Do you have a Spirit Animal?

[PhoenixFire]

Do you have a Spirit Animal/s, or animal guide/s? I dont mean your house cat/ dog, though it could be, but a Creature of the wilds that acts as your guide or guardian in magic and life and you see often in you dreams, meditation or even appears often to you in the waking world, more often than you might think normal. ex: Wolves, Falcons, Wild Horses, Dolphins, Bears ect...

My main Spirit Animal is the Red Fox :vanish:

[Rain Gnosis]

Well, actually, one of my spirit guides has been a cat. There was the butterfly when I first started out, and the lion more recently.

[Arienadean]

Chickadee's in the wild and sometimes crows or ravens. Other than that domestically cats get attached to me. They follow me around like dogs and people have said it's unusual. All my cats have acted like this. They also come to me when I'm upset but that might be a normal thing for a pet to do. But all my cats have also talked to me(well mewed at me to say hi, to say bye, to indicate stuff and they don't like when I go and sometimes cry for me). But the birds come and follow me sometimes at moments of change or concern in my life. They at least seem to show up more closely to me when such is happening anyways. I've also always felt an attachment to birds as a child.

[SylverStar]

Well The Brown Bear is my spirit guide. (I've never really felt connected to bears, but he apears often in my meditations as a guide)
The Bengal White Tiger is my Gaurdian. (However I think he as actually left me. I guess I know longer need a gaurdian or it's time for a new one.)
I also feel very connected to tropical geckos right now.
And physically Magpies have always been around me. I love these birds, even if everyone else thinks they're pests.

[LadyOak]

The Great Blue Heron and the Black Panther/Jaguar.
Physically horses.

[*Cerridwen*]

My main spirit animal is the white tiger as well.

:reading:

[Morgandria]

I think some people are talking here about what I consider a totem. Not sure, tho. I have nine.

-M.

[Armitage]

Raven and Serpent. Found the first when I went through a summer where not a day went by that I wasn't finding enormous black feathers everywhere. Every once in a while I'll feel one either around me, or I'll start feeling...Raven-y. And the second has been around for a while, subtly (haha) but has become a little more pushy in my life lately. Had quite a few dreams about snakes, actually appearing several times as Ouroboros, which was neat.

[Pesha]

Five years ago I went to live in Australia for 8 months. I lived in Queensland. I had a friend who was a wild life rescuer. So I worked with her in rescuing and rehabiliting animals and birds. One day we got in a sick Kukaburra. I adopted him and named him Tully or rather he told me his name was Tully. I tried so hard to make him well but he was destined to pass on. Before he did I saw him in a "dream" fly out of his little bed and say to me :" after I go take my tail feathers and when the time is right and you will know this, give a feather to all in need of magick and healing. But keep one for you and you only". I woke up the next day and he was gone. So I did as he instructed and as I went on my way in life, i found people who needed his magick and healing. And gave them a feather. Now I have only the one that is mine to keep. Tully is with me always and I like to tell people that I have a kukaburra on my shoulder. He is my animal guide, along ith my dragon HYSTYPHUS.

BB
D'S...also known as...

[13thChylde]

I'm followed around by hawks, in the physical world and snakes in the dream-time.

[Azure]

Foxes and magpies, but other animals show up when I need to know specific things. Lots of animals have served me as messengers and omens in the past.

[Autumn Sidhe]

Lately i've been visited by a crow on a daily basis but i'm not really sure if it's my spirit animal or more of a message from a particular Goddess.

Other than that, i've always had a close affinity with dolphins, that started at a very young age. I love everything about them, have one tattoo'd on my body, own any and everything I can find that have to do with them and they appear in my dreams and meditations constantly, so i'd have to say if I have a spirit or totem animal, the dolphin is definately it.

[BlueFlame]

http://ohmygods.timerift.net/strips/2003/07/23.gif

[~ Monk ~]

http://ohmygods.timerift.net/strips/2003/07/23.gif

"Mine's grass."

Love it! :lol:

[PhoenixFire]

"LOL" :rotfl:

Like I said, my main spirit animal, spirit guide, totem animal is the Red Fox, but I am also obsessed with dragons, phoenix, griffons & unicorns/pegasi. Stray animals seem to like me as well.

My other spirit guardian, who spends much time in my life, is a Dragon. He's quite large and likes to change his color & size often, but mostly he's black or dark green.

[Lai]

:lol:

Well, my Spirit Guide does not really have a solid form or gender, and tends to switch for it's own reasons. Right now she appears to me as a gray cat.

[AmbivalentMirage]

I have two. The ocelot and the raven. Ravens come to me to deliver messages.

