Europeans and Americans seem to relate most easily to animal spirits. After all, they are our closest relatives, and most of us have grown up with pets. When you are learning to communicate with spirits, animal spirits are a good place to start, but we need to get past what we think we know about animals to learn more about how they truly are.

Indigenous people closely observe their environment. They often have nicknames for many of the individual large animals that live near them. Certain animals and certain species of animals are particularly admired for their abilities.

To understand the importance of animal spirits to animists and shamans, read the beautiful little book, Animal Spirits by archeologist Nicholas J. Saunders. The book may be out of print, but you can still buy a new or used copy on Amazon: Animal Spirits: An Illustrated Guide (Living Wisdom Series)

While the best way to learn about animal spirits is to get to know the animals themselves in the wild, not all of us can do that. The next best thing is to watch videos, read books, and even go to the zoo to observe animals and feel their energy. (Remember, though, that zoo animals are often stressed out, disturbed, even psychotic.)

In other words, the best knowledge of what animals mean when they appear in your dreams and visions comes from studying animals and their lives in the wild and discovering what they mean to you.

Spirit Animals

Some of animals seem to mean much more to animists and shamans throughout the world. It is important to remember that animals mean different things to different peoples. The beliefs about the same species can be different in two cultures that live side by side, such the Hopi and the Navajo.

We can't cover all species here, but the list will gradually grow as the site grows. We may discuss how to work with some of them and relate our actual experiences in working with them.

Meanwhile, you can find some information on animal spirits at the Animal Spirits web site, includng photos, text, and sound files.

___ * Bears

___ * Bluejays

___ * Cats (Jaguar, Lion, Tiger, Puma, Leopard, and others)

___ * Cranes

___ * Elephants (African and Asian)

___ * Horses

___ * Hummingbirds

___ * Otters

___ * Rabbits and Hares

___ * Spiders

___ * Toads (coming soon)

More information on animal spirits is coming soon!

Animals as Guides and Teachers

Although not every shaman works with animal spirits, almost all shamans do. Many shamans work with several animal guides in addition to stones, plants, and other kinds of spirits.

Shamans and other animists do not generally admire domesticated animals. Spiritually they are thought to have given up their power when they became domesticated. So, while they are respected as living beings, domesticated animals generally are not consulted for spiritual help or guidance.

More coming soon on animals as guides and teachers.

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Animal Deities

Archeologists say that the first deities were animals. Until recently the oldest evidence of worship of any kind is a shrine to the cave bear over 40,000 years old. Several cave bear shrines have been discovered.

Oldest Evidence Dates Back 70,000 Years

However, in Tsodilo hills of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana archeologists recently discovered a python shrine that dates back 70,000 years. In a cave, a rock shaped like a huge python’s head was covered with manmade indentations that look like scales. Over 13,000 spearheads were burned and then buried in front of it. There is no sign that anyone ever lived in the cave.

Becoming Human

Even when humanoid deities began to appear, they usually had animal heads and other features that made them part animal, part human. Only after agriculure took over did deities become human---first as goddesses and then, much later, as gods.

More information coming soon on animal deities.

Totems

Some people refer to animal guides and other spirit animals as totems, but that is incorrect. The word totem comes from an ojibway (chippewa) word that means a badge of a clan. It can be a plant or other spirit. It isn't always an animal.

There are seven Ojibway clans. For a wonderful description of the clans, see this web page on the Ojibway clan system.

Totem is also often used to mean the nonhuman ancestor of a family or group. In that sense, I believe that all clans and families once had totems, because we all have ancestors.

What animal images are strongly associated with your family? What animals seem to be your family's guardians and/or role models? Is there a family resemblence (in looks, habits, disposition, or spirit) to some animal? Or more than one, on different sides of the family?

Sometimes it's quite obvious when a modern family still has a totem and honors it. Sometimes it is even in the family name. Some examples in English are Crane, Crowe, Bear, Pidgeon, Fish, Hogg, Wren, Beaver, Peacock, Mink, Hare, and Hart. Lots of examples exist in other languages.

Look around the house. Look at old photos. You may have to study the animals and then really think about it for awhile. Or you may already know.

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Animal Spirits