I have been trying to connect with my animal spirit guides (a new development). I am trying to determine the nine totem animals I have. East, South, Above, Below and Within remain undetermined not apart of the seers or most common totem animals. West I have the Blue Heron, North I have the Squirrel and the ones walking beside me at all times is: firstly, to the left the Skunk and secondly, to the right the Snake.

How would I go about seeking the answers to my questions? I am looking for methods not animals as I can only be the one to determine that. Mediation? Or are they even animals? Could this be possible that it could be a god/goddess, mystical fantasy creature, angel or deceased ones?

I'd like to hear more about your experiences with this, Aprilwine. I've always drawn a distinction between "power animals" and "totem animals," but I wonder if I'm maybe just seeing two different parts of the elephant and thinking it's two different things. To me a power animal is a powerful and wise good spirit that takes animal form in the spirit world (presumably because it's fun to do so) and helps you (presumably because it's fun to do so). A totem is an animal species (or plant, or object, or event) that in its basic energy resonance (what Plato would call a "form") is vibrating at a frequency that corresponds to the frequency of your own soul. In other words, if someone saw your soul, it would have the shape of that animal or thing. Anyway, that's always been how I language the two terms, but it's this same problem of using modern Western Civilization English to describe things that Western Civilization doesn't know about. How do you see it?

Anyway, I'm surprised that you say only you can find your power animals. In my training, the ordinary way to get a power animal is to have someone gift it to you. The person goes into trance while you lie next to them, touching them and holding intention for them. The person goes on a spirit journey to find the right animal. If they see the same one three times, that's it. That's how I got my first one, a Fox. Then he and I went out together to connect with his mate, and those two are still my best spiritual friends. Their kits are grown and off on their own, now. Later, in a dream, I had a Ratel, or African honey badger, show up. I think he's Jewish. He kvetchs at me. If I ask him, "Should I do this?" He says, "Should, should. You humans with your should!" ;)

Anyway, if in your tradition you do not have another human find a power animal for you, would it be OK to just ask the animals you already have to help you do that, or to tell you how? That's what they are there for, in my experience, to guide you when you don't know and to help when you can't do it by yourself.

And, yes, it doesn't have to just be a planet earth animal. I frequently hang out with the Goddess Epipsyche (you even remind me of her a little, except her hair is wavier). She showed up for me in a dream clear back in college, when I was studying Shelley, oddly enough. I have a friend who is totally into Sekhmet. My friend/mentor David Lang has dragons for power animals. Deceased humans can be guides, but very few are with-it enough to be much help, in my experience. Usually we end up helping them get out of places of fear and pain and confusion.

Keep me posted on how it turns out. Nine power animals. Wow. More power to you if that's what you're called to do. I'm sure it will be worth all the time you spend in care and feeding, though. I'd have trouble just memorizing all their names and keeping them straight. (*avert*) That means I don't want to jinx it by what I say next, and I could be totally wrong. Maybe each new power animal is an initiation, a graduation to a new level. If so, that means each one will be a little more challenging to obtain than the last one. Freshman and sophomore levels were easy, but now you're in the 300's... If so, the universe will present you with the right test when you claim your readiness to take it. Good luck with that, by the way. The tests might not be a cakewalk.

Last thought: Have you considered a vision quest? Just walk out your front door, with no food, water, money, change of clothes, and just keep walking or hitching down the road until you find your animal. That's the hardcore way, of course. You can do a more relaxed version and take food, money, etc. if it still feels right to you. But get away, maybe far away, from your usual surroundings.

Blessings of the Lady of Life, Source of the Springs of Being, Mother Earth, and Queen of Heaven, upon you on your quest.

Alder

Totem teachings vary from tribe to tribe for the Native Americans, it is through nature that the teachings come, and it is to nature that we will all return. Each part of creation has a distinctive and valid place in our connection to Mother Earth and all her creatures. Healers in tribes where known to physically transform into what is call the power animal... everyone has a power animal that you can transform to "spiritually speaking" since we are not seers of the old age but rather as you said the Western Civilization.

