Spirit Totems/Animals/Familiars

[Summer]

I was wondering if any of you felt an affinity to certain animals or types of animals. I have always felt an affinity to black cats, and panthers. That is one of my main totem animals. I have a few other totems/familiars as well.

[jimmyRRpage]

Mainly wolves. But then again, that's more my Indian Spirit Animal (when I was really young, an Indian Chief in Connecticut who was a family friend tested me, with my parents reluctant consent).

Is there some kind of easy test I can do to find out?

[Summer]

I have never heard of any easy test that you can do to find out what your familiars/spirit animals are yet. I know that you will dream about them, and feel really drawn to them. I am really crazy about frogs, and I just know that frog has a lesson for me, if I pay attention to how a frog is and lives, I will learn something about my own life. Those are the only ways to tell that I know of, although, I am sure that other people know more about this than I do.

[jimmyRRpage]

Well, I am drawn to the wolf more than any other animal. And I have dreamt of it more than once. Maybe what the Native Americans call our Spirit Animals are what would be called our familiars and such.

[Summer]

Yes, I think that you are right about that.

[Thorn]

I have a strong affinity for ravens, bats and snakes - critters other people find disturbing. Ravens and snakes largely due to their magickal/mythological/theological connotations, but also 'cause their pretty. Bats I just think are cute.

Also cats and coyotes. I used to be really "into" wolves, but I think the coyote has replaced them in my affection. Coyotes seem much more in tune with my personality.

I don't have a familiar (though our cat talks to Francis, so I'd guess she's his) or a spirit guide that I'm aware of. There was this small bird that showed up in a guided meditation, but it was really far away and I couldn't tell what kind it was. I'm not sure if it was significant, or if the significance was just in the oak tree it flew out of. Other than ravens, I've never much liked birds - I find them alien and creepy.

[Summer]

Ravens are really intelligent, don't you think? My bird that I feel close to is an owl. I think I am meant to learn to be more like the owl with situations I am dealing with in my own life.

[Thorn]

Very intelligent. *nods* I read somewhere (I've got no backup on this - something by the Farrars maybe?) that in some Native American traditions they represent the magician.

And, of course, they're associated with many dieties that I have great affection for, such as Odin (another magician) and the Morrigan.

[Ria]

I'm drawn mainly to night creatures and deadly animals. For some reason I am attached to Cobras, and also mythical creatures. I know they don't count, but there is a man-bird called Garuda which it is said the Hindu Lords used to travel down to Earth on. I am drawn to him too

[Summer]

Wow! I wonder what lesson you are meant to learn from these animals? Now that would be something to learn about!

[Ria]

I was always taught peace of mind even in the most difficult of times. If you will count Garuda, I will always think of him as a channeling force..well, because the gods came down from the skies on him. Just my belief

[Summer]

That is a great thing to learn in life, I think. And of course I would count Garunda. "Mythological" creatures count just as much as regular ones. One of my spirit familiars is a white dragon. She comes in very handy on a spiritual level, trust me.

[Ria]

I trust you...and white seems so pure, so lovely

[Summer]

White is probably the main spiritual color in my life. I actually contains every color of the rainbow in it in equal amounts, whereas black is the absence of color.

[jimmyRRpage]

So mythological animals apply, too? Well, in that case, along with wolves, considering that I witnessed one, I'd have to say Unicorns. And I've always liked the Dragon, or at least the idea of the dragon in existence.