ANIMAL SPIRITS

Ancient Native Americans & Shamans believed that all animals had lessons to teach and had healing or inspirational power. When they held or carried a certain fetish, or meditated on it's meaning, they believed they drew the special energy of the animal into themselves.

Today, in a search for a closer walk with the earth, many are relearning the old ways of these ancient people, using the animal energy as the Native Americans & Shamans did. To choose which animal energies are right for you, simply take a deep breath, still yourself and ask your inner being. You will have a knowing, as the ancient people did long ago.

Albatross's Wisdom Includes:
Endurance, Ability to remain in emotional situations for extended periods of time, Awkward but effective beginnings and endings, Understands the effectiveness of extended parenting, Stamina.

Alligator/Crocodile’s Wisdom Includes:Revenge through patience, Understanding weather, Survival, Stealth, Aggression, adaptability, maternal protection, connection to the earth mother, protection form manipulation, understanding deceit, initiation, access to ancient knowledge.

Angel Fish's Wisdom Includes:
Understanding beauty as popularity and protection, Effective use of colour, Ability to live within diverse situations, Connection to Reefs.

Anemone's Wisdom Includes:
Beauty, Graceful movement, Use of colour, Patience.


Ant
Patience, Stamina, Planning, Group minded, perseverance, step by step. The ant represents self-discipline and a group effort. Teamwork, energy and patience needed to complete work, communal living, storing for the future.

Anteater’s Wisdom Includes:
Ability to find lost objects, connection to the insect world, ability to smell out trouble before seeing it, understanding the value of “rooting around” to find solutions.

Antelope
Speed, Grace, Rapid Advancement, understanding the conversation of death, value of strong survival skills, ability to leap over obstacles, swiftness, gentleness, connection to the earth.


Armadillo - boundaries
Carrying your protection with you at all times, understanding your vulnerability. We learn from the armadillo, which, by rolling into a ball, can be completely armoured against attack, how to consciously define our own emotional and physical boundaries. Understanding your personal boundary, respecting the boundaries of others, empathy, discrimination.

Aye-Aye's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to use non-conformity to ones advantage, Use of appearance, Ability to see in the dark.


Baboon's Wisdom Includes:
Defence of family, Sacred to the God Thoth (God of wisdom), Sacred to the God Hapi (God of the Nile), Thoth is sometimes portrayed as a baboon as he stands in the Judgment Hall of Osirus in the land of the dead. Ancient records say that four apes sit beside the Lake of Fire near the throne of Osirus. They listen to all appeals of the soul and judge it before it can pass into the lands of Osirus.


Bacteria/Protozoa's Wisdom Includes:
Quick movement, Simplicity, Understanding the primitive, Use of size to escape detection.


Badger
Cunning, Revenge, Perseverance, keeper of stories, bold self-expression, aggressiveness, single-mindedness, passion, control, antidote to passivity or victimisation, persistence in the service of a mission, groundedness, knowledge of the earth, earth magick and wisdom, creative action in a crisis, protection of rights and spiritual ideas.

Bald Eagle's Wisdom Includes:
Swiftness, Strength, Courage, Wisdom, Keen sight, Illumination of Spirit, Healing, Creation, Knowledge of magick, Ability to see hidden spiritual truths, Rising above the material to see the spiritual, Ability to see the overall pattern, Connection to spirit guides and teachers, Great power and balance, Dignity with grace, Ability to see the "big picture", Connection with higher truths, Intuitive and creative spirit, Respect for the boundaries of the regions, Grace achieved through knowledge and hard work.
Barracuda's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to male warrior energy, Fierceness, Protection, Defence.


Bass' Wisdom Includes:
Communication, Scrappiness, Participation, Parenting skills, Crafty, Elusive.

Bat - rebirth
Camouflage, Invisibility, Viewing past lives, pollination of new ideas, transition, initiation, changes for the better, moon magic, Guardian of the night, cleaner. Shaman initiates undergo a ritual death in which they face their fears and are reborn without their old identities. Bat medicine teaches us to release fear and any pattern, which no longer fits in with our pattern of growth. Bats have unfortunately developed a lot of negative symbolism. Understanding grief, ability to observe unseen, the use of vibrational sound.


The Chinese were one of the few exceptions, because to them, the bat symbolised good fortune and great happiness. They also maintained that the bat flies head downward because of the weight of its brains. In Babylonia, bats were symbols of the dead. Mayans saw them as symbols of initiation and rebirth. The have also been viewed as miniature dragons. Because it was magically powerful itself, the bat often served as a protective charm or amulet against the powers of evil, and as a luck-bringer. Among the Hessians in Germany it was an accepted belief that the heart of a bat attached to a gambler's arm by a red thread guaranteed him success at cards - a belief common also on the southern United States. In the Austrian Tyrol the possessor of a bat's eye could become invisible.

The bat became not only the totem animal of the men of an aboriginal tribe in New South Wales but also their sex symbol. A similar association of ideas led amorous Central European girls to entice their reluctant lovers into their arms by the discreet addition of a few drops of bats' blood to the loved one's beer.

Bats have occasionally been honoured with the status of gods, the supreme deity of some of the Indians of the American Pacific coast being Chamalkan the bat. The mighty bat gods of Samoa invariably took the lead whenever the tribes marched off to war. In the legends of a number of North American Indian tribes the bat is given the unexpected role of hero and chivalrous champion of mankind in distress.

A book called Popol Vuh was discovered in the 17th century. In it is a tale of two brothers who were being tested. One test took them to a labyrinth of huge bats overseen by Camazotz, the god of the bats. He had the body of a human, the head and wings of a bat, and carried a great sword by which he would decapitate unwary wanderers. It is a symbolic story, with imagery that reflects transition. It implies a loss of faculties if someone is unwary of the changes of transition. It also holds the promise of rebirth and coming out of darkness.

The bat is a symbol of the challenge to let go of the old and create the new - death and rebirth. To many this is distressing, thus so much negativity around it. They symbolise the facing of fears - entering the dark on the way to the light.

An old European belief was that human souls take the form of a bat when they leave the body during sleep. This led to the belief that pagan dead might become bats, searching for the means of rebirth or the blood of life (of course, being a link to vampire imagery). European Christian artwork gave demons bat wings, an echo of earlier imagery. A 1350 fresco in Campo Santo in Pisa showed the Death Goddess as a long-haired woman with a scythe flying over the world on bat wings. The description of her was "Old shadow of earth, ancient shade of hell".

Bats as totems represent an ability to discern the hidden messages and implications of other people's words. Listen as much to what is not being said. Trust your instincts. The nose is the organ of discrimination, and with its sonar located in its nose, the bat reflects the ability to discriminate and discern the truth in other people's words.

Bear - Introspection
Healing and inner knowledge, wisdom, introspection, visionaries, defence & revenge, change, death & rebirth, communication with spirit, solitude, power, mother cunning, healer, gentle strength, Transformation, Astral travel, Creature of dreams, shamans and mystics, Strength, Self-Knowledge, sub/unconscious mind, grounding, inner energy of the soul, earth magic, face our fears, to seek knowledge through meditation and to search for wisdom in our dreams. The bears medicine power is healing, renewal, physic powers and the ability to grant powers to those who honour it. Bear medicine teaches us to go within, in order to digest our experiences and to discover that we contain within ourselves the answers to all of our questions. In the Zuni tradition, the bear symbolises the direction West.

Anthropologists state that bear was one of the first animals to be revered by humans. In the Celtic tradition the Primal Mother is the Bear Goddess, Artio, a fierce protector. Those who hike or live in areas populated by bears know (or may quickly learn) that the most dangerous animal in the woods is a bear mother protecting her cubs. The bear sleeps during winter, and the female gives birth to the cubs while asleep. This practice has led to bear being a symbol of the deepest inner wisdom and of the dreamtime. When we surrender ourselves to sleep we allow ourselves to be receptive and nurtured by the Great Mother. As we shed layers of identity and ego and return to our primal and elemental natures we discover that we are part of eternity and of the One. Winter, a symbol for darkness, death and the inner world, is a time of year which many humans fear. Yet part of the beauty of the bear totem relates to its connection to the pattern of the stars during this season. The Druids associated the Pole Star of the constellation of the Great Bear to King Arthur (whose name means bear). At the time of the Winter Solstice, the darkest night, the Pole Star guides us. So, when our worlds seem dark and confused, when our physical senses and reason and logic fail us, when there seems to be no path to follow, we go within to find our deepest resources, and the light of intuition and inner knowing helps us to find our way home.

Bear Paw
Power, direction, connection to creator.


Beaver - builder
Gatherer, Being persistent, Using available resources, Building, Shaping, Structure. Beavers work in Co-operation to build their homes and domes, and this medicine teaches us that we can create and fulfil most powerfully when all involved appreciate the talents of each and work together in harmony, maintaining the ability to be productive in all ways by not limiting your options, using alternative ways of doing tasks, master builder of all things, not damming the flow of experiences in life, achievement through completion of tasks.

Bee
Female warrior energy, Reincarnation, Communication with the dead, Service, Gathering, Community, connection to the Goddess Diana, understanding female warrior energy, helping earth-bound spirits move on to their proper place, concentration, prosperity.

Bee Eater's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to see auras, Use of colour in healing, Capture of moving objects, Ability to dig to find answers.


Binturong/Bearcat's Wisdom Includes:
Communication by alternative means, Ability to interchange senses – i.e. replace vision with smell, Solitude, Defence of personal space, Ability to see in dark places, Territoriality.


Birds
Associated with death and transitions, Unity, Freedom, Individuality.

Blackbird's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the water plant kingdom, Doing trance work, Use of camouflage in protection of family, Ability to sway with the winds of change.


Black Panther
Astral travel, Guardian energy, Ability to know the dark.

Bluebird's Wisdom Includes:
Happiness, Movement to new level of being, Modesty, Fulfilment, Confidence, Ability to return from the brink of extinction.

Boar
Masculine power.


Bobcat's Wisdom Includes:
Clear vision in dark places, Vigilance, Suspicion, Seeking ancient mystical mysteries, Ability to live in solitude, Ability to see through masks.


Booby's Wisdom Includes:
Fearlessness, Trust, Agility in water, Courtship display, Understanding layers, Depth perception.

Buffalo/Bison – prayer and abundance
Strength, Challenge, Survival, Healing, Good fortune. Buffalo teaches us that true prosperity comes when we are grateful for what we have and when we live in harmony and love with all other beings. Sacredness, life builder. The buffalo provides all good things for living, and bestows great curing powers, earth creativity, feminine courage, abundance, knowledge, generosity, hospitality, sharing work, courage. Giving for the greater good, formulating beneficial plans.

Bull
Virility, strength and wealth, being alert to danger.

Bush Baby's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to see in darkness, Proper use of territory, Quick movement, Ability to adapt.


Butcher Bird/Shrike Wisdom Includes:
The only truly predatory songbird, Ferocity, Value of surplus, Surveyor of one’s surroundings, Understanding of the nature of masks, Boldness, Fearlessness.


Butterfly/Caterpillar - Transformation
Reincarnation, Magick, Balance, Grace. Butterfly fearlessly leaves the safety of its cocoon to meet a New World in a new form, trusting its untried wings to allow it to fly. It is a powerful symbol for anyone who’s contemplating or in the midst of a major change. A butterfly is a strong symbol of metamorphosis, with distinct stages. The butterfly is a reminder to make changes when the opportunity arises. Change and transformation are inevitable for us all, but it does not have to be traumatic, transmutation, power of the whirlwind.

There is a Native American legend that says, " If you have a secret wish, capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since butterflies cannot speak, your secret is ever safe in their keeping. Release the butterfly, and it will carry your wish to the Great Spirit, who alone knows the thoughts of butterflies. By setting the butterfly free, you are helping to restore the balance of nature, and your wish will surely be granted."

