In my previous article, I wrote about the origins of Spirit Animals, totems and Power Animals. In this article, we will explore how exactly to pinpoint what your personal Spirit Animal is, along with how they can help you to learn, grow, and make wise moves and decisions in your life.
How to Discover Your Spirit Animal
At this point you may be wondering, “OK, so what really is my spirit animal then … how can I truly discover what it is?” Well, I have done some research and have discovered a variety of ways to determine what exactly your totem is.
1. Spend more time outdoors. This helps you to forge a greater connection to nature, which you will need to identify your Spirit Animal.
2. Spend time observing animals. In order to become aware of your Spirit Animal, you must first become aware of the nature of animals.
3. Pay attention to the animals appearing in your life. Do any particular animals recur in your life repeatedly? It is said that if a particular animal continuously appears in your daily life, this is an indication that your totem is trying to contact you. For instance, a certain animal could repeatedly show up on your daily walks, in the books you read, TV shows you watch or pictures you glimpse.
4. Pay attention to the animals appearing in your dream life. Spirit Animals are also said to contact us in our dreams. Look out for animals that seem to persistently appear while you sleep – this could be a sign of your Spirit Animal trying to manifest itself to you.
5. Be aware of the unusual behaviour of animals around you. Does a particular animal run up to you, make strange noises around you, or otherwise display strange behaviour patterns in your presence? This could be a strong indication of your Spirit Animal trying to contact or form a connection with you.
6. Think about what animals you have always been attracted to. Are you drawn to any particular animal, either out of fear or adoration? This could reveal an unconscious connection to your Spirit Animal.
7. Try meditation. It is said that our Spirit Animals often reveal themselves to the subconscious mind during practises such as meditation. If you don’t often meditate, or if you would like assistance, see these guided meditation videos:
- Shamanic Meditation – Find Your Spirit Animal
- Awakening Your Animal Spirit Totem
- Connect With Your Animal Guides
8. Keep a journal. Record what animals you encounter in your meditations, dreams and waking life. Look for patterns or recurrences of a specific animal or animals.
It’s also good to be aware of the 20 main types of Spirit Animals. These are the:
- Bear (strength, confidence)
- Butterfly (personal transformation)
- Cat (independence, curiosity)
- Coyote (playfulness, adaptability)
- Crow (vision, intelligence)
- Deer (innocence, gentleness)
- Dragonfly (transformation, adaptability)
- Fox (agility, awareness)
- Frog (rebirth, renewal)
- Hawk (focus, leadership)
- Horse (freedom, passion)
- Hummingbird (positivity, playfulness)
- Lion (strength, courage)
- Owl (wisdom, intuition)
- Rabbit (abundance, vulnerability)
- Sheep (vulnerability, innocence)
- Snake (healing, transformation)
- Spider (creativity, receptivity)
- Tiger (willpower, aggression)
- Turtle (determination, persistence)
- Wolf (intelligence, freedom) [Read our Wolf Spirit Animal article]
Note: The terms “Spirit Animal”, “totem” and “power animal” are often all used interchangeably.
How to Discover Your Spirit Animal’s Medicine
Once you have discovered what your Spirit Animal/s is, a common question to ask is “what’s next?” How can you harness the new knowledge of your totem to benefit your life? Here I will show you a variety of ways to learn from your Spirit Animal.
1. Discover its symbolic wisdom (or ‘medicine’). Each Spirit Animal has strengths and weakness which are important for you to learn about, as they directly apply to your life. The better you understand the symbolic meaning of your totem, the better, in a sense, you will come to understand yourself and what you need to improve or change in your life.
2. Apply your new found wisdom. Learning about your Animal Spirit will help you to learn more about yourself, and will consequently help you to make important decisions, deal with difficult situations and people, and reach your personal goals and aspirations.
3. Don’t humanize your Spirit Animal. Anthropomorphizing your totem will do nothing but silence their unique ways of expressing themselves. In order to be open to your Spirit Animal’s message, you need to first be open to embrace their exclusive language.
4. Be open to your Spirit Animals appearance in your life. Be aware of dreams, or real life occurrences in which your Spirit Animal manifests itself. Also remember that your Spirit Animal can choose to manifest itself in a very subtle way; for instance, in poems, a song, or even a picture in a book, or poster in the street. Our totems are thought to serve as both omens, as well as messengers and guides. So consider the following question in your daily life:
- What feelings do you experience when your totem appears in your life? For example, do foreboding or comforting feelings arise within you?
- What message does your totem appear to be trying to communicate to you?
- Is your totem trying to lead you in a certain direction?
5. Honor your Spirit Animal. Shamans believe that by honoring and venerating your Spirit Animal, you grow and gain a deeper connection to them. Many people like showing respect to their totems by placing objects of the same species around their houses. Others like wearing symbols of their Spirit Animals on their bodies (amulets, pendants etc.)
If you have any comments, experiences or opinions that you would like to add, please feel free to share them below.
I have been seeing turtles everywhere for in the months since my awakening. They are outside everywhere all the time, I move them out of the road, I even saw one in the middle of a busy interstate recently. Then I start seeing pictures of turtles everywhere I go and figures of turtles in stores, homes, gas stations and I do not live near water.
