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Finding your animal allies is easy once you understand that
they come to you.
They can show themselves at any time....walking
through the woods,
in the city, and they often will come to you in dreams.
Look for those animals that show
themselves to you over and over or
those you feel a special affinity for.
Animals contain "medicine"
which is important for humans.
It is not only medicine of healing, but also of wisdom.
Messages from Creator come
through the natural world.
Finding feathers of certain birds should be viewed as gifts
from that bird to remind
you of their teachings. For example, finding
a turkey feather is a reminder to be thankful for all you have
received
from Creator.
To be bitten or attacked by an animal gives the person instant "medicine."
The animal
should not necessarily be viewed as evil or negative in any way....
it is only giving you its power and if you are strong
and wise, you will learn
and grow from it.
One last thought, we often forget that we are also part of the animal
kingdom...nature... remember that you are not the only one learning ....
the animals learn from you, as well. Humans
also contain "medicine"
or power, so be ever mindful of yourself and what you pass on.
This is a mutual
learning, teaching, giving, receiving experience....
not a one-way experience.
Bird Allies
Blackbird--Omens and mysticism, color of fear and promise.
Bluebird--Happiness and
fulfillment, color of north or east.
Canary--Healing power of sound, heightened sensitivity.
Catbird--Communication potential, new lessons or opportunities.
Chickadee--Sacred number is
seven, seeker of truth and knowledge.
Crow--Intelligence, watchfulness, magickal, past-life connections.
Duck--Maternal, graceful and comforting, protective.
Eagle--Capable of reaching zenith,
great perception, bridging worlds.
Finch--New experiences and encounters, wide ranges, summer solstice.
Goose--Story-telling, fertility and fidelity, symbol of eight and infinity.
Grosbeak--Heals
old wounds, family values, past loves significance.
Hawk--Primal life-force, fulfillment, spring and fall
equinoxes.
Kingfisher--Halcyon days, peace and prosperity, linked to north, blue.
Loon--Realizing
dreams, haunting and eery song, imagination.
Magpie--Occult knowledge, doorway to new realms, wily and
willful.
Meadowlark--Cheerfulness, sublimation, inner journey, linked to moon.
Nuthatch--Applying
wisdom to natural world, groundedness, ethereal.
Oriole--Positive energy, reconnecting with inner sunshine,
nature spirits.
Owl--Silent wisdom and nocturnal vision, healing powers, magickal.
Peacock--Wisdom
and vision, ostentatious,protective and powerful.
Pelican--Self-sacrificing, non-competitive, buoyant,
rising above trials.
Pigeon--Love and security of home, fertility, archetypal energies.
Raven--Shapeshifting, messenger or omen, blending human and animal.
Robin--New growth, territorial,
color link to throat center.
Starling--Sociable, communicating diversity, forceful.
Stork--Related
to humanity, connected to emotions, water, birth process.
Swan--Sensitive, emotional, dreamer and mystic,
longevity.
Swift--Feminine and psychic energies, speed and agility.
Turkey--Spiritual
connectedness to Earth Mother, shared blessings.
Vulture--Purification, never-ending vigilance, guardian
of Mysteries.
Woodpecker--Weather prophet, drumbeats into other dimension.
--Ted Andrews--Animal
Speak
In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge
were with the animals, for Tirawa, the One Above,
did not speak
directly to man. He sent certain animals
to tell men that he showed himself through the beasts,
and that from them,
and from the stars and the sun
and the moon should man learn.....
all things tell of Tirawa.
Eagle Chief
(late 19th century)
Animal Allies
Armadillo - Boundaries.We learn from the armadillo, which,
by rolling into a ball, can be completely armored against attack, how to consciously define our own emotional and physical
boundaries.
Bat - Rebirth.Shaman initiates undergo a ritual death in which they face their fears and are reborn
without their old identities. Bat medicine teaches us to release fear and any pattern which no longer fits in with our pattern
of growth.
Bear - Introspection.Bear medicine teaches us to go within, in order to digest our experiences and to
discover that we contain within ourselves the answers to all of our questions.
