Spirit Animals/Guides...why?

[Sommerfugl]

Hey, I wasn't sure whether this was the correct place to post this but....

I was just wondering what all you guys think...why do we have spirit guides? I'm not entirely decided yet although I'm sure the obvious answer would be to guide us (duh) on our path through life....but surely that can't be all there is to it...?

Any thoughts would be appreciated :)

Jezxx

[SylverStar]

Yes they are there to guide us, give us insight into ourselves, companinship, protection, and for clarity. And probably some other reason I can't think of.

[Aidron]

Well, a 'guide' as the word implies is there to offer insight and guidance in times where it is needed. Now, this may not be a time when you feel 'you' need it', as there are things we must learn to get through on our own in this life in which all guides will temporarily vanish so that we can learn the lesson entirely on our own.

Guides can be temporary or permanent. Totem animals, for example, are not guides, they are permanent representations of the collective animal's spirit that we are attuned to. Guides can come in any form-dragon, animal, angel, faery, an ancestor.

[the_ancient_one]

Dear Jezebel: I am a shaman. I feel I can answer your question. I never chose to be a shaman or at a point in my life did I decide to become one. I was born one. I knew I was different, and that I had very specific gifts, and after researching for about 20 years, I realized that the technical name given to people like me is a 'shaman' or 'walks between 2 worlds'. You do not pick totem animals at random. That is disrespectful. Rather, you respectfully ask for your corresponding totem animal to be revealed to you. Also you never disdain your totem animal. In other words, if you are a fawn, do not disdain it wishing to be the powerful 'black leopard'. Also, they may not reveal themselves to you until it is the proper time. My first totem animal made its appearance when I was 16 years old, my second one when I was 27, my third, fourth and fifth when I was 33, and recently 2 more made their appearance. I must also say that it is uncommon for someone to have so many. I am 1/4 american-indian. Another matter which I would like to address, is the interpretation of totem animals. I was reading in a thread that the crow has different meanings with celts and with american-indians. Let me just say that the crow is the crow. No man-made practice will define the essence of the crow. Respect the crow and do not adhere to what man has to say about it. Study it, study its behaviour, via 'animal planet' tapes, or in nature, alone, just you nature and the crow and let the animal reveal itself to you. This may take days, weeks, several trips. Even a lifetime. The most important thing is that you do not pick and choose totem animals as you pick and choose a pantheon. Hope this helps.

[dragenfly]

I was taught through my families (native american) beliefs that Totems are spirit guides that can protect you and guide you the only difference is they are animals. I have a black jaguar and angel guide. It all depends on your beliefs in the matter and how you interpret the guides that reveal themselves to you when the time calls for it. They are all loving spirits trying to guide us through our journeys. Whether Angels, Animals, Loved Ones past, Faery Folk etc...