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~ Childsafe Content ~
This Totem Animal page sponsored courtesy of Giordano's Native American Art of Alaska.
Specializing in unique custom hand-crafted treasures & large prints.
According to Native American Tradition, each person is connected with nine animals that accompany them on their journey through life and nurture their talents and abilities. Each animal teaches wisdom of the seven directions: North, East, South, West, Above, Below and Inner. Additionally there are two escorts animals on the right and left that visit them in their dreams.
The most prominent characteristic of the fox is its ability to become
one with its environment. Its brown summer coat helps render it
invisible in the forest while its white wintry coat allows it to blend
in with the snow. The fox is a very observant and fast animal, ready to
take action at any time. Its power lies in its cleverness-for example,
when leading its enemies astray. Another characteristic is its concern
for its family. People who possess the power of the fox are usually
quiet observers and are skilled at remaining unnoticed. This means
that they blend into their environment, moving around unnoticed in any
kind of company and society. They are masters of camouflage.
The fox teaches how to grasp concept of unity and how to use this
knowledge wisely on all levels. A fox charm is suitable mainly for
those who travel a lot.
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The beaver teaches industry and a sense of community; it is the ultimate
master builder. The power of the beaver helps to realize ideas and dreams
while working with others at the same time, because the beaver has a
strong sense of family. It is always ready to defend itself; after all,
it can fell entire trees with its teeth. This indicates the necessity
of protecting what one has created and to always be vigilant.
You may call to the beaver to find a solution to a problem, as the
beaver also advises one to keep one's option's open. Its lodges always
have several exits, which follows the motto that if one door is closed,
another one will be open. Nobody should put restrictions on one's own
opportunities. Whenever the beaver appears in your dreams, this may
be a hint to put an old dream into practice or to finish off a project.
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The shell of the armadillo gives it optimum protection against the
attacks of its enemies. It teaches humans to determine their own
boundaries and to decide which experiences to allow in their lives.
The aramadillo is the totem animal of medicine shields. Such a shield
shows everything that its bearer wishes for or that describes him
personally. Thus, everybody who encounters him will know, consciously
or subconciously, whom they have met and what his expectations are.
With its shell, the power of the aramadillo prevents us from doing
things that we don't really want to do, and it helps us to distance
ourselves from the demands of others. It can help us to discard the
old habit of saying "yes" to everything and it teaches us to recognize
whether or not the circumstances that we are experiencing are of
benefit to us.
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The coyote is a mischievous but sacred rascal. It keeps busy constantly
by trying to trick itself and others. Again and again, it becomes caught
in its own trap, but it always manages to go free unharmed. Since
it never learns from its mistakes, it contiues to end up in the most
awkward situations and, only because it is so adept at making the
best of a bad situation, it never suffers any serious damage.
If you happen to have the power of the coyote, you will always act
the clown and find yourself, seemingly through no fault of your own,
in the strangest and most difficult situations. In these situations,
it is important to still be able to have a laugh at your own expense;
this is the only way for you to win the game after all.
The coyote presents us with a mirror and draws our own follies to
our attention. No other animal has quite the ability of the coyote to
stir up a repressed and serious society with elegance and carefreeness.
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The skunk displays a healthy self-confidence. Its behavior is characteristic
of the quiet seld-assuredness of somebody who is aware of his own
strength and power. Even though it does not have a dangerous weapon,
it commands respect, because it threatens the sense of smell.
People who possess the power of the skunk usually have great charisma.
They attract people with similar energies, just as the skunk smell is
attractive to other skunks.
This small animal can teach us to accept ourselves completely and
to develop a healthy pride. Since our views are always reflected in
our attitude, we will automatically attract like-minded people and
repel those who are not compatible or who simply wish to exploit us.
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The elk belongs to the largest species of deer. Apart from humans,
its only enemy is the puma; it has to use all of its strength and
endurance to escape from the puma. The strength of the elk lies in
it knowing exactly what it can achieve and in using its strength to
the optimum without overly exerting itself.
People who have the power of the elk attain their goals through
perseverance and do not feel the need to always be among the first.
It may be advantageous in a stressful situation to call on the power
of the elk in order to recognize how to best utilize one's own energies,
and at the same time suffering as little harm as possible.
The elk also stands for brotherhood among those of the same sex.
This kind of support can be very encouraging and constructive through
the exchange of similar ideas and experiences.
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The puma, or mountain lion, embodies pure power. This can be used
in a positive manner, as seen with wise leaders, but it can also be
abused. If you picture the perfect movements of this big cat, you
can learn how to achieve a balance between body, mind, and soul.
The puma encourages us to stand by our convictions and always
be truthful. These are the qualities of a true leader. However, there
are certain disadvantages that come with being a leader. For example,
it will be impossible to always please everybody and maintain peace.
