Basics of Animal Totems 1.) Every animal has a powerful spirit. 2.) This spirit may be its own, or that of a being who uses the animal image to communicate messages of the world to humans. 3.) Every animal has its own talents. A study of its talents will reveal the kind of medicine, magic, and power it can help you to develop within your own life. Remember, every animal has a specialty 4.) Lifelong power animals are usually wild, not domesticated, animals. There are a few exceptions, but even these exceptions are just links to the true power animal. For example, people may have dogs or cats as totems. These have their own medicine and power, but the domesticated animal may only be a softened form of its wild counterpart. A dog may be a link to the wolf, coyote, or any of the wild canine family. A cat may be a link to a member of the wild feline family, such as panthers, lions, tigers, and such. For many, beginning with the domesticated form of the totem is a way of laying a foundation so that some day they will be able to handle and work more effectively with its true power form. 5.) The animal chooses the person, not the other way around. Many believe that they can just choose an animal and start communicating with it. Usually ego gets in the way at these times. The individual chooses the animal he or she believes to be the most glamorous and powerful, rather than what is harmonious to the individual. The results are ineffectual and often frustrating. No animal is better or worse than any other. Every animal's medicine is unique. It is always much better to be powerful in mouse medicine than to be clumsy and ineffectualin eagle medicine. You will find your greatest success in the animal that comes to you. 6.) You must develop a relationship with your totem. To communicate with them demands respect. You must learn their point of view. Animals won't just warm up to you immediately. They must learn to trust you and your limitations, and you must learn to trust them and their limitations. This takes time, patience and practice. 7.) You must honor your totem for its medicine to be effective in your life. The more you honor them - the more significance you give them within your life - the more powerful and effective they become.  Some of the ways you can honor them and draw them closer into your life is by: Hanging pictures of them, Drawing pictures of them, Reading and learning as much about them as possible.  Buying figurines of your totem for yourself or purchasing small tokens and images of your totem and giving them to friends as gifts. These fetishes are a reminder of the power and spirit of your totem animal. Donating to wildlife organizations with time and / or money. Dancing to honor your totem is a powerful link. Learn to mimic its behaviors. If it's a turtle, learn to creep like a turtle. If it's a lion, learn to crouch like a lion. If it's a bird, imitate its hopping or flying. And most importantly, keeping the animal alive within your imagination. See yourself as the animal totem using its qualities in appropriate places within your life. Remember that the imagination is a real link to your totem. 8.) Once you learn to work with the medicine of your power animal, it then becomes a doorway to connecting with others of the animal realm. You are not limited to just one totem. Each can teach or add something to your life that the others can't. Working with your power animal will help teach you how to align with others. This way if you need greater strength, you can call up the image and draw upon the energy of a bear. If you need speed, you can connect with the energy of cheetah. Through your power animal, you learn to align with and shapeshift to the energies of other animals and beings. 