TWIRLING THUNDERBIRD
  • Home
  • SMUDGE GUIDE BOOK
    • SMUDGE ADVICE >
      • Protocols
  • TT PAINTINGS
    • FAQ >
      • SHIPPING
      • RETURNS
    • Original Art
    • Gallery Prints >
      • Art America Prints
    • ART LICENCING
  • Native Culture
    • Native Medicine >
      • Pipe Ceremony
      • Sweat Lodge
      • Medicine Wheel
      • Four Winds
      • Native Plants
      • Crystals
      • Holistic
      • Meditation
    • Native Teachings
    • Ceremonies
    • Spiritual Beings
    • Constellations
    • Legends Stories
    • Flute Music
    • Native Drum
    • Native Spirituality
    • Native Dance
    • Native Prophecy
    • Wisdom
    • Quotes
    • Smoke Signals
    • Totems
    • Native Traditions
    • Prayers and Poems
    • Native Docs
    • Native Links
  • Contact
  • My Bio
    • TTB Tweets
    • ThunderBird
    • Philosophy
    • Photography
    • Video Archive
    • My Blog
  • TT Store
  • Tanya Memorial

Totems

Picture
Native American Totem Animals & Their Meanings

A  Some Native American tribe’s tradition provides that each person is connected with a totem, a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. There are sometimes, nine different animals that will accompany him or her  through life, acting as guides.
Different animal guides, also called spirit guides and/or power animals, come in and out of our lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed along our journey.

These tribe’s beliefs further explain that a totem animal is one that is with you for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people may identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes, it is this one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit.
With this one animal, a connection is shared, either through interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.
​
This Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they “communicate” with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not necessarily mean that he or she has actually touched or spent time with this animal, more that, they are open to learning its lessons.
For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal totem is:
  • Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to explain why? This could be any type of living creature, including birds and insects.
  • Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be represented in other ways, such as receiving card and letters with the same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show up.
  • When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested in seeing?
  • Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing?
  • Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature?
  • Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?
  • Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood that you have never been able to forget?
  • Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?
If you still need more help ask the Universe for a dream or a vision to see if anything comes up. Also ask the animal to show itself to you and pay attention to what you begin to see from all sources — television, books, billboards — it doesn’t have to be the actual animal. Does one animal begin to appear frequently?
One thing to remember is that you cannot choose your totem spirit, rather it chooses or has already chosen you. The Spirit chooses you and they decide to whom they will reveal themselves. Much of the process of identifying your spirit animal is paying attention to both your past and your present. It is a process of developing your inner knowledge and spiritual understanding.
The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal. This could be any number of items – a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine, and engraved or painted stone, or anything else that depicts your animal guide.

Note:  Native American totems did not include all of the animals listed below, as many of these creatures did not exist in North America; or, in some cases, not at all (such as the unicorn.) However; the concept of “totems,” by whatever name they were called, have been known throughout the world since the earliest days of Greek Mythology. Though the unicorn and dragon are generally accepted as centuries old mythical creatures of Europeans, pictures of these fabled animals have been found in Native Americantapestries and pictographs. It is also worth noting that not all Native American tribes held these beliefs.
​
Alligator


Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, stealth, efficiency, basic survival instincts.
Ant


Group minded, determination, patient, active, purposeful, unity, self sacrifice and industrious.
Anteater


Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness, ability to smell out trouble, rooting around for solutions, finding the lost.
Antelope


Active, agile, jumpiness, keen eyesight, survival, willing to sacrifice, mental clarity, intuitive, protective.
Armadillo


Safety, grounded, sensitivity to attack, strong boundaries, trusting, reclusive, neutral, peaceful.
Badger


Courage, aggressive, healer, problems relating to others, energy conduit, determined, focused, confident.
Bat


Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, long life, illusion, journeying, inner depth.
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsBear


Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength.
Beaver


Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, dreamer, protector, builder, motion, subconscious.
Bee


Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, sweetness, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life.

