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You sit by yourself in the wooded Grove,
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Totem Animals |
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The Native Americans believe that a spirit lies within everything. We as Wiccans believe there is energy within all things, so we believe very similarly. The Native Americans ascribe to each of the animals a set of traits, and believe that each of these animals use their "animal medicine" to help those who pray to them. As the Native Americans were different from tribe to tribe in location and in temperament, different animals are more important to different tribes. Native Americans would perform Vision Quests and other things to discover their Totem Animals. These Totems would be considered the most important Animal Medicines in the child's life, although any person can pray to any animal if they require their assistance. Because of this reverence for animals, all kills were used completely, and the family and tribe would pray to the Great Spirit and to the Animal, thanking the animal for its sacrifice. It is possible for anyone to discover what their Totems are, and there are many ways to do it. Seven of the Totems lie in the Seven Directions: East, West, South, North, Above, Below, and Within. These Totems are known as "hidden" totems, because they come to light only as they are needed. The other two Totems are the Right and Left. They are the Masculine (Right) and Feminine (Left) Totems (and medicines) that guide us along our pathways. These animals can be absolutely anything; often they are animals that we dream about, or animals that we have loved and had affinities towards since we were little children. Sometimes they do not come into being, as far as our being able to see them and talk to them, until later in our lives; they are Spirits, and as many spirits do, they come and go as they please. However they are always there when we truly need and want them to be. To find your Totems, you can try many things. One thing you can try is: imagine you are in a forest/on a beach/in a field/wherever you feel comfortable and in tune with Nature. Sit very still, and meditate. When you feel yourself at the most in tune with Nature, call out in your mind and ask your Totems to come to you. If you have a reason you need to talk to them, speak it. Pay attention to every detail, and if you keep a dream journal write everything down. You can also get Medicine Cards; it is a Native American Oracle which uses 52 cards containing the most prominent Animal Medicines throughout many Native American tribes. (The newest edition also contains 9 cards that you can use as you please - since your Totems might not be in those cards, you can write the names or paste pictures of your Totems on the blank cards; you can also use them for good luck charms, to put all of your Totems on, to create a Medicine Shield with, or whatever you choose) The Medicine Cards were created by Jamie Sams and David Carson, they can be found at many bookstores, and also can be found on Ebay or other places online. |
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Animals in Ancient Religion |
| Aside from the Native American cultures, animals have also been apart of many more ancient beliefs. Cats were revered and considered holy to the ancient Egyptian cultures; to harm a cat was cause for torture or execution. |
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