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by
Aletheia Luna
February 03,
2014
from
LonerWolf Website
It was bizarre and unexplainable:
I kept having
recurring dreams for about a month, where I would walk into an
eerie, foreboding forest at night with a wolf peering at me
through the shrubs.
Its stare seemed
kind, almost motherly, but very intense... somehow I knew that
it was trying to tell me something about the depths of the
forest ahead.
I have since had many
dreams about Wolves and Dogs...
And before I ever knew of
my strong connection with the Canis Lupus species, I
co-founded and named this website lonerwolf:
a creature that to me
embodies the spiritual journey...
Have you ever
experienced any strange synchronicities to do with animals?
Do you keep running
into the same animal over and over again?
Perhaps you've had
repetitive dreams or have undergone a shocking, rare, or weird
situation with an animal you never expected to see.
If you're confused, need clarity, or validation, keep reading...
What is a Spirit Animal? (Definition)
A Spirit Animal is a,
-
teacher
-
messenger
-
omen
-
guide,
...who is there to help
you in some area of your life.
In
shamanic cultures, spirit animals are thought to be,
the literal spirits
of animals that we either inherit, are born with, or adopt
during life.
However, in various
schools of psychology, Spirit Animals are thought to be the
archetypal or symbolic manifestations of the primal
psyche.
Regardless of what
philosophy you subscribe to, Spirit Animals are powerful allies
that connect us with
our Souls and Higher Purpose.
Ancient Origins (Totemism & Animism)
Animals share
with us the privilege of having a soul.
Pythagoras
The notion of having a Spirit Animal draws its origins from ancient
Animistic and Totemistic beliefs about the world and our connection
to it.
Totemism is a system of belief practiced by groups such as
the Native American or Australian Aboriginal peoples who carry the
philosophy that each human being has a spiritual connection to
another physical being (e.g., a plant or animal).
The
Kpelle people of Liberia, for
instance, possess animal, plant, and natural phenomena (wind, rain,
etc.) totems that are thought to guide and protect their people.
Their totems are also
thought to be a form of alter ego or second self.
Animism, on the other hand, is a world view held by many
Buddhist, Shinto, Pagan, and Neopagan groups of people, that all
plants, animals, and objects have spirits.
To the Animists, we
are part of nature, rather than being superior to nature,
or separate from nature.
As such, it's common to
see the inclusion of Spirit Animals within this worldview.
Spirit Animals
& the Spiritual Awakening Journey
Spirit Animals are powerful allies on our
spiritual awakening journeys as
they help us to reconnect with our Souls.
As the essence of an
animal is raw, pure, and untainted by the issues that human beings
undergo, they can help us tune into our authentic, untamed nature.
Spirit Animals embody their Souls (their unique expression of the
Divine) completely and utterly.
They're not burdened
with an ego that feels small, separate, and defensive against
Life...
As such, our Spirit
Animal can teach us lessons surrounding,
-
courage
-
empowerment
-
interconnectedness
-
letting go
-
learning to love
fully
-
finding
freedom...
It's common for those
beginning this journey of Soul Embodiment to experience
synchronicities, spiritual signs,
and omens connected with their Spirit Animal.
Spirit Animal,
Power Animal, Totem Animal - What's the Difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there's a
difference.
Put simply:
-
A 'Spirit Animal'
refers to an ally who helps teach/guide you.
-
A 'Power Animal'
refers to a creature that empowers you.
-
A 'Totem Animal'
refers to a creature that is inherited (ancestrally or as
part of a tribe/clan).
While a Power animal can
be invoked or called upon, it's often thought that a Spirit
Animal chooses you (and the same applies to the Totem
Animal).
7 Ways to
Discover Your Spirit Animal
At this point, you may be wondering,
"okay, so how do I
discover my spirit animal?"
Here are some powerful
approaches:
1. Spend more time
outdoors
This helps you to forge a greater connection to nature which
you'll need to identify your Spirit Animal.
2. Pay
attention to the animals appearing in your life
Do any particular animals keep emerging?
It's said that if a
particular animal continuously appears in your daily life, this
is an indication that your Spirit Animal is trying to contact
you.
For instance, a
certain animal could repeatedly show up on your daily walks, in
the books you read, TV shows you watch, or pictures you glimpse.
3. Pay
attention to the animals appearing in your dream life
Spirit Animals are also said to contact us in our dreams.
Look out for animals
that seem to persistently appear while you sleep - this could be
a sign that your Spirit Animal is trying to manifest itself to
you.
4. Be aware
of the unusual behavior of animals around you
Does a particular animal run up to you, make strange noises
around you, or otherwise display strange behavior patterns in
your presence?
This could be a
strong indication of your Spirit Animal trying to contact or
form a connection with you.