[SylverStar]

:lol: that little comic is so cute

[Mistiblue]

My spirit animal guides tend to change with the circumstances of my life. I know that two years ago it was a Coyote. I saw him in Spirit form that looked as solid as my house. He was standing in front of my front door pointing East and stareing straight ahead. I blinked and he disappeared. He was a Beautiful and Awesome sight. http://www.mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/teleport.gif

[Hope]

cougar

and have been honored on several occasions with seeing them in the wild :)

an advantage of living in ID

love
hope

[PhoenixFire]

cougar

and have been honored on several occasions with seeing them in the wild :)

an advantage of living in ID

love
hope

I lived in Idaho for 10 years, never saw one outside of the zoo. Im in eastern Oregon now, still haven't seen any.

[Hope]

LOL where did you live ??

I am in Boise and we see them every year up above Idaho city where we snowmobile and cross country ski

I even saw one last time I came thru WY the back way into eastern ID palying in the water up near that ski hill (don't recall the name of it)

This year they were down near the bus stops out by homedale too!
And last fall we were camping up by mcall and one was "screaming" on the other side of the lake.

love
hope

[Pan]

My spirit animals tend to come and go. Altogether I have had but don't necessarily still have:

Red fox (it was a pair. brother and sister)
Red wolf
Grey wolf
Willow tree (okay, not an animal)
Some sort of large bird (never found out)
Grey fox
Snowy owl
White stag

Physically ... I don't know. But I do have a cat familiar.

[PhoenixFire]

LOL where did you live ??

Eastern Boise, in Spring Meadow 1. by Riverside Elem. school.

I here about sightings now and then, & i've seen tracks, but thats as close as i've gotten to the wild ones.

Out here you dont see much of anything aside from cows, horses, cats, dogs and feilds. Saw a few coyotes though, and a bld. eagle or two. Lots of deer and hawks, a few badgers, red fox, gophers, snakes, vultures, raccoons, rabbits, other birds n rodents. :D

[StarFox]

Snow Leopards, Red Foxes, Ravens, Falcons, White Tigers, Timber and Arctic Wolves, Polar Bears and Orca Whales.

Those are all the one I can remember that have come to me off and on.

The snow leopard, red fox and raven are the only ones who have remained constant so far.

[Ben Trismegistus]

I've got one cynical, pain-in-the-ass tiger who doesn't like to answer questions directly.

[DianaStormDancer]

My spirit animal that walks with me daily as my guide and conduit in the spirit realm is a cougar. When I work rituals or high rites my Dragon, Rayne walks with me. He is ancient and most beautiful, and his presence and power bring me peace.

[Selket]

I went on a Shamanic Journey just the other day to find mine. I came back with Snake. My Shaman (who also happens to be my Grandfather) said he's never known anyone to come back from the lower world with a snake. YayGoMe!

[witchsmacked]

When I was a child, about seven, I peeked out out front door and saw a white owl perched on our mailbox. I called to my mom and told her that there was a big bird outside. She asked what I wanted her to do about it. lol. So, being the curious child I am, I walked outside, and down the sidewalk. I kept expecting it to fly away, or screech or something, but it didn't. It hooted. I hooted back, walking slowly towards it. I got almost a foot from it and my mom opened the front door, and called me to leave it alone. It flew off, but perched up on the telephone pole across the street. Later that night, I heard something outside my window. When I peeked outside, it was sitting in the little magnolia tree in front of my window. I've seen them through out my life in various places.

When I was about twelve, we lived in a house at the end of a farm road, and while waiting for the bus, a wolf came up the road, stopped just beyond the fence, and gazed at me. It gave a sort of bark/grunt type noise, then ran off. I've seen wolves much more often.

When I dream, I often have a black wolf with gold eyes, or a white owl. Lately, my wolf friend has been frequenting my REM cycle.

I think I'm very "canine" because I seem to attract dogs, as well. A friend of mine in high school had pit bulls, and her dad always warned me that the male one was vicious. One day, he got loose of his chain, and he told me not to move. I simply spoke to him in a calm voice, let him approach and smell me, and just let him accept me. Once he was nosing my hand, I carefully rubbed his head, and scratched his ears, and he was wagging his tail and happy. From that day, I could walk right up to him and he'd never growl and his bark was always happy.

Snakes also like to seek me out, which freaks out my mother, but I've often picked up king snakes and garden snakes in our yard, with what seemed like no protest from the serpents.

I've always had an animal affinity, though. Horses that bite everyone else, cats that don't go to anyone, birds that nip...all seem to think I'm okay. :farmerjoe

[Pip_Sensei]

I have a lynx spirit guide I belive.

[Blueowl]

Mine ould be a black cat, the Owl, Hawk...just to name a few that have come into my dreams, Hawks I see all the time in the wild, although not so many as of lately....My spirit guide tends to shift also....