They are a symbol of change, joy, and colour. (There is also an association of Faerie folklore with butterflies.) Their flight appears as dancing, and a reminder not to take things so seriously. They have a sense of lightness and joy. They are reminders to get up and move, for if you can move you can dance, and dance brings joy.

Butterfly symbolism is also closely tied to the idea of spirits and souls. It has been used in many religions and cultures. Psyche is the Greek word for both soul and butterfly. The belief was that butterflies were human souls searching for a new reincarnation, which gave the creature uncanny and sometimes, ominous connotations. This symbolism was also used in early Christianity as a symbol of the soul. Celts thought that women became pregnant by swallowing butterfly souls. These butterfly-souls flew about seeking a new mother. Other cultures believed that spirits of the dead took the form of white butterflies. In northern Europe to see one flying at night was a warning of death, and some said that the soul-butterfly's ability to leave the body in sleep accounts for dreams.

The Chinese believed a jade butterfly suggested a wedding of souls, making it an appropriate gift for the groom to give to his bride.

Camel/Dromedary's Wisdom Includes:
Learning to walk in the shifting sands of time, Understanding the vastness of space, Ability to save for future use, Understanding the value of water as a life force, Transforming the burdens we carry.


Canary's Wisdom Includes:
Beauty of voice, Use of song in healing, Finding your soul’s song, Happiness, Ability to find joy in song during times in darkness/shadow.


Caracal/Desert Lynx/Red Lynx' Wisdom Includes:
Speed, Agility, Shyness, Intelligence, Expert hunter of birds.


Caracara's Wisdom Includes:
National bird of Mexico, Attraction to the colour Red, Clear vision, Connection to wetlands, Ability to see problems sharply.


Caribou/ReindeerTravel, Mobility, connection to home over long distances, power of wandering, protection while travelling, social skills, retention of ones power in group situations, ability to go long periods in the dark.

Cardinal/Redbird
Understanding the power of the wind, finding your soul song, courtship, fatherhood.

Carp's Wisdom Includes:
Youth, Bravery, Endurance, Strength, Self-defence, Prosperity.

Cassowary's Wisdom Includes:
Shyness, Vulnerability, Connection to the Rainforest, Use of protective armour.


Cat - wholeness
Guardians, Independence, Seeing the unseen, cleverness, a balancing of energies, moon magic, the cat increases mystic powers, allows physic vision. The cats medicine power also includes grace, understanding mystery, cleansing and purification. The cat, a creature which combines a high degree of sensuality with a deeply psychic and spiritual nature, teaches us that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one.

Cats are an image of wholeness - a merging of the physical and spiritual, the psychic and the sensual. For a cat, these are not separate worlds, but one. They have been tagged with a variety of traits, including curiosity, nine lives, independence, cleverness, unpredictability, and healing. During the thousands of years in which the cat has lived among human beings it has been venerated at one period as a deity, and at other times cursed as a demon.

Cats have long been held sacred and linked to images of power. Egyptians named the Goddess Bast as the divine mother of cats. The cat was sacred, and to kill one might be punishable by death. Diodorus Siculus, the Greek historian, described how a Roman who killed a cat was murdered by a mob despite the pleadings of high Egyptian officials. If a cat died, from any cause whatever, its owner went into mourning, shaving his eyebrows and performing elaborate funeral rites. Cat cemeteries were established on the banks of the Nile, where the sacred animals were mummified and then laid to rest, together with vast quantities of cat mascots and bronze cat effigies. The Egyptian term for cat was Mau, an imitation of a cats cry and a mother-syllable. Cat worship began in Egypt, where the first domesticated cats descended from a wild ancestor, felis libyca.

In her Cult of the Cat, Patricia Dale-Green says, 'Like the moon it (the cat) comes to life at night, escaping from humanity and wandering over the housetops with its eyes beaming out through the darkness.' Many people believed the cat was the child of the moon and it was said that 'the moon brought forth the cat'. This curious link has been regarded as due to 'the changeableness of the pupils of the eye, which in the daytime is a mere narrow line, dilatable at night to a luminous globe.' From the magic of their eyes arose the belief that cats were seers with strong mediumistic powers. In the East the cat is said to bear away the souls of the dead, and in some parts of West Africa, is accepted that the human soul passes into the body of a cat at death.

To the Greeks, Bast's equivalent was Artemis, and to the Romans she was Diana. Cats are at home after dark, and because darkness is the home of fears and those things humans do not want to see and cannot see, the cat has come to be associated with magic and mystery. By the Middle Ages Diana was the name of the Queen of the Witches. The cat was then becoming linked with witchcraft and goddess worship. It was said any witch could assume a cat's shape nine times in her life. (She could also assume the shape of a hare, which were moon goddess totems. When cats were brought to England, they were confused with hares as symbols of the moon goddess.) To the Scots, the Goddess of Witches was Mither o' the Mawkins. (Mawkin or malkin was either a hare or a cat.) As the cat became the primary lunar animal, the traditional witch's familiar was Greymalkin or Grimalkin, a "grey cat". The Goddess Freya was pictured in a chariot drawn by cats - recalling earlier images of Cybele, the Mother of the Gods, with her chariot drawn by two lions.

One supernatural skill attributed to cats is the ability to forecast the weather. When cats scamper wildly it means wind; when they wash their ears, rain; and when they sit with their backs to the fire, frost or storms. The Indonesians believe that it is possible to produce rain by pouring water over a cat. A single sneeze may portend rain. Seamen were invariably kind to a cat, believing that it brought luck to any ship it boarded. In addition cats were infallible weather guides and were thought to be invaluable when a ship was becalmed, as placing a cat under a pot on the deck could raise a wind. To throw a cat overboard, particularly if it were black and without a single white hair, was unthinkable since this could cause a storm.

In modern times although the cat has not yet recovered its lost status as a goddess, it still remains serene, civilised, god-like and utterly mysterious. If a cat is your totem animal, look for magic and mystery to come alive.

As a "domestic" animal, Cats have many associations with people, however, unlike the dog, devotion and loyalty are not normally considered among their traits. Intelligence, mystery and a definite sensitivity for Otherworldly activity are more common aspects. Their independence and often contrary behaviour has given them a bad reputation among some people, and there is a saying in Ireland upon entering a house which goes: "God bless all here except the cat". Cat is often associated with women, and sensuality - the Goddess Brighid for example, had a Cat as a companion. In the Voyage of Maelduin the questors come to an island which has a fabulously decorated hall upon it. Inside, among all the treasure is a solitary cat. When someone tries to take something from the hall, the Cat turns into a fiery arrow and slays him. Cat is a fierce warrior when provoked, and will fight with both wile and ferocity. Also known for stealth and secrecy, they are familiar with the hidden paths and will never misdirect you.

Domestic Cat's Wisdom Includes:
Independence, Seeing the unseen, Protection, Love, Allows us to dream its dreams, Assists in meditation, Ability to fight when cornered.


Centipede's Wisdom Includes:
Balance, Coordination, Ability to survive stress, Beauty of movement.

Chameleon's Wisdom Includes:

Use of colour as camouflage, Using reach as a tool of survival, Patience, Ability to climb to attain ones goals, Using the Sun as a source of power.

Cheetah
Swiftness, Self-esteem, Accelerating time, Keenness of sight, brotherhood, elusiveness, ability to focus intently on something for a short period of time.

Chickadee's Wisdom Includes:
The bird of truth, Truthful expression, Understanding the power of small things, All aspects of attitude, Use of voice.


Chicken/Cock/Hen's Wisdom Includes:
Power of voice, Understanding language, Pecking out the answers that escape others, Awakening powers at sunrise, Protection of family and community, Hearing your inner voice.

Chimpanzee's Wisdom Includes:
Intelligence, Understanding societal complexity, Language skills, Dexterity, Connection to the forest spirits, Problem solving, Ability to balance compassion and aggression.


Chipmunk's Wisdom Includes:
Gathering, Ability to regulate usage, Saving for future use, Mobility by carrying your nourishment (both spiritual and physical) with you, Ability to see both light and shadow.


Civet's Wisdom Includes:
Love of solitude, Effect use of pheromones, Connection to the night.


Clam/Mussel's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to siphon energy, Living within the Earth, Balance, Symbiosis, Connection to mud, Going within.


Clouded Leopard's Wisdom Includes:
Elusiveness, Effective use of the power of seclusion, Ability to hide family secrets, Understands the perils of beauty, Expert climber, Good swimmer.

Clown Fish/Anemone Fish's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to hide within dangerous situations, Use of beauty as camouflage, Ability to move as your enemies move, Transmutation of poison, Defence of beauty.


Cobra
Spiritual wisdom from the Goddess, protecting herself from religious persecution, soul guide, memory of the soul world, transmutation of the soul, past life memories.

Cockatoo's Wisdom Includes:
Understands the power of sunrise, Ability to survive harsh conditions, Communication skills, Beauty.


Cockroach's Wisdom Includes:
Speed to avoid harm, Understanding shadow, Moving through fear, Understanding disgust in others.

Conch's Wisdom Includes:
Effective evolution, Use of colour as camouflage, Ability to use hardness of one’s outer shell as defence.

Coral's Wisdom Includes:
The animal flower of the sea, Providing a living environment for all, Understanding of the need for diversity, Communal living, Symbiosis.

Cormorant's/Anhinga Wisdom Includes:
Use of the Sun as a healing agent, Patience, Ability to spear what is needed.

Cougar/Mountain Lion/Puma's Wisdom Includes:
Balance, leadership, strength, power, and realisation of your own power, fire magic, courage, swiftness and balance. The cougar has been known by many names. This stealthy hunter is a fast and powerful animal that can leap over forty feet. Cougar shows us it is time to assert our own power, to stretch our muscles and show what we are capable of. Cougar comes, it is telling you there is a choice to make, take your opportunities quickly and surely. Cougar teaches that there are times to be gentle and times to be forceful, there is strength and power in both. Be decisive, take charge, but do not insist others to follow.

Using leadership power wisely and without ego, Balancing power, intention, strength, Gaining self-confidence, Freedom from guilt, Cunning.

For the Zunis of Turtle Island (Southwest United States), Cougar was the Master Hunter, known for its high intelligence, its knowledge of other animal and life forms, its physical prowess, its strength of will, and its intuitive ability. Cougar sees the maintenance of its territory as essential for its survival. Poshaiankia, the father of the Medicine Societies, designated Cougar the duty of carrying messages from humans to the higher spirits, because of this animal’s personal power, superior knowledge, strength of will, and steadfastness. Therefore, Cougar represents the link between ourselves and the most powerful spirits in Zuni Mythology: Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the Originator of All.

Cow
Economy, Connection to the grasses. In the tribal culture of early Ireland, cows were the measure of a person's wealth and prosperity. As such they were honoured as being closely associated with the Land, and being a source of milk, meat and leather. The Goddess Bóinn is most associated with the Cow. The river Boyne, which runs through the Boyne Valley, upon which the great Newgrange rests, is named after her. Cow is patient, understanding and stubborn. She will give measured advice, and can ground you easily. A white cow was often considered to be a "fairy" cow, and Irish people would guard them suspiciously, suspecting the Sidhe would try to steal it away from them. On Beltaine cattle were driven between two bonfires as a way to purify and invigorate them, and it was considered very bad luck to give away any milk on that day (though spilling some for the Sidhe as an offering was considered wise).

Cow/Bull's Wisdom Includes:
Being alert to danger, Contentment, Cow: Connection to the Great Mother Goddess, Love, Connection to the grasses, Sharing through community, Bull: Ability to stand your ground.


Coyote - trickster
Brings rain, Illumination, Stealth, Humour, Trickiness, Reversal of fortune, wisdom, the joker, time for adapting, folly, fire magic, insight, playful. When we’re being too serious about life Coyote may come along to teach us to laugh at ourselves. It is also the karmic enforcer, reminding us that whatever we do to others will be done to us. The coyote symbolises duality and the ability to present both sides of an issue. Clowning and humour, perhaps sarcastic.

