Animal Totems
ANIMAL TOTEMS
I think the whole country of Thailand has the Elephant as its Animal Totem. A totem is any natural object, being, or animal to whose characteristics and energy we feel closely associated with in our life. Sometimes we are close to a totem for a season or specific time-frame, sometimes for our life time. Animal totems help us connect to and understand our Nature through the Animal archetypes that have their own qualities expressed through behaviors and activities of that animal. When we pay attention to and honor the signs and symbols of animals that come into our lives, we can use their "medicine" power to help us understand our own life circumstances or personality traits more clearly.
How do we recognize our Totems? Do you have an animal that you've always felt a kinship with, perhaps you're a dog lover or a cat lover or a horse lover? Check around your environment. Do you collect pictures, jewelry, figurines of certain animals? These are your totems. Perhaps you suddenly notice a certain animal showing up in your environment, like I noticed the elephants in Thailand. Or perhaps you were on a boat ride and dolphins showed up, or you were sitting in the garden and kept seeing hummingbirds or crows. These are totems showing up to teach you something. When this happens, look up their "medicine" or characteristics tosee if it helps you understand something going on in your life currently. A great resource is the book:Animal-Speakby Ted Andrews. But, it is super fast and easy to just do a Google search and get some great symboloism and spiritual information.
I have several Animal Totems. Two came to me when I participated in a visualization exercise led by a Hawaiian Shaman to discover what he called your "power animal(s)." During that experience, the Turtle and the Dolphin came to me. Since then, I have been called to collect both and have many little Objet d'art, and their symbolisms feel like lifetime totems for me. Turtle: the symbol for connecting Heaven and Earth, Earth mother, mothering, longevity, awakening to heightened sensibilities. Dolphin: The power of breath and sound. Breathe new life into yourself, get out, play, explore, BREATHE! I notice that I love incorporating breath work and chanting into classes and yoga practice.
For a while, Hummingbirds were showing up around me often and still do. They always bring a smile to my face and, of course I looked up their "medicine" to see what I needed to learn. "Sense of wonder and joy. Being mindful to get enough rest and sleep to avoid burning one's self out. Are you savoring the sweetness of life?" Just in this past week two people have commented on my constant sense of wonder and how I find joy in the simplest things including clouds.
On my birthday last year, a friend of mine and I went to Glen Ivy hot springs. As we turned the corner to enter the resort, right in front of us was a coyote on the golf course by a big tree. We both immediately recognized that as a sign and looked up coyote medicine and embraced that for the day. When I was in Yosemite last Fall, Bears showed up twice and I realize now, that I forgot to lookup their meaning for me, though I already knew some of Bears' symbolism because Bear was my father's totem, his name even meant Bear.
Now, having spent two weeks in Thailand surrounded by Elephant medicine I want to share what lessons or aha's I learned from their symbolism. "Ancient Power, Strength, Royalty. Symbol of royalty and fertility. The Hindu god of wisdom and success is Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. He is represented with the head of an Elephant," and depictions of him were almost as prevalent around the country as the elephant itself. One of the souvenirs I got was a small Ganesh figurine which now resides in my office. I also got some elephant pants (like almost every other tourist there), an elephant t-shirt, and several scarves with elephants. I bought each of my sons an elephant figurine, and recalled that my mother had gotten my eldest son a Mother and Baby elephant figurine when she was in Thailand twenty-one years ago.
"Because of their size and shape, elephants and clouds have been associated." Anyone who has spent time with me outside knows I am enamored with clouds and cloud styles, and I love to photograph them. Because the elephant trunk is especially sensitive to smells, those with this totem should pay attention to how things smell and study and utilize aromatherapy. It is also important to pay attention to, "ancient wisdom, and opportunities to help oneself or others reclaim primordial royalty." As I gaze around, I notice that I have collected Elephant figures over the years, and I have five around my home. Being around the elephants at the Sanctuary and adorning ourselves with Elephant attire made me feel very happy.
Check in, what animal totems are showing up in your life? What do you need to learn from them?