[Oscen Occultus]

You're a tiger? o.O


...hehehe *runs away before Ben gets him* j/k, of course

[sianand_flidais]

when I was a child there was a raven that lived out the back of my house that used to come to my window and eat bits of bread and stuff tha tI used to leave out for it. Eventually it even let me hand feed it. Always felt an affinity for ravens since then. Other animals I am drawn to are horses, barn owls, cats, foxes and most especially rats (but that's coz I had some for a while and they were adorable). When I meditate I am often visited by a white mare or a black pantha, and on the odd occasion a raven. I find that in general I just get on with animals, you know cats just follow me around, when I came across a fox cub stuck in a bramble bush, the vixen just watched me while I freed it, although she didn't like me hanging around too long afterwards. And when our house had a mouse I made friends with it. It used to come out and play whenever I was there... Was quite sad when my aunt and uncle finally managed to get rid of it... Most pagans I know are pretty well like by animal kind, so I guess that isn't that unusual...

[Wind_Rider]

I would say my totem is Dragonfly but I have a great affinity for all animals and I do carry on with many.
Most of the time I try to read what they are trying to tell me, say a Owl pops into my life, and then a squirrel, etc...

[BlueFlame]

:lol: that little comic is so cute

I almost forgot to add a link! http://ohmygods.timerift.net/ It's a 7 day a week Pagan comic with color strips on the weekends too. You can read the entire 350+ strip archive from that link.

Stan (my avatar) is the main character along with Vera (my fave) and the strip deals with everyday events, wacky fundies and fluffies, and of course lots of Pagan jokes.

{/promotion}

[Rae ShadowWolf]

Stupid Newbie question, but how do you find your spirit animal?

[BlueFlame]

Personaly, I don't think one needs to go out to find their sprit, or power animal. You probably already know what it is, but don't realize it, or the animal will make itself known to you.

However there are 100s of rituals to "find" your spirit animal out there on the net if you're the impatent type :D .

[athena422]

I've always had a love for wolves. I don't know if the wolf might be one of my spirit animals (as there are three animals I'm drawn to). But I love looking at paintings of a lone wolf sitting on a cliff and howling up at the full moon. To me, the wolf represents someone on a path separate from others, yet still able to come together with its own kind when help is needed. There's such an inner strength and beauty that I see in wolves. I'm also very fond of hawks and owls. In dreams, I've had the help of all three animals. In one dream, I was even a protector of an owl.

[Aidron]

Rayne, there are many ways to discover your totem/power animal. Some people scry for it. Others use some other form of divination.

Meditative states/vision questing is another.

Then of course there is simply realizing which animal you are 'drawn' to, though this method can often be the cause of an animal you currently need to work with most, or a simple message.


Mine happens to be the raven (cliche, I know). The panther, butterfly, flying creatures of all kind (especially birds), and vairous animals who are native to cold climates (snow tigers, snow foxes, etc.) are all close seconds.

[Rain Gnosis]

Stupid Newbie question, but how do you find your spirit animal?

A spirit animal is one that helps you deal with stuff and get through life - you might choose one you like or it might choose you by showing up in meditations, dreams, tarot card readings, and so on. For instance, I knew the lion was mine for awhile because lions kept turning up in dreams and tarot readings and I kept being drawn to pictures of them and learning about them. It turns out I was even to work with a Goddess with the head of a lion! (Sekhmet) As someone said, if you search online you'll find meditations to help you find one. You'll also want to read about different animals and learn, and by doing so you will open your mind to one.

And that wasn't a stupid question at all.

[CanisFirebrand]

I haven't done any of the methods to find mine. In fact, I'm not sure that I'd want to for fear that my revealed totem animal would be different then the one I feel it is and the one I'd want it to be.

From early on, I've always been drawn to wolves, specifically the timber wolf. I always felt a kinship to them, though I have never had the pleasure of seeing a wolf in person.

[Aidron]

I haven't done any of the methods to find mine. In fact, I'm not sure that I'd want to for fear that my revealed totem animal would be different then the one I feel it is and the one I'd want it to be.

From early on, I've always been drawn to wolves, specifically the timber wolf. I always felt a kinship to them, though I have never had the pleasure of seeing a wolf in person.


Do not let fear drive you. The wolf could be an animal you have a strong affinity for, and like many believe, you could have numerous power/totem animals.