Native American Symbols, Totems & Their Meanings – Digital Download
Boar/Pig


A very powerful totem – prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, balanced complacency and activity, fearless.
Buffalo


Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude, consistency, blessings, stability.
Bull


Insight into the past, fertility, raw expression, rushing into things, confidence, strength, provision.
Butterfly


Metamorphosis, transformation, balance, grace, ability to accept change, lightness, soul, vulnerability.
Camel


Survival, endurance, obedience, nobility, positive, accomplishment, adaptive, temperance, humility.
Caribou


Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity, sensitivity, guidance, surety.
Cat


Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, independence, astute, watchful.
Cheetah


Swiftness, insight, focus, brotherhood, self-esteem, acceleration, elusiveness.
Cougar


Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight, sensing danger, awareness.
Cow


Love of home, community, contentment, joy, easy going, patience, grounded, fertility.
Coyote


Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folly, guile, innocence, skill.
Cobra


Swift and decisive, power of life and death, transformation, energy, connected to eternity.
Crab


Good luck, moves sideways, savvy, unorthodox, relaxed, cycles.
Crane


Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, vigilant, focus.
Crocodile


Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately.
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsCrow


Magical, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, inelegancy, energy, higher perspective.
Deer


Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure.
Dog


Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, guidance, obedience, sensory perception.
Dolphin


Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.
Dove


Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love.
Dragon


Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, fiery, mythic.
Dragonfly


Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations, lightness, joy, transformation.


Duck


Water energy, helper of seers, affectionate, community oriented, can clearly see/deal with emotions.
Eagle


Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker.
Elephant


Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, wisdom, reliability, sense of history, pride.
Elk


Strength, agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, nobility, sensual.
Falcon


New beginnings, adventure, passionate, leadership, rising above, guardianship, superiority, prophecy.
Fish


Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one’s mind, fertility, good luck, happiness.
Flamingo


Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious, colorful, open, power of illusion.
Fox


Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shape-shifting and invisibility.
Frog


Water, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, peace, adaptability, metamorphosis.
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsGazelle


Awareness, speed, grace, eagerness, lightness, overcomes vulnerability, alert.
Giraffe


Intelligence, intuition, attaining the unreachable, sees the future, elegance, cleverness, beauty.
Goat


Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, in the moment, aloofness, virility, sturdiness.
Goose


Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, productive, teamwork, fellowship.
Gorilla


Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression.
Grasshopper


Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive, virtuous, forward thinking, creative.
Grouse


Personal power, enlightenment.
Hawk


Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship.
Heron/Egret


Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced, calm, present, independent.
Hippopotamus


Power, creation, imagination, healing, birth, mother-fury, protection of family, emotion depth.
Horse


Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, freedom, grace, nobility.
Hummingbird


Messenger, timelessness, healing, warrior, energy, vitality, infinity, affection, playfulness.

Native American Symbols, Totems & Their Meanings – Digital Download
Jaguar


Chaos, shape-shifter, aggressiveness, power, confidence, manifestation, breath.
Kangaroo


Forward, balance, creative, stamina, leaping away from danger, nurturing, generous.
Lion


Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian, protector, ferocity, authority.
Lizard


Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses, shrewdness, variation.
Llama


Comforting to others, secure, responsible, strength, adaptation, hard work, curiosity.
Lynx


Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, guide, aware, intuitive, unconventional.
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsMeerkat


Community, precise vision, good boundaries, lively, courageous, intuition, heart energy.
Mole


Sensitivity, guidance, searching, extended senses, underworld, hidden treasure, digger.
Mongoose


Good boundaries, good defense, courage, cleansing, heart-forward, rebellious, impulsive, authentic.
Monkey


Ability to change the environment, health, success, light and dark, communication, swiftness, energy.
Moose


Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, wisdom, self-esteem, primal feminine energy, crown chakra.
Mouse


Innocence, scrutiny, order, organizer, eye for details, grounded, super-aware, temerity.
Octopus


Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal.
Opossum


Smart, clever, sensible, grounded, group-minded, proper use of deception, strategic, surprising.
Ostrich


Grounded, practical, avoidant, spiritual truth, understands denial, truth and justice.
Otter


Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, sharing, love of young, sensibility without suspicion.
Owl


Wisdom, deception, intuition, insight, messenger, mystery, freedom, secrets, stealth, vision.
Ox


Sacrifice, chastity, faith, humble, self-denial, enduring, strong, magical.
Panther


Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions, multi-dimensional, dark and light.

