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NATIVE
AMERICAN LEGENDS
Native American Totems &
Their Meanings |
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A
totem can be
the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual.
Native
American tradition provides that each individual is connected with
nine different animals that will accompany each person through life,
acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives
depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to
be completed along our journey.
Native beliefs further explain that a
totem animal
is one that is with you for life, both in the physical and spiritual
world. Though people may identify with different animal guides
throughout their lifetimes, it is this one
totem animal
that acts as the main guardian spirit.
With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in
the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.
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Totem Pole at
Pioneer Square in Seattle,
Washington ,
vintage
postcard. |
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This Animal Guide
offers power and wisdom to the individual when they “communicate” with
it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not necessarily
mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal, more that
you are open to learning its lessons.
For some, knowing
what is their
totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve
always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special
feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell
what their animal
totem is.
Here are some
questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal
totem is:
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Have you ever felt
drawn to one animal or another without being able to explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.
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Does a certain kind
of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn’t
necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be
represented in other ways such as receiving card and letters with
the same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a
particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal
featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show
up.
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When you go to the
zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested
in seeing?
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Are there any
animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing?
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Is there a
particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature?
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Have you ever been
bitten or attacked by an animal?
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Have you ever had a
recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood
that you have never been able to forget?
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Are you drawn to
figurines or paintings of a specific animal?
The
totem
itself is a symbol that represents this animal. This could be any
number of items - a crest, a
totem
pole, an emblem, a small figurine or anything else that depicts your
animal guide.
Animal
Characteristics & Meaning
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Alligator |
Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness,
aggression, and basic survival instincts. |
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Ant |
Group minded, determination, patient,
active, and industrious |
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Anteater |
Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness. |
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Antelope |
Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to
sacrifice |
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Armadillo |
Safety oriented, grounded, and has
boundaries |
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Badger |
Courage, aggressive, healer, having
problems relating to others, and energy conduit |
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Bat |
Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation,
good listener, and long life |
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Bear |
Industrious, instinctive, healing, power,
sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power,
self-preservation, introspection, and great strength. |
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Beaver |
Determined, strong-willed, builder,
overseer, and protector |
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Bee |
Organized, industrial, productive, wise,
community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature,
and enjoys life |
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Boar/Pig |
A very powerful totem - prosperity,
spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless. |
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Buffalo |
Sacredness, life, great strength,
abundance, gratitude. |
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Bull |
Insight into the past, fertility, rushing
into things without proper preparation. |
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Butterfly |
Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace,
grace, ability to accept change |
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Camel |
Survival, positive, accomplishments |
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Caribou |
Traveler, mobility, preference to be
nomadic, adaptability to adversity |
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Cat |
Guardianship, detachment, sensuality,
mystery, magic, and independence |
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Cheetah |
Swiftness, insight, focus |
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Cougar |
Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking
responsibility, foresight |
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Cow |
Swift, insightful, and focused |
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Coyote |
Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom
and folley, guile and innocence |
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Cheetah |
Nourishment and mother figure |
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Cobra |
Swift and decisive |
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Coyote |
Stealth, mischief, rickster, intelligent,
clowining around, ability to recognize mistakes. |
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Crab |
Good luck, protection and success |
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Crane |
Solitude, justice, longevity, independent,
intelligent, and vigilant |
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Crocodile |
Ensuring your emotions are displayed
accurately/appropriately |
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Crow |
Justice, shape shifting, change,
creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance |
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Deer |
Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle,
caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness,
innocence, and seller of adventure |
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Dog |
Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching,
protection, and guidance |
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Continued Next
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ALSO SEE:
Indian
Proverbs & Wisdom
Legends,
Myths & Tales of Native Americans
Old West
Legends
Native American People
Native American Photo Prints
Native American
Tribes
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From the Rocky Mountain General Store
Native
American Guides & Books -
Legends of America and
the
Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of
Native American Guides & Books for our readers of history and
Native
American lore. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click
HERE!
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