Blog
Birth Totems
"Totem Horse"
I've been asked how people acquire their birth totem. My simplistic answer follows. I am not, and don't claim to be, an expert in totem animals, rather, I am a student. Having said that, here is my understanding. Much like the astrological signs, which most people think originated with the Greeks (but I've read that the study of astrology actually began in Egypt around 4000 BC) your birth totem is associated with your time of birth, and it roughly coincides with your astrological sign.
Most Native American cultures have some form belief in totem animals - calling them by different names, but the concept is the same. According to a workshop I took a while back, you are born with a certain animal as a totem - this animal has attributes that mirror your general way of approaching things. By studying the animal, you can learn things about yourself and how you can learn to adapt your "style of being" (for lack of a better way to phrase that!) to live a healthier, happier, more creative, more satisfying life.
For instance, my birth totem animal is the crow or raven. Even before I was aware of totem animals, I had an affinity for birds in the crow family. When I was a young girl playing in the woods behind my family home, it was the crows and ravens who I listened to and tried to emulate with "caw! caw!" I have always been attracted to images of ravens - photographs, paintings, woodcuts. I even purchased a raven fetish at a gallery in Wyoming. All before I knew. In learning about the raven, I learn something about myself. According to one interpretation, Raven people are sociable, talkative folks, full of nervous energy and fluctuating moods. They are usually very
flexible and adapt well to new environments and circumstances. According to many schools of thought, you actually have at least seven totem animals at work in your life, and it may take a lifetime for them to reveal themselves to you. A great resouirce for learning more about Totem, or Spirit Animals, is the book by Ted Anrews called "Animal Speak."
Most Native American cultures have some form belief in totem animals - calling them by different names, but the concept is the same. According to a workshop I took a while back, you are born with a certain animal as a totem - this animal has attributes that mirror your general way of approaching things. By studying the animal, you can learn things about yourself and how you can learn to adapt your "style of being" (for lack of a better way to phrase that!) to live a healthier, happier, more creative, more satisfying life.
For instance, my birth totem animal is the crow or raven. Even before I was aware of totem animals, I had an affinity for birds in the crow family. When I was a young girl playing in the woods behind my family home, it was the crows and ravens who I listened to and tried to emulate with "caw! caw!" I have always been attracted to images of ravens - photographs, paintings, woodcuts. I even purchased a raven fetish at a gallery in Wyoming. All before I knew. In learning about the raven, I learn something about myself. According to one interpretation, Raven people are sociable, talkative folks, full of nervous energy and fluctuating moods. They are usually very
flexible and adapt well to new environments and circumstances. According to many schools of thought, you actually have at least seven totem animals at work in your life, and it may take a lifetime for them to reveal themselves to you. A great resouirce for learning more about Totem, or Spirit Animals, is the book by Ted Anrews called "Animal Speak."