5. Think
about what animals you have always been attracted to
Are you drawn to any particular animal, either out of fear or
adoration? This could reveal an unconscious connection to your
Spirit Animal.
6. Try
meditation
Our Spirit Animals often reveal themselves during practices such
as meditation because the mind because still. If you don't often
meditate, or if you would like assistance, there are many free
meditation videos on YouTube.
7. Keep a
journal
Record what animals you encounter in your meditations, dreams,
and waking life. Look for patterns or recurrences of a specific
animal or animals.
You can also get a spirit animal reading if you need extra
support.
21 Common
Spirit Animals
While there are nearly an endless array of Spirit Animal guides out
there, there are some that tend to continually emerge.
I'll list them below:
-
Bear (strength,
confidence)
-
Butterfly
(personal transformation)
-
Cat
(independence, curiosity)
-
Coyote
(playfulness, adaptability)
-
Crow (vision,
intelligence)
-
Deer (innocence,
gentleness)
-
Dog (loyalty,
love)
-
Dragonfly
(transformation, adaptability)
-
Fox (agility,
awareness)
-
Frog (rebirth,
renewal)
-
Hawk (focus,
leadership)
-
Horse (freedom,
passion)
-
Hummingbird
(positivity, playfulness)
-
Lion (strength,
courage)
-
Owl (wisdom,
intuition)
-
Rabbit
(abundance, vulnerability)
-
Sheep
(vulnerability, innocence)
-
Snake (healing,
transformation)
-
Spider
(creativity, receptivity)
-
Tiger (willpower,
aggression)
-
Turtle
(determination, persistence)
-
Wolf
(intelligence, freedom)
5 Ways to
Discover Your Spirit Animal's Lessons (Medicine)
Once you have discovered what your Spirit Animal/s is, a common
question to ask is,
"what's next?"
How can you harness
the new knowledge of your Animal Teacher to benefit your life?
Here are a variety of
ways to learn from your Spirit Animal:
1. Discover its
symbolic wisdom (or 'medicine')
Each Spirit Animal has strengths and weaknesses which are
important for you to learn about, as they directly apply to your
life.
The better you
understand the symbolic meaning of your Animal Teacher, the
better you will come to understand yourself and what you need to
improve or change in your life.
2. Apply
your newfound wisdom
Learning about your Spirit Animal will help you to learn more
about yourself, and will consequently help you to make important
decisions, deal with difficult situations and people, and reach
your personal goals and aspirations.
Reflect on the three
main ways you can apply what you've learned to your life
(short-term, medium-term, and long-term).
3. Don't
humanize your Spirit Animal
Anthropomorphizing (aka. humanizing) your guide will do nothing
but silence their unique way of expressing themselves.
To be open and
receptive to your Spirit Animal's message, you'll need to
embrace their exclusive language and form of self-expression
first.
To be receptive to
your Spirit Animal and embrace their authentic being,
take some time to
observe them.
Either observe
them in nature (if they live in your vicinity) or watch them
online.
Take notes if
needed.
4. Pay
attention to when your Spirit Animal appears in your life
Be aware of dreams, or real-life occurrences in which your
Spirit Animal manifests itself.
Also, remember that
your Spirit Animal can choose to manifest itself in a very
subtle way - for instance, in poems, a song, or even a picture
in a book or poster in the street.
Our Animal Teachers
are thought to serve as both omens, as well as
messengers and guides.
So consider the
following question in your daily life:
What feelings do
you experience when your Spirit Animal appears in your life?
For example, do
foreboding or comforting feelings arise within you?
What message does your Spirit Animal appear to be
communicating to you?
Is your Spirit Animal trying to lead you in a certain
direction?
5. Honor your
Spirit Animal
Shamans believe that by
honoring and venerating your Spirit Animal, you grow and gain a
deeper connection to them.
Many people like
showing respect to their Animal Teachers by placing objects of
the same species around their houses (like feathers, skulls,
statues).
Others like wearing
symbols of their Spirit Animals on their bodies (amulets,
pendants, etc.).
Simply saying "thank
you" and being grateful is sufficient.
Spirit Animal
Quiz
If you'd like more guidance and support in connecting with your
spirit animal, you might like to take our
free spirit animal quiz.
This test can help you
connect with either your temporary animal ally (who is helping you
in this specific period of life) or even your long-term animal ally
(who has accompanied you since birth).
As always, take it with a
grain of salt and have fun...!
***
Since the dawn of time, Spirit Animals have been summoned to help us
learn vital lessons, make important decisions, and grow
significantly at a Soulful level.
From the Native Americans
and their totem animals to the animistic beliefs of indigenous
Africans, Indians, Asians, and South Americans, animals have been
revered for hundreds of thousands of years.
All of us have at least one spiritual connection to another physical
being such as a particular animal or plant species.
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