Since you said that I am to see the animal three times then that is my power animal... I guess I shall "spiritually" transform to the white wolf. I have seen the white wolf many times throughout my life. In British Columbia it ran alongside the forest terrain gracefully beside the car some distance away (when I was a child), no one else saw him, only I. In one dream the white wolf approached me (in adolescence) on his territory, I was frightened and alone with no defense I thought he was going to attack me but when a bear came to kill me he protected me... the bear left in defeat and I approached the wolf and gave him a gift…that I would sacrifice my life to him for I truly did not own it... he didn't kill me instead he let me touch him as if he was a common species of today's dog. His hair was thick and not terribly soft to the touch, he was large but had a thin muscular body. It was so powerful. Then some years passed and I had another dream but I was in the pack; I was a wolf myself. The pack of 12 wolves ran together and hunted... I was so happy (I was disappointed to wake up and be in this place). I couldn't make any sense of this... I thought I was going crazy but now you have confirmed that I am not floating too far from the boat. This is the animal appointed to me at birth and my connection to nature. Thank you for helping me with my power animal!

What I am exploring seems to be extremely complex and I just need to pursue it. This expedition is a healers journey I was told by a warrior... I had Ravens come to me in mass count couple days ago then I was frightened as to what omen is going to come and forsake me now! Instead they delivered secret, mystery and magic - I had a dream last night... I was talking to a great warrior and he requested my assistance. It has lead me to seek this out now I know why the messengers from the void came to me... they want me to heal, the wolf wants me to help and lead. I really have no idea what this means; I am just trying to make sense of all this.

Every person has 9 totem animals that represent medicine that we carry in our walk in life on earth. The animals represent each of our abilities, talents, flaws and challenges. Then there are the seven different directions surrounding our physical self which is East, South, West, North, Above, Below and Within. Each direction guides you either spiritually, inner/outer/within truths, inner child, star relation, dream state, other dimensions, inner earth, protection from male and female sides (Earth and Sky). We also have two guides that walk directly beside us in our life journey. These guides do not change they are your guides for life. You can call on different spirit guides for different circumstances, situations, of various reasons... even to help someone else. Then there are the stars and the mythology of the Great Star Nation and how we relate to that. There are many animals and only some are documented but all... even the plants, rocks and insects can teach you by observation and how you speak to them and what they tell you, intuitively you will pick them up. Still I have to connect with the ones indicated previously. Totem animals are animals, plants, rocks, insects, ancestors…what serves your life passage and the path you take.

Thank you for pointing out that they may be god/goddesses because I have some other connections that are not animal related. I was told in a reading that I had four guides and a little black cat following me. Not sure if these are the 5 missing connections?

I agree with the vibrations, if focused enough I can see how an object radiates to its surroundings…its all matter and it can all be transformed the power is in the mind. If we seen ourselves as matter…why couldn't we transform? What is our true reflection? What would someone see if they could see our souls? I believe that it is how each person perceives via the body, mind and spirit. If they see it through natures eyes maybe they will see an animal but I believe that we are children of the light, and if someone could see our souls I would think they would see beautiful rays of light, like stars and all unique but equally beautiful. That's why there are so many light workers among us.

I wish I could take a vision quest but I have so many responsibilities that I can't. I can go through my escapes by walks/hikes in the forest, paint, meditate and go on frequent spiritual fasts. Spiritual fasts discharge your body of toxins and water flushes it all away rejuvenating the three elements of body, mind and spirit to receive the connection with the divine and with oneself.

You mentioned that you seen the elephant in different parts…the elephant in an emblem of enormous strength, sovereignty, stability and power. They are extremely protective of the young, they are loving, caring and supportive and might I mention they are not easily defeated. They are wise and at times prudent or stubborn but to have an elephant as your guide is a great ally indeed. As it goes for the fox, well a fox has many allies in the woodlands... you are well protected, you have many friends, extremely adaptable, positively cunning, quick decisiveness and sure. You have the ability to smooth over any ruff situation by using silly tactics. Most importantly, you have the ability to vanish without being noticed. As an observer of others activities; you like to see the patterns of people so that you can predict the next thing that happens. Work on becoming camouflage as it is a foxes unique gift.

What would someone see if they could see our souls? I believe that it is how each person perceives via the body, mind and spirit. If they see it through natures eyes maybe they will see an animal but I believe that we are children of the light, and if someone could see our souls I would think they would see beautiful rays of light, like stars and all unique but equally beautiful. Thats why there are so many light workers among us.

I've had both those experiences. Often if I really look at someone, look into the person, I get a very definite image. I don't usually look for people's aura's, but sometimes I see what I guess could be called a totem image. I look at the person and see an animal, or a tree (my wife hates it when I call her "Grandmother Willow" like from Disney's Pocahontas, but that's what I see: A great and ancient tree, soft and flowing but tough, too, with deep roots in both water and earth). Or with one person I know I always see a doorway. Another it's a pillar, very solid, but with the top hidden in mist.