Beaver - Builder.Beavers work in
cooperation to build their homes and domes, and this medicine teaches us that we can create and fulfill most powerfully when
all involved appreciate the talents of each and work together in harmony.
Buffalo - Prayer and Abundance.Buffalo
teaches us that true prosperity comes when we are grateful for what we have and when we live in harmony and love with all
other beings.
Butterfly - Transformation.Butterfly fearlessly leaves the safety of its cocoon to meet a new world
in a new form, trusting its untried wings to allow it to fly. It is a powerful symbol for anyone who's contemplating or in
the midst of a major change.
Canada Goose - Sacred Circle.The migration of Canada Geese marks the passages of the
Great Circle of the Year, and reminds us of the sacredness of the cycles of our own life. We can also learn from the cooperative
and communal behavior of these birds, who never abandon a sick or wounded member of the flock, and who know when to lead and
when to seek guidance and follow.
Cat - Wholeness.The cat, a creature which combines a high degree of sensuality
with a deeply psychic and spiritual nature, teaches us that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one.
Coyote - Trickster.When we're being too serious about life Coyote may come along to teach us to laugh at ourselves.
It is also the karmic enforcer, reminding us that whatever we do to others will be done to us.
Crow - Sacred LawCrow
teaches us to know ourselves beyond the limitations of one-dimensional thinking and laws. This animal teaches to appreciate
the many dimensions both of reality and ourselves, and to learn to trust our intuition and personal integrity.
Deer
- Gentleness.The power of Deer medicine is that of unconditional love. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, can dissolve
the barriers which prevent us from realizing wholeness.
Dolphin - Breath of Life.Dolphin teaches us that in attuning
to the rhythms and patterns of nature we can learn true communication with the wisdom of All That Is and share this wisdom
with others.
Dove - Peace. The peace symbolized by Dove is that of the deepest kind. It quiets our worried and troubled
thoughts, and allows us to find renewal in the silence of mind. In such moments of stillness we are able to appreciate simple
blessings.
Dragon - TransformationThough Celtic tradition gives specific qualities for dragons of the elements of
earth, fire, water, and air, in general terms, Dragon's power is that of shedding its skin and emerging as a new, transformed
being.
Dragonfly - Illusion.When we've tricked ourselves into believing that the limitations of physical existence
prevent us from changing and growing Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-created illusions.
Eagle -
SpiritEagle flies fearlessly, bridging heaven and earth, and teaches us to courageously face our fear of the unknown in order
to fly as high as our heart's joy can take us.
Elk - Stamina.This medicine teaches us the best use of our energy,
helping us to take on no more than we need to accomplish, and to endure on our chosen path until we've reached our goals.
Fox - Camouflage.Fox's greatest gift is not being able to outrun the hounds, but to know in advance when they'll
be on the hunt. When we learn to detach from our surroundings and to observe with all of our senses, we, too, will be able
to anticipate and create the future.
Frog- Healing. As water cleanses the arid earth and returns life to it so Frog's
medicine can wash away any physical and mental energies which deprive us of harmony and peace, and helps to replenish our
own ability to heal ourselves on all levels.
Hawk - Messenger. Hawk teaches us to be observant and to pay attention
to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we don't use, a blessing for which we haven't expressed gratitude, or a
message from Spirit.
Horse - Power.Personal power is our servant, to be neither abused, squandered, nor kept to
ourselves. When we share our power with others and teach them how to nurture their own power, our journey becomes faster and
more joyful.
In Celtic tradition the horse-goddess governs the life cycle of birth, death, the afterlife, and rebirth;
thus, to work with Horse medicine enables us to feel comfortable with all aspects of this cycle.
Hummingbird- Joy.Hummingbird
darts lightly through the world, spreading its message of joy and beauty, and teaching us to appreciate the wonder and magic
of everyday existence.
Lizard - Dreaming.In our dreams we imagine different futures and choose which we will materialize.
Lizard teaches us the importance of respecting and remembering our dreams.
Moose - Self-Esteem.Moose represents
expressing the joy of accomplishment, not to boast or seek recognition, but in a spirit of sharing, born of the understanding
that joy is contagious.