I also get to see the Hawk alot, something 3 or 5 & they make me feel really happy and but I would feel much better if they could actually rest on my shoulder & not just fly nearer to get fly away.. & also so many others listed on your list. I once had an Hawk during my teenage days, saw it in distress and took it home..took care of it and all, really got used to it and loved it company because I used to pray owning a bird while I was younger… Later on, my mom had to make me send it away and even after I’d sent it away it didn’t leave for some days till it later did. The only pet I ever had… Sometimes I think that my Hawk of those days with its children are trying to keep in touch… Plus I’m a great lover of nature & adventure, I believe in fairy tales .. Pls I’d like an instruction on how to get them closer to me as close as me touching it again & actually feeling it again this time.
Is a spirit animal a particular one or just the species in general? Because I’ve always had horses always seen them and loved them. But recently I met this one very unique horse he and I are kindred spirits from what I can tell. I have done many spirit animal meditations and he always gives me guidance, but he is also a real horse not just my spirit animal. I’ve been looking for answers everywhere, for this question and no site seems to have anything on the subject. Does anyone know?
Does the crow cover ravens as well? I have always felt an affinity with them, despite their not being vegetarians like me.
i keep seeing Magpies every time i leave my house.
When I used the link for the shamanic meditation and followed the guide, I was entering a forest into a beautiful grove that you had to cross a creek on a tree trunk to access, my spirit guide that came forward, was a white wolf with a very deep voice, like me it assigns itself no gender but when I think of its name, it’s not something I can hear but something I can see. It made me think Norse and runes… something that struck me a bit odd was that they had blood surrounding their mouth and on their front paws… I don’t know what this means, can you please help me to understand what it might mean? Ah I forgot to mention eye color! They had the most striking ice blue eyes, I felt such an interesting sensation of both warmth and cold and comfort when looking into them!
I don’t see Dog as one of the spirit animals, is that because the wolf is to include all dogs?
That’s what I thought too my spirits animal is the wolf although my family symbol is the butterfly which makes sense also but I have a very close and strong relationship with my dog too which plays on the wolf as spirit animal take seems like she (my dog) understands me and is totally in tune with my well being, emotions and life as I am with her
Can Killer Whales or Dolphins be spirit animals,? I am fascinated with them, but I have always had dreams about flying like an eagle or a hawk.
This has changed a couple times for me, I’m usually around alot of frogs but up until recently I have seen alot of snakes, my car broke down and I had to walk a little road at night as I was walking I ran into 10-15 different snakes on the road I wasn’t paying attention until I saw one and after I saw him I looked around and a bunch snakes were surrounding me I’m guessing nine of these symbols are permanent
I feel like my spirt animal is a wolf and was wondering how i would figure this out
hello, read the discover your spirit animal, I have a few, but my main one is the raccoon ,just wondering their meaning? p.s. I love your work , keep it up !!
I’ve always been attracted to cats, especially big cats like tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and I have took the text, my spirit animal is 100% wolf. If I have time I’ll try the meditation thing cuz I’m also a little attracted to other animals.
I didn’t realize until I read your article that my animal is the dragonfly. The reason I believe this is that for the past 2 0r 3 years when I go outside to do anything, I’ll see one or two flitting around and the longer I’m out the more come to see me. I feel as if they are welcoming me into their tribe and are letting me know this. Once I acknowledge them, I feel peace. I’ve never felt threatened or that they carry bad tidings. It has always been a reminder I think, that we are all here for a reason.
I dream about bees all the time and they always seem to be around me wherever I go
Turtle, Owl, Tiger and Orangutan are totems for me.
There is a book called “Animal Speak” by Ted Andrews that is a wonderful resource and speaks of the spiritual and magical powers of animals and talks about more than 100 animals, birds, insects and reptiles. It is a great read for the experienced and uninitiated alike.
I’m not sure what my spirit guide is but these are some things that fascinates me or I’m naturally drawn to it or appeared in my life often.
1. Oceans. Gloomy days, sunless day with dark clouds. Whenever I’m by the beach side, observing the oceans, listening to the waves has a calming, energizing effect on me. Same during gloomy days. At the same time I’m afraid of actually swimming into seas.
2. Wales. Particularly Blue Whales. While I have not personally seen one. But I remembered when I first saw its images / videos about it, I thought it was very beautiful, tho it was not,if you compare it to like orcas. I also feel calm looking at it. I have also always wished to one day go on a whale watching trips.
3. Snails. It’s slow moving motion has a lot of similarity in how I go about my life. I like it slow n steady, ya know like remember to smell the roses while you are on the go. I have a particular interest in it so much so I nicknamed myself snailgirl, I even at 1 point in my life sign of my drawings with a snail sign!
