Honoring your Animal Totem.

November 9th, 2008 by Dan Bodenstein

Once you have established your power totem, the animal or animals that you feel the strongest connection to, you need to learn to honor it. In order to better understand its meaning and purpose in your life, you should honor your totem by surrounding yourself with its likeness.

Honoring your totem is more than just hanging a picture of it in your office or bedroom. You need to learn your animal. Research it from all aspects, including the scientific aspects, and the metaphysical. For example, the Dolphin is a symbol of breathing through your problems. But did you know that a dolphin’s rib cage compresses when it dives deep? What could this mean? Could it mean that you’ve compresses your difficulties and problems, and need to release them? Does it mean you problems are too wide spread and need to be compacted and focused on? Understanding more about your totem can open more pathways to understanding their relationship in your life.

Statues and figurines are another way of honoring your totem. You don’t need to look for expensive statuary, small inexpensive figurines will do just fine. It’s the notion of honor that matters. Art is a great way to honor your totem. Doodle little drawings of your animal. Purchase coloring books with your animal in them and color them. I know it sounds childish, but you’ll learn more about the shape and features that make up your animals.

Speaking of childish, another great source for learning about your totem is through childrens books. Yes that’s right. Childrens books often provide a great deal of information about an animals basic nature.

Mimicry can also provide a connection to your animal totem. Imitate its movements, or even its shape. If your totem is the jaguar, crouch low to the ground and learn how to pounce on your target. If your totem is a heron, spread your arms wide, and take long strides as you walk. If you want to go even further, adorn yourself with a mask of your totem while you imitate its moves. Okay, I admit, some of this may sound silly. After all, you wouldn’t want your room mate walking in on you while your dancing like a sand crane… or your spouse for that matter. But, when you’re alone… give it a try. I promise not to tell.

Although I am not a big fan of animals in captivity, visit a local zoo, or better yet, a wildlife sanctuary that houses your totem. One of my totems is the gecko. Under no circumstances would I purchase a gecko and try to keep it as a pet. I truly believe animals belong in the wild. I do, have four cats. They are all treated like family, not pets.

Learn your totem. Honor it, and in return it will honor you.

Check out Kitty’s Critters for some really interesting animal figurines.

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