Do you have a spirit animal/totem?

[yeghor]

I am not talking about any religion or philosophy per say, just something that many people pick up naturally as they go through life. We sometimes find an animal that we resonate with, and admire character traits associated with it that we wish we had in ourselves...or already do.

For example, the wolf is an extremely popular totem people relate to. When I was observing the Therianthropy community many years back. The wolf dominated the the community as the animal most people saw themselves as. Followed by the Fox, Tiger, and Birds of prey.

I've often wondered why people do this peculiar thing. I think humans seek to reattach to nature as we are often trapped in our artificial surroundings, out of touch with our natural selves, and in unhealthy environments. A desire to return to simplicity and escape our overthinking and overcomplicating humanity. Or perhaps its just cool, like astrology.

So if you have any creature you relate to, please share what it is and why you relate to it.

My own personal contribution is the Dragon. Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by them. I realized over time, the dragon resonated with me because of what it reflects of human nature. Its the manifestation of fear, anger, power etc. Since I repress my negative emotions, the dragon became the symbol of my negative emotions. When I pictured myself restraining them, I'd always picture a dragon locked in a very heavy duty cage. Or when I am angry, I think of a dragon fighting. This resonance even appears in my dreams, as dragons often times represent the forces of nature like lightning in my dreams. Or they are demonic and represent my inner darkness manifesting to my awareness.

Did not want to create a new thread about this.

I was identifying with the weasel before but a friend of mine told me that I was not aggressive enough to be a weasel.

Later on, I read some spirit animal descriptions on this site and concluded that the Wombat description fits me, in terms of demeanor and living habits.

There's a through list of spirit animal descriptions that can be sifted thru here.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

Cat. Bursts of energy/creativity balanced with periods of relaxation/energy conservation. Prefer solitude but want to be appreciated and fawned over. You can appreciate or want me but don’t touch me unless I invite touch

Spider. Solitary, slightly agoraphobic. Cautiously exploring

Eagle owl. Observing. Keep to self

 

[yeghor]

Cat. Bursts of energy/creativity balanced with periods of relaxation/energy conservation. Prefer solitude but want to be appreciated and fawned over. You can appreciate or want me but don’t touch me unless I invite touch

Spider. Solitary, slightly agoraphobic. Cautiously exploring

Eagle owl. Observing. Keep to self

How about this one?

Animal Energy - Lynx

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

How about this one?

Animal Energy - Lynx

I like it. Especially this part: "They are not to be commanded, at our beck and call"

 

[Kanra Jest]

Always felt connected to them ~

 

[yeghor]

Always felt connected to them ~

Is this a good fit?

Animal Energy - Raven

Animal Energy - Crow

 

[Mole]

In "Totem and Taboo" click https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/files/Totem_and_Taboo.pdf, we learn of animal totems in tribal religion.

We no longer live in traditional tribes and our animal totem is our dog or cat.

And our taboo is knowing our biological relation with our animal totem.

And in fact we are the hosts to our totemic parasites.

 

[yeghor]

In "Totem and Taboo" click oPage not found | Saint Mary's College we learn of animal totems in tribal religion.

We no longer live in traditional tribes and our animal totem is our dog or cat.

And our taboo is knowing our biological relation with our animal totem.

And in fact we are the hosts to our totemic parasites.

So do you think Mole or the Badger is more fitting as your totem animal?

Animal Energy - Marsupial Mole

Animal Energy - European Badger

 

[yeghor]

In "Totem and Taboo" click oPage not found | Saint Mary's College we learn of animal totems in tribal religion.

We no longer live in traditional tribes and our animal totem is our dog or cat.

And our taboo is knowing our biological relation with our animal totem.

And in fact we are the hosts to our totemic parasites.

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/files/Totem_and_Taboo.pdf

View attachment 23025

 

[Mole]

So do you think Mole or the Badger is more fitting as your totem animal? Animal Energy - Marsupial Mole Animal Energy - European Badger

What a good question!

