So What’s Your Totem Animal?
Totem animals come and go in our lives. You may have some for awhile that later disappear only to have new ones replace them.
Or they may stay with you always.
A few days back Angela Finney asked me if cougar was a totem of mine. Though cougar is not, it got me to wondering if any of you have totem animals that you would like to share.
Robert Sloan had mentioned his was cougar Also Lorie recently made a request for Raven as it’s one of her favorite critter.
Anyone else want to share? I may just get inspired to add your critter to the series.
My Muse Has Thwacked Me Hard With Her Inspiration Stick
I’m all a flutter with ideas. I had been pondering my series thus far and like what I’ve got but I don’t want 15 to 35 paintings all the same color and concept. So I pondered this and slept on it and woke up to all sorts of ideas.
I now have a plan for Horse and White buffalo as well as (possibly) Raven and Wolf.
Disclaimer
I am also currently building a Squidoo lens about totem (and spirit guide) animals which will include information about the significance of each animal. Hey I warned you I am kinda new agey.
That being said I find this all very interesting. A curiosity. But much like I don’t put a lot of store in my being a Libra . . .so it goes with this.
My Totem Animals Are. . .
(appearing in the order of significance.)
1 Bear. This one has been with me for a very long time. Between the ages of 16 and 25 I often dreamed I was a bear and I still remember them vividly. Also my personality is very bear like. I’m loving and amiable but if someone pokes me . . . well, let’s just say things turn ugly.
2. Raven/Crow. Raven came to me about 5 years ago when I was exploring imagery regarding my health. I have more than one condition, though they do not really effect my daily life, they will undoubtedly shorten my life and do on occasion cause me distress.
So I was doing some healing visualizations and Raven and Crow came to me. Rather unexpectedly. So much so I was startled out of my meditation. Since then they have been a part of any healing imagery I do. I consider them a sign of good luck when I see them in real life.
Also last year at an art fair I was looking at another artist’s work and commenting on how lovely her things were. Her art was packed with strung beads and baubles. I said”I do love the dangly and the sparkly” She smiled and said that I was a Raven in a past life. I looked at her and smiled and thought “Whaaaa?” But that thought kinda stuck in my head.
3. Horse. I would have thought horse would have ranked higher but I’m not totally sure of this one anyway. The horse plays prominently in my life and I am very passionate about the animal. Also I was born in the Chinese astrological year of the horse and for the most part embody what it stands for.
UPDATED:
Discover Your Birth Animal Totem
Interestingly, last night as I was doing research for my totem lens I decided I wanted to incorporate other totem lenses into mine and I ran across this one. Discover Your Birth Animal TotemI found out that what while I’ve known about my zodiac sun sign (you know like I’m a Libra) that I also have a moon sign. According to that I was born in the month of the crow/raven. And that my spirit keeper (not sure what that is) is Grizzly Bear.
Huh? What do ya know.
Also Bev, the author of the lens also has a blog about animal totems and spirit guides so if your curious to know more check it out.
BTW the finished (well almost finished. She’s up to the tweaking stage) cougar will get posted next.
Tags: totems
Oh Mona, I found your blog! It is fantastic! Since you are taking requests I would love to see Beaver. I was born under the moon sign of Brother Beaver and my Spirit Keeper is Wabun (Golden Eagle).
Mudjekeewis (Grizzly Bear) is your Spirit Keeper and what that means in simple terms is that he is your “power” totem. He is your Guardian Angel, if you will. Mudjekeewis is a powerful totem to have…He is the Chief of all Spirit Keepers and Animal Totems and rules the West Winds.
Cool!!!!
Wow, you have been busy since your post about a post!! How are your 5 creative days going? I trust that you are feeling much better now? I hope so.
Isn’t it great to be so full of ideas? I may get my clay out again today because I have a whole range of things I want to make and some stoneware clay that I want to use up.
I have to admit that totems, star signs and spirit guides are really not my thing. But the paintings are great
and I expect the research is interesting.
Hey Undaunted.
Thanks for the comments on the lenses. Very appreciated. 
Yup it’s good to feel like working on something instead of vegging out in front of the TV. Winter is sooooo long.
Well Mona, thank you for thinking of Raven! I enjoyed going to the Squidoo site to learn about my totem. Imagine my disappointment to be a fish!!! although reading the description, it seems to fairly accurately describe me and my struggles. I also had an aha moment when I read that my spirit keeper is Coyote… I’ve always had an affinity for him.
Thanks for a super fun start to my morning! so glad I found your blog and your beautiful paintings!
Hey Lorie, Okay I probably won’t do fish, but coyote I like.
Many years ago I was at an artist retreat where a friend of mine found out she was snake. Despite it being a great totem she was horrified for rather a long time.
Glad you had fun with it. I’m enjoying it all myself.
Thanks for a great post, Mona. How did you find your spirit keeper, Mona?
I have several books on totems and used to consult them as animal events occurred in my life. I have not looked at them for awhile now. I will get them back out.
Nice site and lens, Bev.
According to Bev’s information, my birth/moon totem is cougar or wolf.
I do know I am very attracted to the yellow in your cougar, Mona.
I have for some reason felt a strong kindred feeling with deer.
On the birth totem lens the spirit keeper is listed with various other stuff like stone and plant, above the bulk of the moon sign text.
We’ve got the animal medicine cards and book. Had it for a long time.Hadn’t really looked at if for a very long time but have been reading again because of the lens. I’ve been thinking about getting another book on totems. Not only for the lens but for the painting series.
I’m working on white buffalo now. Will post her soon.