Native American Symbols, Totems & Their Meanings – Digital Download
Parrot


Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, language, prophecy, verbosity, promise.
Peacock


Immortality, dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem, knowledge, refinement, beauty, sexuality, pride.
Pelican


Resilient, unselfish, rising above, friendliness, responsible, safety, camaraderie, bounty.
Penguin


Self-discipline, order, purpose, community-minded, grace, self-confidence, spiritual.
Porcupine


Innocence, companionship, trust, curious, imagination, good-natured, non-interference.
Prairie Dog


Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness, common goals, retreat, family, digger.
Puma


Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsQuail


Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)
Rabbit


Fertility, artistic, in motion, hyper vigilant, joyful, lives by own wits, steps through fear.
Raccoon


Curiosity, disguise, explorer, secret, night vision, cleanliness, dexterity, seeker.
Ram


Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative, new beginnings, change, life force.
Rat


Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury, intelligent, wealth, success, drive.
Raven


Magical, introspective, self-realized, courageous, transformational, messenger, psychic, divination.
Rhinoceros


Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid, good judgment, paradox, stamina, freedom, longevity.
Roadrunner


Mental agility, speed, opportunistic, multi-tasking, energy, busy, accomplishment.
Rooster


Persistence, honesty, strength, flamboyant, upward reaching, eager, cocky, watchful.


Salmon


Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration, can swim upstream, rebirth, determined, spiritual desire.
Scorpion


Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic, passionate, altered perception, death and rebirth, seduction.
Seagull


Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness, resourceful, opportunistic, freedom.
Seahorse


Confidence and grace
Seal


Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity, protection during change, dreamer, good luck.
Shark


Prowess, perpetual motion, hunter, survival, warning signs, workaholic, savior, guardian, superiority.
Skunk


Reputation, presence, strength, demands respect, sensual, steady, pacifism, taking your time.
Snail


Protective, aware, solitary, tender nature, androgyny, healing, sensitivity, time and cycles.
Snake


Impulsive, primal energy, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom.
Spider


Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication, networker, cyclical, crafty, fate, protection.
Squirrel


Planner, gatherer, preparedness, awareness, sociable, playful, energy, prudence, resourceful.
Stag


Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.
Swan


Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, elegance, transformation, dreams.
​Native American Totem Animals & Their MeaningsTiger


Strength, valor, power, energy, devotion, tactful, royal, illuminated, unpredictable.
Toad


Inner strength, luck, self-examination.
Turkey


Generosity, life-giver, sharer, abundance, blessings, pride, virility, sacrifice.
Turtle


Nurturer, shy, protecting, patience, strength, innocence, endurance, longevity.

Native American Symbols, Totems & Their Meanings – Digital Download
Unicorn


Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle, spiritual vision, other realms, faith, healing.
Weasel


Strength, energy, ingenuity, stealth, wild, ferocious, aggressive, commanding.
Whale


Wisdom, provider, intelligence, kindness, deeper awareness, nurturing, navigator, communication.
Wolf


Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, spirit, appetite for freedom, can be a loner.
Woodpecker


Sensitive, protective, devotion, prophecy, progress, determination, balance, communication.
Zebra


Clarity, motion, individuality, balance, illusion, instinct, free, wild, communal, playful, social.
Compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, with expanded meanings and additions, Kevin Kaiser. Updated March 2017.
Native American Totem Pole, 1895
Sources:
Hodge, Frederick Webb; Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico; Smithsonian Institution; 1910
Manataka American Indian Council
Mystic Familiar
Shaman Links
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • SMUDGE GUIDE BOOK
    • SMUDGE ADVICE >
      • Protocols
  • TT PAINTINGS
    • FAQ >
      • SHIPPING
      • RETURNS
    • Original Art
    • Gallery Prints >
      • Art America Prints
    • ART LICENCING
  • Native Culture
    • Native Medicine >
      • Pipe Ceremony
      • Sweat Lodge
      • Medicine Wheel
      • Four Winds
      • Native Plants
      • Crystals
      • Holistic
      • Meditation
    • Native Teachings
    • Ceremonies
    • Spiritual Beings
    • Constellations
    • Legends Stories
    • Flute Music
    • Native Drum
    • Native Spirituality
    • Native Dance
    • Native Prophecy
    • Wisdom
    • Quotes
    • Smoke Signals
    • Totems
    • Native Traditions
    • Prayers and Poems
    • Native Docs
    • Native Links
  • Contact
  • My Bio
    • TTB Tweets
    • ThunderBird
    • Philosophy
    • Photography
    • Video Archive
    • My Blog
  • TT Store
  • Tanya Memorial