9.) Although there are one or even several totems that are strongest in your life and remain with you through most of it, others do play a role. You may have a totem for a day. You may have a totem that assists you through a particularly rough period in your life. One may come to you and stay with you through a cycle of several years. Another may be present when you do creative work. You are likely to have different totems for different areas of your life. There's no limit to the totems you can work with. The key though is to connect strongly and fully with at least one. This expands the consciousness and opens the bridge toothers more easily. 10.) More than one person can have the same totem. I know a number of individuals who work with wolf medicine. There are common factors in the way each works, but there are also differences. The archetypal energies and spirit reflected in the wolf will manifest for each uniquely, because each person is unique. The role the totem plays will be specific in many ways to the individual. Individuals who are in close relationships may share a totem. That totem becomes a guide to making the relationship stronger and more productive. The totem may watch over the couple. Totem sharing is not limited to couples. Healing and meditation groups often share a totem animal, to oversee the activities. © 1997-1998-1999 Nyx Wolfwalker     Indian Totem Power Stone Meanings   I got these from a nearby Indian reservation.  You can buy the stones at reservations or you can find some at the mall.  The are hand-held polished (oval) stones in different colors with animals ingraved in black on them.   They are very pretty!  Enjoy!   Totem Power Stones   Zuni Bear-good health Hopi Hand-life, creative, healing Cactus-nature's reservior Steer Skull-silent testimony Kokopelli-fertility, joy, music Thunderbird-caller of rain Scorpion-defense, self-protection Buffalo Skull-sacredness, reverence for life Thistle-Scottish symbol Shamrock-Irish symbol Star of David-union, heart, love Heart-love, fondness Cross-redemption, salvation Angels-guardians of hope and wonder Yin & Yang-balance, harmony Celtic Knot-long life, eternity Unicorn-redemption, salvation Dragon-wisdom, nobility Pegasus-carrier of lightning Smiley Face Peace Sign Dove-love, peace, gentleness 4 Leaf Clover-good luck Raptor-speedy theif Parasaurolophus-parallel crested lizard Stegosaurus-the covered lizard T Rex-lizard king Mastodon-lumbering giant Triceritops-horrible 3 horned face Brontosaurus-harmless giant Pterodactyl-wing finger Bull-strength, warning Cow-patience, stoicism Pig-intelligence, hunger Goat-stubborn, omnivorous Dog-loyalty, protection Cat-independence, grace, healing Rhino-durability, strength Elephant-long life, self-preservation Zebra-family-oriebted, alert Polar Bear-fearlessness, power Giraffe-watchfulness, mobility Gorilla-brute strength, adaptability Hippo-linking water and earth, survival Lion-power, strength, respect Monkey-playfulness, agility Bobcat-fierce, loner intensity Penguin-playful, loving Panda-playful, kindness Orca-focus, power Manatee-peaceable, unassuming Water Buffalo-enormus strength, hard working Camel-weary, enduring Kangaroo-feisty, funloving Ostrich-fickle, fast moving Pelican-ever watchful, grace Alligator-aggression, survival, adaptability Ant-team player, worker Armadillo-active, nocturnal, protection Bat-guardian of the night, cleaner Bear-power, adaptability Bear Paw-strength, mobility Beaver-builder, gather Buffalo-sacredness, life builder Butterfly-metamorphisis, carefree, transformer Cougar-leadership, courage Coyote-prankster, insight, playful Crane-solitude, independence Deer-love, gentleness, kindness Dolphin-kindness, play, bridge man to ocean Dragonfly-flighty, carefree Eagle-divine spirit, connection to creator Elk-strength, agility, freedom Fox-cunning, provider, intelligence Frog-connection with water element Goose-faithful, communicative, traveler Grizzly Bear-hunter, nature's pharmacist Hawk-messenger, stopper of time Horse-stamina, mobility, strength Hummingbird-messenger, stopper of time Lizard-conservation, agility Loon-solitude, song, romance Moose-headstrong, unstoppable, longevity Mouse-timid, secretive, sneaky Otter-laughter, curiosity, truth, patience Owl-wisdom, perseverance Pheasant-confidence, attraction, perseverance Quail-sacred spiral, ceremonial, Holy Rabbit-alertness, resourceful