Understanding that all things are sacred--yet nothing is sacred, Teaching that only when all masks have fallen will we connect with the Source, Intelligence, Singing humans into being, Childhood trust in truth, Teaching us how to rear our young, Brings rain, Ability to laugh at one’s own mistakes, Placing the North Star, Shape-shifting, Teaching balance between risk and safety, Illumination, Stealth.

Crab's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to escape by moving sidewise, Understanding the power of dance, Ability to move through water (emotions), Male aspects of community, Finding new uses for the seemingly useless, Protection of home space.


Crane
Change, Astral travel, New knowledge, seeing all things associated with secrets, Balance, Majesty. Solitude, independence.

Symbol of spring and light, Astral travel, New knowledge, Seeing all things associated with secrets, Wisdom, Seeks to help others on their paths, Longevity, Elegance, Using voice uniquely.

Cricket's Wisdom Includes:
Good luck, Teaching the power of song in darkness, Finding ones way out of darkness by following their song, Understanding the time to jump out of a situation, Communication, Connection to the plant kingdom.


Crow
Death and War, Male warrior energy, Council, Wisdom, Resourcefulness, thief, trickery, boldness, skill, cunning, single-mindedness, a bringer of knowledge, swiftness, eloquence, shape-shifting. The Celtic Shaman has long associated the crow with magic and as a teller of truth. The American Indians believe the crow to be the Trickster and the Law Giver. The crow is assertive and a successful survivor. The crow's medicine is boldness and intuitive knowledge of universal laws.

Look with the innocence of the maiden,
feel with the instincts of the mother,
see with the eyes of the Crone.
(Goddess who wears the Triple CROWn)


Guardian of the place before existence, Linear time vision - sees past, present and future all at once, Evolutionised form of Velociraptor, Honouring ancestors, Carrier of souls from darkness into light, Working without fear in darkness, Guidance while working in shadow, Moves freely in the void, Understands all things related to ethics, Shapeshifter.

Ravens and crows were often used interchangeably, so it's pretty hard to distinguish between them as far as mythology goes. The most obvious association between them is with the war-Goddesses, Macha, Badbh and the Morrígan - a triple Goddess. Since death and destruction followed the war-Goddesses, these birds have a similar reputation. They are often seen as omens of bad luck, and death. Scald Crows are associated particularly with the Morrígan, and they are big Corvids, with a distinctive black head, grey body and black wings. Farmers are not fans of this particular breed due to their rather gruesome tactic of pecking the eyes out of new-born lambs. Some old sayings associated with them: "The Raven's Curse on you", and "The Raven thinks her own brood is white".

Crows and Ravens are also known for their cunning and keen insight, and are highly intelligent. "As the crow flies", an old saying, indicates that these birds spot the quickest solution to most problems, though it may not be the easiest one! As death was not feared by early Irish society - it was seen as just a gateway to a new life - early associations with the Crow and the Raven might not have been as negative as they are today. They can been seen as gatekeepers for the Land beyond the Waves, Tír na NÓg. They bring important messages to the living, which are the straight shooting kind. You won't misunderstand what Crow or Raven has to say to you. When observed in this world, Crows and Ravens are particularly good parents, and form close (if noisy) communities. So, as an Animal Guides, they are steadfast, loyal and good in a fight. Since the Morrígan herself was often a prophet, the birds have an element of being Oracles and bringers of omens. The Morrígan was often seen in the guise of these birds, so there is a shape-shifting aspect to them also.

Cuckoo's Wisdom Includes:
Efficiency, Adaptability, Symbol of Spring, New beginnings, Meeting ones fate.

Cuttlefish's Wisdom Includes:
Use of colour as communication, Changing colours regularly and often, Ability to transmute ones outer layer, Territoriality.


Deer - Gentleness
Physical pacing and body awareness, kindness, gracefulness and Sensitivity, Peace, alertness, camouflage, noticing outside influences, physical pacing, innocence and earth magic. The power of Deer medicine is that of unconditional love. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, can dissolve the barriers, which prevent us from realising wholeness.

For a hunting society, the Deer was a powerful symbol - it represents the Land, and the ultimate treasure. It was often seen as a magical creature, and transformations between people and Deer are common. A Druid turns Fionn's wife, Sava into a fawn, and their son, Oisín, is often considered half deer, half-human. The Goddess associated with Deer was Flidais, who also rules over wild animals in general. Deer teaches us about beauty, honesty and innocence, and is the perfect Guide when all around us seems chaotic and illusionary. She can see through all to the centre of things, and is a true companion of the heart. Deer carries the message of purity of purpose, and of walking in the light.

Deer/Hart's Wisdom Includes:
Gentleness in word, thought and touch, Ability to listen, Grace and appreciation for the beauty of balance, Understanding of what's necessary for survival, Power of gratitude and giving, Ability to sacrifice for the higher good, Connection to the woodland goddess, Alternative paths to a goal.

Dhole/Asisan Whistling Dog's Wisdom Includes:
Communal living, Adaptability, Use of voice, Intelligence, Individuality, Co-ordination, Ability to remain unique, Understanding persecution.

Dingo
Assistance in hunting, Tracking skills, Understanding silence, Reborn Human Soul, Finding warmth in cold situations, Companionship, Loyalty, Finding the truth, Protection, Willingness to follow through, Correct use of intuition.

Dog
Family and wisdom, Unquestioned loyalty, Knowledge of all things sensual, Protection, companionship, faithfulness, warnings, earth and moon magic.

Irish people have traditionally depended upon dogs for companionship, protection, loyalty and hunting. Along with the Horse, Dogs are probably the animal which is most associated with humans, and there are many stories and legends about them. Cú Chulainn for example, was first known as Sétanta, but when he killed Chulainn's dog by mistake, he agreed to take its place, and thus became the Hound of Chulainn, or Cú Chulainn. The fact that Cú Chulainn was able to take the place of a hound, showed the importance of protection, loyalty and unswerving devotion - qualities highly regarded in humans and dogs. Dog as an Animal guide will never point you in the wrong direction, and will always be at your side. It has a strong association with Earth, and will keep you grounded and "realistic", and has unfailing instincts. Fionn Mac Cumhaill had two enormous hounds, called Bran and Sceolaing that were also his cousins (long story!). He loved them devotedly, but once in a fit of impatience he struck at Bran and it went and drowned itself from grief. From that time on Fionn would occasionally be haunted by the howling of his hound, and it left him heart-broken. Loyalty is as highly regarded by the dog, as it is by the human.

Heals emotional wounds in humans, Understanding of the duality of doubt and faith, Companionship, Unquestioned loyalty, Love, Knowledge of all things sensual, Protection, Ability of smell trouble from a distance.

Dolphin – Breath of life
Psychic abilities and intuition, kindness, Water element magick, Communication skills, Wisdom, Joy, Harmony, Connection with self, initiators, curiosity, playfulness, power of sound, water magic. Dolphins grant emotional healing, wisdom and clarity of reason.

The dolphin’s medicine is unconditional love, harmony and communication. Dolphin teaches us that in attuning to the rhythms and patterns of nature we can learn true communication with the wisdom of All That Is and share this wisdom with others. Bridge man to ocean. Dolphin brings us teachings from the water. Breath control and the awareness of tone is also Dolphin power.

Dolphin/Porpoise's Wisdom Includes:
Knowledge of the sea, Patron of sailors, Change, Wisdom, Balance, Harmony, Communication skills, Freedom, Trust, Understanding the power of rhythm in your life, Use of breath to release intense emotions, Water element magick.


Donkey/Ass/Burro's Wisdom Includes:
Stubbornness, Ability to make decisions, Refusing to move when you know it isn’t right, Saying "no" to others, Ignoring others opinions.

Dove
Spirit messenger, Communicates between the two worlds.

Dove/Pigeon's Wisdom Includes:
Brings peace and love, Understanding of gentleness, Spirit messenger, Communicates between the two worlds.


Dragon – transformation
Strength, passion, Wisdom and earth mysteries, elemental magic, extra power to magick, protection and instruction in the spiritual. Though Celtic tradition gives specific qualities for dragons of the elements of earth, fire, water and air, in general terms, Dragon’s power is that of shedding it’s skin and emerging as a new, transformed being.

Dragonfly – illusion
Mysteries, Understanding dreams, Power of light, Skill, Refinement, Relentlessness, illusions, seeing the truth in any situation or person. When we’ve tricked ourselves into believing that the limitations of physical existence prevent us from changing and growing Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-created illusions. Dragonfly symbolism crosses and combines with that of the butterfly and change. The dragonfly symbolises going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing. Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity.

Flighty, carefree. Dragonflies symbolise whirlwind, swiftness and activity. The dragonfly is an important insect in Zuni legend, where they are shamanistic creatures with supernatural powers. In Hopi rock art, the dragonfly is symbolised by a vertical line with two or sometimes one, horizontal cross line.

They are fantastic flyers, darting like light, twisting, turning, changing direction, even going backwards as the need arises. They are inhabitants of two realms - starting with water, and moving to the air with maturity, but staying close to water. Some people who have the dragonfly as their totem have had emotional and passionate early years, but as they get older they achieve balance with mental clarity and control. They gain an expression of the emotional and mental together.

Dragonflies are old and adaptive insects, and are most powerful in the summer under the effects of warmth and sunlight. Their colours are a result of reflecting and refracting the power of light. As a result, they are associated with colour magic, illusion in causing others only to see what you wish, and other mysticism.

The are often represented in Japanese paintings, representing new light and joy. To some Native Americans they are the souls of the dead. Faerie stories say that they used to be real dragons.

Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. "Let there be light" is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life. They help you to see through your illusions and allow your own light to shine in a new vision.

Damselfly/Dragonfly's Wisdom Includes:
Mastery of life on the wing, Power of flight, Power to escape a blow, Understanding dreams, Power of light, Breaking down illusions, Seeing the truth in situations, Swiftness, Change, Connection to Dragon.


Duck's Wisdom Includes:
Grace on water, Water energy, Seeing clearly through emotions, Spirit helper of mystics and seers.

Dugong's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to walk gently upon the Earth, Gentleness, Seeing clearly what lives in water (emotions), Connection to water herbs.


Eagle – spirit
Spiritual philosophy, keen sight, illumination of Spirit, Potency, Healing Power, high ideals, swiftness, strength, courage, wisdom, knowledge of magick, ability to see hidden spiritual truths, the eagle is known for its ability to open our soul to spirit quests and to soar to great spiritual heights. Shamans call upon the eagle to assist them in developing their own shamanic powers. The eagle’s medicine is clear vision, illumination and the ability to see far. Eagle flies fearlessly, bridging heaven and earth, and teaches us to courageously face our fear of the unknown in order to fly as high as our heart’s joy can take us.

Divine spirit, chief of all the creatures in the air, the primary servant of the sun. Powerful in battle, the eagle protects the people from evil. The eagle is associated with success, prosperity and wealth. In the Zuni Tradition, the Eagle symbolises the direction Up.

Echidna's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to water legends, Ability to tunnel under life blocks, Connection to the freshwater turtle, Single-mindedness, Understanding the value of "rooting around" to find solutions.


Eel's Wisdom Includes:
Camouflage, Ability to watch unseen, Escape when threatened, Power of electricity.


Egret's Wisdom Includes:
Provides safe passage to the soul world, Brings peace, Provides self-confidence in personal matters, Ability to rely on oneself.


Elephant - commitment
Connection to ancient wisdom, Removal of obstacles and barriers, Confidence, Patience, strength, power, memory, moon magic, associated with long life and a good memory, the elephants represent strength and good luck. The elephant medicine is that it will help the shaman get in touch with ancient memories. They are deeply committed to all creatures with whom they have relationships, are powerful when protecting others and gentle in nurturing them. Also, in the form of the Hindu deity, Ganesh, they are guides for overcoming obstacles.

Strength, Royalty, Connection to ancient wisdom, Removal of obstacles and barriers, Confidence, Patience, Using education opportunities.

