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How to Find Your Animal Totem

Before you're ready to find out who your totem animal is, you might be curious about what a totem is and why you'd want to know about yours.

Although Indigenous North American spirituality is presently most famous for totem work, the indigenous peoples of all lands once utilized (and many still do) shamanic practices to connect with the Earth around them and with the power of various animals.

By observing the way each animal lived, located food, found mates and protected itself, the shaman was able to learn of the particular strengths and weaknesses of that animal. Bears, for instance, hibernate during the winter, and thus possessed the magick of dreams. They were also formidable foes to those who would hunt them, and thus Bear energy was also about strength and physical power. Mouse, on the other hand, represents scrutiny, because of they way they observe objects up close.

It is interesting, but hardly surprising, that shamen of different cultures and lands, but who shared similar animal species, came up with similar interpretations of those animals.

In dreams and visions, these shamen would connect with the "manitou," of those animals -- the primal spirit energy of that animal type -- cougarness, bearness or deerness, etc. These manitou, could help the shamen learn the particular lesson of that animal species.

It was believed that every person had a particular manitou (sometimes more than one) which they were especially attuned to. This was their personal animal totem. These totems were generally discovered through vision quests, although sometimes the totem made their choice known by more obvious methods. If you survived an attact by a wild animal it was believed that the animal had chosen you and marked you as theirs.

Preparing for the Journey

It is suggested that you tape the following journey or have a friend read it to you, in a steady, quiet tone. (It is desirable that the reader read through the journey beforehand, so that their rendering is as smooth and interrupted as possible.)

For the journey, find a quiet place where you are certain you will be uninterrupted. Disconnect any phones, beepers etc. You may wish to light incense or candles or play soft music in the background. (Tapes which contain animal sounds are not recommended, as they may influence the outcome of the journey.)

It is not necessary to cast circle prior to the journey, but you may if it makes you feel more comfortable.

If you have a familiar trance induction which you utilize, you may wish to subsitite it for the one given here.

It is generally believed that the totem chooses you, not the other way around. The animals which fascinate you may well be your totems, but then again, they might not. The animal which chooses you will be the one you need to work with. One whose strengths and weaknesses you possess, and whose lessons you need to learn.

As you ready yourself for the totem journey, release desires and expectations and open yourself to the adventure. Know that the animal which chooses you will be the right one for you. Open your heart to their love and their lessons.