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Animal Totems pervade our ancient myths, scriptures, and oral traditions. Primal universal archetypes manifest in the earthly spheres through the actions, characteristics, and behavior of animals. Cultural legends portrayed a strong linkage between animals, dieties, and humans. This connection was often depicted as pictures or statues of gods and goddesses with animal heads, accompanied by animal totems or in the form of their primary power animals. Animal imagery and symbolism has often been used to foster spiritual growth and to guide seekers along the sacred pathways. The knowledge of animal totems and power animals will enhance the understanding of the innermost aspects of human nature. Besides empowering and protecting humans, animals inspire them and help them heal. Although most people have several power animals that remain with them throughout their lifetime, other animals come and go over the years. Some of the reasons for their appearance are: they have something to teach them; they resonate with some quality they possess; they allow them to come to terms with their fears; they are testing their ability to wisely handle one power or another; "Spirit Beings" are projecting the imagery of a particular animal into their consciousness in order to guide them; the animal is assisting them with the development of a particular power or magickal ability Animals have souls, they are spiritual beings who are also learning and growing over evolutionary timelines. They have much they can teach humanity, as well as, wisdom they can share if they are given the opportunity. There are already many animal friends acting in the capacity of household pets such as, a cat or a dog; but, also people might also feel attracted to one or more animals that live out in the wild or on another continent entirely. They may have pictures of horses on their walls, or porcelain figurines of dolphins on their coffee table.
They may hunt with tigers
in their dreams or howl at the full moon with the wolves in their minds. If they
do then it is most likely that the tiger or wolf would be a totem or power
animal for them. The animals may also send them a telepathic messages (for
example, they might see a skunk in their mind's eye when they need to define
and/or assert their personal boundaries) or they may visit them in their spirit
form in their personal nightly Dreamtime when it is impossible for them to visit
them in the outer world.
All the animals are unique. All their interactions with people are important and worthy of their attentive respect. The appearance of a turtle laying her eggs, an alligator gazing intently at someone as it slips into a pond at dusk, pigeons conversing soothingly with each other when someone is emotionally distressed, a pair of mockingbirds pointing out the parasitic tendencies of others, are all blessed occurrences in daily life. To be the most effective, the power animal must chose the person rather than the other way around. A bumblebee buzzing around, a dragonfly flying close to a car windshield, a beaver placing its paw up against the glass in greeting as someone stares through the enclosure at the zoo, and mourning doves cooing at dawn are not just random events of nature, they are "Encounters of an Animal Totem Kind". The animals bring powerful important life messages with them when they appear in someone's life. Messages well worth listening to The Aboriginal Australians believe that they are connected to all the species and that the Ancestral Spirits charged them with the duty to be caretakers of the land and of all the species. The Aboriginal Australians call this responsibility to safeguard the land and all species, "Taking Care". The life of an individual Aboriginal, a person of the Dreamtime, is lived then according to the guidelines laid down for the ancestors by the creators. During the Dreamtime the Ancestral Spirits purposefully created every billabong, rock, star, planet, animal, insect, and all other living creatures (including humans and all of the flora). As they travelled across the land, they gave it form by creating the rivers, the mountains, the sand hills, the trees, the humans, the animals, the birds, the insects, and the marine life. They also made the sky, the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars. Then they also laid down the laws the Aboriginals must obey and the Dreaming Tracks which connect all creatures of the Sacred World and define the belonging territory of the tribe within the landscape. Afterwards, the Ancestral Spirits changed into aspects of the landscape, empowering it with their numinous presence.
By adhering to the
traditions and beliefs practiced by the tribe for generations, an individual
aboriginal fulfills the laws and spiritual expectations of the Ancestral Spirits. At the
end of Dreamtime, after the Ancestral Spirits gave form to the land and
established community relationships, they changed from human and other forms
into animals, stars, hills, and other things, enlivening the landscape with
their powers... Continue on
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