We all have an animal spirit guide. They emerge in our consciousness when the time is right and give us a gentle reminder that we are connected to their divine energy and that we can invoke them to reach our highest and best life. More importantly, these creatures become teachers, guides, and advisors when we need them most. In this article I will explain animal spirit guides and what they mean.
Power animals carry meaning, wisdom and power. Finding out what your spirit animal or totem means is like going on a journey. Meanings are revealed as you deepen your personal connection with them.
The spirit animal idea is actually one of the oldest traditions on the planet. From the time when we were still hunters and gatherers. They are also often viewed as spiritual guides.
As you may now know, spiritual guides can present themselves to us as we would like to see them, and some connect to theirs through the face of one or more familiar animals.
Perhaps a particular animal keeps popping up in dreams, TV shows, commercials, conversations, etc. This is your spirit animal.
Effectively, a spirit animal represents traits or skills that you currently have, that you hope to develop, or that you should be working towards
This article explains what spirit animals are, what they mean, and how they can help you. But let’s first take a look at the history of the spirit animals.
THE HISTORY OF THE SPIRIT ANIMALS
The basic Spirit Animals belief system of today – also called animism – was traced back hundreds of thousands of years ago. Some even believe that it is our first step towards religion as a species.
The old concept of animal guides, which is particularly prominent in some indigenous, especially Native American religions and cultures, was adopted into pagan and Wiccan spirituality in the 1990s. In these contexts, spirit animals are meant literally and refer to spiritual guides or totems that take the form of animals
The name animism is derived from the Latin word “animus”, which can best be described as “the spirit”. Those who followed animism saw the world as a unit in which man and animal flow within the same spirit or soul.
This is very similar to today’s concept of God in many religions. An omnipotent being who rules in all things
A power animal is characterized as a teacher or messenger who comes in the form of an animal and is connected to an individual through a personal relationship.
Spirit animals are also called animal helpers, spirit helpers, spirit allies, power animals or animal guides.
The reason our world is full of spiritual guides is to protect and support us on our individual paths and journeys. As we work towards our purpose in life, they emerge in full force for us to help fulfill the purpose that has been assigned to us.
Refer to the spirit animals below, and pay special attention to any animals you may have encountered recently. Their meanings can help determine their purpose in crossing your path.
Spirit animals
The butterfly
When a butterfly enters your life, it is considered one of the most symbolic signs of transformation and profound change. Perhaps you move through different life cycles, literally changing inside out.
Death and rebirth are present here – maybe something in your old self is dying for a newer version of you to present itself. Butterflies also carry the message of “being light” and floating above earthly things.
The bear
The bear is an animal that leads a lonely life. Having a bear as a spirit animal can mean finding balance and comfort in solitude. The presence of this spirit animal could indicate the need to “regroup” and set boundaries so that you are comfortable in your own space. It can be a call to find time away from the crowds or the hustle and bustle and prefer peace and relaxation. The bear spirit can also be a great helper for devoting time and energy to more introspective practices such as self-exploration or meditation. Call on the spirit of the bear to find your center and lean on a strong foundation to support you in hectic and noisy times.
The Eagle
Eagles are signals that have time to reconnect with your spiritual path. They are here to remind us to listen to our hearts and not rely on our minds so much. If an eagle is your personal totem animal, it means you have lightness in you but need to stay grounded.
Eagles represent light, spirit and healing – heal yourself so that you can connect me deeply with your spiritual journey. This spirit animal carries knowledge of magic and gifts from above.
The owl
The owl is one of the rarer power animals. If you happen to come across an owl, it is a true sign of the universe. The owl as a spiritual guide who represents wisdom, deep connection and intuitive knowledge.
By the time this guide comes to you, you may find yourself at a time in your life when you are exploring the unknown – maybe just transitioning or embarking on a journey.
The owl has the ability to see beyond delusion. The owl has intuition and can see what others normally cannot. When the spirit of this animal is present to you, you can see beyond the illusions created by our spirit.
The Hawk
When you have the hawk as a spirit animal you may have a natural tendency to receive visions, either in dreams or while awake. Your additional sensory skills and intuition will be aided by the power of this animal. The falcon totem is strongly associated with the spiritual realms. When it shows up in your life, you may be asked to pay attention and experience rapid spiritual development. As you develop your relationship with your totem, you may be inspired to feel your connection with the spirit more fully
The Fox
The fox as a spirit guide offers good teachings for overcoming obstacles rather than confronting them directly. You might find yourself renewing yourself or being smarter in dealing with areas of resistance in your life or projects. If you have the fox as a spirit animal, you may be guided to learn from the lessons in a way that feels like you are being challenged or even tricked at times. To get the most of the wisdom of the fox totem, keep a strong sense of humor and be wise in the lessons you learn.
The power of the fox is a great support to develop your ability to come up with the sharpest, smartest solution to any problem. Call the fox guide if you feel lost and need help finding your way.
The snake
The snake represents the essential life force that strives for union and creation and is therefore a symbol of fertility. In nature, fertility is the creative principle associated with the feminine. When we use the energies of the snake archetype, we invoke the feminine creative principle that can rekindle our passion and help us put the past aside like a snake sheds its skin
This is how you connect with your power animal
Oracle cards
One of the fastest ways to bond with your spirit animal is by using an animal oracle deck. Connect to the deck and draw a card (or a few cards) to represent what serves you. You can refer to the reference book that came with the deck, but I would also recommend recording how you feel about this card. Use your intuition to find the meaning. Meditate on the map and see what messages come to you from the invisible realm.
If you are drawing an animal that makes you feel uncomfortable, or provokes a phobia, or a sense of dislike, then that animal can represent your dark side. This could symbolize something in the animal’s character that you are avoiding in your life. Take this as an opportunity to tune into what needs healing in your life. Remember, when this animal shows up for you, it is there to be seen and that is because you are ready. Even if you think it’s not you
Meditate with your animal
Travel with a guided meditation to connect with your power animal. Ground yourself and when you have bonded with your animal, imagine the animal’s energy merging with yours. Feel how you integrate his power and wisdom. Establish the intention to embody the empowerment of the beast for the day ahead. Working with animals is very grounding so your energy is now protected by the animal as it serves you.
Hope you enjoyed this introduction to the spirit animals. What is your spirit animal? In my next article, I’ll be discussing Spiritm animals by date of birth.
Much love
Crystal weaving