Never let fear keep you from discovering the truth. I believe, in this case, the wolf is a sacred animal to you because you are drawn to it. Now, if you perform an act of scrying and discovered the spider is also a power/totem animal, you could very well look at it as the wolf is a power/totem animal of yours, but so much so that you simply 'knew' it was. The spider on the other hand took more work to discover, perhaps that is because your own energy pattern (spirit, soul, conciousness, etc.) doesn't vibrate as close to the spider as the wolf's. :)


Interesting thought: I'd like to for once hear someone claim the pig or a cow is their power/totem animal. When I first scryed for mine and it revealed the raven, I was a bit disappointed. I thought "Oh great, I'm just another pagan claiming the raven is my sacred animal." I was all ready before hand to see a pig, or a cow, or a beetle. Something unique, but that was years ago, before I realize that individuality comes from your very being, not what your totem/power animal is. Still, anyone have the pig as their totem/power animal? ;)

[Aidron]

A spirit animal is one that helps you deal with stuff and get through life - you might choose one you like or it might choose you by showing up in meditations, dreams, tarot card readings, and so on. For instance, I knew the lion was mine for awhile because lions kept turning up in dreams and tarot readings and I kept being drawn to pictures of them and learning about them. It turns out I was even to work with a Goddess with the head of a lion! (Sekhmet) As someone said, if you search online you'll find meditations to help you find one. You'll also want to read about different animals and learn, and by doing so you will open your mind to one.

And that wasn't a stupid question at all.


Rain is correct, there are as many techniques available to discover your power/totem animal, a spirit guide, your guardian angel, etc. as there are practioners of magick. Go with one that feels right, or even design your own! It could be nothing more than entering alpha and visualizing yourself walking somewhere in nature you feel at peace, such as an untamed forest, a mountain side, the beach, in the snowy landscape (my preference), or even on the very clouds themselves (I had great fun with this one).

After you discover your power/totem animal, research it. Discover about its way of life. Is it a carnivore, herbavore, or like the raven, an omnivore? What are some characteristics it presents? For example the raven is thought to be a very intelligent and resouceful animal. In one study it discovered a way to get food (I'll spare you the details) all on its own without having to be told or taught. It's also an animal closely related to mischief, much like a coyote. After you have done a bit of scientific research, and you have money to spare, try visiting a zoo (this is the only place where most people can view wild animals of their specific desire) to commune with the animal.

Here is a brief format for discovering your power/totem animal I fount very useful.

For about a month enter a meditative state, and visualize yourself in your chosen landscape where you fill safe and content. Walk around, and wait for the animal to reveal itself. After it has, converse with it, get to know the animal inside out.

After you have learned about it and (hopefully) befriended it, begin walking around the landscape with it, interacting in numerous ways beyond conversation.

After all this, begin working with it. I would really not skip steps 1 and 2 because you should attune yourself before you work with anything. Hope this helps you.

[Fairywolf]

Mine is the wolf and cougar. I used to have a snake but I haven't seen it for a while.

[Lunacie]

I've always loved snakes, didn't think about a snake being one of my guides/totems. May need to check into that one. I've always been fascinated by butterflies too. I know they represent transformation and they have always been close by when I really needed to make a major change in my life. And then there's Owl. If s/he has a name I haven't been told... yet. Owls have to do with being psychic and seeing things that are hidden. One time a huge owl was sitting on a dark country hiway as my daughter and I were driving home. Suddenly it was there in my headlights, and slowly, majestically it rose up into the air. We looked at each other and I said, "Ok, that was a message. I think he was saying to watch out for something in the dark." Exactly one week later to the minute a huge tornado tore through the small town where my daughter and her family were living, just missing their house which took some damage but wasn't destroyed. My daughter and her family were safely in the basement because we had listened to the warning from my friend the Owl. That one still gives me goosebumps.

[Capt Wicked]

Not that I have seen them all that often, maybe once or twice in the 50 odd years that I've been hanging around. But I'll tell ya, they've been haunting my dreams since I was a child.
Over the years I'm come to see that whenever an owl makes itself known, it's a signal to become aware of things in my waking life. It's like a warning sign. Not always bad things, but something was going to happen in some way that would be important to me. It's always been pretty accurate over the years.

Of course, maybe my spirit animal could be a hawk too, since one almost came through the bay window after I stupidly hung a large piece of suet from it last winter. After my heart rate returned to normal, I went running for my digital camera and got some pictures of it 'killing' the suet in the driveway. Naw, probably not a hawk, that puppy liked to give me a heart attack.

[Lunacie]

Oh yeah, I forgot about unusual spirit guides/totem animals. My daughter has a camel. How's that? Of course she had a dolphin first. And gargoyles too, just like her mom.

[Aidron]

Oh yeah, I forgot about unusual spirit guides/totem animals. My daughter has a camel. How's that? Of course she had a dolphin first. And gargoyles too, just like her mom.


:lol: A camel. I love it! :smile:

[banondraig]

dragons, cats, ravens, standard pagan issue.