It was bizarre and unexplainable: I kept having recurring dreams for about a month, where I would walk into an eerie, foreboding forest at night with a wolf peering at me through the shrubs. Its stare seemed kind, almost motherly, but very intense … somehow I knew that it was trying to tell me something about the depths of the forest ahead.
I have since had many dreams about Wolves and Dogs. And before I ever knew of my strong connection with the Canis Lupus species, I co-founded and named this website lonerwolf: a creature that to me embodies the spiritual journey.
Have you ever experienced any strange synchronicities to do with animals?
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Do you keep running into the same animal over and over again? Perhaps you’ve had repetitive dreams or have undergone a shocking, rare, or weird situation with an animal you never expected to see.
If you’re confused, need clarity, or validation, keep reading.
(By the way, if you’re interested in getting more help connecting with your Spirit Animal, see my highly-rated Spirit Animal Reading offering!)
Table of contents
- What is a Spirit Animal? (Definition)
- Ancient Origins ( Totemism & Animism )
- Spirit Animals & the Spiritual Awakening Journey
- Spirit Animal, Power Animal, Totem Animal – What’s the Difference?
- 7 Ways to Discover Your Spirit Animal
- 21 Common Spirit Animals
- 5 Ways to Discover Your Spirit Animal’s Lessons (Medicine)
- Spirit Animal Quiz
What is a Spirit Animal? (Definition)
A Spirit Animal is a teacher, messenger, omen, or guide who is there to help you in some area of your life. In shamanic cultures, spirit animals are thought to be the literal spirits of animals that we either inherit, are born with, or adopt during life. However, in various schools of psychology, Spirit Animals are thought to be the archetypal or symbolic manifestations of the primal psyche. Regardless of what philosophy you subscribe to, Spirit Animals are powerful allies that connect us with our Souls and Higher Purpose.
Ancient Origins (Totemism & Animism)
Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul.
– Pythagoras
The notion of having a Spirit Animal draws its origins from ancient Animistic and Totemistic beliefs about the world and our connection to it.
Totemism is a system of belief practiced by groups such as the Native American or Australian Aboriginal peoples who carry the philosophy that each human being has a spiritual connection to another physical being (e.g., a plant or animal).
The Kpelle people of Liberia, for instance, possess animal, plant, and natural phenomena (wind, rain, etc.) totems that are thought to guide and protect their people. Their totems are also thought to be a form of alter ego or second self.
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Animism, on the other hand, is a world view held by many Buddhist, Shinto, Pagan, and Neopagan groups of people, that all plants, animals, and objects have spirits. To the Animists, we are part of nature, rather than being superior to nature, or separate from nature. As such, it’s common to see the inclusion of Spirit Animals within this worldview.
Spirit Animals & the Spiritual Awakening Journey
Spirit Animals are powerful allies on our spiritual awakening journeys as they help us to reconnect with our Souls. As the essence of an animal is raw, pure, and untainted by the issues that human beings undergo, they can help us tune into our authentic, untamed nature.
Spirit Animals embody their Souls (their unique expression of the Divine) completely and utterly. They’re not burdened with an ego that feels small, separate, and defensive against Life. As such, our Spirit Animal can teach us lessons surrounding courage, empowerment, interconnectedness, letting go, learning to love fully, and finding freedom.
It’s common for those beginning this journey of Soul Embodiment to experience synchronicities, spiritual signs, and omens connected with their Spirit Animal.
Spirit Animal, Power Animal, Totem Animal – What’s the Difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there’s a difference. Put simply:
- A Spirit Animal refers to an ally who helps teach/guide you.
- A Power Animal refers to a creature that empowers you.
- A Totem Animal refers to a creature that is inherited (ancestrally or as part of a tribe/clan).
While a Power animal can be invoked or called upon, it’s often thought that a Spirit Animal chooses you (and the same applies to the Totem Animal).
7 Ways to Discover Your Spirit Animal
At this point, you may be wondering, “okay, so how do I discover my spirit animal?” Here are some powerful approaches:
1. Spend more time outdoors
This helps you to forge a greater connection to nature which you’ll need to identify your Spirit Animal.
2. Pay attention to the animals appearing in your life
Do any particular animals keep emerging? It’s said that if a particular animal continuously appears in your daily life, this is an indication that your Spirit Animal 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.
3. 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 that your Spirit Animal is trying to manifest itself to you.
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4. Be aware of the unusual behavior of animals around you
Does a particular animal run up to you, make strange noises around you, or otherwise display strange behavior patterns in your presence? This could be a strong indication of your Spirit Animal trying to contact or form a connection with you.
5. 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.
6. Try meditation
Our Spirit Animals often reveal themselves during practices such as meditation because the mind because still. If you don’t often meditate, or if you would like assistance, there are many free meditation videos on YouTube.
