YOUR PERSONAL TOTEMS

FOR NAI CLASS
Or anyone else interested

A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. NAI tradition provides that each individual is connected with nine different animals that will accompany each person through life, acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed along our journey.

Native beliefs further explain that an animal totem is one that is with you for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people may identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes, it is this one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit.

With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.

For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal totem is: Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.

Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be represented in other ways such as receiving card and letters with the same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show up.

When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested in seeing?
Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing?
Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature?
Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?
Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood that you have never been able to forget?
Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?

The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal. This could be any number of items - a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine or anything else that depicts your animal.

For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some major characteristics of animals that my help you to identify with one or more. Finding your totem(s) is a personal thing and only you can do it.
Eagle is my main totem, but I have called on many others throughout my life.
I hope this helps.

The following Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they “communicate” with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not necessarily mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal, more that you are open to learning its lessons.


         Alligator          Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic survival instincts.
         Ant          Group minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious
         Anteater          Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.
         Antelope          Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice
         Armadillo          Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries
         Badger          Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit
         Bat          Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life
         Bear          Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength
         Beaver          Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector
         Bee          Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life
         Boar/Pig          A very powerful totem - prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless.
         Buffalo          Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.
         Bull          Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation.
         Butterfly          Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace, grace, ability to accept change
         Camel          Survival, positive, accomplishments
         Caribou          Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity
         Cat          Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence
         Cheetah          Swiftness, insight, focus
         Cougar          Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight
         Cow          Swift, insightful, and focused
         Coyote          Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence
         Cheetah          Nourishment and mother figure
         Cobra          Swift and decisive
         Coyote          Stealth, mischief, rickster, intelligent, clowining around, ability to recognize mistakes.
         Crab          Good luck, protection and success
         Crane          Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant
         Crocodile          Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately
         Crow          Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance
         Deer          Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure
         Dog          Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance

Dolphin          Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.          
Dove          Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love          
Dragon          Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery          
Dragonfly          Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.          
Duck          Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions          
Eagle          Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker          
Elephant          Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom          
Elk          Strength and agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, strength, and nobility          
Falcon          New beginnings, adventure, passionate, and leadership.          
Fish          Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind.          
Flamingo          Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious.          
Fox          Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility          
Frog          Water energy, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, peace, adaptability, poor character judgment and power          
Gazelle          Aggressive          
Giraffe          Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the future          
Goat          Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of foresight          
Goose          Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, and productive          
Gorilla          Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression.          
Grasshopper          Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive.          
Grouse          Personal power, enlightenment          
Hawk          Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship.          
Heron/Egret          Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced.          
Hippopotamus          Power, creation, imagination, healing.          
Horse          Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom          
Hummingbird          Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior          
Jaguar          Chaos, shape-shifter, aggressiveness, power          
Kangaroo          Forward, balance, creative, stamina.          
Lion          Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector          
Lizard          Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses.          
Llama          Comforting to others, secure.          
Lynx          Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide          
Mole          Sensitivity, guidance, searching.          
Monkey          Ability to change the environment, health, success          
Moose          Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom          
Mouse          Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details          
Octopus          Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal.          
Opossum          Diversion, strategist, and deceiver          
Ostrich          Grounded, practical          
Otter          Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, and sharing          
Owl          Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger,          
Ox          Sacrifice, chastity and self-denial          
Panther          Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions          
Parrot          Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before speaking          
Peacock          Immortality, dignity, and self-confidence          
Pelican          Resilient, unselfish, rising above.          
Penguin          Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual          
Porcupine          Innocence, companionship, and trust          
Prairie Dog          Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness          
Puma          Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power          
Quail          Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)          
Rabbit          Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth,          
Raccoon          Curiosity and cleanliness          
Ram          Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative.          
Rat          Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury          
Raven          Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic          
Rhinoceros          Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid.          
Roadrunner          Mental agility, speed, opportunistic.          
Rooster          Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early riser, settling for nothing less than the best          
Salmon          Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration          
Scorpion          Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic, passionate          
Seagull          Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness          
Seahorse          Confidence and grace          
Seal          Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity          
Shark          Hunter, survival, and adaptability          
Skunk          Reputation, presence, and strength          
Snail          Protective, aware, solitary.          
Snake          Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom          
Spider          Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication          
Squirrel          Planner and gatherer          
Stag          Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.          
Swan          Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self          
Tiger          Strength, valor, power, and energy          
Toad          inner strength, luck, self-examination          
Turkey          Generosity, life-giver, and sharer          
Turtle          Nurturer, shy, and protecting          
Unicorn          Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle          
Weasel          Strength, energy, ingenuity and stealth          
Whale          Wisdom, provider, intelligence, and kindness.          
Wolf          Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit          
Woodpecker          Sensitive, protective, and devotion          
Zebra          Agility and individuality