What your Animal Totem Means – Part 3

December 5th, 2008 by Dan Bodenstein

Gecko

Here it is, part 3. I’ve received emails from many people requesting animal meanings. It impresses me how many people feel attracted to specific animal. This part includes meanings for the gecko, giraffe, the frog, deer, and goose. For this article I used another source for finding deeper meanings of some of these animals. As I’ve mentioned before, Ted Andrew’s has a book called “Animal Speak”. This book has a sequel which goes deeper into the meanings of specific species. The book is called “Animal-Wise“.

Gecko

The gecko, which happens to be one of my power totems, carries many meanings. Are you too sensitive? do you need more emotional objectivity in your life? The Gecko teaches us to properly deal with opposing energies. Do you need to detach yourself from a situation, in order to resolve it? Are you too attached to things in the past, and is it affecting the present.

Giraffe

The giraffe, with its tall neck, makes it the tallest of all mammals. This height offers it the unique gift of farsightedness. If the giraffe appears to you, ask yourself, “Are you not seeing what is plainly in front of you?”. Are you afraid to see what lies ahead? Are you not letting others know what you see? Are you afraid of the future? Just as the giraffe cannot see what is ahead when they bend down to drink water, are you loosing sight of the horizon too? This is a time when the giraffe is most vulnerable. Are you being vulnerable by not looking ahead?

Frog

If the frog has appeared to you this may be a sign of new beginnings. The frog is often a symbol of fertility. Early Egyptians believed that when the frogs appeared, this meant the beginning of new things, and that energies were being awakened. Are you ignoring new opportunities in your life? Is it time to dive into new waters? Are you not transforming your ideas or emotions to their full potential? Are you living in repetition, ignoring the chance for change?

Deer

The deer has been a favorite of people’s long before we all cried while watching Bambi. Deer represent gentleness and innocence. If the deer has appeared to you, ask your self if you are being overcritical of yourself, or others. Are you not thinking of the feelings of others or yourself? Are you trying to force things, instead of using a more gentle approach. The deer also represents the gentle movement into new adventures. Are you denying yourself something new because it looks too easy?

Goose

The goose is a messenger, and is an invocation of a quest or travels to other places. We attribute fairy tales and children’s stories to “Mother Goose”. What does Mother Goose do if not take people on a journey to other places. Geese also migrate, another aspect of travel. For you, the representation of “travel” may be physical, or metaphysical. After all, we can travel to new places in our minds a lot easier than in the physical sense. Are you open to new adventures and travel? Do you have a quest you have been neglecting to start on? The quest can be as simple as looking for a new home, or finding a new job.

Remember to check out these books about animal spirits an totem by Ted Andrews