Animism + Totems
Amimism – 1. the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.
2. the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.
~ Wikipedia
Indigenous Totems
Because many things have a soul and come from the Creator/Creatrix as metaphors of reality and the Cosmos the Indigenous people of the Earth saw and related to ‘things’ with deeper meaning. They believed that animals, the elements, and dreams were alive with symbolism and messages and a sacred form of communication which helped to guide and form the past, present, and future. Symbolism was an expression of the soul that everything was one with the Creator, the Gods, Man, the hidden realms, the heavens, the Plant kingdom, and Animal kingdoms and so on. Seeing and experiencing the outer and inner world in this sacred way allowed one a kind of divine guidance recognized and used upon one’s path and journey. In this way, you are alone but always in a synchronicity with the all of the creation in their many forms and faces. The definition of God or Goddess was seen in all things, everywhere and connected to the many realms of waking, sleeping, doing or non-doing.
Since ancient times and antiquity, the concept of Animism was mastered and used as a way of higher consciousness to bring understanding and balance to the Earthly physical realm. Ancient Egyptians (Kemetics) art and ‘theology’ are founded upon this sacred practice in form of the Ntchr (Ntr) or Netcheru meaning Deities of Nature. They believed that cosmic man must master the animal spirit or kingdom while on Earth. They even mapped these earthly animal totems to the skies or heavens known as astrology and cosmology, “As Above, So Below”. Whatever was below, on earth was above in the heavens, cosmos. Nothing was separate or fragmented; instead, the Self-was seen in its highest form as one whole unit of the Universe connected to everything.
Indigenous people span the entire globe. They are on the continent of Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, India, South America and the Americas including Russia, Alaska, Iceland and Greenland and northern Europe. The Indigenous of South and North Americas are known for their wisdom of Animal Totems symbology. The jaguar was known for representing a Jaguar priest, medicine man or woman, or warrior endowing one with powerful healing, justice and warrior energies, of the jaguar. Native Americans saw the eagle as a divine messenger of the spirit (heaven) and earthly realms. The eagle used by the freemason societies of early America is today and animal endowed with symbolism and meaning and is on the dollar bill, flags, and the architecture of buildings, institutes, schools, and churches.
Animal Totems are used as spiritual tools and keys to higher realms or dimensions of living and being one with the All. Take the time to pay attention to dreams and visions and daydreams. Pay attention to what animals frequently come into your field of vision. There is a much deeper meaning to their presence; a warning, an invitation to the deeper understanding of what is happening or needs to happen in your life. You can learn to read the signs and remain aware of synchronicities as sacred communication.
Animal Totems + Basic Meanings
| 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 |
| Boar/Pig | A very powerful totem – prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless. |
| Buffalo | Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude. |
| Bull | Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation. |
| Butterfly | Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace, grace, ability to accept change |
| Camel | Survival, positive, accomplishments |
| Caribou | Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity |
| Cat | Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence |
| Cheetah | Swiftness, insight, focus |
| Cougar | Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight |
| Cow | Swift, insightful, and focused |
| Coyote | Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence |
| Cobra | Swift and decisive |
| 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. |
| Flamingo | Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious. |
| Fox | Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shape-shifting 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. |
| Grasshopper | Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive. |
| Grouse | Personal power, enlightenment. |
| Hawk | Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship. |
| Heron/Egret | Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced. |
| Hippopotamus | Power, creation, imagination, healing. |
| Horse | Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom. |
| Hummingbird | Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior. |
| Jaguar | Self-Empowerment, hunter, shape-shifter, fertility, focus, power. |
| Kangaroo | Forward, balance, creative, stamina. |
| Lion | Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector. |
| Lizard | Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses. |
| Llama | Comforting to others, secure. |
| Lynx | Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide. |
| Mole | Sensitivity, guidance, searching. |
| Monkey | Ability to change the environment, health, success. |
| Moose | Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom. |
| Mouse | Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details. |
| Octopus | Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal. |
| Opossum | Diversion, strategist, and deceiver. |
| Ostrich | Grounded, practical. |
| 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 |
| Pelican | Resilient, unselfish, rising above. |
| 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 |
| Ram | Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative. |
| Rat | Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury |
| Raven | Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic |
| Rhinoceros | Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid. |
| Roadrunner | Mental agility, speed, opportunistic. |
| 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 |
| Scorpion | Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic, passionate |
| 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 |
| Snail | Protective, aware, solitary. |
| Snake | Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom |
| Spider | Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication |
| 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 |
| Toad | inner strength, luck, self-examination |
| Turkey | Generosity, life-giver, and sharer |
| Turtle | Nurturer, shy, and protecting |
| Unicorn | Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle |
| 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 |
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