Elk - stamina
Strength, Pride, Power, Majesty, agility, freedom, and nobility. This medicine teaches us the best use of our energy, helping us to take on no more than we need to accomplish, and to endure on our chosen path until we've reached our goals. Sensual passion, Honouring those of your gender, Ability to pace oneself in tasks.

Emu's Wisdom Includes:
The seven sisters who became the Pleiades, Connection to the sun, Possesses wisdom of the ancestors, Shyness, Abundance, Speed, Monogamy, Paternal rearing of young.

Falcon
Assisting in soul healing, Accompanying soul back to the other world, Understanding magick, astral travelling, healing, and the release of a soul for a dying person and magick.

Falcon/Krestal/Merlin's Wisdom Includes:
Assisting in soul healing, Accompanying the soul back to the soul world, Teaching swiftness, Learning the aerobatics of life, Controlling speed and movement, Understanding magick.


Fantail's Wisdom Includes:
Curiosity, Ability to change directions quickly, Inter-species communication, Connection to water spirits.


Ferret
Getting information, seeing truth behind the facade.

Finch's Wisdom Includes:
Power of diversity, Group living, Use of song (voice) in ones life.

Firefly's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to find light in the darkness, Use of light for communication, Ability to communicate with Colour.


Fish's Wisdom Includes:
Abundance, Fertility, Children, Harmony, Regeneration, Love, Balance between mind and emotion.


Flamingo
Ability to filter soul lessons from emotional waters, understanding the language of colour, Ability to maintain soul purpose in group living, Understanding how to maintain balance.

Flea's Wisdom Includes:
Metamorphosis, Ability to alter time within the life cycle, Sensitivity to light, Ability to trigger a birth process by the use of light, vibration, or the various components of air.


Flicker's Wisdom Includes:
Complex use of colour, Connection to open woodlands, savannas, and forest edges, Secretive movement, Ability to hear the Earth’s heartbeat.


Fly's wisdom includes:
Survival, Multifaceted vision, Ability to change waste into valuable assets, Transformation, Adaptation to the harshest environments.


Flycatcher's Wisdom Includes:
Proper use of Diversion, Deceiving enemies, Rapid change of direction, Ability to judge distance.

Flying Fish's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to make leaps of faith, Understanding of how to use emotional energy to ones advantage, Ability to leap out of emotional waters, Quick movement from emotional to mental thought.

Fox - camouflage
Elusiveness and cleverness, feminine courage, Invisibility, Subtlety, Discretion, agility, cunning, slyness, fire magic, provider, intelligence. Fox represents twilight and feminine magic.

The trait most commonly associated with Fox in Ireland is cunning. There are many folktales about how Fox uses his wiles to raid a chicken coop, or better still, slink into the farmer's kitchen itself. When caught, a classic trick of Fox was to play dead, so that the fooled farmer would set off to inform everyone of his latest catch, while the miraculously resuscitated Fox would hop up to get away before his return. The reason the Fox could get into so many places is his ability to figure out traps and locks, to many a farmer's frustration. The old story is that Foxes were brought to Ireland by the Vikings, who originally used them as their dogs!

Fox, as a power animal is an amiable, stealthy and clever companion. He is exceedingly good at finding his way into otherwise tricky locations, and he can sense a trap or a situation that is best avoided. Not one for a direct fight, he will do everything in his power to circumvent trouble, though if forced to he will defend fiercely. Brash and intelligent, he will keep you amused during your journeys with his opinions on everything.

Fox's greatest gift is not being able to outrun the hounds, but to know in advance when they'll be on the hunt. When we learn to detach from our surroundings and to observe with all of our senses, we too, will be able to anticipate and create the future.

Shapeshifting, Cleverness, Observational skills, Cunning, Stealth, Camouflage, Feminine courage, Invisibility, Ability to observe unseen, Persistence, Gentleness, Swiftness.

Frigatebird's Wisdom Includes:
Using language to survive, Navigation skills, Ability to carry messages, Sign to sailors that land is near, Ability to manoeuvre in the air, Flight skills.


Frog - healing
Transformation, Cleansing, Understanding emotions, Rebirth, Peace, Emotional Healing, Connection with water element.

As water cleanses the arid earth and returns life to it so Frog's medicine can wash away any physical and mental energies which deprive us of harmony and peace, and helps to replenish our own ability to heal ourselves on all levels.

Reminder of common bonds with all life, Singer of songs that celebrate the most ancient watery beginnings.

Fruit Fly's Wisdom Includes:
Transformation, Multifaceted vision, Ability to mutate as needed, Courtship display, Connection to colour.


Gallinule/Moorhen/'Alae 'Ula's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to water vegetation, Ability to move above ones environment, Diversity of colour/race, Use of voice.


According to legend, the Gallinule is one of the great benefactors of the early Hawaiian people. It was in the days before fire was known to the people, and the Gallinule took pity on them. Flying to the home of the gods (the volcanos), he stole a blazing brand and brought it back to earth. During his flight the Gallinule's formerly white forehead was scorched by the volcano’s fires -- thus its name "alae" signifying a burnt forehead. Today all gallinules bear a red frontal shield on their heads.

Gazelle's Wisdom Includes:
Speed, Agility, Beauty, Grace, Vertical movement, Ability to manoeuvre.


Giraffe
Communication, Intuition, Ability to remain above the fray, Sees far into the future, Ability to reach things that are unreachable to others.

Goat
Independence, Surefootedness, Tenacity, Diligence, the ability to climb higher than you are, flexibility, healing and sun magic, Abundance, Removing guilty feelings, Understanding nature energies and beings, Seeking new heights, Agility.

Golden Eagle's Wisdom Includes:
Illumination, Understands the cycles of the Sun, All aspects of clear vision, The Solar Bird, Spiritual power, Sees from the highest places, Courage, Strength.


Goldfinch's Wisdom Includes:
Understanding the value of change, Ability to resolve family conflicts in a healthy manner, Creating balance in dealing with different peoples, Understanding the power of voice.


Goldfish/Koi's Wisdom Includes:
Prosperity, Beauty, Harmony, Balance between mind and emotion, Peace.


Goose
Movement along ones soul path, Happiness, Safe return, Love of home, Understanding the power of community, Assisting others through illness.

Gorilla's Wisdom Includes:
Intelligence, Gentleness, Maternal instinct, Use of speech, Benevolence.

Grackle's Wisdom Includes:
Comfort in large groups, Attacking from the rear, Facing the buffeting winds of this world, Accomplishment, Use of voice as protection, Nomadic living, Fearlessness, Pushing against the tide.


Grasshopper/Locust/Katydid's Wisdom Includes:
Jumps across space and time, Leaps of faith, Jumping without knowing where you will land, Astral travel, Leaping over obstacles, New leaps forward, Ability to change careers quickly.

Grizzly BearMother, nature's pharmacist.

Groundhog
Studies, building, trances, dreams, one who is passionate about pursuing their interests, earth magic.


Woodchuck/Marmot/Ground Hog's Wisdom Includes:
Sense of family and community, Connection to seasonal changes, Understands the power of cycles, Ability to hibernate (sleep) during hard times, Protection from floods, Ability to go underground when trouble arises.

Grouse's Wisdom Includes:
Standing at the door of the Great Spiral, Understanding the circular nature of time, Dancing the sacred dance of life, How to travel through the Great Spiral, Understanding and working with cycles.


Guinea Pig/Hamster’s Wisdom Includes:
Gentleness, Humane treatment of others, Love, Responsibility.


Hawk - messenger
Messages from spirit, Messenger of the sky, observer, Guardianship, Recalling past lives, Awareness, Wise use of opportunities, Truth, Perception, Focus, protection, clear sightedness, being observant, far-memory, overcoming problems, courage, defence, wisdom, illumination, new life, creativity, experience, Overcoming problems.

The hawk is the messenger to the Great Spirit, for they are the greatest fliers. The hawk relays prayers swiftly. The hawk’s medicine is the ability to see far and to open the spirit to inner visions. Hawk teaches us to be observant and to pay attention to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we don't use, a blessing for which we haven't expressed gratitude, or a message from Spirit.

HedgehogSelf-preservation, Wisdom of the female elders, Fertility, Defence against negativity, Enjoyment of life, Understanding weather patterns.

Hermit Crab's Wisdom Includes:
Love of freedom, Mobility, Ability to live anywhere, Understands the need for rapid change, Movement through decades, Ability to store water energy, Comfort in darkness.


Heron
Organisation, Self-reliance, intuition, All aspects of diversity, Boundaries, Exploration, Self-esteem, Balancing multiple tasks, Dignity.

Hippopotamus's Wisdom Includes:
Proper use of aggression, Ability to move gracefully through emotions, Mother-fury when necessary, Birth of new ideas, Protection of family.


Hoopoe's Wisdom Includes:
Appropriate wearing of crowns/laurels/fame, Cleansing oneself, Connection to the Earth, Teaches how to use odour as defence, The value of tunnelling as a means of escape.


Hornbill's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to rear young alone, Protection of young, Pecking your way through obstacles, Breaking out of difficult situations.


Horse - power
Stability and courage, Astral travel, Guardian of travellers, Warns of possible danger, Freedom, Power, Safe movement, power, strength, travel, clairvoyance, earth and moon magic. Stamina, mobility, the horse was introduced to the plain's tribes by the Spanish. Shamans are often pictured flying on mythical horses. Horses can symbolise coping under difficult circumstances. Horse is love and devotion, loyalty.  Personal power is our servant, to be neither abused, squandered, nor kept to ourselves. When we share our power with others and teach them how to nurture their own power, our journey becomes faster and more joyful. In Celtic tradition the horse-goddess governs the life cycle of birth, death, the afterlife, and rebirth, so to work with Horse medicine enables us to feel comfortable with all aspects of this cycle.

Horses were intrinsic to Irish society, and were seen as a sign of wealth and standing in a community. As a basic necessity, Horses were depended upon for transport and also to help with the tilling of the land. No other animal was a more important partner to humans. Strength, intelligence, patience and friendship are just the beginning of this Guide's attributes. Irish mythology is rife with stories about Horse, in particular the White enchanted horse of the Sidhe. Oisín travels to Tír na NÓg with Niamh upon a white horse. When he returns in order to see his homeland, he is warned not to get off the horse, which is his protection, transport and link to Tir na NÓg. Of course, mishap occurs and he falls off, whereupon the horse disappears instantly and the path back to the Land of the Young is forever closed to him.

One of the main functions a Horse as animal Guide can provide for you is transport - it will carry you quickly in and out of any place, and will guard you constantly. Horse is also seen as being very sensitive to danger and "Otherworldly" occurrences - Cú Chulainn's two horses demonstrate this most obviously, one of them sheds tears of blood on the way to Cú Chulainn's last battle. Always pay heed to Horse's warnings.

Horse/Pony/Mustang's Wisdom Includes:
Power, Stamina, Endurance, Faithfulness, Freedom to run free, Control of the environment, Awareness of power achieved with true cooperation, Interspecies communication, Expanding one’s own potential abilities, Friendship and Cooperation, Travel, Astral travel, Guardian of travellers, Warns of possible danger, Guide to overcoming obstacles.


Horseshoe Crab's Wisdom Includes:
Living fossil - connection to early life on Earth, Ability to maintain balance, Camouflage, Proper use of armour.


Hummingbird - joy
Happiness, Love, Beauty, Joy, Wonder, Agility, messenger, stopper of time, Ability to heal by using light as a laser from mouth, Ability to fly into small places to heal, Happiness, Endurance over long journeys. Hummingbird represents optimism and sweetness. Being able to roll with the punches is an attribute of Hummingbird. Hummingbird darts lightly through the world, spreading its message of joy and beauty, and teaching us to appreciate the wonder and magick of everyday existence.

Hyena
Knows the secrets of the wild, Communication in dark spaces, Understands how to control epidemics, Adaptability, Patience, Perseverance in hunting, Strength, Understanding the value of cooperation, Connection to the Vulture, Defence of boundaries, Singing ones soul song, Understanding the value of community.