I do get that sense of radiance from some people, although we humans have so many layers of being, the personality we show to ourselves, that which we show to closest partners and family, parent and child, our work sphere and our public sphere, all like hollow concentric spheres, with windows, and if we line them all up by being truly authentic, not trying to be one thing on one level and something different on another when we are with different people, then we create a straight pathway so that our innermost light can shine in the world, and we can receive the light of the world into ourselves. But none of us stay in that perfect center of authenticity all the time. Our old woundednesses and the chaos of our world keep knocking things out of whack. But I have definitely seen that radiance from other beings. Especially my Foxes. They shapeshift quite easily, and every once in a while, when I've needed especially intense help, they've unzipped their fox suits (for lack of a better way to describe it) and underneath is an incredibly radiant being of pure light.

Wow, yes. That's a very powerful connection to the white wolf that you describe. That's one to trust. Sometimes it does seem to come that way--encountering the living waking world planet Earth animal in a very powerful, personal way. I knew a doctor, most materialist skeptic you could imagine, but he loved fishing and so he got a brown trout tattooed on his arm, explaining that all of the most beautiful, meaningful events in his life were somehow connected to the Trout. I didn't say anything new-agey to him about it, because he would have just gotten defensive. But it was obviously a totem for him.

I started having dreams about a scorpion attacking me (I even still have a scar on my ankle where it stung me), and then my daughter brought home a baby mouse (when it grew up turned out to be a rat) that had been stung by scorpions. A teenage boy who kept pet scorpions had bought it at a pet store and put it in the cage to watch the scorpions attack it. So I stayed up all night with the little guy and helped him process the scorpion venom, and he told me his name (I gave him the public name Galen). So ever since he sits on my shoulder and sticks his whiskery nose in my ear and whispers to me. I understand everything he says, even though most of it couldn't be translated into English. It's animal wisdom.

The scorp, BTW, was not a power animal. He was a disease, appearing in dreamspace as a scorpion, or as a man who carried a scorpion staff. Still, he was a wise and good being. I really should have listened to him when I was playing around with lucid dreaming and stuff, and he warned me I could hurt someone. Now there would be a powerful spirit guide for a healer--a disease! Imagine having an HIV or something as a power animal. Yikes!

Sounds like you're getting outdoors into nature a lot, and I find that's best. No amount of book learning, or even learning from the elders of any tribe or culture you want to name, does much good without the deep grounding in the Mother. Earlier this year I had a funny thing happen where several different people, all completely unrelated to each other, brought up the subject of Siddha Yoga with me, and in fact it turned out that all the connections led back to the same Oakland ashram. So I started wondering, is this a message? Should I look into this? But then I went down to my favorite secluded beach and suddenly felt very powerfully that I was being told, This is your ashram. These stones, the sand and the wind and the waves and the gulls are your gurus. Listen to them. Lately I've been working on learning the lesson of the oystercatcher. That's a shorebird we have here in Oregon that has a very long, skinny, curved bill. I go jogging on the beach in the morning and I find where they've been feeding. It's always the same pattern. You see their footprints where they land on the sand, and right in front, a deep, straight hole in the sand the size of a dime, and beside it, the emptied out shell of a sand crab. I never find a place where an oystercatcher landed and had to wander around for a while before finding a crab, and I never find a place where an oystercatcher stuck its beak in but didn't get a meal. Somehow, up in the air, they know the exact place where a crab is hiding under the sand, and they go straight to it. The lesson from them is the lesson of the subtle senses--see what others cannot see, hear what others cannot hear! Most other birds can't catch crabs like that. The seagulls don't seem to be able to find the crabs under the sand. Although gulls have a powerful lesson, too. The lesson of the scavenger, the opportunist. Take what you are given, and you will thrive! Accept reality on its own terms!

Actually, a friend of mine does have an elephant power animal. But I wasn't being so literal. I was making a tongue in cheek reference to the old fable of the five blind sages who meet an elephant and one says, "It's like a snake," another "It's like a tree," another "It's like a fan," another "It's like a wall." I meant, I was seeing two different things, power animals and totem animals, but maybe it's only my blindness that keeps me from realizing they are two aspects of the same being.

