Meaning of the totem animal: origin, in shamanism, differences and more!

For a more practical and simple definition, we can say that our totem animal is the animal with which we most share personality and behavior characteristics. In spiritual terms, this identity between the person and his animal is much deeper and more complex.

They can point to the intertwining and sometimes even sharing of a single animal spirit or energies. The practice of identifying the totem animal is a powerful tool for self-knowledge and can contribute knowledge and perspectives that help us solve problems or achieve our goals.

From now on, learn a little more about this practice and all the benefits it can bring to your life!

To better understand what a totem animal means, it is important to observe the true spiritual dimension of this approximation between animal and human. To begin with, let’s look at the origin of the totem animal concepts.

In ancient times, when there was no difference between religion and science, tribes usually had the figure of a shaman, who concentrated medical, astrological and spiritual knowledge, among others.

The Tungus of northeastern Siberia were the first to use the word “saman” (“shaman”, “one who knows”) to designate this figure. In that same culture, some animals such as the bear, for example, were revered in a deeply spiritual relationship with nature.

The word “totem” comes from Native American cultures and refers to a sacred object that represents some natural element (such as an animal or plant) and the relationship between that element and an individual.

Thus, the concept of “totem animal” developed from practices common to several shamanic cultures and refers to this sacred identity between a human being and an animal.

In societies that lived immersed in nature in its wildest state, these relationships and comparisons with animals were very everyday and meaningful, generally in the sense of observing the behavior of the animal and extracting from it some important teaching for the person’s life.

In modern society, this observation of nature has lost much of its meaning, making it very difficult to establish and deepen comparisons between individuals and animals in an organic way.

At the same time, and precisely because of this distance between civilization and nature, the search for the totem animal offers the advantage of a reconnection with nature and the recognition of a principle common to all forms of life.

Thus, in addition to better knowing the specific forces that manifest in you and for you, identifying the totem animal brings you closer to your true nature, which is also animal as well as human.

Shamanic traditions in general assume that the individual’s mind is the origin of all his ills. In this way, every healing process starts from a detailed investigation of the individual in his/her deepest emotional and intellectual aspects.

The identification of the totem animal, as well as most shamanic practices and rituals, has this objective of healing or, preventively, offering the individual all the knowledge of himself that he can gather to avoid future problems or to strengthen him in his journey. .

A person’s totem animal is not always common in the region in which he lives and does not require any prior knowledge or contact from the person. Now let’s look at some specific questions about totem animals and what you can do to find yours!

The discovery of the totem animal is traditionally done in shamanic rituals that may include the use of psychotropic drugs and narcotics. Eventually, the animal appears to the person in dreams, and the most common thing is to get to know it through meditation or guided imagery.

Although unnecessary, the presence of a shaman ensures greater reach and precision throughout the entire process. Find a quiet and comfortable place, lie on your back with your eyes closed. If you prefer, put on soft music and light incense. Imagine yourself beside a river or in a forest and walk slowly until you find the entrance to a cave.

Advance inside it, going deeper and deeper to a small underground lake. There you will find the sculpture of an animal of great spiritual importance to you. It could be your totem animal, but note that this is a simplified exercise and may point to animals of only circumstantial importance.

The identification of the totem animal allows us to recognize dominant personal characteristics or those that need to be developed for a fuller realization of our potential. It points to a specific force of nature that accompanies us throughout our lives, acting as a guide, protector and also as a center of power.

In this sense, it is similar to other systems used for the description and analysis of personalities, such as astrology or the enneagram. But aside from differences in application and approach, this is not as well-organized a system as the other two.

Unlike astrology, there is no way to know your totem animal from simple information such as date and place of birth.

The safest way to identify your totem animal is to reach it through a ritual conducted by a shaman, who will know the difference between the totem animal and any other that may appear to you – either because it appeared for other purposes or as a mere fruit of the your imagination or desire.

There can be a lot of confusion in this regard, so it’s good to clarify that usually your totem animal is an animal you’ve always liked, for no apparent reason, but that the mere fact that you like an animal doesn’t mean that it is your totem.

Other accounts suggest that, when it is real, the discovery of the totem animal is so profound and significant that there is no room for doubt about it, and that from then on, asking about your totem animal is like asking something as obvious to you as the color of your eyes.

There are concepts similar to the totem animal in other spiritual practices, so you have to be careful not to end up getting confused. Understand now the differences between totem animal and power animal or familiar animal.

Generally, the expressions “totem animal” and “power animal” refer to the same thing, but it is possible to establish the difference from some relevant points. The main one is the fact that the totem animal is unique for life, while power animals can vary throughout life or refer to only part of our personality.

Thus, the concept of power animal can unfold into others such as “shadow animal” (which refers to a hidden or despised power in you), or “golden animal” (which refers to inherited characteristics and ancestry issues).

In addition, according to the circumstances of your life, there may be the approach of one or another power animal bringing the necessary energy for that circumstance, while the totem animal refers to unchanging characteristics throughout life and your being as a all.

The difference between totem animal and familiar animal is quite evident and easy to understand. And although they may currently form part of the same set of spiritual practices, the concepts have quite different origins, the “family animal” being a Wiccan concept that goes back to specific cultures in northern Europe.

The familiar animal refers to an animal that is alive and that is part of the witch’s everyday life. It has a physical existence and participates in its owner’s rituals and daily experiences, while the totem animal is an extraphysical force, a “spirit” or “energy of nature” deeply connected and intertwined with the person’s energy.

The totem animal is unique to each person and cannot vary throughout their lifetime. Or it would be like expecting that one animal could simply change into another, since there is a deep identity between one’s soul and one’s totem animal.

But it is possible, yes, that under special circumstances, you perceive the approach of another animal and experience a deep identification with it. It is a power animal, which serves to strengthen or shape you so that you can face a specific situation.

The presence and influence of the totem animal in your life, on the other hand, is constant and applies to all aspects of your reality.