Ibis' Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, Wisdom, Enlightenment, Ability to work with magick spells, Understanding ancient wisdom.

Ibis was an important creature to the Egyptians. Ibis was sacred to the Goddess Isis. Thoth, god of the Moon and wisdom, has an ibis head. Thoth, guardian of the Moon Gates, was the deity of record keeping and magick. Thoth, in the form of Ibis, hovered above the Egyptians and taught them the occult arts and sciences.

Jaguar
Shamanic wisdom and focused power, Seeing the roads within chaos, understanding the patterns of chaos, Shapeshifter, Empowering oneself, Facilitating soul work, moving without fear in the darkness, power, Psychic sight, Moving in unknown places, strength, courage, fire magic.

According to Mayan beliefs, the journey of the Sun across the sky and the darkness of night stood for the eternal journey of human consciousness and its transformations. The Sun at midday was compared to the Eagle, flying high in the sky. Then it plunges below the horizon, just as we plunge into the dark where we face our spiritual challenges and are transformed. The hidden Sun was said to be Jaguar, whose spotted skin symbolised the stars glittering in the night sky. Thus, it was called the “Jaguar Sun.” Jaguar is the Earth father. As Earth father, he presides over the sacred power in the Earth and the animals that live upon it. The force that lives within the mountains, which gives them their volcanic and transformative power, is the same underworld source of power and energy as the Jaguar Sun.

Black Jaguar's Wisdom Includes :
Keeper of the circular time continuum, Gatekeeper to the Unknowable, All wisdom listed above for Jaguar.

The Mayan word for Jaguar is IX (pronounced eesh).

Jackal
Ability to see in the dark, Connection to the Pyramids of Egypt, Astral travel, Accessing past lives, Connection to the constellation Orion, Understanding the use of opportunity.

Anubis, Egyptian god of the Dead, had the head of a jackal. Anubis guided the souls of the dead to the Judgement Hall of the Otherworld where the souls were weighed for truth on the scales of Maat. He was considered essential in the rituals of Isis and Osiris.

Jay's Wisdom Includes:
Understanding how to use power wisely, Warning, Courage, Ability to check on future trouble spots.


Jellyfish's Wisdom Includes:
Sensitivity to water energy—emotions, Understanding of the value of floating, rather than swimming, through trying emotional times, Proper use of softness (not being rigid), Ability to become untangled from the webs of peril in life.

Junco's Wisdom Includes:
Interspecies communication, Diversity, Wanderer, Survival abilities.


Kangaroo's Wisdom Includes:
Leaping away from bad situations, Creating a safe home environment, Ability to adapt to new situations, Protection of the young.


Kingbird's Wisdom Includes:
Tenacity, Balanced vision, Love of open spaces, Aggressive defence of home environment, Fearless nature, Quick movement through issues relating to Air.


Kingfisher/Kookaburra's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to peaceful seas, Happiness and love, Peace, Indifference to surroundings, Clear vision through emotional waters, Ability to dive (focus) into emotional waters and catch ones dreams.

According to Greek legend, Ceyx and Halcyon were wed. Shortly thereafter Ceyx had to make a long voyage and he drowned during a storm. Halcyon waited for his return for months. Then one day his body washed ashore. In her grief she threw herself into the ocean. The gods were moved by her love and grief. She and her husband were turned into Kingfishers and were reunited in love and peace. The Gods then declared that from one week before the winter solstice through one week after it, the seas would be calm and sun would shine. This time of peace is called the "Halycon Days".

Kinkajou's wisdom includes:
Leaps of faith to unknown places, Ability to grasp thoughts and concepts out of reach of others, Gentleness, Ability to see in the dark, Connection to the plant kingdom, Fertility.


Kite's Wisdom Includes:
Prophecy, Communication with the spirit world, Ability to see overall picture, Clarity of vision, Beauty of flight, Ability to see things from a distance, Movement, Change.


Kiwi's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the ancient wisdom of the Maori, Ability to scratch out truth, Understanding earth changes.


Koala's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to climb over obstacles, Recognising the value of slow movement, Ability to remain above the fray, The power of yoga, Helpful advice giver.


Komodo Dragon's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to enter long dream states, Warrior energy, Speed, Adept use of the Earth’s vibrations, Longevity.


Beetle/Ladybug's Wisdom Includes:
Carries the Golden Strand that leads to the Centre of the Universe, Past lives, Spiritual enlightenment, Death and Rebirth.


Leafy Seadragon's Wisdom Includes:
Camouflage, Beauty, Paternal protection, Use of armour in defence.


Leech's Wisdom Includes:
Hermaphroditic (possesses both sexes), Healer, Ability to alter the flow of life force energy, Simplicity, Movement connected to wave cycles.


Lemur's Wisdom Includes:
Ability is access the knowledge of the forests, Seeing the unseen, Ability to grasp concepts above the static of life, Understanding how to remain above the fray of life, Ability to navigate through the forest.


Leopard
Stalking, Sensitivity to touch, inner instincts, strength, stealth, fire and earth magic, Approaching someone unseen, Movement in shadow worlds, Communication with plant kingdom.

Lion
Strength, Courage, Energy, elusiveness, leadership, willpower, invincibility, sun and fire magic. The lion is associated with the Sun God. In size, strength and spirit no other member of the cat family can match the lion. The lion’s medicine is vigour, strength, courage and nobleness of spirit, Brotherhood , Letting go of stress, Strong family ties, Self fulfilment.

Lionfish's Wisdom Includes:
Facing danger, Ability to stand your ground, Hidden peril, Use of beauty as defence, Peril associated with beauty, Camouflage, Use of shape as a warning, Deadly speed.


Lizard - dreaming
Detachment from ego, Facing fears, Letting go, Elusiveness, Conservation, agility. Lizard promotes dreaming. In our dreams we imagine different futures and choose which we will materialise. Lizard teaches us the importance of respecting and remembering our dreams, Power to regenerate that which is lost, Controlling dreams, Moving in the otherworld.

Llama/Guanaco/Vicuna's Wisdom Includes:
Overcoming materialism, Moving over hurdles, Comforting others, Withstanding cold.


Lobster's Wisdom Includes:
Concentration, Coordination, Understands when to follow not lead, Ability to transcend the mind/ego, The power of simplicity.


Loon/Great Northern Diver's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to ancient bird energy, Communication, Serenity, Use of voice as a signature, Connection to water energy, The value of being a strong swimmer, Understanding dreams and astral travel.


Lorikeet's Wisdom Includes:
Connect to the Rainbow, Communication skills, Recognition of one’s soul mate, Ability to see all viewpoints, Love of language.


Lungfish's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to constantly touch and sense surroundings, Connects air, water and land, Ability to harden one’s skin to weather hard times, Connection to the past (Living Fossil), Connection to Amphibians, Understands the value of dormancy, Ancestrally related to the four-footed land animals, Connection to dreams (hibernation).


Lynx
Divination, Developing psychic senses, Keeper of all secrets, the hidden and unseen, seeing the truth behind lies and falsehoods, air magic, Keenness of sight, Movement through time and space.

Magpie
Understanding of the balance of light and darkness, Seeing in darkness, Use of ritual in everyday life, Use of voice, Communication, Understanding messages from Spirit, Prophecy, Intelligence, Good luck.

With their striking black and white plumage (with streaks of blue), and their intense curiosity, Magpies are very visible birds. They have very outgoing personalities, are extremely intelligent, and are thieves of the highest order. I always feel there is a great trickster quality to the Magpie, so the first thing is to make sure a joke isn't being played on you by this bird. Again, they can be associated with omens, especially since how many you see at any time was supposed to predict your luck. Seeing a lone magpie was always bad ("one for sorrow"), and particularly if starting out on a journey. Interestingly, Magpies are very good nest builders. An old story goes that the Magpie offered to teach its skills to the other birds, but they all flew away in a huff except the Wren, to whom the Magpie taught its tricks. Therefore, the Magpie and the Wren build the best nests. So, this Animal Guide will be smart, knowledgeable and will always know the safest (and least visible) route in and out of somewhere; however, it is probably a bit of a risk-taker and its stream of joking comments could irritate at times.

Manatee
Seeing clearly what lives in water, Connection to water herbs.

Mandrill's Wisdom Includes:
Beauty, Maternal wisdom, Secretive behaviour, Shyness, Ability to control sexual urges.


Manta Ray's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to swim slowly through emotional waters, Positive use of size in one’s life, Understanding differences.


Mantis/Walking Stick's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to manipulate time, Power to move between moments, Understanding of the circular nature of time, Power of stillness, Female warrior energy, Attack strategy.


Marlin/Kijiki's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to shake off negative energy, Freedom fighter, Ability to pierce the shell of an enemy, Grand entrances, Tenacity, Bravery.


Mayfly/Shadfly's Wisdom Includes:
Intensity, Transformation while moving, Transparency, Emphasis on childhood issues, Living in the moment.


Meadowlark's Wisdom Includes:
The power of song, Understanding the use of voice, Clarity, Happiness, Meditating on oneself, Going inward to find answers.

Meerkat/Suricate's Wisdom Includes:
Maternal nurturing, Caretaking, Watchfulness, Ability to live communally, Sacrifice for the good of the group.

Minnow's Wisdom Includes:
Power of group protection, Connection to youth, Understanding peer issues, Issues related to size, Maintaining the self within the group.


Mockingbird's wisdom includes:
Using knowledge gained on the outside to heal the inside, Learning through experience, Curiosity, Attitude, Territoriality, Overcoming fear, Intelligence.


Mole
Guardian of the lower regions, Knowledge of herbs, roots, minerals, seeds, rivers, and other hidden bounties of the earth, Connection with the energies of the Earth, Ability to turn inward, Introspection and blindness to all but light and dark in the material world, Love expressed in nature, Sensitivity to touch and vibration (the kinesthetic sense), Understanding of energies and fluxes.

Mongoose
Use of speed in defence, Lack of fear in attacking and defending oneself, Apprehension of wrongdoers, Protection of family.

Monkey's Wisdom Includes:
Movement through ego, Ability to change environment, Family protection, Understanding excesses, Good health, Understanding success.

Moose - self esteemUnpredictability, Spontaneity, patience, sacred energy, ability of self-concealment, power of life and death magic, earth magic. Headstrong, unstoppable longevity. Moose represents value and integrity. Moose represents expressing the joy of accomplishment, not to boast or seek recognition, but in a spirit of sharing, born of the understanding that joy is contagious. Acknowledges the truths that have been denied by the soul, Movement to and from the soul world, Movement in the void, Finds the parts of the soul that have been hidden, Building self- respect, Strength, Wisdom, Bridge to the elders, Unseen speed.

Mosquito's Wisdom Includes:
Using water to transform, Drawing energy inside one self, Controlling energy flow in one direction.


Moth's Wisdom Includes:
The power of the whirlwind, Ease of movement in darkness/shadow, Transformation, Ability to confuse enemies, Ability to find light in darkness.


Mountain Lion - leadership
Strength and elusiveness, Using leadership power wisely and without ego, Freedom from guilt, Balancing power, intention, strength. To be true to oneself, allowing neither fear of responsibility nor the jealousy and insecurities of others to divert one from one's path, is the mark of a genuine leader.

Mouse - scrutiny
Innocence, faith and trust, Shyness, Quietness, Understanding details, Illusion, Charm, fastidious, attention to details, earth magic. Mouse teaches us to pay attention to the little details which might get overlooked in our mad dash to see the big picture, and reminds us not to overlook the obvious.

Mouse/Lemming/Vole's Wisdom Includes:
Examines life's lessons, Shyness, Quietness, Understanding details, Seeing double meanings in things, Invisibility, Stealth, Guidance in signing contracts, Discovery, Ability to be unseen.