4. Dogs. I grew up with dogs around my house. Whenever I visit clients/friends house with dogs, they always are very friendly with me, even those fierce with strangers warmed up to me instantly. I remember 1 time went to my hubby’s relative’s house first time. They had this huge Rottweiler call Tiger. Even their sons r afraid of it. But when I first saw Tiger, all I saw was a gentle, cute soul in a large fierce body waiting to be pet n played with. What surprises me was, while I was sitting inside the hall, near the glass door, Tiger was right outside chilling. Suddenly, he just threw me his favorite chewing bones, as tho indicating he wants to play with me! So I threw it back to him playfully, he was so happy. As we r leaving, I went to say goodbye to Tiger, pet him a bit n he just gave me his huge heavy paw asking for more! I’m glad I met Tiger and interacted with him coz not long after he was put to sleep due to old age :'(
5. Cats. I never have good,impression bout cats until I met my first cat. She was rescued by my bro in law after it got hit n left on road side. I took charge to care for it and eventually became my pet till today because they were clueless about pets. What special is, I felt we bonded immediately. She was lost twice n I found her just by her voice. Cats all sounded pretty similar, but somehow during that 2 instances, I instinctively recognized that it was her call for me. I also have some interesting encounter with stray cats. 1 time while dining out on a roadside stall (I’m from Malaysia), suddenly a stray cat around the area just decided to jump up to my chair and snuggled comfortably on the tiny space behind me. I just let it be n continued my meal. Another time, as I was walking up my apartment, the neighborhood cat suddenly came I front of me rolled on the floor n showed me its belly! How cute! Another 2 times was a kitten just sprint out of nowhere towards me wanting to play! 1 of it a black kitten with 1 of its eye still closed followed me into the lift n wanted to go into my house too! Too bad I can’t take in extra cats… But I find it peculiar…
6. Spiders. I’m afraid of it because I’m scared it jumps onto me n bite me etc. Otherwise, whenever I saw it, I just keep telling them to go away n leave me alone if they do not want to be squashed lol.. I have lots N lots of long leg spiders in my bathroom now. No matter how I vaccum the place clean, they just keeps coming back!! Don’t know what to do with them..
As cat represent independent and curiosity, it resonates a lot with me as I could travel alone anywhere n be fine n I’m curious in a lot if things tho I might not openly show it. Spider represent creativity and receptiveness. As I’m a makeup artist, sometime I feels that I have yet to reach my full potential creative wise. So not sure if these spiders has any indications to it?
I have not seen much of these animal/insect in my dream other than my late dog n current cat. In both dreams where they appear, it was about them getting killed. I was so sad in the dream n literally cried n wet my pillows!
How/what do you think they r trying to show me, Luna, Sol? Hope you guys can do some online counselling/guidance service so that i could get some answers from you guys :)
Love ur post I can relate as I stated in a previous comment my “family symbol” is the butterfly which relates but my true spirit animal is the wolf I have a deep connection to my dog Sadie but to dogs in general I think animals r attracted to empath personality types and make them feel at ease and I’m sure (not speaking for everyone of course) but since we are on this website we r spiritual and I have to assume a lot of us (like myself) have some degree of “witch essence” to us which makes these bonds with animals stronger and makes the spirit guide attraction even stronger with these animals they can sense that in us and know we are unique and different from “run of the mill every day average” people it’s kind of amazing it’s like we are on a plain a little bit different than others which leads to the magnetism with animals and nature which can only help us in our journey and enlightenment and makes for wonderful bonding relationships with these little furry souls it’s amazing and at least for me, brings comfort that we are a part of a much bigger picture but in our own way are still making a positive and living impact in an often cold and cruel world even if it’s just bringing little slices of happiness here and there to animals and people in need of a deeper other worldly connection that is very rare especially in the hustle and bustle of modern times where everything is “loud” and fast paced we can sometimes be the eye of the storm and that’s priceless idk if anyone will get the reference but I often look to Misty Day (AHS) as what I aspire to be like
I have always been drawn to wolves and have always felt, I guess a kindredness to them. I find them to be majestic. K9s have always loved me and I them. They seem to listen to me, and follow me. As I stated in the comment box up top of this page. I did your meditation and as I sat in this forest type setting a really big wolf came to me and allowed me to pet him. I actually caught chills as he stared back into my eyes, but not fear chills. I honestly can’t explain it. When I mentally asked him my question, he licked my face. Is there any insight you can share with me on this?
According to this article, the spider is my spirit animal. I am deathly scared of spiders though. They make me feel faint when I see them. I often have dreams that involve spiders. I also have problems sharing my creativity with others and being receptive. I crave artistic expression and to be a “receiver” but it scares me.
I have had reaccuring dreams of snakes in a pit since I was a child. I also am deathly afraid!
I have recently felt a want for the wolf to bond with me. I fell drawn to it. I want the ‘Wolf Spirit’ to guide me. I feel like i’m a lone self fighting the odds. I feel like i need to break free from the ideologies of society.
Around where I live there are some wolves. But, frequently there have been this one particular wolf that I have encountered atleast once a day last 2 weeks. We keep our distance but, I feel strongly that the wolf and me have grown more attached to each other. It’s a large grey male wolf. He hasn’t shown any sign of aggression or fear, but more like friendly and courious. It may sound strange but, I feel like it’s me in wolf skin. I am often outdoors and I see alot of wolves, but this one is special. Sorry for some rusty english. And I am a frim believer in animal spirits.