Animal Totems

Animals have been around longer than mankind. Understanding your totem animal can help us discover our true self. The strengths and weaknesses of an animal totem are a mirror reflection of our inner being. We are all part of the tapestry of life and have gifts to share. Discovering your personal animal totems provides you with the insight necessary to align yourself with the Creative force.

How do you find out what your animal totem is?

There are many books on the subject and people far better than me on the subject, but I will tell how I have found mine.

I was first made aware of animal totems some years back by a shamen friend of mine and someone else who doesn't believe in luck and that everything happens for a reason, my first real totem animal (other than a Hippo) was a badger, now I don't know about you but I have never seen a real badger other than TV and road kill!, well one night in 2005 I had one come into the garden, pass me and head the the fallen plums on the grass, it looked round at me and carried on, the sauntered off without any worries, absolutely amazing sight and never forgot it so the badger became my totem animal.

Late last year I was pottering around the garden and could see rustling in the bushes so went to investegate, on looking I found a Woodpecker caught up in the brambles, again I was taken aback, I have never seen one before, I helped it untangle it's wings and off it went, I was suprised at the bright colours and how small they actually are, so the woodpecker became my totem animal.......so below have posted the woodpecker meaning.


WoodPecker Totem

Their flight patterns are unique. Woodpeckers fly up, coast down then fly upwards again. Those with this totem often find that their path in life wont always conform to society's standards and that their personal unique rhythm needs to be honoured. Woodpeckers teach us to honour our personal truth and move through life with perseverance and inner strength. By staying grounded in our pursuits our goals can be obtained.

In spring the loud calls of woodpeckers often augmented by drumming on hollow wood are the sounds of males holding territories. Woodpeckers defend their territory aggressively. Those with this medicine need to be in control of their personal environment and will not tolerate others trying to change it. Although personal space is very important for woodpecker medicine people control issues can sometimes be a problem and flexibility needs to be learned.

The woodpecker is known as the Earths drummer. Drumming is the heartbeat of mother earth and is associated with shamanism and the ability to move into other dimensions at will. For those with this totem the woodpecker represents self discovery. As they peck into and through trees and dead wood, hidden layers of ones psyche are revealed. Those with this medicine are good analysts and have strong mental capabilities. They make excellent psychiatrists and psychologists. Woodpeckers are active birds so caution is advised to maintain balance when reviewing any situation or issue. Too much analyzing can result in procrastination.

I haven't yet had a further new animal enter my life so assume the woodpecker is still current, animal totems change as we change, this is my view, someone else may see it differently.

If you have had an unusual animal encounter let me know and I will post your animal meaning too.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.