I have never heard this teaching about having a personal totem or guardian in each direction. When doing spiritual work I call upon the spirits and guardians of the seven directions you mention, and when I'm done I thank them and say, "Go if you must, stay if you will." The wisdom you describe in this post sounds quite evolved. What culture does that come from? Or did you develop it yourself? I was asked to join a Si Si Wis circle by a Native woman I know who carries hundreds (maybe thousands) of Pacific NorthWest tribal songs--and a bunch of Lakota, from her years on the South Dakota res when she was married to a Lakota fellow. But she gets a kick out of my calling seven directions when she asks me to do it. She only drums the four compass directions when she starts the circle. You mentioned B.C. but I didn't know any Pac NW peoples had teachings like you describe. But then I'm used to Kayapuya and Tutuni and some of the stuff around here, and in Washington. There are so many different traditions and languages in this part of the world, you can travel 30 miles and everything changes. Are the teachings you describe like an Islander thing? Kwakiutl or the like? I'm intrigued (and impressed). Tell me more, please! (as much as you can, I know many tribal teachings aren't appropriate to post on the internet or share with non-members in any way).

What you describe sounds like the Pollen Path; Beauty before me, Beauty behind me, etc. You're becoming a healer? Good, we need those, at this transitional time in our world. It sounds like you're getting into it in a very deep way. Maybe what I said about tests is right. Maybe it's your reference to the number 9, but it puts me in mind of the Ninth Major card in Tarot: The Hermit. The Hermit is a gift like the oystercatcher's: Esoteric knowledge. It's the stuff you can't learn on a casual basis. The hard lessons. The teaching that you have to leave the beaten path to find. It reminds me of that old Led Zeppelin album, that had "Stairway to Heaven" on it. The album cover showed the Hermit from the Rider Tarot, but when you open the album, you see that the rock the Hermit is standing on is the very tip of the peak of a really tall, really steep mountain. Way, way, down, miles below, there is a little figure of a person climbing up the jagged cliffs toward the Hermit, and it gives you a vivid image of just how much work it takes to get there and receive the light the Hermit holds in his lantern.

Not to sound discouraging or anything (or, as they say, the "skunk at the garden party"). Have you ever read Cameron's book, The Artist's Way? As she says, the Universe is just waiting for us to step out on the adventure and be creative. If you name and claim yourself as a Healer, with a capital H, the Universe will present you with the lessons you need to get that. Challenging lessons, no doubt about it! But you are also given the talents and tools you need to accomplish them. I've been in that phase a lot lately. I know my next big phase of learning will involve going down to Central America. But I've got a lot to learn between now and then, and some of the lessons I've been given at work, home, personal health, have about made me want to just give up the whole venture. I feel like I've gotten the first hard year of required courses out of the way, though, and now Spirit is letting me take some electives, which is much more fun. ;)

Well, you've got quite an amazing journey going there. I hope you will share more with us. Many Blessings,

Alder

Yep. Foxes are tricksters, all right. Mine's even joked with me and said, "Run, run as fast as you can...." Yeah, when a very nice woman did the finding power animal journey for me, and came back and said she found a Fox, I said, "Oh, wonderful! I was afraid it was going to be something endangered!" I know that sounds dumb, but at that point in my life, I was wondering if I was being called to step out of mainstream culture in a deep way, change jobs, eat nothing but organic vegan, that sort of stuff. But Foxes are very good at integrating into the present culture. There is a higher population of many kinds of fox in North America now than there was 500 years ago. They not only can survive the human presence, they thrive on it. I used to always hate being such a spaz, always going a mile a minute in ten different directions, when so many spiritual people I encounter seem serene and steady and grounded all the time, but Fox is a spaz like me, so he's helped me like that about myself, how I tend to get sidetracked a lot. Or as he put it, "The shortest distance between two points is almost never the Fox's path."

So now I'll shut up and give you a chance to get a word in edgewise. ;)

I can see what you mean by “layers” or “levels” of being and staying true to oneself (perfect center). There is one true self and staying centered in it is a task in itself in today's modern “chaos”. In my opinion, I think that we have developed many “layers” of self in defense of protecting our true being. Depending on our tasks we prepare ourselves for the day, our events and our dealings with others. The problem is, I think sometimes we get so caught up in it that we forget our true self and stay in the current state of mind we are in (these layers). The best thing I can say about being true to one self in a complete generalization is to follow our intuition because our intuition is our connection to the divine. Our true radiance shines in a time of bliss, contentment and peace.

