BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Native American Animal Spirit A-B, article

Native American tribes are numerous throughout our lands. Animal
symbolism may vary from tribe to tribe. Following are some basic
attributes of animals from A - B.

You can read the full article at Animal Spirit A - B

Watch for more upcoming articles on Animal Spirit. I hope you enjoy this article. As always, I welcome feedback.

Please keep these coming - I love Animal Spirit Guides and Animal Totems....

Thank you, Robin. I am so glad you enjoy the articles. I will continue to post new Animal Spirit articles as I complete each one.

I have been debating on whether I should include the birds in with the animals or do separate articles for the birds. I will appreciate feedback on that. Combine or separate?

I know it is down the road a bit, but also info on the plants may be helpful to some.

ex: pine absorbs negative energy. etc

Wendy, thank you for the info on pine. I didn't know that, but it provides insight on some things happening around here lately. Unfortunately we had to take down the 3 pines in our yard. It really upset me, but we had no choice. Even more upsetting, despite all my efforts, the wood ended up being wasted. Our yard is like a "Tree Nursery" they sprout up everywhere and I've been potting some for friends. I need to keep one of the pines for myself.

Phyllis, can't wait to read about the birds. For me, bird spirits are a separate category, but I'm not very objective about it. My bird friends have a VERY special place in my heart.

Great article Phyllis - and YES, keep them coming. I love to read about the animal spirits.

Something else I'm interested in is the fact that different traditions seem to have a different take on the totems.

One may say that you have ONLY one totem from birth to death.

Another may say you have seven or nine.

I would love to read more about that. I've always felt I had more than one, but guess it could be that one is my totem, and the others are guides.

Thanks, Wendy. Some day I will write more on plants and their beneficial use.

Pine root tied to the front door is good luck for the house and brings peace to all inside.

lcp, I have decided to include birds in the articles. If I do not then it will take quite some time before I get to them.

That is nice that you pot the little pines.

Thanks, Deanna. Most Native Americans believe that we have one main animal spirit (totem) that is with us for life. Often we either call upon or another animal spirit may come to us when needed. For instance, I was walking out in the desert, my animal spirit was with me -- suddenly I felt another animal spirit on the other side of me. Just then I had a very powerful vision hit me with a very important message. As soon as the vision was over, the other animal spirit left. The new animal spirit was one of very powerful symbolism and helped me for just those few minutes as my main one guided me back. I often have a bird totem that brings me messages.

So, yes, one can have more than one totem. The main one is always with you. The others come when needed.

Have been reading your articles for ages now Phyllis, really look forward to them arriving in my mailbox.

Wonder if you could you tell me if it is possible for a cat to be a totem animal? Have never seen it mentioned anywhere.

It does not seem to matter where I go, always end up being not quite surrounded by them but nevertheless they do seem to pop out of nowhere and are simply there, normally purring and rubbing my leg or trying to lie on my feet. Even in places where one would not expect to find a cat, and had pet cats for many years until quite recently, but that did not stop all the little strangers.

This has been happening for years now and it does seem to be me that they aim for, even if there are others around, so it causes quite a lot of laughter with family and friends.

Although as a bat flew in through my open bedroom window a few nights ago, and spent ages just flying around before deciding to leave, was even told that that had a meaning..........don't think I want to think about what it is.