Find Your Animal Totem

Animal totems are reliable members of any healing team. Totems embody the unique and accumulated experience and innate attributes of particular animal species on an archetypal scale. Their consciousness becomes available to us when we merge with the collective intelligence of our Higher Selves, according to our intentions and the needs of the moment. From Hopi kachinas in Arizona to the Puma in Peru, the Cobra and Vulture in Egypt, and the Elephant in India, animals are revered and acknowledged as intelligent beings. Across cultures and continents, the same totemic species take on similar roles.

Everywhere we look in nature we find our own attributes–and those we wish to emulate–mirrored back to us in other life forms. How do you encounter your animal totem? What is your introduction?

Our introduction to power animals may come in many ways. We can dream of them, encounter them in our lives in the wild or through recurrent appearances and synchronicity, or they can spontaneously, sometimes repetitively, arise in our meditations, inner journeys and quests. Totems can be introduced through a journey process such as the visualization that follows, or a shamanic drum journey.

Journeying with a power animal creates a resonance between the consciousness of the totem and our human consciousness. This inner resonance allows us to bring into the work the intelligence, qualities, aspects, and worldview of the totem.

Often there is a subconscious link between you and your power animal that expresses itself in your love for its species, even though you are not always aware of its influence in your life. When you develop a conscious relationship with a totem, it becomes your ally. Totems are powerful messengers, healers, and protectors, and they bring great benefit to those who build and maintain such relationship.

Totemic initiations are powerful interactions that install the energetic configuration of the totem into your own energetic system at a deeper level.

Animal Totem Journey
Smudge and create a comfortable space. Close your eyes, ground and center, using the breath to fill your belly on the inhale, and exhale downward through your tailbone to connect yourself with the earth.

Devote attention to your heart flame, directing love to make it grow and spread its radiance throughout your being, filling you with warmth and light.

Imagine a golden cauldron in your abdomen, and stir the waters there. Notice as the waters rise to meet the flame in your heart, and experience the conversion as the water meets the fire and turns to steam.

The steam rises, opening the shamanic passageway at your throat to fill your head. Place your entire attention within the steam. As it gathers in your head, it will lift your consciousness up through your crown and into your light body.

It is dark. The first sense that awakens is smell. Then you notice the temperature. You are starting to get an idea of where on the planet you are. There are sounds. The senses you have awakened intensify. Tune in and concentrate on them. You realize your eyes have been closed. Open your inner eyes and look around. There is a sound; something is nearing. Listen. What is it? It pauses. . . You are getting more and more information about your surroundings, even the time of the day or night. . . There is that sound again. Your totem animal approaches you. When you turn your head toward it, you will find yourself looking directly into the eyes of your totem.

This power animal is here to help you, to show you something about your life. . . Open your heart in greeting as your request an experience. . .

Follow your totem. Watch. . . Listen. . .Feel to the fullest. . . Learn from what is offered. . .

It is time to return. . . Take a moment to consider what you can give back to this totem, and be sure to offer your gratitude for the experience and the lessons learned. . .

Return into your physical body. Ground and center.