One also has to be careful not to be exploited by others. A person
with the power of the puma must never be seen to be fearful or vulnerable,
and has to be prepared to accept great responsibility. He also should
keep a certain distance from other people.
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The turkey represents the generosity of sharing and giving away; it
sacrifices its own life so that others may live. The turkey teaches
that it is not desirable to selfishly amass goods. On the contrary, it
shows how important it is to share with others, to regard life as
sacred, and, therefore, to ensure the welfare of others.
People who have the energy of the turkey always act with others
in mind. This attitude does not spring from a false sense of guilt but
comes from the realization that the Great Spirit lives in all beings.
Additionally, there is the knowledge of the cosmic law that everything
we give to others will one day come back to ourselves.
The turkey teaches how to share. However, if it appears in your
dreams, this may also mean that you are about to receive a gift or prize.
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The owl is symbolic of magic and second sight. It is often referred to
as the eagle of the night. It can see extremely well in the dark night
and its hearing is also very well developed. Its victims are unable to
hear it approach, since the owl does not create any noise during flight.
People who possess the power of the owl are usually wizards or
witches, or at least have a great interest in the occult. They are
attracted either to white magic or, inadvisably, to black magic. It is
almost impossible to keep a secret from an owl-person, as they see
through even the best hidden ploys. They always grasp the whole
truth and often take this gift for granted. It is because of this
ability that they are often unpopular and feared by others.
The owl is the essence of wisdom, since it can see and hear things that
others cannot. It can help discover the truth and interpret signs of fate.
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The raven is regarded as the bearer of magic. It is the messenger
from the great void beyond time and space, and the ether where
everything originated and to where everything will return.
When a ceremony is held, the raven is always present to transport
the energy of the message to its destiny. The raven's help makes it
possible to heal people from a distance.
Those who have used black magic have good reason to fear the raven,
because it throws back negative energies to where they originated.
The raven can help you to change your outlook and give you the
courage to enter into the great secret. Look at its iridescent feathers
and how they continuously change shape and color. See into the black
enptiness to receive answers to your questions.
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The prairie chicken symbolizes the sacred spiral of death and rebirth,
the never-ending tunnel. Many tribes of the prairies venerate this
bird with a dance that imitates the movement of a spiral. Somebody
who is meditating can establish a direct link to the creator with the
help of the energy of the prairie chicken.
The prairie chicken invites you to join it in dancing the dance of
the sacred spiral in honor of the divine creation. It can help you to
recognize how you move through spiritual and physical space and the
effects your movements have. Compare the way in which you guide your
energies with what you would like to achieve.
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The crow is the guardian of great secrets. It is the only creature with
the ability ro break the laws of this world by changing into other beings.
It can also be in two places at the same time. The crow combines past,
present, and future, because it lives in a void without any perception of
time. Since it also combines light and shadow, it perceives its outer and
inner truths simultaneously. The crow guards the sacred laws that
came directly from god and proclaimed once that everything that exists
is born by woman. The sacred law is the law of truth and must not be
confused with the commandments of humans or any religious systems.
People who have the power of the crow must stand by their own
realizations and constantly strive to live the truth that they discovered.
Let your own higher self become your leader; change your shape and
become your future self! Accept that the physical laws no longer
apply and venture fearlessly into the future.
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By shedding its skin, the snake symbolizes change in the cycle of
birth, life, death, and rebirth. It counts among its strengths the power
of creation, of sexuality, of the soul, as well as of transformation and
immortality. Snake-people are rare, because as part of their experiences
they have to have come into contact with poison and have been able to
transform the poison in their bodies into something harmless.
The snake belongs to the element of fire, which causes desire and
passion in the physical realm and, in the spiritual realm, creates a
connection with the Great Spirit and leads to all-encompassing wisdom.
Whenever the snake appears in your dreams, it is a sign of change
as you come ever closer to perfection.
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The whale is the keeper of the Earth's history and secrets. It keeps
alive the memories of the legendary motherland of Mu, which was
once located in the west of America and to which all Native American
tribes trace back their origins. The whale was once the witness of
the great disaster to which the motherland fell victim.
People who own the power of the whale are often very perceptive
and can, with the help of this gift, access all the information that
exists in the universe. They often have telepathic powers, but the
source of their knowledge frequently remains unknown to them. It is
only with time that they realize how to utilize their powers.
The whale teaches one to find and blend with one's own original
sound, because it carries the history of all living beings. It shows
that the right frequency can heal and, with the help of the whale,
you can learn to connect with the ancient language that was used for
communication before language in its current form was developed. The
whale always guides the way to discovering the meaning of your own life.
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The dolphin teaches about breathing, which connects us with life
and the vital energies. By changing one's breathing pattern, it is
possible to establish links with other beings and other worlds, since
breath connects us with the Great Spirit and its entire creation.
