Most people have a favorite animal, whether it’s a specific household pet or a whole species. This isn’t surprising, as humans have lived side by side with animals for thousands of years, so it’s only natural to feel this connection. Many cultures, both past and present, revered animals as spiritual messengers, and looked to them for wisdom and strength.
At Whisperingtree.net, we want to keep these traditions alive, and we offer a variety of animal totems in the forms of decor pieces, musical instruments, jewelry, and more. If you are looking for a way to honor and deepen your connection with your animal guide, we encourage you to check out our selection. In this article, we’ll provide a brief introduction to this concept for those who are new to the idea of animal totems.
What are Animal Totems?
Although the specific beliefs surrounding animal totems vary from culture to culture, in general they all share the core idea that the totem is a guide or messenger spirit that appears in the form of an animal and forms a relationship with an individual. The animal totem appears to you in order to provide guidance, lessons, support, and even protection.
How Do I Know What my Animal Totem Is?
Animal totemscan appear to us in many ways. For example, if you find yourself frequently encountering a certain animal or kind of animal in real life, especially if that animal is rare for your area or the time of year, then the animal spirit might have something to tell you. You may also find yourself dreaming about your totem, or having it show up in your meditations. Note that sometimes a spirit animal will appear because it has a message for you, but your totem animal will not only appear-- it will typically make itself known to you as your animal totem in a more powerful way. Also, if you’re not sure, ask it! :D
How Do I Connect to my Animal Totem?
Once people get an idea of what their animal totems are, the next step is often to try to consciously deepen that connection in order to draw more fully on the wisdom their spirit guide can offer. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most effective is to incorporate visual representations of your totem into your home in order to serve as a focus for your spiritual efforts.