Raccoon-bandit, shy, determination Ram-new beginning, teacher, hoarder Raven-trickster, mischievous Road Runner-speed, agility, cleverness Salmon-instinct, persistence, determination Seahorse-confidence, grace Shark-hunter, survival Skunk-wary, conspicuous, intense Snake-shrewdness, transformation Spider-creative, pattern of life Squirrel-trusting, innocence Swan-grace, balance, festive Turkey-smart, elusive Turtle-self-contained creative source Whale-wisdom, power, cleanser Wolf-loyalty, success, perseverance Wolf Paw-freedom, success, guidance     Totem animals   BAT: Initiation, Rebirth, Changes, Blessings, Trust, Instincts, Perspective. BEE: Community, Celebration, Organization. BEAR: Introspection, Power, Prophecy, Intuition, Sovereignty, Instinct, Transformation, Strength, Courage, Stamina, Harmony, Healing, Visions, Leadership. BLACKBIRD: Enchantment, The Gateway, The Inner Call. BULL: Wealth, Potency, Beneficence, Fertility, Strength, Power, Courage, Stamina, Sexuality. CAT: Guardianship, Detachment, Sensuality, Mystery, Magic, Independence, Protection, Teacher, Confidence, Gentleness, Caution, Alertness, Spirit detection. CHEETAH: Decisions, Swiftness, Speed, Self - Esteem. CRAB: Sensitivity, Emotions, Loyalty. COUGAR: Growth, Strength, Power, Opportunities, Balance. COYOTE: Wisdom, Jokester, Tasks, Adaptations, Teaching, Demonstrating, Communicating, Resourceful, Cunning, Discernment. DEER: Gentleness, Love, Alertness, Camouflage, Attention, Intuition, Dreams, Communication, Serenity, Acceptance. DOG: Guidance, Protection, Loyalty, Faithfulness, Protection, Playfulness. DOLPHIN: Dimensions, Curiosity, Playfulness, Balance, Compassion, Understanding, Love, Calm, Eloquence, Freedom, Emotion. DRAGON: Passion, Depth, Connection, Power, Potential, Riches, Inspiration, Insight, Vitality, Transmutation. EAGLE: Understanding, Completion, Initiation, Power, Intelligence, Renewal, Courage, Healing, Creation. ELEPHANT: Power, Strength, Warrior, Memory. FOX: Cunning, Diplomacy, Wildness, Camouflage, Shapeshifting, Invisibility, Survival, Intuition, Adaptability, Observation. FROG: Cleansing, Clairvoyance, Medicine, Sensitivity. GOAT: Climbing, Stability, Confidence, Achievements, Loyalty, Ambition. HAWK: Nobility, Recollection, Cleansing. HORSE: Travel, Power, Freedom. HUMMINGBIRD: Knowledge, Contradiction. JAGUAR: Ferocity, Strength, Agility. LEOPARD: Silent, inconspicuous, intuition, instincts, Perseverance, Dignity, Aggression, Confidence, Swiftness, Cunning, Strength, Boldness, Visions, Vitality, Perception, Achievements, Knowledge. LION: Leadership, Organization, Wisdom, Enthusiasm, Assertion, Strength, Courage, Energy, Creativity, Intuition, Imagination. LYNX: Secrets, Knowledge, Clairvoyance, Meditation, Patience, Achievements. MOUSE: Scrutiny, Organization, Trust, Innocence, Observation, Cleaning, Hyperactivity. OTTER: Joy, Play, Helpfulness, Sharing, Faithfulness, Feminine, Medicine, Creativity. OWL: Detachment, Wisdom, Change, Omens. PANTHER: Ferocity, Visions, Valor, Discipline, Control, Wisdom, Sensitivity. RABBIT: Rebirth, Intuition, Balance, Fertility, New Life, Dietary, Spirit detection, Transformation, Defense. RACCOON: Dexterity, cleanliness, disguise, explorers, curious, secrecy, transformation, courage. RAM: Sacrifice, Breakthrough, Achievement, Strength, Power, Courage, Battle. RAVEN: Healing, Initiation, Protection, Magic, Shapeshifting, Creation. SCORPION: Power, Intuition, Sensuality, Leadership, Dreams. SEAL: Love, Longing, Dilemma. SNAKE: Rebirth, Resurrection, Initiation, Wisdom, Transformation, Healing, Sleep, Calm. SQUIRREL: Activity, preparedness, awareness, sociable, playful, Balance. SWAN: Soul, Love, Beauty. TIGER: Power, devotion, tact, skill, adventure, passion, Courage, Sensitivity, Devotion, Endurance, Energy, Nobility, Strength, Creativity, Healing, Sensuality. WHALE: Awakening, Creation, Movement, Imagination, Inspiration. WOLF: Intuition, Learning, Shadow, Guardianship, Ritual, Loyalty, Spirit, Magick, Dreams, Meditation, Wisdom, Pathfinder, Teacher, Friendship, Trust.