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Post by shimmerhawk on Jan 13, 2008 0:17:12 GMT -5
Raven seems to have been with me consistently for the longest time, Wolf used to be a very strong presence in my life, and others seem to show up when they have something to teach and leave when they're finished, such as Butterfly or Heron. I don't think Heron is quite through with me yet though.  I'd say these last two are spirit guides, whereas maybe Raven is my totem. I'm not entirely sure and I'm not totally familiar with the exact terminology/definitions regarding totems and guides. |
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Post by krissy on Apr 12, 2008 18:42:01 GMT -5
I always had an affinity for Wolves and Snakes, and I am only recently trying to figure out exactly what the Snake means to me. It may be my totem animal, though I can't say for sure yet. Ironically, I was born in the year of the Snake, which I always thought was a fun little fact since I never knew that until years after my affinity for Snakes had been well developed. I happen to like astrology, so I like to think that my birth year has some significance to me. A lanky, female Arctic Wolf, however, is my spirit guide, though I do not yet know her by name. I have seen her clearly in my meditations, however, and she always shows up in my mind's eye to "tear apart" any mental turmoil that I may be going through. Oddly enough, I saw her most clearly while in church, when I used to go. I believe that that is because I was so open to spiritual influence, and I was seeking spiritual guidance. Instead of God, my beautiful she-Wolf shows up. LoL.  |
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Post by felgreywolf on May 1, 2008 11:39:49 GMT -5
a totem animal is one whos general demeaner,way of life, and energy reflects your own. its a generalization. spirit guides, are individuals, who help you out and guide you on your lifes path
My totem animals are the fox and the wolf, and i have three spirit guides. One is a male wolf, another is a male fox, and the other is a female raven. They dont always get along, but... they work together to help me out.
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Post by RedFeather on May 1, 2008 22:42:34 GMT -5
Speaking of totems...
Okay... I don't think this is a permanent totem, but I think there must be some sort of message I'm not getting, but I keep having turkey vultures show up when I'm outside. And they're supposedly uncommon here. Last year, I saw a grand total of two. Now already this year, I've seen WAY more than two.
Likewise, for Asazi it's sandhill cranes. Same deal. But with sandhill cranes.
Anyways... just thought I'd mention it.
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Post by felgreywolf on May 2, 2008 11:50:57 GMT -5
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Post by RedFeather on May 2, 2008 18:08:56 GMT -5
Oh yeah, that... for some odd reason I had it bookmarked already, because ages ago, (even though I hadn't had any vulture interraction yet, aside from the turkey vulture at our raptor center), I found that somehow and thought it was highly interesting. Then I kinda forgot about it. I shall have to read that again. Thanks. |
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Post by xdarkkitsunex on Jun 12, 2008 2:15:49 GMT -5
I've had two in my life so far: the fox and the wolf. They both make big impacts on my life. I can't call either one secondary or primary.
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Wolfie
New Member
Therian Wolf
Posts: 42
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Post by Wolfie on Jun 12, 2008 21:14:00 GMT -5
i don't know anything about totems
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Post by Earth Listener on Jun 13, 2008 10:25:30 GMT -5
I seem to have four totems - wolf, raven, snake, and puma.
After I learned about totems used to think I only had one totem - wolf, but a while back I noticed that raven and then snake seemed be more there and that wolf was less but still there. Then puma appeared and wolf become more there and raven and snake less but was still there. This cycle of being more ’dominant’ and more ’submissive’ seems to go on with my totems depending on how much I’m in ‘need’ other there certain kind message. I’m still learning and figuring it out though.
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Post by ashxnight on Jun 16, 2008 3:48:57 GMT -5
i feel so cliché when i say wolf
but that's it
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Post by mayacorvina on Jun 20, 2008 15:04:21 GMT -5
lol.
i have jaguar, red-tailed hawk, raven, and sugarbaby/flying squirrel. and i think bees. of all things. =)
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Post by Nousagi on Jul 12, 2008 10:05:15 GMT -5
Well, I won't get into a debate about what totemism means to me. I'd just like to point out that everyone has different perceptions and opinions, especially spirituality wise. Though I definitely have my own totemistic beliefs, I'm just going to let people believe what they want about their personal totemism.
Domestic Cat showed hirself to me in 2004 (but has been in my life forever), which I confused for my theriotype. Since then, Cat and I have been on rocky ground, from hir "hiding" in the background for some time, to me finally acknowledging and accepting her, but still feeling uneasy. S/he is my primary totem.
Butterfly has been in my life on and off since I was little, too. Sadly, I'm in constant need of hir influence. It's not always a bad thing, but I guess it shows how unsteady I am or how easily I turn the wrong way, needing hir metamorphosis teachings. Using Lupa's terms, s/he would be my secondary totem.
As far as tertiary totems, I plan on invoking and evoking Rabbit once I receive my full pelt.
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Post by jackalope on Apr 15, 2009 23:08:22 GMT -5
As you all have mentioned before, I'm not sure the difference between Spirit Guides and Totems, but I think Grizzly and Elk are my Spirit Guides. They often talk to me in dream and point me in the right direction. While Red Tailed Hawk is physical and shows himself when I most need to see him. (i.e. stressful situations, times of upset, etc...) Dire Wolf sometimes shows himself in my dreams though he doesn't speak. May that be a clue as to my therio type? I'm not sure. Elk and Grizzly have been with me several years and possibly all my life. I've always seen them as helpful and dream with them often. Red Tailed Hawk showed me himself with his mate at the woods a few years ago. He would fly from his perch when I whistled and I got to see the first flight of his hatchlings. He's always shows himself when I'm most stressed, which is quite a pleasure. But could I be confusing him for just another animal I identify with? I do love animals quite a bit...  |
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Post by bloodhound on Jan 24, 2011 16:44:20 GMT -5
So these may be stupid questions, but I've never really delved into the concept of totems so...
What are they?
What are they used for?
How do you know which are yours?
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Post by reflections on Dec 23, 2011 13:12:59 GMT -5
Totems are an emblem of a tribe. Spirit Animal/Power Animal/Spirit Guide tend to be companions. I use these terms interchangeably. For me, Spirit Guide is a person or some kind of Humanoid, whereas a Spirit Animal/Totem is an Animal. Preference; helps me to differentiate. I've had quite a few temporary Totems, who moved on after I've learned what I needed. And I've been visited by many Messengers. But my constant Companions are American Bison, Chickadee, Mouflon Ram, Beluga Whale :-) They've been with me for a long time; helping me when I need them, or when they feel that I need to learn something. I talk to them, they communicate through emotions and images. Each has their own personality and work with each other as checks and balances....namely Bison and Ram. Well, mostly Bison checking Ram.... I have no problem in differentiating my Totems from my Therian self. Mouflon Ram and I are very close, as I believe, due to me being an Aries. I'm very true to my Ram nature, but I know it's separate from my Whale self. Water born under Fire. I'm new to this world of Kin and whatnot. Perhaps you should google Cameo-Shift - I found it helpful. When used in the Power Animal or Spirit Animal sense, Totems are Spirits. Guides. Teachers. Protectors. In my experience, they're here as companions. A good site I've found is: www.starstuffs.com/animal_totems/finding.htmlWhen coming in contact with said Animals, it's important to have your own interpretation of what they mean, before going to a site to see the meaning. Hope you found this helpful. |
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I'd say these last two are spirit guides, whereas maybe Raven is my totem. I'm not entirely sure and I'm not totally familiar with the exact terminology/definitions regarding totems and guides.