7. 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. Learn more about how to journal.
(Bonus) 8. Get a Spirit Animal Reading
There are many intuitive souls out there who are able to help you connect with your spirit animal. I am honored to offer this service myself, and I have done so for many years now. You can get your own Spirit Animal Reading here!
21 Common Spirit Animals
While ther’s nearly an endless array of Spirit Animal guides out there, there are some that tend to continually emerge. I’ll list them below:
- Bear (strength, confidence)
- Butterfly (personal transformation)
- Cat (independence, curiosity)
- Coyote (playfulness, adaptability)
- Crow (vision, intelligence)
- Deer (innocence, gentleness)
- Dog (loyalty, love)
- 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)
5 Ways to Discover Your Spirit Animal’s Lessons (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 Animal Teacher to benefit your life? Here are a variety of ways to learn from your Spirit Animal:
1. Discover its symbolic wisdom (or ‘medicine’)
Each Spirit Animal has strengths and weaknesses which are important for you to learn about, as they directly apply to your life. The better you understand the symbolic meaning of your Animal Teacher, the better you will come to understand yourself and what you need to improve or change in your life.
2. Apply your newfound wisdom
Learning about your Spirit Animal 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. Reflect on the three main ways you can apply what you’ve learned to your life (short-term, medium-term, and long-term).
3. Don’t humanize your Spirit Animal
Anthropomorphizing (aka. humanizing) your guide will do nothing but silence their unique way of expressing themselves. To be open and receptive to your Spirit Animal’s message, you’ll need to embrace their exclusive language and form of self-expression first. To be receptive to your Spirit Animal and embrace their authentic being, take some time to observe them. Either observe them in nature (if they live in your vicinity) or watch them online. Take notes if needed.
4. Pay attention to when your Spirit Animal appears 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 Animal Teachers 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 Spirit Animal appears in your life? For example, do foreboding or comforting feelings arise within you?
- What message does your Spirit Animal appear to be communicating to you?
- Is your Spirit Animal 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 Animal Teachers by placing objects of the same species around their houses (like feathers, skulls, statues). Others like wearing symbols of their Spirit Animals on their bodies (amulets, pendants, etc.). Simply saying “thank you” and being grateful is sufficient.
Spirit Animal Quiz
If you’d like more guidance and support in connecting with your spirit animal, you might like to take our free spirit animal quiz. This test can help you connect with either your temporary animal ally (who is helping you in this specific period of life) or even your long-term animal ally (who has accompanied you since birth). As always, take it with a grain of salt and have fun!
***
Since the dawn of time, Spirit Animals have been summoned to help us learn vital lessons, make important decisions, and grow significantly at a Soulful level. From the Native Americans and their totem animals to the animistic beliefs of indigenous Africans, Indians, Asians, and South Americans, animals have been revered for hundreds of thousands of years.
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All of us have at least one spiritual connection to another physical being such as a particular animal or plant species.
I hope this article has illuminated and inspired you.
If you have any comments, experiences, or opinions that you would like to add, please feel free to share them below.
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I have had two very real dreams where i have found a hungry baby fox and a lion cub at my door. What would it mean
HI! I was wondering can you have two spirit animals? I always get a lion or wolf on test.
Hello Aletheia Luna , My name is Caroline I believe I’m on the path of spiritual awakening, and feeling very low and disconnected at the moment, I’ve had a few spiritual experiences and seen my Angels, a wolfs eye, a frog jumping about in my bedroom, I took the animal guide test the result came out as an owl, I’m ordering your book now as I definitely need guidance, I really enjoyed your article it’s made me feel much better after a horrible day of self loathing anger and sadness many thanks for putting out your article best wishes, Caroline ❤️
I have taken the test and my spirit animal is a spider. However I have been seeing eagles.I think its the universe trying to reassure me that I am on the right path.
Sounds like both are your guides, Michal. :)
Ms Luna, thank you for you and your partners work on this site. I was apprehensive at first being brought here so forgive any past comments displaying it. But I am at a crossroads and it’s clear I have had something going on around me. I’m hoping one of you or anyone on the site reading this may be able to help me sort this out. Forgive the following longevity but will keep as minimal as possible.
Last year I lost my father. He left notes for my brother and me to take care of each other as he knows we are at odds. Background of my brother: 15 yrs older and I’ve always felt like a thorn in his side despite many attempts to grow closer.
Before dads death I spent the whole of 2021 with staff at work to establish meaningful contact with people in their lives and offered more time if it was needed to them.
Brother took away my dads car, went through our safe and took coins and other valuables (he told me about it) when I was on a vacation he arranged.
I have had insomnia around period time of month several years and after dad death instead of it being one day it was now 3-4 days of it.
People at work began acting strange that at one time showed affection, now were distant or seething at me.
