NATIVE AMERICAN TOTEMS & THEIR MEANING

[Aurora]

A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. Native American tradition provides that each individual is connected with nine different animals that will accompany each person through life, acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed along our journey.

Native beliefs further explain that a totem animal is one that is with you for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people may identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes, it is this one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit.

With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.

This Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they "communicate” with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not necessarily mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal, more that you are open to learning its lessons.

For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal totem is:

Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.

Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be represented in other ways such as receiving card and letters with the same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show up.

When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested in seeing?

Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing?

Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature?

Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?

Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood that you have never been able to forget?

Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?

The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal. This could be any number of items - a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine or anything else that depicts your animal guide.


Animal Characteristics & Meaning:

Alligator - Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic survival instincts.
Ant - Group minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious
Anteater - Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.
Antelope - Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice
Armadillo - Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries
Badger - Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit
Bat - Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life
Bear - Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength.
Beaver - Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector
Bee - Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life
Boar/Pig - A very powerful totem - prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless.
Buffalo - Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.
Bull - Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation.
Butterfly - Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace, grace, ability to accept change
Camel - Survival, positive, accomplishments
Caribou - Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity
Cat - Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence
Cheetah - Swiftness, insight, focus
Cougar - Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight
Cow - Swift, insightful, and focused
Coyote - Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence
Cobra - Swift and decisive
Crab - Good luck, protection and success
Crane - Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant
Crocodile - Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately
Crow - Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance
Deer - Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure
Dog - Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance
Dolphin - Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.
Dove - Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love
Dragon - Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery
Dragonfly - Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.
Duck - Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions
Eagle - Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker
Elephant - Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom
Elk - Strength and agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, strength, and nobility
Falcon - New beginnings, adventure, passionate, and leadership.
Fish - Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind.
Flamingo - Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious.
Fox - Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility
Frog - Water energy, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, peace, adaptability, poor character judgment and power.
Gazelle - Aggressive
Giraffe - Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the future
Goat - Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of foresight.
Goose - Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, and productive.
Gorilla - Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression.
Grasshopper - Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive.
Grouse - Personal power, enlightenment.
Hawk - Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship.
Heron/Egret - Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced.
Hippopotamus - Power, creation, imagination, healing.
Horse - Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom.
Hummingbird - Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior.
Jaguar - Chaos, shape-shifter, aggressiveness, power.
Kangaroo - Forward, balance, creative, stamina.
Lion - Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector.
Lizard - Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses.
Llama - Comforting to others, secure.
Lynx - Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide.
Mole - Sensitivity, guidance, searching.
Monkey - Ability to change the environment, health, success.
Moose - Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom.
Mouse - Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details.
Octopus - Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal.
Opossum - Diversion, strategist, and deceiver.
Ostrich - Grounded, practical.
Otter - Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, and sharing
Owl - Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger.
Ox - Sacrifice, chastity and self-denial
Panther - Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions
Parrot - Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before speaking
Peacock - Immortality, dignity, and self-confidence
Pelican - Resilient, unselfish, rising above.
Penguin - Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual
Porcupine - Innocence, companionship, and trust
Prairie Dog - Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness
Puma - Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power
Quail - Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)
Rabbit - Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth,
Raccoon - Curiosity and cleanliness
Ram - Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative.
Rat - Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury
Raven - Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic
Rhinoceros - Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid.
Roadrunner - Mental agility, speed, opportunistic.
Rooster - Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early riser, settling for nothing less than the best
Salmon - Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration
Scorpion - Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic, passionate
Seagull - Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness
Seahorse - Confidence and grace
Seal - Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity
Shark - Hunter, survival, and adaptability
Skunk - Reputation, presence, and strength
Snail - Protective, aware, solitary.
Snake - Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom
Spider - Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication
Squirrel - Planner and gatherer
Stag - Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.
Swan - Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self
Tiger - Strength, valor, power, and energy
Toad - Inner strength, luck, self-examination
Turkey - Generosity, life-giver, and sharer
Turtle - Nurturer, shy, and protecting
Unicorn - Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle
Weasel - Strength, energy, ingenuity and stealth
Whale - Wisdom, provider, intelligence, and kindness.
Wolf - Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit
Woodpecker - Sensitive, protective, and devotion
Zebra - Agility and individuality

[Aurora]

Polar Bear, Power Animal, Symbol of Purity, Death, Rebirth, Transformation

Polar bear's medicine includes the ability to navigate along the earth’s magnetic lines , introspection, ability to find sustenance in barren landscapes, purity of spirit, strength in the face of adversity, solitude, expert swimmer through emotional waters, finding ones way back from the brink, communication with Spirit, dreams, death and rebirth, transformation, creature of dreams, shamans, mystics and visionaries, defence and revenge

Intelligent and fearless, native tribes throughout history have held the polar as a desirable ally and spirit helper. The white colour of the polar bear is very significant indeed, for it represents purity of spirit. As this bear is fearless and the universal energy only flows when fear is absent, the polar serves as a valuable ally in getting past fear, both physically and mentally.