Muskox's Wisdom Includes:
Defence of the vulnerable by the community, Ability to withstand coldness in others, Understanding of how to survive in harsh climates, Provides physical warmth in harsh times.

Muskrat's Wisdom Includes:
Adaptability, Ability to swim through emotional waters to return home, Understands value to survival of interspecies cooperation, Ability to reuse what others discard.

Nighthawk's Wisdom Includes:
Patience, Use of body movement, Camouflage, Ability to rest when others cannot, Nocturnal vision.

Nightingale's Wisdom Includes:
Proper use of song in healing, Using vibrational energy to see in shadow, Use of song in moving through fear, Connection with the Moon.


Nuthatch's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to view things reversed, Courage of the one in the face of the masses, Ability to move ideas from thought to practice, Connection to Woodpecker.


Ocelot's Wisdom Includes:
Regeneration through solitude, Connection with physical and spiritual worlds, Ability to be in two places at once, Clear vision, Connection to the unseen.


Octopus/Squid's Wisdom Includes:
Intelligence, Moving rapidly away from danger when needed, Proper use of smoke screens (ink) in evading enemies, Destroying negative barriers.


To the Greeks and Minoans, Octopus symbolised the sacred spiral of the Goddess and was related to the Spider web. It represented Moon phases, feminine powers, and the cycle of life and death.

Opossum
Proper use of deception, Use of appearances, Sensibility, Guidance to uncovering talent, psychic or physical, Gaining wisdom, Recovery.

Orangutan's Wisdom Includes: The Old Person of the Forest
Gentleness, Connection to the forest spirits, Ingenuity in dealing with problems, Movement above the fray.

Orca's Wisdom Includes:
Creator of the Cosmos, Ability to convert raw matter into stars, planets, etc., Breaking down the barriers of the human mind, Obliterating the concept of good or evil, Using the vibrational energy of song to heal, Finding your soul song, Soul memory, Seeing the unseen, Ability to seal soul fissures and energy leaks.


According to coastal Indians, Orca was created by the hunter who carved a "blackfish" out of yellow cedar and commanded it to kill his wicked in-laws. Orca tore the men to bits and returned to the Tlingit man, Natsalane, who then ordered the sleek animals never again to prey on humans. And, to this day, Orca, the top predator of the sea, doesn’t eat people. Indeed, the Tlingit people of southeast Alaska consider Orca a custodian of the sea.

Oriole's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to tree spirits, Ability to see how all life is woven together, Facilitates connection to the Little People, Joy.


Osprey's Wisdom Includes:
Keen sight in seeing through illusions, Authority, Freedom of spirit, Keen vision while hunting in the waters of emotion, Connection to the moon, Understanding weather, especially lightning.


Ostrich's Wisdom Includes:
Assists in exorcisms, Spiritual truth, Avoidance behaviour, Outrunning adversaries, Communal living, Understands all aspects of denial.

In ancient Egypt an Ostrich feather symbolised Maat, goddess of truth and justice.

Otter - woman medicine
Sensibility without suspicion, Guidance in unmasking talents, Joy, Laughter, Lightness, togetherness, curiosity, awakening, playfulness, creativity, imagination, water magic, mischievous. Otter is a feminine power, and the symbol of grace and empathy. Otter is receptive, playful and free of jealousy. As both women and men begin to express the highest qualities of this medicine the world can become a joyful place where all can play without fear of harm or loss. Woman’s healing wisdom, Psychic awareness, Faithfulness, Recovery issues, Understanding the value of playtime.

Owl - deception
Symbolic wisdom, truth and patience, Messenger of secrets and omens, Comfort with shadow self, Wisdom, Vision, Insight, shadow work, far seeing, darkness, air magic. The owl’s flight is silent. Owl is the keeper of Moonlight Vision and those who honour the owl come to understand magic, wisdom, the mysteries and powers of the night. The Celtic Shaman holds the owl in high regard, recognising the owl as a magical bird that brings visions, inner knowing and acceptance. The owl’s magic is knowledge of the soul. The Mescalero believe that Owl carries the souls of the recently deceased, a death messenger. Owl is the totem of clairvoyants and mystics. Owl, the night hunter, has the ability to see what others may miss. The gift of this medicine is to be undeceived by external appearances and to discover the truth beneath them. Stealth, Secrecy, Silent and swift movement, Seeing behind masks, Keen sight, Shape-shifting, Link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, Moon magick, Freedom.

Oyster's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to filter out life’s static, Understands when to close doors to prevent energy loss, Sensitivity to environmental changes, Maintenance of outer wall of protection.

Panda's Wisdom Includes:
Understanding the value of slowness, Connection to Eastern beliefs, Balance, Adaptability, Connection to the Plant Kingdom.

Panther
Valour, ferocity, flexing of the psychic and spiritual muscles, power, strength and earth magic.


Black Panther's Wisdom Includes:
Astral travel, Guardian energy, Symbol of the feminine, Understanding of death, Reclaiming ones power, Ability to know the dark, Death and rebirth.


Parakeet's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to change direction suddenly, Imitation, Love, Trust, Assists with goals within the community.


Parrot/Macaw's Wisdom Includes:
Use of language, Mockery, Pair bonding, Brings rain, Guidance and wisdom to think before speaking.

Partridge's Wisdom Includes:
Fertility, Solitary work, Mobility, Connection to female energies.


Peacock
Ability to see into the past, present, and future, Dignity, Self-confidence, All aspects of beauty, Immortality, Rising out of ashes.

Peccary/Javalina's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the large cats, Understands the conversation of death between predator and prey, Ability to warn others of danger, Quick movement to avoid harm, Self-sacrifice.


Pelican
Control of ego, Recovery from loss, Proper use of abundance, Ability to float through emotions, Ability to return from the edge of extinction.

Penguin
Astral Projection, Patience, Endurance, Fatherhood, Understanding female energy within the male, Waking dreams.

Perch's Wisdom Includes:
Movement from cloudy to clear water, Boldness, Aggression, Defence by rear attack, Ability to locate what is needed.


Pheasant's Wisdom Includes:Movement through ego, Using colour to heal, Expansion of self awareness, Understanding the use of ritual.

Phoenix
Rebirth, renewal, growth spiritually, the renewal of strength and energy.


Pig/Sow/Boar's Wisdom Includes:
Crone Goddess, Rooting out the truth, Deep Earth magick, Past life knowledge, Intelligence, Cunning, Becoming invisible during times of danger.

Pine Sisken's Wisdom Includes:
Removal of negative but deeply held issues, Manifesting new opportunities, Understanding what a seed contains before planting it, Maintaining social connections.


Piranha's wisdom includes:
Service to the river and the life within it, Savagery, Tearing apart enemies, Understanding the power of groups, Ability to totally consume (use) what is given to you.


Platypus' Wisdom Includes:
Connection the ancient animals, Ability to remain unique, Value of remaining as you are, Ability to rear young differently.

Polar Bear
Creature of dreams, shamans, mystics and visionaries, Defence and revenge, Communication with Spirit, Ability to navigate along the Earth’s magnetic lines, Introspection, Solitude, Expert swimmer through emotional waters, Finding one way back from the brink, Ability to find sustenance in barren landscapes, Strength in the face of adversity, Dreams, Death and rebirth, Transformation.

Porcupine
Protection of boundaries, Defence when threatened, Innocence, Humility, curiosity, cautiousness, being bold in actions and words, resistance, wonder, earth magic, Innocence, Trust in Spirit, Renewed sense of wonder, Creating your own path, Allowing others their path, Non-interference.

Prairie Dog
Community, family, society, health, responsibilities, expression of emotion, earth magic, Communal living, Value of touch, Proper use of affection, Connection to all things found below the surface.

Prawn/Shrimp/Krill Wisdom Includes:
Ability to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts, Sustenance, Ability withstand cold temperatures, Group living, Adaptability.

Pufferfish/Blowfish/Porcupine Fish's Wisdom Includes:
The fatal beauty, Defence through inducing fear in ones enemy, Transmutation of poison, Power to induce death-like state, Use of size as a deterrent.


Puffin's Wisdom Includes:
The Penguin of the North, Understanding parental abandonment, Longevity, Lifetime mating, Childhood ability to thrive in darkness.


Quail
Protectiveness, Group Harmony, Living close to the Earth, Ability to blend into the background, Finding peaceful solutions to peril, Courage to face hardships.


Resplendent Quetzal's Wisdom Includes:
Sacred bird of the ancient Mayas and Aztecs, Sacred bird of the Cloud forest, Freedom, Symbol of wealth, Invisibility, Stillness, Diversity.


Mayan legend describes how the bird got its crimson breast. When the Mayan chieftain Tecun Uman fell in battle, mortally wounded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, a gold-and-green quetzal landed on his chest. As the chieftain died, the bird flew off, its breast forever stained with the blood of the Mayan.

Rabbit - fear
Faith and nurturance, Living by one’s own wits, Alertness, nurturing, Conquering fear, Safety, Innocence, fertility, movement, sensitivity, luck, moon magic. The more we focus on our fears, the more we attract them to us. Rabbit medicine teaches us to attract to us abundance, love, health and a warm, dry burrow.

Rabbits are regular visitors to the land where Beyond the Rainbow lives, most often between dawn and dusk. They stay close to the edge of the forest, and though deeply absorbed in the process of eating, are always alert. At the sight of a hawk or the sound of a human footstep they disappear into the undergrowth. An interesting aspect of rabbit is that different cultures have widely varying understandings of this animal. The Egyptians associated it with being, while in China, where it is one of the astrological animals, it is associated with good fortune and the moon. People born under its sign are believed to be sensitive and artistic. In many Native American traditions rabbit is named the Fear Caller. It is believed that it shouts out its fear of the predators who rank it high on their dining list so loudly that it attracts them, and thus brings that which it fears into being. If we look at this idea with deeper understanding we see how well rabbit teaches us that we create our lives with our thoughts and feelings. Rabbit experiences fear, projects it outward, and creates in the external world conditions which mirror its inner terrors. For us humans this is an important lesson. The idea behind repeating affirmations, focusing on positive images, and programming one's crystals to help realise dreams is that thoughts have energy, and that focused attention on a thought creates a vibration which will help that thought to become reality. This is as true when you think about what you don't want to happen. So often, though, our focus on what we don't want to happen is automatic, instead of deliberate. It's an undercurrent of consciousness, gathering strength secretly. Thus, it's important to bring our fears into consciousness, to treat them with the tenderness we would treat a frightened child (which is who we are when we're in fear).

Here another aspect of rabbit comes into play. I mentioned before rabbit's ability to be alert and aware of its surroundings at all times. For us, this translates into recognising that we have the power to create with our thoughts, to be conscious of them, to be focused on our dreams, and to not allow ourselves to be distracted from our intentions, especially not to be distracted by fear from realising our dreams.

Rabbit/Hare's Wisdom Includes:
Guile, Paradox and contradiction, Living by one’s own wits, Receiving hidden teachings and intuitive messages, Quick-thinking, Humility, Moving through fear, Strengthening intuition.


Raccoon
Disguise, Dexterity, curiosity, cleanliness, secrecy, moon and earth magic, Understanding the nature of masks, Seeking guidance and confidence, Questioning without fear, Balancing curiosity.

Ram
Fertility.

Rat
Abundant reproduction, Ability to live unseen, shrewdness, adaptability, success, social, restlessness, earth magic, Stealth, Defence, Intelligence, Symbol of fertility and wealth.

