Here’s a continuation of last week’s article on Totem Animals:
All animals are bearers of specific teachings. The eagle, for example, is the messenger for Great Spirit, a vector of connection with the Divine. It represents the possibility of balancing our lives between the spiritual and material worlds. He’s the visionary, the representative of the spirit world, the one who lives in the highest mountains and can look at the sun without blinking. He gives us courage, swiftness and speed, the agility of the warrior spirit who grasps in an instant what is right for the good of the people. Thus, in the native, indigenous vision of life, each animal is responsible for a teaching, and all have their place in the great circle of life. Knowing the purpose of animals and discovering what they offer us is one of the main activities that lead to a better understanding of the purpose of human life. It’s an activity we can all get involved in.
Here’s an example from a course I offered on totem animals. A student discovered that her animal protector was the ant, and she was sorry. Yet the lessons the little ant presents are quite extraordinary. The student in question found nothing spectacular in the fact that her guardian animal was the ant. Yet there isn’t a single creature on this earth that doesn’t have a mission to fulfill, an essential role to play. Each has been placed here with a specific task in mind. The ant, for example, is incredibly patient and persevering. All his actions are directed towards the good of his community. She is totally self-sacrificing. She is also an outstanding social communicator.
I also remember another lady who had the queen bee as her totem. At first, she wasn’t too keen on her totem either. But she accepted it, and during the week we spent together with the totem animals, she learned to integrate the teachings of the queen bee. During this week-long workshop, people deepen their connection with the totem animal by preparing a costume and dance to embody the totem in a very moving closing ceremony. This lady was a partially disabled elder. She had difficulty walking, even with the help of her cane. Yet when it came time to dance the queen bee, we all saw her drop her cane and twirl around the circle, spinning, sometimes with both feet off the ground, while singing a song that hummed like the wings of a bee. It was a magical moment. And afterwards, to move around heavily and painfully with her cane, as if she couldn’t remember a thing! If we can communicate very clearly with the spirits of animals, we hold the power to change the nature of the world around us. With all this in mind, we better understand why it’s so beneficial for us to know our guardian animal.
One of my teachers used to say that as long as we don’t know who our guardian animal is, it’s free to play tricks on us so as to attract our attention. Once we’ve discovered its identity, we can play along and have fun with it. We’re then in a position to make requests and see the results. By knowing who we’re dealing with, we acquire the ability to enjoy its qualities rather than the tricks it plays on us to draw our attention to its existence.
More info next Saturday.
Good morning Blue Eagle
I enjoy reading your articles and have only become more involved in learning more about indigenous people and the teachings. I grew up with the six nations reserve behind our farm and going to school with the children. My question is this, I am not indigenous and wondered if all people had totem animals.
Yes all people have totem animals.