The characteristics of a specific animal are often rubbed off on those who have it as a totem. We often harness the natural power and energy of our totem. This energy may come in many forms, but is often closely associated with the attitude and habitat of the animal itself.

The relationship you have with your totem also depends on its energies and attitude. Relationships with your totem animals are strongly based on the emotional, spirituality, physicality, and psychological characteristics of the animal you are dealing with.

Each totem has inherant skill and power. Each totem has inherant blindness and weakness. This will be represented by the inner energy and spirit of the animal you are dealing with.

To find the differnt aspects of your totem ask yourself some questions and read up on the animal. You can learn from how the animal acts in the wild and the traits it exhibits.

Begin by asking these simple question about your animal:

These questions will help you build a base attitude for your totem. These traits will help you learn the lesons that your totem will present to you, as well as give you insight into yourself and others.

Many Animals have traditional meaning which are associated with them. Authors like Ted Andrews, D.J.Conway, and Silver Ravenwolf have written books on this very subject. While I do not agree with every interperation that is offered by these authors, I find their overall despcription and basic interperatation helpful and a good starting point.

I, however, do not follow all of their interpretations of totem animals. Through observation and a lot of research, I have come up with a fairly loose guide of animal charateristics when they are associated with totem animals. I have done research on both recent and ancient views of the animals, as well as their habitats and attitudes while in nature.

I encourage you to do the same when discovering your totem animal. Use this as a rough guide and let your heart, mind and soul tell you where to take the information you do know.

Alligator-- Rough, stern, stealthy, basic survival

Antelope-- Graceful, speed, quick to start, jumpy, easily startled

Badger-- Does not relate well to others, self-reliant, a teacher rather than a student, has earth knowledge

Bat-- Initiation into magickal practices, long lived, facer of fears, finder of hidden messages, divination

Bear-- Introspection, inner strength, protective of their young, thought of as wise and gentle, keeper of hidden wisdom

Beaver-- A builder, talkative, likes structure and building, story teller, short lived, makes dreams a reality

Bee-- Hard working, social, follower, communittee oriented, can be obsesive

Bird (general)-- Needs freedom, unity of fellow creatures, open minded, can be overbearing in beliefs and views

Bobcat-- Solitary, has spiritual force residing within them, will often carry the burden, manifestation

Buffalo-- Healing, good fortune, abundance, slow witted but kind, easily persuaded, keeper of medicine

Bull-- Insight into the past, might rush into parenthood and family, ill-prepared, fertile

Butterfly-- Transformation, accepting of others, graceful, indecisive

Caribou-- Traveler, mobile, can adapt to surroundings, prefers to keep moving and have freedom

Cougar-- Leadership, physical strength, quick tempered, quick witted, agressive, keeper of inner strength

Coyote-- Humorous, tricky, looks out for itself, willing to laugh at itself, committed, scavenger, keeper of magick

Crane-- Royalty, proud, balance, inner meditation, lucky

Crow-- Resourceful, greedy, tolerated, loud, willing to council others without thought for self

Deer-- Gentle, sensitive, generally peaceful, passive, slow reactions

Dog-- Faithful, inner loyalty to a fault, make good friends and family, will protect those they care for

Dolphin-- Harmony, joyful, swift, passionate, meditative, likes company, keeper of self

Dragonfly-- Restless, refined, ever moving, skilled

Eagle-- Illumination, majesty, adeptness, potency, power through knowledge

Elephant-- Long lived, doesnt listen to insults, tough and agressive, strong but peaceful

Elk-- Pride, beauty, ageless wisdom, keeper of the forest

Fish-- Agile, mobile, sly, generally open minded, but quick to change its mind

Fox-- Clever, subtle, agile, swift, uses discretion, not outgoing, willing to hide

Frog-- Growth, inner child, clensing, emotional healing, poor judgement of character

Goat-- Dilligence, willing to work to the top, unbending, no foresight

Goose-- Love of home, returns to place of belonging, friendly and caring, ever searching

Gorilla-- Powerful, wise, inner sadness and emotional self, represents those who keep peace through agreesion

Hawk-- Awareness, inner truth and contemplation, hidden talents, a watcher

Hedgehog-- Defensive, self preservation, abrasive personality, loner

Horse-- Loyal, inner power, freedom, safety in movement, beauty through strength

Hummingbird-- Agile, quick movements, easily distracted, abundance of energy, often has a sweet tooth

Lizard-- Relaxed, knows when to back off, hidden defenses, elusiveness

Lion-- Strength, pride, agile, family motivated, willing to sacrifce self for others, strong channeling energies

Loon-- Serenity, good communicator, judgemental but uncaring

Manitee-- Slow but graceful mover, control of elements and though, open experience and destiny

Moose-- Unpredictable, slow to temper, stands up for what they believe in, abrasive

Mouse-- Hidden emotions and movements, illusive, charming, prepared, knows when to run away

Nightengale-- Soft tempered, good speaker, smooth movement and voice, keeper of the night

Octopus-- Multifacited, skilled in many things, like to know everything, can be overbearing and controling

Otter--Playful, joyful nature, likes games of all sorts, bring laughter whereveer they go

Owl-- Insight into the unknown, clear vision, can see all influences around them, hidden hunter

Panther-- Hidden emotions, silent thought, careful decisions, quick movemnts, stealthy

Penguin-- Family oriented, emotionally cold exterior, non-expressive, adaptive to many environments

Prairie Dog-- Swift, industrious, readiness, doesnt like cold, builder

Porqupine-- Knows humility, inner innocence, appears to be scared and defensive, kind private nature

Quail-- Works best in a group, creates harmony and group tolerance, protective, likes children

Rabbit-- Safety in numbers, needs to conquer fears, quick minded, emotional, physically weak

Racoon-- Borrower of skills and items, hidden enemies, hidden skills, lurker, mischief maker

Rat-- Can adapt to anything, quick witted and hard working, scavenging when needed, likes luxury

Raven-- Mysterious, ingenuity, distant watcher, keeper of the unknown

Rooster-- Vain, likes gifts and attention, early to rise, will go after the best

Salmon-- Determined, persistant, strength through desire, trusting but not trust-worthy

Seagull-- Versitile, loud, abnoxious, carefree, inventive but lazy, open minded

Seal-- Contentment, peaceful, over-emotional, playful but hard worker

Skunk-- Wanring, dangerous, misunderstood, respectful and worthy of respect, carefully judgemental

Snail-- Perserverance, although stern and cold on the outside has a soft hearted nature

Snake-- Sexually potent, solitary but likes pleasing others, inner power through passion, keeper of the life force

Squirrel-- Thrifty, well prepared for any disaster, trust worthy, knows how to survive

Spider-- Weaver of threads, binding people together, matronly figure, tends to gossip, keeper of destiny

Swan-- Beauty, elegance, nurturing nature and open heart, sense of calmness and inner retrospection

Tiger-- Mothering nature, Strength through determination and inner power, fickle personality

Turtle-- Protection, love of life and nature, healing powers, inner knowledge and thought

Walrus-- Trickster, loner, likes to be an individual, has little respect for life and others, vain

Whale-- Intuitive, wise, graceful, inner beauty, communittee preservation, gentle but will attack when provoked

Wolf-- Teacher of skills, loyalty, independant but likes others, strong willed

Yak-- Ancient wisdom, higher being and understanding, self doubt, lack of emotional control

Zebra-- Indecisive, hidden aspects, confuses others, can be emotionally up or down rarely in between