When I show up ever second morning for dialysis, I am greeted by, "Good morning Mole", by my nurse, Ming. Then it is Ming and Mole all morning.

So I have become my totem. I am Mole.

 

[Mole]

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/files/Totem_and_Taboo.pdf View attachment 23025

Thank you for this.

 

[yeghor]

What a good question!

When I show up ever second morning for dialysis, I am greeted by, "Good morning Mole", by my nurse, Ming. Then it is Ming and Mole all morning.

So I have become my totem. I am Mole.

"The marsupial mole teaches us how to embrace faith. As one of the few mammals that has evolved in the direction of giving away sight, and one of the fewer that spends its life swimming through the sands blindly, in order to find nourishment, it teaches us that sometimes faith is more important than what we can see and validate.

Marsupial mole teaches us very literally about how not knowing the future, and having faith that all will turn out okay, is sometimes the best path we can take in our lives."

 

[Kanra Jest]

Is this a good fit?

Animal Energy - Raven

Animal Energy - Crow

Seems the raven and crow are very little difference. In any case, this is spot on. Extremely. I tend to be fairly complex and odd to most people and it's hard to explain or understand it feels like and what I'm drawn to, but this helps a lot. Fascinating how spot on it resonates. Thank you ~

 

[Mole]

"The marsupial mole teaches us how to embrace faith. As one of the few mammals that has evolved in the direction of giving away sight, and one of the fewer that spends its life swimming through the sands blindly, in order to find nourishment, it teaches us that sometimes faith is more important than what we can see and validate. Marsupial mole teaches us very literally about how not knowing the future, and having faith that all will turn out okay, is sometimes the best path we can take in our lives."

How true!

This Marsupial Mole has a daily spiritual practice called The Cloud of Unknowing.

I never know what I will discover, but I follow my nose, and keep looking.

 

[Morpeko]

I've had two in my life. I consider myself a hybrid of both.

Yes, the wolf is one of mine, even if it's a common one. The story of the good wolf and the bad wolf, and which one you feed, really just speaks to me on multiple levels. There's a lot of meaningful symbolism in this animal to me (my yin/yang wolf necklace being one of them). Wolves seem to symbolize loyalty, protection, and nobility, all of which I relate to and try to have in my life.

The owl is my other "totem." Quiet, mysterious, alone, and thoughtful. I have had a willingness to learn all my life, both in terms of practical and abstract knowledge, as best as I can. Maybe I am not quite wise yet, but mental transformation is indeed important to me. Also, they are such beautiful creatures.

 

[RadicalDoubt]

I've always been attracted to crabs and other shelled creatures. One of the one's I've tended to connect to has been the horseshoe crab. It's sort of vaguely out of place and when you come across them, almost ignoring that you're there, but persevering.

In terms of land and sky animals, I did a "spirit quest" sort of thing when I was younger and apparently connected with a white wolf. I guess in recent years I have also be fairly connected with herons. I can partially relate to the totem description, in that I do lead a very experimental life and tend to be pretty disconnected from the material.

People with Heron totem love to explore various activities and dimensions of life on Earth. On the surface, this may seem like a form of dabbling, but similar to the Fox totem, they are wonderfully successful at being a traditional ‘Jack of all trades.’

Moreover, this ability enables them to follow their path. Most people will never quite understand the way that they live. On the surface, their lifestyle seems to be unstructured and without stability or security to it. It is, though, just a matter of perspective. There is security underneath it all, for it gives them the ability to do a variety of tasks. If one way does not work, then another will. Discovering alternatives is something Heron totem people seem to know inherently.

Folks with this spirit animal do not seem to need a lot of people in their life. Nor do they feel pressured to keep up with the material world. These people also never compelled to be traditional in their life roles. They stand out in your uniqueness, and they know how to snatch and take advantage of things and events that the average person would leave untouched.

