Animal Totems

Before the hustle and bustle of everyday life, before annoying bosses who peek over your cubical wondering if you have that assignment done so they may turn it into their boss to take credit for you work in order to keep that corner office; before you could just go into the local one stop shop to purchase: meat, paper, and even your electronic devises.  People of most religions believed the Earth and its inhabitants known as animals had a story or lesson to teach.  The Chinese called this Kung-Fu and on the other side of the World the Native Americans were calling them Totems translated into the word ‘Friend’ the Spiritualists call them Guides.  Learning to make tools like the ape, weave fabric like a spider, and catch a fish by using your bare hands like the bear was the only way to survive in the wild.  This brought balance and harmony to every living thing because these tasks were not as easy as picking up products at the grocery store nothing was in excess.  Now man has forgotten how the delicate balance is, yes we live more comfortable and no I’m not saying to set up a tent and live among the wild animals.  I am simply saying, “Stop and listen, think and look at what you’re doing.”  We may learn from the animals as do children when they mimic their favorite one from the zoo or the animal they simply cannot get enough of.

Most Native Americans used the totem to show other tribes who their family was and each family member is connected to nine different animals that will aid them during their life.  As a guide the totems would very seldom change unless an unexpected turn in one’s life had occurred, then the totems would change to suite that persons needs.  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. This could be one of your totems offering you a warning or lesson if you would choose to listen.

In my family we use to in advertently learn and keep our totems closed at hand and I will pass this information to you:  The top animal on the totem also known as your ‘power animal’.  My father’s was the Bison, my mother’s is the Great Horned Owl, my brother’s is the Dragon (or large lizard) and mine is the Tyto alba known as the ‘Barn Owl’. 

What do the animals have to say to you?   Come in and have a seat and from my family to yours I will assist in helping you with your animal ‘friends’.