams.

Maybe that's it

Originally Posted by saxonharp

When I was about 20, I took my first Shamanic Journey and met my Benefactor. This is the spiritual entity responsible for you in this life. From there, I was introduced to my other Guides and numerous Allies trhough other Journeys; Raven, Owl, Coyote, Trout, Rattlesnake, Spider... but Bear is my constant companion and my Life Totem.

I find it interesting that you use the word "Allies." I read a book by Carlos Castaneda called "The Teachings of don Juan" and in it don Juan mentions Allies numerous times in regards to items that aid a "Man of Knowledge." Are you familiar with this? Are the shamanic traditions of Mexico similar to the shamanic traditions you follow? What shamanic tradition do you follow? Are these Allies you mention of the same class as the ones don Juan speaks of?

My spirit animal as viewed from shamanistic point is northern wolf.

Gotta admit, when I fight for real I do have the ferocity of a rabid wolf.

Originally Posted by stateofmind

I find it interesting that you use the word "Allies." I read a book by Carlos Castaneda called "The Teachings of don Juan" and in it don Juan mentions Allies numerous times in regards to items that aid a "Man of Knowledge." Are you familiar with this? Are the shamanic traditions of Mexico similar to the shamanic traditions you follow? What shamanic tradition do you follow? Are these Allies you mention of the same class as the ones don Juan speaks of?

My teacher was a student of Carlos Castaneda and a peer of don Miguel Ruiz so yes, I'm familiar with and practice the Toltec Traditions as they have been passed down to me through my Teacher by Castaneda and by don Juan Mattus before him.

The Toltec Path is not incongruent with other philosophical or "religious" belief systems and often works in conjunction with them. Most Native American Traditions lend themselves quite nicely to working in concert with Toltec Paths, but even traditions such as Buddhism, Shinto and Taoism are often associated with them. There was even a Catholic Priest in Mexico who lived the life of a Toltec Man of Knowledge with no conflicts with his Faith.

To TKDYO:
Yes, I've seen that site before. It's fine for what it is. Still, I'd be wary of anyone or any site who claims to have a full understanding of Wamaka Ska Medicine. Most of what I've read there, though, I agree with.

My Teacher once told me a joke: "How many Shamans does it take to change a lightbulb? One hundred. One to change it and 99 to stand around saying, "That's not how I learned to do it."

My spirit animal is a tadpole called Dr Von Poopenhaffen.
He's rubbish.
Some folks get all the luck with thier wolves, and thier eagles.
I get Dr Von Poopenhaffen.

Desert rattlesnake.
You don't see me unless I want you to, I generally avoid human contact; and I'm pretty calm until I hit boiling point - that's when I explode.

Originally Posted by saxonharp

o TKDYO:
Yes, I've seen that site before. It's fine for what it is. Still, I'd be wary of anyone or any site who claims to have a full understanding of Wamaka Ska Medicine. Most of what I've read there, though, I agree with.

My Teacher once told me a joke: "How many Shamans does it take to change a lightbulb? One hundred. One to change it and 99 to stand around saying, "That's not how I learned to do it."

lol, nice. So then, I must ask is it really possible for your spirit animal to be from so far in the past as dinosaurs? Because in all honesty any time an animal plays a major role in my dream it is always a dinosaur. I have also always been obsessed with them When I was little I knew much more dinosaur names than names of my own family members. and it may even still be that way today, lol.

Originally Posted by tkdyo

lol, nice. So then, I must ask is it really possible for your spirit animal to be from so far in the past as dinosaurs? Because in all honesty any time an animal plays a major role in my dream it is always a dinosaur. I have also always been obsessed with them When I was little I knew much more dinosaur names than names of my own family members. and it may even still be that way today, lol.

I suppose its possible. Spirit knows neither time nor distance. And while I've never personally encountered any Ally Form outside our normal, mundane experience, I know people whom I take very seriously who have "fantastical creatures" such as dragons for their Totems. If Dragon can be a Totem, I don't see why T-Rex couldn't as well.

Mine is a wolf =]

They seem to be getting awfully popular these days though >.<0

I've always loved them, and practically every test and person has told me if I was an animal, I'd be a wolf. Plus, when I'm in a rough spot, a white wolf always appears in my dreams and helps me out

Originally Posted by saxonharp

When I was about 20, I took my first Shamanic Journey and met my Benefactor. This is the spiritual entity responsible for you in this life. From there, I was introduced to my other Guides and numerous Allies through other Journeys; Raven, Owl, Coyote, Trout, Rattlesnake, Spider... but Bear is my constant companion and my Life Totem.

My Guides direct me in Healing and in the Psychopomp work I do.

i am intensely curious when it comes to this type of thing (probably because i have native american blood in me but none of my family follows that path) but what is a Shamanic Journey exactly? like what do you do in one? forgive my ignorance. i don't know things.

Wow, Thats interesting, But I hope i dont end up being chased by some kinda crazed animal!

Originally Posted by ray

i am intensely curious when it comes to this type of thing (probably because i have native american blood in me but none of my family follows that path) but what is a Shamanic Journey exactly? like what do you do in one? forgive my ignorance. i don't know things.

A Shamanic Journey is akin to astral projection in many ways. In essence, your spirit leaves your physical body to travel in the Spirit Realm. While in this state, you can communicate more effectively with your Guides, Allies and Benefactor, and with the Ancestors and with Source directly. You can gain knowledge from their perspective on anything you care to investigate.

Depends of the area of shamanism you practice. It is a bit different here in far north but same kind of general idea

I'm absolutely certain it is a wolf, although not original I have had many "spiritual experiences" as a wolf/involving wolves, even though I don't think I've ever physically been with one, I have had multiple experiences where I was one (lucid dream experiences etc)

Originally Posted by stateofmind

I've recently been hearing about spirit animals. I confess I don't know too much about them. I have heard though that a good sign for finding out (if they exist - I hope they do cuz it would be really cool!!!) is by noticing whatever animal you frequently find in your dreams.

Last night I had a dream that had a lion in it. I can't remember any animals before that really that were in any of my dreams (I really should reread my old old dream journal entries.) Maybe a lion is my spirit animal?!! That would be cool!!

What's your spirit animal?

shamanism is how you find your spirit animal... 4000 year old ritual done by people of all kinds of ethnic, egyptians, hindues, buddah, christians, look it up and get some shaman cd's of drumming in one beat and you will journey to find yours...

Actually in northern shamanism at least, it isn't neccessarily spirit animal even though it usually takes form of an animal. But I suggest that if you really are into shamanism, don't limit yourself to cd. Nothing is better way that a ritual drum that you have done yourself and with passion.

Originally Posted by Unelias

Depends of the area of shamanism you practice. It is a bit different here in far north but same kind of general idea

Interesting. Where do you see the distinctions? I'm always interested in other views and would very much appreciate hearing yours.

Either way, I suspect the light bulb will get changed.