To the Eskimo and Inuit peoples this animal is a source of both physical and spiritual nourishment. On a spiritual level, the polar bear is regarded as the embodiment of the spirit of the North, an animal who possesses ancient wisdom and has shamanic powers.

Of the bear family the polar is the most aggressive and carnivorous. They are exceptional hunters. Polar bears weigh up to 1600 lbs and are able to knock a 500lb seal out of the water with one blow. Incredibly strong, they are far more adaptable than other bear which is well suited to their excellent survival skills. Though they are one of the largest land carnivores, they are still capable of great speed on both ice and earth. They are able to swim 100 miles non-stop.

Although they have the same characteristics as other bears, the polar does have specific traits inherent to it. If this is your power animal you should read up on the information available about bears in general for a deeper understanding of this powerful medicine. If polar bear is (one of) your guide, you will have challenges linked with flexibility, change and stubbornness and should ask the polar for assistance in overcoming these obstacles.

Prior to acting the polar will observe the situation beforehand. They know how exactly how preserve their energy and strength and use both at the most appropriate time for the best outcome. This is just one of the lessons to be learned form the polar. Perhaps if this is your power animal, you would benefit by learning the art of energy management.

Within the animal kingdom the polar has no enemies. However, they do have but one enemy - the human hunter.

The polar is known as the "Ice Man" amongst some native tribes due to its preference for hunting on sea ice. How the polar appears to us is symbolic. If the polar were seen walking on ice, the message would be connected to the frozen, blocked, emotions stored within us and the need for allowing those emotions free flow, to express themselves. If seen looking for food, nourishment and replenishment of the body, mind and spirit would be the message. It is very important to watch the polar to get the right message.

[Aurora]

[Aurora]

INDIAN TOTEM ANIMALS
of North America

The Native American Culture has many philosophies that are similar to that of the New Age Movement. It has a deep respect for Mother Earth and all life forms and acknowledges the powerful forces of the four elements - earth, wind, fire and water, seasons and animal kingdoms. You can learn to incorporate many of their belief systems into your understanding of spiritual forces and phenomena.
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CULTURE AND TOTEMS

The North American Native Indian believed that he was One with All. He felt a close association with all the kingdoms of the Earth - other humans, the animal kingdom, the vegetation kingdom and the crystal and gem kingdom.

The Tribes, who called themselves "Human Beings", had a deep reverence for all life forms. When an animal was hunted and killed for food or clothing, prayers were offered to the animal’s clan, as a sign of respect, before and after the hunt.

The Indians believed that their personal totem animal gave them protection, guidance and power, while hunting, in battle and on spiritual quests.

To discover his Totem Animal or Ally, he would retreat to a secluded place, such as a high mountain top. During a vision quest he would fast from food and water and leave weapons behind. Seated in a circle of sacred stones, as his only protective barrier, he would meditate for several days.

During this meditation, he would experience much spiritual and psychic phenomena, including visits from animal spirits, such as the eagle, mountain lion, snake etc. Finally one animal spirit would come forward, as his future totem animal. Often the initiate would enter spiritually into the form of the animal and experience its emotions, needs and shape.

It was felt that the warrior absorbed the power of his totem animal and its physical traits e.g. the swiftness of the deer, far sightedness of the eagle, power of the bear. In time of danger the warrior would call upon his totem animal for it’s strength, wiliness or courage.

Additional energy was given to the warrior, if he wore about himself a talisman of his totem animal, such as a bear tooth necklet, for strength and protection. If he had gained this in single hand to hand combat with his totem animal, the animal's strengths were believed to have entered into him after the "kill".

These animal totems were often represented by carvings, such as personal or village totem poles or artifacts such as carved statues.

Medicine pouches also contained pieces of hides, talons, feathers etc. for personal and medicinal use.

A tribal name would also be given to the warrior which reflected his connection with his totem animal and its various abilities. e.g. in the movie Dances With Wolves, the soldier earns his name, by being seen dancing and playing with the wild wolves of the prairies.