I grew distaste for politics and sports and alcohol seemingly on my own.
Owls showed up to my light post outside my patio after hooting a long while and sat there when there’s no owls in this area.
Neighbors acted concerned for dads passing and stared into my garage and I didn’t know why. Strangers also coming to my home and staring at my garage.
During my leave from work I began having white small windowless vans following me while my transmission suddenly was toggled and slowing my car down. Songs played in my car from my phone I had recently deleted from the list, most about following me, demise, and going to a place to die during the following of the vans.
I became afraid and called family to help. They wouldn’t listen to me about what my explanations were and suddenly removed my guns from my house and left me alone. I was clearly afraid and now without protection. They had me committed to a psyche ward that tried to push me into being bipolar but ultimately couldn’t.
I have since cut brother from my life. I’ve prayed with asking the anger to leave me for him and his betrayal. It began to dissipate. I began reading the Bible but didn’t trust the story is even the tru event and asked to see god.
Shortly after I was hypnotized by the light pole the owl was on, showing the two lights and sending me home in a rebirth. I had a sort of telepathic communication there I’ve never experienced. I weeped for a week to cleanse myself.
I let go of what I didn’t like about myself and wanted to be a force for change in the future. As a result, the above is what occurred and its been deeply frightening and freeing. But I want to make sure I am a positive force for change for the right side and not a puppet of the side instilling enslavement. I don’t know if what I had was just a mental breakdown or I am actually going through what you describe on the site. I see clock numbers regularly 1:11 2:22 3:33 4:44 5:55
So much so I don’t know what to do or how to read them or even where to go from here. Any feedback anyone can provide is greatly appreciated.
Sorry so long but skipping other details and trying to leave the important ones.
Jen
I am a dreamer, animals are revealed in my dreams and nightmares. Some are of other planets. Such a large variety of animals appear in my dreams so it has been difficult to connect with one…just one…but validating that Wolf is my long-term animal guide, I look forward to finding ways to connect and learn. The hard part is not turning my guide into a pet personality. I lost my dog about 18 months ago and I miss her companionship. Is it wrong to think of my Wolf guide in such terms? I have a very solitary life, and could use a companion, even if in the form of an animal spirit. Thank you!
“I lost my dog about 18 months ago and I miss her companionship. Is it wrong to think of my Wolf guide in such terms?” – no, absolutely not. It’s totally okay to see your Wolf guide like a friend and supporter. I mention not humanizing our spirit animals above to allow their unique expression to come forth, but that’s not a black and white rule. If humanizing your guide helps you to connect with them more, then go for it! ♡
I dreamed a wolf once chasing me ,
Last night I dreamed a wolf with yellow eyes we made eye contact then it stared into my eyes as they turned red then it cried like when a animal is hurt , then
They came my way a woman with the wolf woman making jewelry and the wolf that did turned into a woman , then she tells me I need to stop doing something I’m doing something needs to change or Il be dead in a month , then I starred asking question the wolf that turned to woman wouldn’t answer me anymore , and the woman with wolf I asked how much were the bracelets the wolf / woman no longer spoke to me then I woke up .
I got a wolf :D Even I am very fond of all animals (except spiders). I have had cat since I was 12 years. But I also have seen lot of dreams of Bears <3 And I have always thought Bears are my Spirit Animals. Surprising!
ME TOO!!!!! How odd is that! Pretty cool… Wolf is amazing, but I thought I was Bear also.
I got horse for my spirit animal.
Funnily enough, i’ve always ridden horses and have 6 currently.
Is it possible to have two Spirit Animals? I like buzzards lots and now, in autumn (I live on the northern hemisphere) they seem to just fly around for fun, often with their mate as there’s often two of them, I like their shriek, it’ s so joyous, they survey everything as they soar up high. Yet they not as strong as hawks, they often ‘have an argument’ with the crows, the crows being stronger and usually the buzzards give in and fly away. To me, this is not cowardice, it’s smart. Don’ t waste your energy in a fight you cannot win. Now, in autumn and with the fields empty, I find many buzzard feathers. They lose them by letting themselves drop down on prey – oh yeah, that’s another thing I like. They prey mainly on mice, not on your chicken like hawks do. Buzzards are quite defensive.
I keep the feathers I find.
Another animal I like is the barn owl. They are very beautiful, too, and I like the hissing sound they make at night, increasing in case they fly your direction. Plus the fact that they can see at night. They used to live in our barn, though I don’ t think they still do as I don’t have their poo on the car in the morning any more. They are minimalistic, they don’ t even build a real nest, it’ s all very simple for the young ones. The young ones are cute beyond belief! Barn owls fly absolutely noiseless, it’s awesone to see them fly though a quick experience, you don’t notice it until they’re there and gone, because you don’t hear them. I keep their feathers, too.
