Animal Spirit Guides and Totems

Spotting the magic of nature is one of the easiest ways to see the powers of the supernatural in the real world. Mother Earth encompasses so many forces that can seem like the most basic components of magic—transformations like a seed into a plant or destructive forces of water that can wear down rocks and soil. Mankind’s acknowledgment of the magic in nature makes humans want to be closer to these supernatural forces by being closer to the Earth. Since animals constantly live in nature and are considered to be an integral part of it, more so than humans anyway, people have been reaching out to animals to use them as a transitional medium into the magical realm. Many cultures believe in searching for animal spirit guides who act as messengers from the supernatural. The characteristics of the animal that chooses you acts as a message in itself for problems in your life and then can serve as a protective totem to watch over your well being in life. These animals can come into your life different ways when you request their presence—whether physically showing up near you or appearing in a dream. Some of the most common totems (or families of spirit animals) are listed below. While each animal is its own unique guide and mentor, these main groups tend to be similar in certain ways.