Maidens, (not squaws- this is a derogatory term), of the tribe were often given names which parents hoped would reflect their feminine aspects. e.g.. White Dove- gentleness, peace.

The tribal Medicine Men and women were aware of the energies and attributes of gems and often used them in their cleansings and remedies. e.g. Turquoise was used widely as a bone breakage preventative, for humans and highly prized horses.

Also herbs and medicines from native plants were widely used for treatment of daily ills. e.g.. aspirin from the native willow tree bark.

Sand paintings were used as an aid to locate the cause and cure of illnesses. Rattles, drums and chants were often used to frighten the bad spirits away, to increase healing.

The tribe used sweat lodges to promote good health and increase spiritual visions and meditation.

The shaman would often take the illness from his patient, into his own body and later release it. His totem animals often helped in the curing process, by giving information or strength.

Wankatanka was the name of the Great Grandfather Spirit which guided the tribes, while on the Earth. They believed in a Now Time and a spirit time, known as the Other Time.

The Elderly were respected for their wisdom and white hair was honoured, as being a sign of the highest of the auric colours- a strong connection with the Godforce.

The Bird Tribes myths which are common to many of the Tribes of the Red Indian Nation, refer to the interaction of the tribes with extraterrestrial visitors, particularly those from the Seven Sisters - the Pleiadian Galaxy.

The White Buffalo is a special symbol to the Native American Indians, as its birth signals a renewal of native strengths and cultures. It is expected to be born within the next few years.
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EXERCISE TO FIND YOUR PERSONAL TOTEM ANIMAL

Play Indian music or drum tape in background

Pre-record this exercise and replay:

1. Relax for a few minutes, holding your quartz crystal. Ask your Guides to help you with this exercise to see, hear, smell and feel your totem animal. Protect yourself with a white light or golden auric egg.

2. Visualise yourself on a mountain top, looking down at your village below.

3. You are on a vision quest. You have left your weapons behind. You have built a sacred circle of stones around you for psychic protection.

4. You state to Wankatanka, the Grandfather Spirit, that you wish to locate and bond with your totem animal.

5. Now visualise your astral body (inner being) travelling out of your body, still connected to your body by a long silver chord. In your astral body you can travel anywhere safely and quickly.

6. Mentally send yourself down to the seaside and into the sea. You easily sink below the waves and come to sit on the ocean bottom.

Now call all the nearby creatures of the sea and rivers to you - fishes, whales, dolphins, sharks, crabs, eels, seals etc Most will come close and then swim away, but if your totem animal is located in the water, one will stay with you. If so, sit and connect mentally with this creature. Feel its skin or scales and continue to play with it. Look at its positive and negative qualities Is it a happy, fun loving creature, one of a pack or pod? Or is it an insular, loner? Does this relate to your life and feelings?

7. For those whose totem animal is not in the water, leave the seaside and be intuitively directed to the jungle, grasslands, prairies etc. Sit quietly here and allow your totem animal to come close to you. This could be a bear, horse, rabbit, lion, elephant or any other land animal. Connect and bond with it. Play with it. Look at its positive and negative qualities. Is it a friendly, fun loving creature, one of a pack or group? Or is it an insular, loner? Does this relate to your life and feelings?

8. For those whose totem animal is not on the land, leave this region and be intuitively directed to the mountains, hills and skies. Sit or float quietly here and allow your totem animal to come close to you. This could be an eagle, falcon, bat, butterfly, pigeon or any other air creature. Connect and bond with it. Play with it. Look at its positive and negative qualities. Is it a friendly, funloving creature, one of a flock or group? Or is it an insular, loner? Does this relate to your life and feelings?

9. Think of how you can use this animals qualities in your daily life. Will it help to give you strength, bravery, softness, communal feeling, fun etc? See how it can be integrated with you, to help you develop spiritually.

10. Now thank your totem animal for presenting itself to you. Ask for it, to be near you when needed. Leave that place and find yourself back in the circle of rocks on top of the mountain.

11. Thank Wankatanka for helping you with this vision quest.

12. Return to the room, take a deep breath and relax.

Write down your experiences and findings. How are you like your totem animal? Are you reclusive like the eagle or sociable and enjoy the interaction of the clan or wolf pack?

Think of ways to integrate the totem animals into your daily life. How can it give you comfort, strength or protection in certain situations?

