Totems

Totems embody our innate strengths, gifts, purpose and where our personal power might lay. The power of the animal is shared, affording us greater understanding of the world around us. We are able to perceive life through the eyes of the animal. We are able to interact with the Earth on a deeper level. Our senses are heightened; our relationships enhanced and spiritual awareness is more easily integrated into our physical lives. Totems offer integrity to our knowing while representing the qualities that govern and determine all manifestations in our lives. They guide us through the pathways of life and help us to choose wisely. Their wisdom, secret knowledge, gifts and messages (their medicine) are reflected through our attitudes and behaviour.

Totem animals are essentially spiritual allies. We do not choose our totems, but rather, they choose us. They offer confirmation when needed, support when invoked and choice when obstacles appear. A totem is anything of Nature with which we feel a strong bond. Not everyone notices their animal totem, but they may feel a pull toward the mineral kingdom or the world of plants instead. Over the years I have discovered a vibrational strand that runs between all things of Nature; a 'sameness' or relationship that links us all energetically. An individual may not feel compelled to investigate the animal kingdom, for example, but they may recognise a strong link to the rose quartz. By feeling the bond with the rose quartz, the individual has subconsciously acknowledged and welcomed the energies of the stone's 'animal cousin', the dog, into their life (be it only on a vibrational level). Everything is linked. With every animal, there is a corresponding plant, stone, tree, deity, colour, and the list goes on. Even Angels have corresponding animal energies, or 'ambassadorial counterparts' that radiate their inspirational wisdom. So, yes, everyone has at least one animal totem, even if they are not aware of them, are not 'animal people' or are people who 'dislike' animals.

Animals that we fear can be seen as our Shadow Totems. Shadow Totems are equally as important and as valuable a teacher as one's totem animal. They represent those aspects of our psyche that we choose to ignore - our fears, our secrets and dark thoughts. They characterize our personal boundaries, our self-imposed limitations and those parts of ourselves that rejects spontaneity, risk taking and the development of self-esteem. Shadow Totems represent our dark side - the shadow aspect of our soul that we tend to ignore or suppress due to the connotations that they represent and the responsibilities that they force upon us. They make us to look at ourselves, to stand before our weaknesses and our frailties and to honour them as lessons and as stepping-stones to power.