So yeah, I like both buzzards and barn owls. I don’t encounter the latter too much theses days, don’t know if that means they are not a spirit animal of mine any more, if they have ever been, or if you can have two spirit animals at one time at all.
I kept thinking about buzzards the whole day and reminded a half forgotten memory. It’s the closest I ever got to a buzzard and it was about 30 years ago: On a walk in winter, I found an obviously young buzzard completely soaking wet in a ditch in the ice cold water. Of course I wanted to rescue it and totally unaware of what to do in this a case, I simply took the buzzard with my bare hands to take it out. Immediately the buzzard’s talons were in my hands. There was no chance to get rid of him, every time I moved my hands, his grip went harder. This is simply what their instincts tell them to do. My hands were prey to him. I knelt there with the buzzard in my hands for about three quarter of an hour, not knowing what to do or how to get out of this stupid situation. It was cold, out in the country with nobody around, just the buzzard and me. Eventually, I got the idea to take off the jumper I was was wearing, it was quite large and without my hands, just with body moves, I was able to get the jumper over my head and drop the body part of the jumper on the buzzard. Luckily it let go of my hands and grabbed the jumper, and then I was able to undress the sleeves too.
This is just to show that spirit animals are animals nonetheless, with their raw instincts, and nothing we like to see in them in an idealistic way. Yep, I surely do love buzzards, still the joyous way they soar in the warm autumn air shrieking their ‘kyeah’. Although “joyous” is surely anthropomorphizing, I like to see it this way.
But if your spirit animal IS a wolf, or a bear, or any predator, think of their instincts and that it won’t have any resentments killing you. That IS also a part of your spirit animal!
Hi there. Im absolutely inlove with ur website. I get so much guidance. Im fairly new to all of this, my spiritual journey, but im learning quite fast and im loving every moment of it.
I had this feeling that my spirit animal is an Owl. I see pictures of it daily, this morning an Owl flew across the road as I was driving. Ive been seeing pictures and real owls for a long time now. But didn’t know of any better. Im starting to wonder now. And a while ago i saw a tattoo design, tribal, of an owl and I immediately loved it….. Any thoughts?
Hello thank you for this article! Although Owl came to me a while ago out of the blue, I had an experience with a dog today. In homeopathy I once found out that ‘inside I had this doggy that was so playful and wanted to show how awesome life can be’. But often my doggy found that this playfulness was seen by others as a weakness. Dogs do not have ‘bosses’, they have caretakers. The doggy brings in joy, stamina, playfulness and the’caretaker’ honors that with food and shelter. May sound rather ‘materialistic’ while being a human, to let ‘others’ take care of you, while one plays the ‘role’ of a joyful and loyal doggy….Today I encountered a beautiful doggy called Teddy. He was brought into the Netherlands as a Romanian Dog. With naughty eyes and awesome plucks of hair on the ears, he looked ‘wild’ and yet very sensitive. I liked that so much. And while I was watching him a lot out of joy, he looked at me, noticing that I was enjoying looking at him, internally saying words as: you are so awesome Teddy, you are so nice. I saw his ears go back and forth as if unspoken words may have come in in a certain way. Funnily enough I saw an emotional part in Teddy that was of my father…. Teddy was a mirror… I suddenly felt how okay it was to love others so much and that as a human this did not mean dependency. That is a term that we hear a lot trying to bring certain behaviors into a frame of recognition. I felt a child like aspect within that I wanted to give so much confirmation and recogniton for its needs. Before that I felt as if every tie or people wanting to look into ‘my mirror’ were losers… I am sorry… For the first time today I felt how many months before that things started to change that seem to add up while meeting Teddy. I felt a father figure, wounded by a mother child trauma and that wound being imposed onto me in cells and DNA. And he was a dog man in Chinese Astrology at that… I felt that while being a mirror it does not mean that one is a reflection of oneself. When a mother figure is not there or emotionally of physically absent, the child cannot relate. The withdrawal makes the child withdraw into itself for it has no other living being to come out of bed for, out of the deep sleep of self absorption. So it hovers all affection that it could not address back into the dark mirror of ‘blindness’ of not seeing the other. And there erotomania or narcissism of keeping within love, isolates the self.
And today, through Teddy I found it so okay to be that mirror of presence for others because something had given me my own mirror that at the same time is neutral but so loving. That is was no longer about weakness when one seeks confirmation. Only when the mirror becomes energy feeding, then a total different game starts and co dependency happens. Teddy, you are a doggy but you gave to me today the present or gift of being the teddy bear reflection that I lacked while once being a glassbox baby for 4 months and so was my dad. While the teddy bear was bear-ing the mirror of suffering for others a sort of god glass ceiling, I was letting go of the thoughtform or beliefsystem that interconnection is weakness. So doggy, teddy bear all kinds of different portals of energy, intertwined, all with their rightful places. xx