You may like to collect a statue or painting of this totem animal, to remind you of its presence around you.
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NATIVE AMERICAN ASTROLOGICAL CHART

BIRTH DATES TOTEM ANIMAL GEMSTONE COLOUR:

DEC. 21-19 JAN SNOW GOOSE GREEN PERIDOT WHITE

JAN. 20 -18 FEB GREY OTTER TURQUOISE SILVER

FEB 19 - 20 MAR TIMBER WOLF GREEN JADE AQUA

MAR 21 - 20 APRIL FALCON/EAGLE OPAL YELLOW/GREEN

APR 21 - 20 MAY BROWN BEAVER YELLOW JASPER YELLOW

MAY 21 - 20 JUNE RED DEER ORANGE AGATE ORANGE

JUNE 21- 21 JULY RED WOODPECKER ROSE QUARTZ ROSE

JULY 22- 21 AUG PINK SALMON RED CARNELIAN RED/BROWN

AUG 22 - 22 SEPT. KODIAK BEAR BROWN TOPAZ BROWN

SEPT. 23 - 22 OCT BLACK CROW BLUE AZURITE BLUE

OCT 23 - 21 NOV BLACK SNAKE PURPLE AMETHYST VIOLET

NOV 22 - 20 DEC TAWNY OWL BLACK OBSIDIAN GOLD
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SUMMARY:

The Native American culture has much to teach us concerning respect for Mother Earth and the animal kingdoms. You can learn to locate and contact your Totem animal when needed for strength, support, guidance and comfort.

Blessings with your spiritual journey,

Mitakuye Oyasin

[Aurora]

WOLF

Wolves live in packs, and have a strong sense of community. They depend on each other for protection, food, and raising their young. As a totem, wolf can indicate a need or desire for family or tribe connections. Wolves have heightened sense of both smell and hearing, helpful tools that help with fine-tuning intuitions. Anyone with wolf medicine is aware of their keen intuitive abilities, or will soon be at a stage of realizing it. The wolf howls for many reasons, but primarily he howls because he loves the sound. When wolf totem appears ask yourself when you were last able to "let loose" and call out into the wild just for the joy of the sound. Are you feeling uptight about something? Let it go. The wolf also teaches confidence and pride. Be proud of your accomplishments and get ready to share what you have learned with others.
People with wolf medicine are often lovers of the night and will burn the midnight hours. Wolves have a wild streak in them which allows them to live on the fringes. Yet, family connections keep them grounded. A lone wolf is a rarity.

The individual with Arctic Wolf as their Power Totem is one who is capable of being a teacher, as having resistance to change, as having stamina, as having resilience, as having wisdom, and has having determination, withstanding numerous challenges and setbacks, only to emerge stronger than before with the ability to push his body and mind to the limits, and in fact, can appear to even derive pleasure from doing so.

[Aurora]

PANTHER

The panther animal totem is a very powerful and protective presence. If you have this creature as your totem, you are blessed to have such a fierce and aggressive guardian with you.

The panther is a symbol of courage, valor and power. The panther has also sometimes associated with the sun, and solar vibrancy in some cultures (South American, & Central American).

Individuals with panther totems are usually people who come into this world with a spiritual knowing - a deeper understanding of spiritual things. These people often are very intuitive, psychic, and many are artistically inclined.

Of all the panthers, the black panther has the greatest mysticism associated with it. It is a symbol of the mother, the dark moon and the power of the night. The black panther encourages us to understand the shadow powers available to us all, to acknowledge these powers and to eliminate our fears of the darkness.

When the black panther totem appears in your life, it is also a symbol of releasing your passions, and starting a new phase of your life. A phase in which you are discovering your desires, and living your dreams.

The panther animal totem asks us these questions:

What is my Shadow Self trying to tell me?
Are my passions helping or hindering me at this time?
Am I still on the right spiritual path for myself?
Am I supressing latent desires?
Am I putting others' needs before my own to the point of self-neglect?
Am I being mindful of my movements - both physical and emotional?
Am I being defensive? Who or what am I protecting and why?

When the panther animal totem comes to us (whether it be in the form of images or real sightings) we must begin paying attention to the strength of our inner being - our internal fortitude, and the condition of our spiritual strength & valor. Panthers also beckon us to consider our darker side - analyze this side of ourselves and determine its motivation.