Mouse- Scrutiny.Mouse teaches us to pay attention to the little details which might get
overlooked in our mad dash to see the big picture, and reminds us not to overlook the obvious.
Mountain Lion- Leadership.To
be true to oneself, allowing neither fear of responsibility nor the jealousy and insecurities of others to divert one from
one's path, is the mark of a genuine leader.
Otter-Woman Medicine.Otter is receptive, playful, and free of jealousy.
As both women and men begin to express the highest qualities of this medicine the world can become a joyful place where all
can play without fear of harm or loss.
Owl -Wisdom.Owl, the night hunter, has the ability to see what others may
miss. The gift of this medicine is to be undeceived by external appearances and to discover the truth beneath them.
Peacock - Wholeness.This bird, honored around the world for the beauty of its feathers, has also
an association with resurrection. For us it can help in sheedding the old and drab feathers of the past and to claim our the
true beauty of our individual natures. As such, it helps to enhance confidence and self-esteem.
Rabbit-FearThe more
we focus on our fears the more we attract them to us. Rabbit medicine teaches us to attract to us abundance, love, health,
and a warm, dry burrow.
Raccoon - Dexterity, DisguiseThough Raccoon's mask is commonly associated with its so-called
banditry (it has been know to open house doors with its clever hands in order to appropriate human food) the mask has a deeper
meaning. It teaches us that none of us are quite what we seem, even to ourselves, that in our lives we can experience the
freedom of many identities. This medicine helps us to assume and release the many roles we play.
Robin - Growth
and Renewal.Like many birds, robins are good parents, and one aspect of this power animal is the ability to nurture oneself
into true adulthood. This concept also relates to Robin's traditional connection to spring. This is the season of renewal,
and when we let go of the past (much of which comes from childhood experiences) we are renewed, and free to nurture and serve
both ourselves and others.
Seal - The Inner VoiceThe seal reminds us of our connection to our deep inner rhythms,
feelings, and knowing, as represented by the sea. When we fear drowning in these depths, Seal reminds us how to swim.
Salamander - Transformation.This animal helps to connect us to the mysteries of the earth and to feel grounded in the
present moment.Some salamanders are terrestrial, others and aquatic; while in magical traditions, Salamander also relates
to the element of fire,
Skunk - Self-respect.When we fully accept who we are and learn to express the essence of
ourselves, without ego, we attract those who share our path and repel those who don't. Skunk medicine is the original "Walk
your talk."
Salmon - Wisdom.Salmon journeys to its ultimate goal against all obstacles in its quest to be reunited
with the Divine. The energy of this animal helps us develop the wisdom to find the meaning and purpose of our lives, and to
move with perserverance on our spiritual path.
Snake-Transmutation.As Snake sheds its skin so we can shed our illusions
and limitations in order to fully use our vitality and desires to achieve wholeness.
Spider-Weaver.As Spider weaves
her web so we weave our realities. This medicine teaches to remember that we are the creators of our lives.that we are the
creators of our lives.
Squirrel - Gathering.Squirrel, in preparing for winter, gathers only what it needs. This
medicine teaches us to discard not only unnecessary physical objects but those negative beliefs which limit our trust in love
and abundance.
Swan Grace.Swan teaches us to trust the grace of our being as it operates in both the physical and
spiritual planes, and urges us to rejoice in the gifts of our physical bodies and our intuitive minds.
Turtle Mother
Earth.By following the example of Turtle we can learn to ground ourselves in the nurturing and protective energy of the earth
and to flow with its energies at a pace which assures completion of our tasks.
Whale - Record Keeper.Through the
rhythm and patterns of sound Whale teaches us to hear our inner voices, to be in touch with our personal truths, and thus
to know the wisdom and feel the heartbeat of the universe.
Wolf Teacher.Though the moon rises every night Wolf always
finds something new to learn from it. We, too, in exploring the hidden paths of consciousness, may discover new truths to
share with the rest of our clan, the human race.
from Celtic and Native American sources
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