I do not see people's totems but I do read auras well, they sometimes are bright or dim; colorful or very predominant in one color. I can “feel” all their personal traits, habits, attributes, strengths and weakness…I can tell you exactly who and what they are all about before I even talk to them. My husband mistakes me for being too judgmental…until he sees what I say is true at that opportune moment I say “I told you so!”. Feeling weakness is like absorbing someone's disease and exploring all their emotions…it can be heavy sometimes; I try focus on that to see if I could help, some though, sad to say just don't want help and will remain in their miserable state until the divine gives them a life altering, spiritual changing event which is to come and awaken them. Upon certain discussions I help by giving them helpful pointers in dealing with their current dilemma (which they never volunteer). They become intrigued and want to know more about themselves. Then like tides from the ocean sometimes I receive waves of vision…I often target specific positive childhood experiences. I know when I have their full attention; their eyes are in tears, their hearts become warm, their minds still and their body relaxed…even the biggest of giants have fallen. Once the first ray is open and apparent for observation I have ability to journey deeper, this is where I discover ones inner beauty and the rays shine bright. Every time they say, “I wasn't suppose to be here tonight but now I know that I had to be here tonight…to talk to you”. People don't want answers to their problems only insight into themselves.

The power animal is like your talisman designating all your energy in this kinship with this ally you have be it a creature being, stone person, start nation, finned one, creepy crawler, standing people or any other living with nature including angels or god/goddess. It is a suggestion to meditate with your power animal and display on your altar (if you have one) this power animal is you, your soul, your inner spirit and your connection with nature. You are to transform into this power animal…for this is your power however, along the way you also have totem animals, your guides in different directions. East, being the animal that guides you to your greatest spiritual challenges and guards your path. South, this animal protects the child within and reminds you when to be humble and when to trust so innocence is not lost and remains balanced. West, the animal leads you to your personal truth and inner answers and shows you the path to your goals. North, this animal gives wise counsel and reminds you when to speak and when to listen. Be grateful for blessing. Above, this animal teaches you to honor and remind you of where you came from and where you will return, a true guardian of dreams and access to other dimensions. Below, this animal teaches you about the inner earth and how to stay grounded. Within, this animal teaches how to find your hearts desire and how to be faithful to yourself and guarder of personal sacred space. Right, this animal protects your male side and the Left is an animal that protects your female side. This is only surface scratching but they direct you in your path, they never change or alter but you may call on other totem guides to help you if you desire or need to feel a certain connection. So a power animal is you and your greatest teacher and totems are your guides ensuring your every direction. You may call for answers that you seek to your questions about your life. The teachings are from the Wolf Clan and derive from the many elders in Choctaw, Lakoa, Seneca, Chrokee and Mayan traditions. The seven directions are the same directions you have recognized but you have two more walking beside you to protect your male and female sides… right-male-earth and left-female-sky…earth and sky is your relation to the Great Star Nations/nature so there are nine totems, but not always recognized. I don't want to become a healer, this is not my intention but the Ravens and the White Wolf confuse me…I just found out that they interact naturally in the wilderness and that the Raven always travels across the paths of wolves, they warn them and wolves follow their signals. Now it has become apparent that I am being called to reawaken but in my research of these animals the raven and the white timber wolf its odd they say they speak to elders the healers…I am not either of them so what should I think? And why did I have that dream? Its really interesting that you reference to the rider deck the hermit…I never thought of that, but I think that your right and it will be a extensive journey and profound soul searching in front of me…this may mean a lot of life changes in addition. This is not discouraging I know my voyage will be lifetime work, it has been already.

I have not read the book you are suggesting but I will take that as a recommendation and read it.

I would relate the scorpion to the snake, in only the manner that they both have poison and/or that they sting/bite…living through multiple bits/stings which allows them to transmune all poisons be it mental, physical spiritual or emotional and that all things which might be experienced as poison can be eaten, ingested, integrated and transmuted if one has the appropriate state of mind…building immunity and resistance or death producing divine energy creating passion, desire, procreation and physical vitality. The Rat has many predatory enemies and food for many…high sense of danger. Anger is aroused from them most easily, they pay close attention to detail and specialize most often…they hoard and prepare for the worst. A little symbolism here!

That's interesting you mention your wife as a willow, the key words are magic, healing, inner vision and dreams. Connected with the feminine forces within the universe creation and birth, thriving free of control of modern society she has a lot of ancient insight and tends to make occasional trips to her roots when feeling suffocated by the city slam. Willows I find are romantic, sweet, understanding, simple and most beautiful in the spring when she blossoms, when the wind catches her branches and how gracefully she swings. You are a very lucky man to have someone so patient, gentle and nourishing. I can see why the fox nests in her shade she would be a great mother for upbringing of children, if you do not have them already.

Oh and you are never babbling I really respect your ideas and believe it or not... this is the first time I have told anyone this stuff... so if your babbling so am I :).