Narrowing down animal spirit...

[Antoninus]

How do you find what your spirit animal is? I read a book on it and now Im even more lost than before, I tried meditating but my mind is prone to suggesting things to itself.

Any ideas?

[djmixon]

Here are a couple of websites with different takes on how to determine your totem

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/myden/totem.html
http://groups.msn.com/Mysticeyes/birthtotems.msnw
http://www.astralsociety.com/Forums/index.php?topic=141.0
http://www.animaltotem.com/find-your-totem.html

http://web.ask.com/web?q=Animal+Totem&o=0&qsrc=0

Hope this helps. . .

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

wow... thanks hun, that's really interesting. BTW have you got your gift yet? All i'm getting from tracking now is that it is in America. Not where, or even if it's been delivered.

[HorseCrow]

I don't believe a spirit/power/totem animal is something you can just pick from a chart or based on what animal you find cute or beautiful.
A spirit/power/totem animal choses you, not the other way round.

And to me, the best encounter is through meditation/journey with drums or music- something fairly monotonous, to keep you going and not distracting you. It may take a few tries before it works- but it works.
The specific meditation/journey that has worked for me several times is as follows:

The room you use must be quite dark and without interruptions (disconnect the phone, lock the door, hang a "please do not disturb" sign or whatever does the trick).
Lie on a bed (or sit in a chair)- you are to be very comfortable, supported by pillows or blankets, so that you do not tense up. Have a blanket over you as well, you must be nice and warm.

Now turn on the meditative music (not too loud) and relax, deep breathing for a couple of minutes.

Then, think of a place in nature, where there are some large rocks or thick bush (an actaul place that you have been to and know well), and imagine yourself at the spot. Stand there for a few seconds, seeing all the detail of the place.
Now you see that among the large rocks/bush/whatever, there is a door.
You walk to the door and open it. It leads to a long, dark tunnel leading downwards.
You walk down the tunnel, into the earth.
After a few minutes of walking, the tunnel opens up to a landscape. Look at the landscape, smell the air, listen to the sounds.
There is a narrow path leading into this landscape and you start walking along it.
As you walk, animals start coming up to you or you see them beside the path, going about their bussiness- let them greet you, greet them back. They come and go.
At some point an animal will come to you and present it self and you will know when it does, because it will feel completely different from the other animals, maybe even a bit of a surprise.
Listen to what it has to say, talk to it, then thank it for coming.

Turn around, go back the path through the landscape, into the long, dark tunnel now leading upwards and out the door into the place that you know.
Breathe deeply and return to your room.

You may have to take this trip many times before you meet your animal. Doubtlessly, the first couple of times you will meet animals that you wished were yours, but you'll know that it is wishful thinking and that you put them there on the path.
Then suddenly one day, an animal you have not put there will appear- and it might not be the animal you hoped for, but it will be your animal and it will have wisdom for you.

This is how I met two of my three power animals, and both of them surprised me. They are both animals I had never thought of, or had any interrest in, but now they are so much a part of my life that I can not remember how life was before they came.

[Felidae_Panthera]

I was wondering if anyone know or can help me narrow down what my animal spirit guide is. I have already done meditations and the such and I know, if there is an animal spirit for me it is the cat. It has been with me since birth- when I was born my father gave me a stuffed Kitty as my first gift- I think it was the first thing I saw (animal wise) and all through out my life I have had pet cats- Even now I have 4. The only problem is I am not sure what cat it is (species wise) weather is be a Tiger, Jaguar or Lion etc... I'm not sure either, that is would have to be that specific, could I just have cats in general as the guide? I'm sure this is a lame question (sorry)...but does anyone know who to narrow it down when I love them all? Or if cats in general are okay? Thanx :)

Felidae-Panthera

[Rowan MoonDragon]

its not a lame quesiton at all. I actually used to think that the wolf was my spirit guide. its actually a bear. I did a shamanci journey meditation and found out that way. you end up meeting your guide. its actually quite wonderful.

[ShinningStar_13]

I've tried these meditation too, and I don't know what it is about me, but they're always fuzzy. I can never seem to see clearly, and when I can I think it's my own imagination trying to create something to keep happy. I think I need some help, too. Maybe I am doing something wrong, or just need to try harder?

[Nighthawk]

You probably need to try less hard... You see, in most cases... the animal comes when you need it, rather than when you want it...if you are walking the Shaman path.. or some of the others, I imagine..I can only speak for mine.... But, they come when you least expect it, like love or $$. I would think have a good meal and do whatever, get your shower or whatever before bed, and relax and rest..read some.... relax... think of being outside, perhaps in the woods. It may take several tries, or a year from now one may appear..