 

[Muladara]

I am not talking about any religion or philosophy per say, just something that many people pick up naturally as they go through life. We sometimes find an animal that we resonate with, and admire character traits associated with it that we wish we had in ourselves...or already do.

For example, the wolf is an extremely popular totem people relate to. When I was observing the Therianthropy community many years back. The wolf dominated the the community as the animal most people saw themselves as. Followed by the Fox, Tiger, and Birds of prey.

I've often wondered why people do this peculiar thing. I think humans seek to reattach to nature as we are often trapped in our artificial surroundings, out of touch with our natural selves, and in unhealthy environments. A desire to return to simplicity and escape our overthinking and overcomplicating humanity. Or perhaps its just cool, like astrology.

This is something that I have wondered about as well.
My guess was this happens because as people we are always looking for someone/something to identify/relate to, to make sense of who we are/what we are like and what is our place in the world, but I think there is truth to your perspective as well.
When it comes to animals in particular it seems that we anthropomorphize the animals in the sense that we want to embody certain (human) traits that we ourselves attach to the animals and then by identifying/relating with a particular animal we feel we embody those same traits that supposedly the animal has.
Were I’m from the majority seems to identify with wolfs and lions.

So if you have any creature you relate to, please share what it is and why you relate to it.

It’s hard for me to pick a specific animal, since I love animals in general and it’s a bit hard to discern which ones I just like and which ones I can say I actually relate to…but then…I think I had a moment of synchronicity lol
I read your thread, then had to go to the store. On my way there the idea about a spirit animal was on my mind and the only animal I can think of that keeps reappearing in various ways as a symbol for me is the horse, but again I thought maybe I’m wrong and then… I saw a white horse near by…so I guess I got my answer.

My own personal contribution is the Dragon. Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by them. I realized over time, the dragon resonated with me because of what it reflects of human nature. Its the manifestation of fear, anger, power etc. Since I repress my negative emotions, the dragon became the symbol of my negative emotions. When I pictured myself restraining them, I'd always picture a dragon locked in a very heavy duty cage. Or when I am angry, I think of a dragon fighting. This resonance even appears in my dreams, as dragons often times represent the forces of nature like lightning in my dreams. Or they are demonic and represent my inner darkness manifesting to my awareness.

There must be a reason as to why you imagine/dream about them as dragons.
Dragons besides being powerful predators are supposedly guardians of something valuable as well (often depicted as guarding gold) so if you face them rather then repress them you could gain something very valuable.

 

[LightSun]

I am not talking about any religion or philosophy per say, just something that many people pick up naturally as they go through life. We sometimes find an animal that we resonate with, and admire character traits associated with it that we wish we had in ourselves...or already do.

For example, the wolf is an extremely popular totem people relate to. When I was observing the Therianthropy community many years back. The wolf dominated the the community as the animal most people saw themselves as. Followed by the Fox, Tiger, and Birds of prey.

I've often wondered why people do this peculiar thing. I think humans seek to reattach to nature as we are often trapped in our artificial surroundings, out of touch with our natural selves, and in unhealthy environments. A desire to return to simplicity and escape our overthinking and overcomplicating humanity. Or perhaps its just cool, like astrology.

So if you have any creature you relate to, please share what it is and why you relate to it.

My own personal contribution is the Dragon. Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by them. I realized over time, the dragon resonated with me because of what it reflects of human nature. Its the manifestation of fear, anger, power etc. Since I repress my negative emotions, the dragon became the symbol of my negative emotions. When I pictured myself restraining them, I'd always picture a dragon locked in a very heavy duty cage. Or when I am angry, I think of a dragon fighting. This resonance even appears in my dreams, as dragons often times represent the forces of nature like lightning in my dreams. Or they are demonic and represent my inner darkness manifesting to my awareness.

My Native American totems are the horse for freedom and the owl for wisdom.

 

[yeghor]