Raven
Inner journeys, dreams, Rebirth, Recovery, Recreation, Healing (recovering lost pieces of the soul), Recycling, Renewal, Eloquence, Connection to the source, Casting light on Shadow, Symbol of the Shape-changer, Reflections/Mirrors, Self-Acceptance, Evolutionised form of Velociraptor, Comfort in Solitude, Magick of the Crone, Honouring ancestors, Introspection, Divination, Trickster, teacher, hoarder. Change in consciousness, New occurrences, Mystery, Exploration of the unknown, destiny, air magic. Like their relatives, the crows, ravens were known throughout Europe as death birds and other-world messengers. Valkyries wore black raven feathers in their role of Choosers of the Slain. Dead warriors on the battlefield were called “feeders of raven” in skaldic verse. Some of the skald’s kenning's (metaphors) for the raven included “blood-swan” and “blood-goose”. Among the Celts, ravens were sacred to the other-world Bird Goddess Rhiannon, and also incarnations of the death-dealing Morrigan. Ravens brought omens of death. It was often said that ravens could foretell outbreaks of the plague. Because of their association with the other world, ravens were viewed as oracles and teachers of magic. Ravens gave magical instruction to the Celtic God Lug and to his Norse counterpart Odin. An adept in the first stage of Mithraic initiation took the title of Raven, which was linked with the lunar sphere. Later stages carried the titles of Bridegroom, Warrior, Lion, Persian, Sunrunner, and Pater. A 14th century Italian manuscript said that the high position and honour would surely come to a person who owned and amulet showing a raven standing on a serpent’s tail. Among the Eskimo, Siberians and Indians of some north-western American tribes, Raven was a major God who married the Great Mother, brought dry land out of the sea, and finally sacrificed himself to provide magical wisdom for men. In Christian tradition, however, ravens were often said to be the souls of wicked persons. To Pacific Northwest Coast tribes, Raven represented the shaman's powers and a belief in transformation between human and animal spirits, and is the mark of a shape shifter.

Red Panda's Wisdom Includes:
Proper use of masks, Ability to see through masks, Using dexterity to escape.

Reindeer
Power of wandering, Protection while travelling.

Rhinoceros
Wisdom, short temper, past lives, high sensitivity to emotions, earth magic, Learning comfort in solitude, Connection to ancient wisdom, Knowledge of self, Proper use of ancient wisdom, Trust of instincts.

Roadrunner's Wisdom Includes:
Proper use of speed, Understanding rapid change, Agility, Evading capture through quickness.


Robin's Wisdom Includes:
Understanding the power of song, Happiness, Guide in the wisdom of change.

Salamander's Wisdom Includes:
Facilitates the connection between earth and water, Connection to the soul memories of early life on earth, Change, Comfort in darkness, Ability to cloak in the face of adversity.


Salmon
Deep emotion and great knowledge, Understanding divination messages, Swimming upstream through emotional waters to gain insight, Understanding divination messages, Value of returning home to regenerate, Rebirth of spiritual knowledge, Trust, Strength, instinct, Determination, Persistence, Rebirth of spiritual knowledge.

The Salmon is seen as the oldest of all creatures and as the holder of all wisdom in Irish tradition. The Salmon of Knowledge, a mythical creature, had eaten hazelnuts from the nine trees that grew along the Well of Wisdom. Anyone who would eat this salmon would gain all the Wisdom of the Ages. In the stories, it is Fionn who, accidentally, first partakes of the Salmon and thus takes the knowledge into himself. The Salmon, with its obvious associations with water, can navigate between the sea and the river and thus is knowledgeable about the gateways between Worlds and the hidden emotions within us. It is a sure Guide when emotions are turbulent, and brings calm and peace to upsetting situations with its sage advice.

Sand Dollar's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the Stars, Recognition of cycles, Return to the beginning, Honouring ones life cycle, Ability to survive storms, Fragility.


Sandpiper
Quickness, Foraging, Scavenging.


Sandpiper/Peep's Wisdom Includes:
Communal living, Ability to go unnoticed, Understands cycles related to tides, Value of blending races, Defence through impersonation.


Scorpion
Attacking from the rear, Death and rebirth, Transmutation of poison, Reflecting dark and negative energy back to its sender.

Sea Eagle's Wisdom Includes:
Carries souls back to the dreamtime, Soul world memory, Retrieves lost soul parts, Oversees soul retrievals.


Seagull
Carefree attitude, Versatility, Freedom, Spiritual messengers, Communication with deities, Behaving responsibly, Ability to see from above situations, Friendship.


Seahorse
Confidence, grace, The Hummingbird of the sea, Joy, Understanding of the importance of the courtship dance, Ability to hold on while in emotional waters, Paternal rearing of offspring.


Seal - the inner voice
Protection during change, Creativity, Lucid dreaming, Movement through emotions, Protection from danger, Contentment, protection from malicious, gossip or physical danger. The seal reminds us of our connection to our deep inner rhythms, feelings, and knowing, as represented by the sea. When we fear drowning in these depths, seal reminds us how to swim.

Sea Slug's Wisdom Includes:
Renewal through shedding ones outer skin, Transmutation, Protection through reputation, Use of colour to warn.


Sea Turtle's Wisdom Includes:
Bravery of the young, Connection to the Moon, Navigation skills, Understands the nuances of long cycles, Duty to completion of ones life path, Ability to travel long distances to reach home, Longevity, Wisdom, Connection to the Earth’s water energies.


Secretary Bird's Wisdom Includes:
The long-legged marching eagle, Clear vision, Ability to stall tall, Love of home, Pride, Speed.


Serpents
Health, fertility, faith, magical power, sun and water magic.

Serval's Wisdom Includes:
Stealth, Invisibility, Use of facial features as communication, Ability to see over one’s environment, Associated with water, Inter-species communication, Listens to what is hidden.


Shark
Hunter, survival, adaptability, Never being caught off guard, Ability to defend oneself, Comfort with self (physical and spiritual) as it has been over the millennia, Ability to move constantly, Working/moving in silence, Devours negative energy, Connection to the past, Living fossil, Ability to be in the moment, Recycling energy, Remorselessness.


Sheep/Ram/Ewe's Wisdom Includes:
Maintaining balance in dangerous situations, Confidence in ones abilities, Fertility, Courage needed to maintain balance, New beginnings, Abundance, Assurance in new areas.


Siamese Fighting Fish/Beta/Betta Wisdom Includes:
Ferocity, Aggression, Protection of boundaries within relationships, Solitude, Understanding the nature of violence, Warrior energy, Confrontation of ego.


Skunk - self respect
Will-power, Self-confidence, Reputation, Understanding energy flows, Courage, Sensuality, Caution, Warning, Respect, self-esteem, playfulness, steadiness, patience, earth magic. When we fully accept who we are and learn to express the essence of ourselves, without ego, we attract those who share our path and repel those who don't. Skunk medicine is the original "Walk your talk".

Sloth's Wisdom Includes:
Wisdom associated with moving slowly, The value of laziness, Understanding the tree spirits, Ability to access the libraries within the trees where all Earth knowledge is held, Seeing the world upside down, understanding when to use tenacious behaviour.


Snail
Perseverance, Determination.


Snail/Slug's Wisdom Includes:
Importance of keeping yourself mobile, Understands the value of leaving a trail, Ability to use slow movement to ones advantage, Defence through retreat, Understands the value of humour.

Snake - transmutation
Exploration of the mysteries of life, Primitive or elemental energy, Power, Life force, Sexual Potency. Shrewdness, transformation. Life, death and rebirth are represented by the shedding of skin. Among the Pueblo Indians snakes and lightning are equated with rain and fertility. As snake sheds its skin so we can shed our illusions and limitations in order to fully use our vitality and desires to achieve wholeness.

Nowhere are the differences between cultures and religions more sharply emphasised than in their attitudes towards snake, differences which will also reveal different perspectives towards fundamental aspects of being alive.

On one level these differences relate to sexuality. We see the snake "tempting" Eve in the Garden of Eden, being symbolised as the Indian Goddess, Vinata, or shown as the legs of the Celtic fertility God, Cerunnos. People for untold ages have associated snake with both male and female aspects of sexuality. In religions where sexuality, in both its physical and spiritual aspects, is celebrated snake has been an honoured being. In more repressive belief systems this animal has been associated with evil. This, however, is only the beginning of the contradictory attitudes towards snake, for this animal also symbolises aliveness, as expressed in sensuality - meaning in this case the ability to feel and respond to stimuli, and more generally, to the flow of energy which creates us and makes us alive. In Hinduism, kundalini, or serpent fire, lies coiled at the base of the spine. As we mature emotionally and spiritually, the energy rises, stimulating emotional, mental and spiritual energy centres (chakras). This is also expressed in the worldwide symbol of the spiral. This flow of energy is essential to health, and the Greeks, in their own understanding of this, used the snake as a symbol of healing and wisdom.

Snake sheds its skin, and transmutes into a new being. This is the symbol for our ability to shed beliefs and habits which we have outgrown. To be able to do this is wisdom. In Egypt snake was thought to represent inner vision, while the Celts sometimes called the Druids (who were leaders and teachers in the areas of poetry and music, the law, spiritual wisdom and healing) adders. Unfortunately, the more rigid practitioners of the Judeo-Christian tradition seemed to fear wisdom. When St. Patrick boasted that he had driven all of the snakes out of Ireland, he meant the Druids, and the apple the snake gave Eve was from the Tree of Knowledge.

On the deepest level snake's skin shedding symbolises death and rebirth, an idea which is represented by the image of a snake swallowing its own tail, a symbol of eternity. Snake is not an energy to be treated lightly. Its meaning touches on the deepest mysteries of life. If, however, your are ready to shed your own skin snake is always ready to guide you through the spiral path of transformation.

Snake/Serpent's Wisdom Includes:
Messenger of the Rainbow Serpent, Elusiveness, Manipulates lightning, Transmutation, Exploration of the mysteries of life, Primitive or elemental energy, Protection from religious persecution, Goddess energy, Psychic energy, Creative power, Immortality, Connection to or forms the magic cord by which the shaman travels to the soul world.


Snipe's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the wetlands, Reclusive behaviour, Ability to use temperature to ones advantage, Family secrets.


Snow Leopard
Understanding one’s shadow side, trusting one’s inner self, Agility, Strength, Ability to stalk, Understanding the power of silence.

Sow
Healing, Deep Earth magick, Past life knowledge.

Sparrow's Wisdom Includes:
Desire, Fertility, Manifesting new love in ones life, Understanding the aspects of race, Ability to use the power of song, All aspects of colour.

Spider - weaver
Shape-shifting, wisdom, creativity, divine inspiration, Weaver of the web of fate, master weaver, Understanding the patterns of illusion, Female energy, Female energy for the creative force of life, Web of Life, Interconnectedness, and Industrious. Creative, pattern of life. Spider connects the past with the future, creating possibilities. Spider-woman is a major Pueblo goddess. As spider weaves her web so we weave our realities. This medicine teaches us to remember that we are the creators of our lives.

Spoonbill's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to sweep obstacles out of ones way, Connection to marshes and estuaries, Protects young through communal living, Understands shyness, Use of wariness in defence, Silence.

Squirrel - gathering
Warning, Discovery, Change, Trust, Ability to solve puzzles, Quick change of direction, Resourcefulness, Storing for the future, Balance in giving and receiving, Power of rest during times of non-movement, Thrift, awareness, Avoiding danger by climbing to a higher place, sociable, playful, preparations, activity, energy, earth magic. Squirrel, in preparing for winter, gathers only what it needs. This medicine teaches us to discard not only unnecessary physical objects but those negative beliefs which limit our trust in love and abundance.

Starfish's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the star people, Regeneration, Moon magick, Beauty, Tidal movement.


Starling's wisdom includes:
Ability to control mobs, Imitation, Adaptability, Intelligence, Mental receptivity.


Stink Bug's Wisdom Includes:
Use of odour as protection, Exchange of life energy, Camouflage, Use of exterior shell as protection.


Stork's Wisdom Includes:
Creation, New beginnings, Faithfulness, Protection of the young.


Swallow's Wisdom Includes:
Closing related to the Thunderbird, Power of communal living, Understands the value to family and home, Protection, Agility, Ability to manoeuvre, Connection to the arrival of thunderstorms.


Swan - grace
Understanding dream symbols, seeing into the future, Elegance, Nurturing together, Relationship, Oneness, balance, innocence, Awakening the power of self, Seeing into the future, Understanding spiritual evolution, Developing intuitive abilities, Divination, Grace in dealing with others.