[Aurora]

BUTTERFLY

Scientific research has shown that the butterfly is the only living being capable of changing entirely its genetic structure during the process of transformation: the caterpillar's DNA is totally different from the butterfly's. Thus, it is the symbol of total transformation. Butterfly represents a need for change and greater freedom, and at the same time it represents courage: one requires courage to carry out the changes necessary in the process of growth. Its Medicine is related to the air and the mental powers. It teaches us to find clarity in the mental processes, to organize projects or to figure out the next step in our internal growth. If Butterfly is your Power Animal or if you feel in any way attracted to it, this means you are ready to undergo some kind of transformation. Examine which stage calls your attention the most: the egg is the beginning, the birth of some project or idea. The larva is de decision to manifest something in the physical world. The cocoon has to do with "going inside", either through insight or the development of the project or idea. The breaking of the cocoon deals with sharing the splendor of your creation with the whole world. Once you understand the stage you are on, you can discover which is the next step.

Butterflies are also symbols of freedom and creativity. The butterfly represents the process of transformation and shape shifting, so they hold the gift of transformation and soul evolution. When butterfly shows up, make note of the most important issues confronting you at the moment. What state of change are you at in regard to them?
To the Native Americans the butterfly is a symbol of joy. They remind us that life is a dance, not to take things quite so seriously. They also remind us to get up and move. Dance brings the sweetness of life. Butterflies are messengers of the moment. They come in a variety of colors. To understand the message that the butterfly holds for you a study of its colors can be helpful.

And finally:

The Greek word for both "soul" and "butterfly" is psyche, and it was once believed that human souls assumed the form of butterflies while they searched for a new incarnation. Throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, butterflies have maintained their standing as a symbol of the soul and rebirth.

The butterfly totem will aid you in achieving depths of inner and outer exploration far beyond the ordinary. As a symbol of personal transformation, your spirit helper will hover ever-near to assist you in all those changes within yourself and within your environment.

[Kerrie/Zoolithe ~site creator ♥]

A white butterfly kept flying around Blossom and I when I first visited her, it went off then came back again and kept on buzzing us.

[Kerrie/Zoolithe ~site creator ♥]

Total transformation! that is why in my dream the other night when I saw that space ship I saw those bright white butterfly lights on the leaves of a tree and maybe the tree is the tree of life,this is fun,thanks Aurora xxx

[Aurora]

RAVEN

Raven symbolizes changes in conciousness and is the symbol of a shape shifter. Ravens are prophets, spell-casters, and messengers. Raven offers knowledge of the world to the people for safe keeping. Over the course of generations, this knowledge is passed on, and the spirit of transformation begins to unfold.

The raven symbolizes healing powers, the ability to draw secrets from the Shadows. The raven symbolizes gratitude and affection, wisdom, hope, longevity, death, and fertility. The song of the Raven is said to be a symbol of temptations, especially sexual ones.

The raven is at once a symbol of mystery, memory and thought; and the master trickster. In alchemy, Raven represents change and the advanced soul.

The Raven's jet-black color naturally associates it with night, the Great Void, and the Earth. It is a bird that has been granted great power.

Some say Raven was born of the primordial darkness and some say Raven created the light. In spite of her dark appearance, the raven is also a solar symbol. In China, a three-legged raven lives in the sun. Her legs symbolize dawn, noon, and dusk. There used to be ten sun-ravens but they gave off such intense light and heat that an archer had to shoot nine of them in order to preserve life on earth.

When you observe with the eye of the Raven, you realize the importance of letting others express their views. Raven teaches the importance of being still and observing quietly until we can see both sides of the light.

When change needs to occur, the Raven flies quickly. She also brings new things, new places, new ideas, and rebirth. Raven helps the worthy, but loves to trick the unsuspecting; and is as full of mischief as she is wonderful. Raven symbolizes the home of our ancestors, our personal stories and imprinted memories. Raven is distinctly earthy, and feminine.

To honor the darkness of this bird's wing, we turn to our own hidden interior, the parts of our own past marked with shadows of unhealed wounds and unexpressed emotions. The Raven is the symbol of our own Soul.

All healing begins with the spiritual which converts to emotional, mental and many times even physical levels. We are all a work in progress and on our way to perfection. Remember to balance your life with fun and play.

[Kerrie/Zoolithe ~site creator ♥]

Thanks Aurora mine went down as a crop circle on my birthday!

Dragonfly - Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.

[Kerrie/Zoolithe ~site creator ♥]

http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html

ametrine sent me this after I told her about waking up with 'this year is going to be the year of the dragonfly'in my mind

[Aurora]