People with dolphin energy can act as mediators between the people
and the inhabitants of the dream world or the divine power. The dolphin
teaches one to overcome obstacles easily and joyfully by changing one's
rhythm and, thus, one's energy pattern. Create a link with the great
star people. Free yourself from all burdens through conscious breathing.
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The mouse examines everything very closely. It is the most pedantic
of all animals. It encourages us to take a closer look and to
establish a system for everything we know. It, therefore, embodies
today's age of specialization, because it knows that it can always
learn more and become more deeply involved. The other side of the
coin is that the simplest things and processes are made complicated.
By dissecting everything, one fails to see the whole; by examining
things too closely, one loses sight of the context.
The mouse also possesses a very acute sense of danger. Since it is
food for so many animals, it recognizes danger very early on and
knows very well how to take shelter. Mouse-people are usually quite
fearful, careful, and extremely diligent. Everything they do is well
organized and systematic. It is important that they venture into the
unknown, take a look at the enormousness of the universe, and practice
tolerance. The medicine of the mouse teaches that it is important
to examine things closely and react very quickly.
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The suirrel is a gatherer, building up stores so that it is prepared
for anything unexpected. By hiding its food reserves in different
places, it can survive even the longest winter. Its other characteristics
are adaptability and speed. Its ploys to deceive and distract are
unique. People with the energy of the squirrel find it difficult
to sit still for one moment or to listen to others.
Seeing a squirrel in your dreams is a hint to prepare for the future,
gather your strength, and brace yourself for significant changes. This
also means to get rid of any "garbage" that will not come to anything anyway.
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The bat is the symbol of rebirth. On the one hand, bats live in dark
caves that are reminiscent of the darkness of the grave; on the other
hand, they rest their heads down, which corresponds to the position
of a baby just before it is born.
First and foremost, the bat explains the symbolic death, which a
shaman has to die during his initiation. The fundamental idea is that
the person undergoing the initiation has to face his fears and meet
his real self to be able to discard his old ego and be reborn as a
new person free of restraints. Usually, the prospective shaman is
subjected to merciless examinations, which will take him both to his
mental and physical limits. Earth for a night.
If a bat flies through your dreams, this indicates that it is time
to take leave of a part of yourself or a particular characteristic or
circumstance. It is important to die a ritual death in order to then
be able to develop further.
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The tortise embodies Mother Earth. Its shell is its shield. Its slow
gait is intended as a warning not to rush anything, but to wait for
the right moment. Its eggs hatch because of the sunlight, and the
tortise thus points out how important it is to let one's ideas ripen
in seclusion before sharing them with everybody.
The tortoise also teaches one to stand with both feet firmly on the
ground connected with the Earth, Furthermore, it shows how to protect
one's feelings and to withdraw into oneself. If it feels it is under
too much pressure, it may even snap at and bite the encroacher.
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The roe deer stands for unconditional love and kindness. Its speckled
coat indicates that it does not make a distinction between light and
dark, good and evil. The force of its love can heal the wounds of others
regardless of how far they have wandered to the dark side.
If the roe deer appears to you in your dreams, it wants to point out
how important it is to love others for what they are and, thus, to
accept their weakness. Any kind of obsessive expectation should be
discarded, because no one can be forced to change. Only the warmth
of the heart can mend strained relationships and heal old wounds.
The roe deer also teaches that one should always maintain a positive
attitude and look for the good without letting negative situations or
people influence us. If you manage to remain friendly and confident
even under the most adverse of circumstances, these circumstances will
not linger for long and the path toward divine energy will be cleared.
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The dog is associated with faith and reliability. Its basic instinct is to
serve its master, and even though it is often mistreated, it always
answers with love. Since the dog strives to be respected by its master,
it is, of course, possible to spoil it with the wrong training.
Ultimately, the dog is the guardian of its master and willing to do
anything for him, possibly even follow him into death. Traditionally,
the dog is also guardian of secret areas and ancient knowledge.
The dog's heart is filled with compassion, and it is willing to
overlook human weakness. The dog can help bring these qualities to life
in a person. It also teaches one to examine one's loyalty toward oneself
and others.
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The lynx is the bearer of secrets. It knows all the old secrets that have
been forgotten a long time ago. It moves freely through space and
time. Since it maintains silence most of the time, it is difficult to learn
the things that it knows. Seeing a lynx in your dreams is a hint that
there may be secrets within you or others of which you do not know.
If the power of the lynx is strong in a person, that person will have
a very particular kind of perceptiveness. By using introspection, he
will recognize the true selves of others along with his own identity.
He will also discover the daily ritual of self-deception. The only way
to glean some knowledge from the lynx is to pay it for revealing its
wisdom, as is the custom with soothsayers and Native American medicine
men based on the principle of exchanging energies.
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