One of the most beautiful birds, the Swan has many associations. It is most famous for being the bird the Children of Lir were turned into when their stepmother wanted to be rid of them. As such it is considered a "royal" bird, and is graceful and long-lived. Swans are very fierce when under threat, and their beautiful exterior often belies their strength and determination. They are viewed as destructive when they descend upon Emhain Macha and ravage the area as an omen of Cú Chulainn's conception - swans appear several times during his lifetime. There is a strong shape-shifting quality to them due to the many stories of humans turning into Swans and vice versa, so they are highly magical birds, with much information about mastering transformation and change. Romance is also tied into the Swan, for the "Love God" of the Tuatha De Danna, Óengus fell in love with Cáer, who was under a magical enchantment by her father so that she was in the form of a swan for a year, followed the next year by being in the form of a human. Óengus transforms himself into a Swan in order to be with his beloved. Midhir and Étain escape from her husband's fortress in the shape of swans in order to be together.

Swan teaches us to trust the grace of our being as it operates in both  the physical and spiritual planes, and urges us to rejoice in the gifts of our physical bodies and our intuitive minds.

Tapir's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the Horse and Rhinoceros, Toughness, Longevity, Understanding shyness, Ability to remain unchanged by time, Gentleness.

Tarantula
Defence of territory, Intimidation by size, Use of environment to conceal oneself, Ability to shed the outer skin (masks) and transform, Creativity, Spinning a web to entrap enemies.

Tasmanian Devil's Wisdom Includes:
Self-defence, Protection of territory, Ability to use perseverance when necessary, Understanding of how and when to fight.


Termite's Wisdom Includes:
Defence of personal space, Single-mindedness, Connection to tropical forests, Co-operative living


Thrush's Wisdom Includes:
Communication, Languages, Working with the Little People.

Tick's Wisdom Includes:
Transmission of ideas, Patience, Ability to use heat and movement to see, Ingenuity.


Tiger
Power, Energy, Strength and will-power in the face of adversity, courage, skilfulness, stealth, tactfulness, loyalty, passion, adventures, fire magic, Acting in a timely manner, Action without analysis.

Titmouse's Wisdom Includes:

Attitude, Fearlessness, Ability to wear crowns without ego, Power of voice.

Toad's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to altered states of consciousness, Symbol of the Earth, Camouflaging poison, Changing luck, Long life.


Toucan's Wisdom Includes:
Dexterity, Agility, Ability to move to and from the soul world, Proper use of colour in healing, Ability find peace in small places.


Turkey's Wisdom Includes:
Sacrifice of self for a higher purpose, Understanding the gift of giveaway, Honouring the Earth Mother, Harvest bounties.


Turtle - mother earth
Self-reliance, Tenacity, Non-violent defence, Love and Protection, Healing and Knowledge, Self contained, creative source. Turtle represents Mother Earth. Informed decisions, planning and adaptability are attributes of Turtle.  A great deal of mythology exists in regard to the turtle. In the Far East, the shell was a symbol of heaven, and the square underside was a symbol of earth. The turtle was an animal whose magic united heaven and earth. The turtle is a creation of nature that carries its round shell over the ground, like heaven, and has a flat bottom, like earth. With a profile resembling a mountain and the turning motion of its toes, it seemed to be a depiction of heaven and earth changing constantly through the seasons.

In the West, early Christians didn't like turtles, and they viewed them as symbolising evil forces during war. In Greece, turtles were once believed to be citizens of hell. But like the Chinese, Indians have a legend that "the world is supported by four elephants standing on a giant turtle." After hearing a Western scientist clearly give a scientific explanation for the formation of the world, one old Indian woman said that he was wholly mistaken, that the world was being supported by a giant turtle. When the scientist asked what was under the turtle, she said, "Of course there is an endless pile of turtles, one on top of another."

Turtles seem to possess an enviable and god-like resistance to aging, and so they came to symbolise longevity. Their link to heaven and earth made them a natural for use in divination. Turtles are also symbols of immortality and are considered temporary dwelling places for souls making their way through a series of lives on the path to Nirvana. The turtle is considered to be the second incarnation of the powerful god Vishnu in the Hindu religion. After a great flood, which occurs every four billion years and dissolves the earth, Vishnu transforms himself into a great turtle. On his back, he carries a vessel in which the gods and demons mix the elements necessary to re-create the globe. After a thousand years, when the earth has been reborn, the turtle remains in place, and on his back stands a large elephant, which support the planet.

According to some Native American tales, the Earth Diver turtle swam to the bottom of the water that stretched across the world. He surfaced with the mud, which the creator used to make the earth. The turtle is a shore creature, using the land and the water. All shore areas are associated with doorways to the Faerie Realm. The turtle is sometimes known as the keeper of the doors. They were often seen as signs of fairy contact and the promise of fairy rewards.

A Japanese Fairy Tale about Urashima tells of a man who protects a turtle from some boys who were bothering it. As a reward, the turtle takes the man to meet the King of the Ocean. As a reward for his good deed, Urashima marries the King's beautiful water sprite daughter. In Nigeria, the turtle was a symbol of the female sex organs and sexuality. To the Native Americans, it was associated with the lunar cycle, menstruation, and the power of the female energies. The markings and sections on some turtles total thirteen. In the lunar calendar, there are either thirteen full moons or thirteen new moons alternating each year. Many believe this is where the association with the female energies originated. The turtle symbolises the primal mother and Mother Earth.

To the modern Chinese, turtles are viewed in many different ways. It is regarded as one of the four divine animals, along with the dragon, phoenix and chimera. They are worshipped in temples. Flour turtles used to be used as offerings at temple festivals or big family events. However, the term turtle is also used as a curse word, and the Taiwanese expression for gamblers "losing your shirt" translates as "knocking turtles". Apart from gamblers' fears that eating a flour turtle will turn their luck sour, turtles have many other bad connotations in modern Chinese society. In fact, when people curse each other these days, the first thing to come out is often "turtle egg" or " grandson of a turtle". Even so, the image of the turtle as a spiritual beast has become deeply implanted in people's minds. One ancient text warns its readers not to act rashly when catching turtles and always to carry out the proper ceremony to worship them first. There are also many legends about how those who killed turtles eventually met with misfortune. Common Buddhist restraints against the killing of animals evolved into the Buddhist ceremony of releasing turtles.

Turtles remind us that the way to heaven is through the earth. In Mother Earth is all that we need. She will care for us, protect us, and nurture us, as long as we do the same for her. For that to happen, we must slow down and heighten our sensibilities. We must see the connection to all things. Just as the turtle cannot separate itself from its shell, neither can we separate ourselves from what we do to the earth. By following the example of turtle we can learn to ground ourselves in the nurturing and protective energy of the earth and to flow with its energies at a pace which assures completion of our tasks.

Turtle/Tortoise's Wisdom Includes:
Symbol of the earth, Connection with the centre, Navigation skills, Patience, Self-boundaries, Associated with the feminine, Power to heal female diseases, Respecting the boundaries of others, Developing new ideas, Psychically protecting oneself, Self-reliance, Tenacity, Non-violent defence.


Virus' Wisdom Includes:
Adaptability, Mimicry, Efficiency, Camouflage, Creation, Simplicity of path.

Vulture/Buzzard/Condor's Wisdom Includes:
Death and rebirth, Prophecy, Love of the Mother goddess, Knowledge concerning the death of a loved one, New vision, Purification.


Walrus' Wisdom Includes:
Using of a fierce masks wisely, Movement in emotional waters, Group living, Defence of territory, Storing for the future.

Warbler's Wisdom Includes:
Diversity, Beauty of all soul songs, Invisibility, Frail endurance, Survival.


Warthog's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to sense danger, Courage, Protection, Ability to find the truth, Use of a fierce mask.


Wasp/Hornet/Yellowjacket's Wisdom Includes:
Use of female warrior energy, Sisterhood, Understanding female societies, Communal living.


Waxbill's Wisdom Includes:
Foster parenting, Ability to see from all perspectives, Surefooted, Ability to change.


Waxwing's Wisdom Includes:
Communal living, Connected to healing, Self-respect, Control of ego, Connection to Red Cedar, Facilitates reproduction.

Waydah/Widow Bird's Wisdom Includes:
Spousal protection, Giving up young for adoption, Use of beauty in courtship, Aggression, Need for open spaces.


Weasel
Cunning, Ingenuity, Revenge, sly, loners, ability to escape tight spots relatively unharmed, observation, secretive, earth magic, Stealth, Keen observation, Ability to see hidden reasons behind things.

Whale - record keeper
Finding your soul song, Soul memory, Creativity and Intuition, awakening of inner senses, family, inspiration, and water magic. Through the rhythm and patterns of sounds whale teaches us to hear our inner voices, to be in touch with our personal truths, and thus to know the wisdom and feel the heartbeat of the universe. Record keeper for all eternity, All knowledge associated with voice, Psychic and telepathic abilities, All aspects of the sea, Beauty of movement.

Wild Dog's Wisdom Includes:
Connection to the full moon, Versatility of habitat, Ability to see in low light, Fertility.


Wildebeest's Wisdom Includes:
Movement toward new opportunities, Ability to live with the masses, Understanding of the value of travel, The ability to move with the seasons, Understanding of the power of the group in defence.


Willie Wagtail's Wisdom Includes:
Camp protector, Brings messages about relatives, Protector of lost children, Patron of child care providers, Teaches the proper use of gossip.


Wolf - teacher
Earth wisdom, protection and shadow work, guidance in dreams and meditations, Instinct linked with intelligence, Teaching skill, success, perseverance, stability and thought, Loyalty, Independence, spirit, freedom, intelligence, social, guardianship, wisdom, earth and moon magic. The wolf is the Sage the Great Teacher. The wolf tolerates no shirking of duty, and they mate for life. The wolf preys natural upon the weak and therefore insures that they do not multiply. Wolves are also regarded as pathfinders and teachers. Wolf is represented by the constellation Sirius, the Dog. In the Zuni tradition the Wolf symbolises the direction East.

The wolf’s medicine is inner strength, courage, love and loyalty. Though the moon rises every night wolf always finds something new to learn from it. We too, in exploring the hidden paths of consciousness, may discover new truths to share with the rest of our clan, the human race.

Wolf's Wisdom Includes:
Facing the end of one's cycle with dignity and courage, Death and rebirth, Spirit teaching, Guidance in dreams and meditations, Instinct linked with intelligence, Social and familial values, Outwitting enemies, Ability to pass unseen, Steadfastness, Skill in protection of self and family, Taking advantage of change.

Wolf Print
Tracking, movement.


Wolverine's Wisdom Includes:
Last phantom of the wilderness, Standing your ground, Fierceness, Hyena of the North, Master of the Forest, Trickster hero, Magical link between the material and the spirit worlds, Revenge, Craftiness, Understands how to satisfy appetites, Ability to travel in very cold places, Understanding aggression, Protection against attackers, Multilevel protection, Elusiveness, Gluttonry, Cleverness, Strength, Non-retreat, Effective attack, Endurance, Courage.


Wombat's Wisdom Includes:
Ability to change within, Strength, Determination, Intelligence, Speed, Resourcefulness, Ability to dig up needed information.


Woodpecker
Warnings, Prophecy, Associated with thunder, Connection to the earth, Ability to find hidden layers, Understands rhythms, cycles and patterns, The Earth's drummer, Pecks away at deception until the truth is revealed.

Worm's Wisdom Includes:
Regeneration, Purifies the Earth, Ability to find nurturing within the Earth, Camouflage, Ability to wiggle out of difficult situations.


Wren
Messenger from the gods, Power of voice, Fearlessness, Seeing future events, Sibling (brother/sister) relationships.

Zebra:
Balance, Seeing in black and white, Clarity without filters, Power, Sureness of path, Maintaining the individual within the herd.