Personality Cafe banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

What Are Your Totem Animals?

Jump to Latest
18K views 107 replies 69 participants last post by  Introvertia  
H
#1 ·
S P I R I T ~ A N I M A L S
&
Psychology

The ancient shamans had introduced the concept that every individual has an inner animal. Throughout the ages this concept was woven into many cultures, beliefs & metaphysical systems. Modern shamanism & new age spirituality have ran with this concept & today every animal has become a symbol. I have for sometime studied these animal "totems" & I wish to carry forth an experiment. In order to do so I must have willing participants.

What is this intriguing experiment? Well I'll tell you, I take shamanism a step further, into the psychological realms. I'm not asking you to trip on peyote & dwell within yourself to find me an answer. What, am I your shaman or something? No, but in all seriousity, I believe there are easier ways to find out your "spirit" animal than to journey into a wilderness or trip in tepees. It's as simple as finding three animals that you believe represent each part of your self. Usually they are you favourite animals.

One sea creature(water totem), one land creature(earth totem), one creature of the air(air totem). Air represents the mind, mentality, communication, thoughts, & freedom. Land represents the ego, body, instincts, drives, the physical, carnal nature & stability. Water represents emotions, the inner being, intuitions, desires, the emotional nature, depths of being, psyche & feeling.

If you find your three spirit animals I'll give you an interpretation. It would be preferred if you posted pictures of your animals.

I'll give you an example.

Air Totem - Bat
Image

Earth Totem - Lion
Image

Water Totem - Octopus
Image

​



This thread serves purpose as a discussion of the correlation between animals & psychology.
 
#4 ·
Air: Raven
Image


Earth: Grizzly Bear
Image


Water: Humpback Whale
Image

(I also really love Great White Sharks, but personality-wise I'm not much of a shark.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Curiously and The Hungry One
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
H
#58 ·
The Tiger
Tiger Symbolism
✣Independence
✣Strength
✣Beauty
✣Power
✣Survivalist
✣Royalty
✣Passion
✣Lust

The Tiger, most magnificent amongst beasts. Behold her lustful & sexual prowess, every stride invokes sensuous passions. She is beauty in motion, her every move liquid & seductive. The Tiger is to the Orient the king of the jungle, roaming the forest, supreme ruler of his domain. In shamanism however the Tiger is more a symbol of regeality than sovereignty. This is because the tiger is seen as an independent creature, master of his own fate, bound to his own path which he must walk alone. The tiger is also attributed to an air of exotic artistry, & sadly this magnificent beast is hunted for it's beautiful artwork which it wears so nobly, it's marvellous coat. Fiercely individual & not afraid to be themselves the tiger is a creature most true to their stripes. She is a fierce mother as she is a mysterious beauty, invoking the deepest, truest passions. The most brazen desires & fullest lust incarnate. Fierce & dangerous. She is the incarnation of lust, with inobstructable drive & focus, making her a hunter par none.

Angelina Jolie is a good example of a woman who's spirit animal is a Tigress.

The Phoenix
Phoenix Symbolism
✣Rebirth
✣Rise
✣Glory
✣Victory
✣Resurrection
✣Inspiration
✣Purification

The mythical Phoenix. Immortal fowl of wonder, said to have feathers of golden that blaze in the sun. The Egyptians believed the Phoenix to be a sun deity. In the East it was a symbol of prosperity & good fortune. Universally the mystical fowl is celebrated for it's ability of resurrection. Upon forseeing it's own death the Phoenix in blazon splendour would ignite itself & burn to ashes. From ashes the bird would then rise victor over death until one day it shall re-ignite itself & rise once more. Thus the Phoenix is immortalised & becomes a symbol of rebirth. In shamanism a symbol of a person who has risen over defeat, reborn & possesses a rising energy.

White is the symbol of transcendence, spirituality, tranquillity, peace, virtue, innocence & purity. Therefore the White Phoenix also bears themes of transcendence & spirituality.

The Dolphin
Dolphin Symbolism
✣Playfulness
✣Intelligence
✣Transcendence
✣Joy
✣Gentleness
✣Community
✣Friendship

The most playful & joyous spirit boats the ocean not than the dolphin. Pleasure, spirit & freedom is the dolphin's song. Cetaceans are amongst the most spiritual beings on this world. Dolphins are a totem of transcendence & transcendal energies. Dolphin's are one of the most intelligent creature on Mother Earth, possessing a keen intellect, often devising strategies in hunting. They are also amongst this planet's most sociable creatures & teach us about friendship, community & teamwork. The dolphin is an excellent teacher of joy & happiness, imparting lessons of letting go & enjoying life. The Dolphin is one of the few creatures who has sex for pleasure. Infact much of dolphin's existence can be attributed to pleasure.
The Dolphin also bears the theme of Duality. In Ancient Greece the dolphin shared affinity with both the sun god Apollo & the lunar goddess Aphrodite.

Sun Dolphin Meanings:
Active, Life, Vibrant, Health, Renewal, Intelligence

Moon Dolphin Meaning:
Hidden power, Intuition, Dreams, Conception, Feminine
Click to expand...
 
T
#10 · (Edited)
Image

Image

Image


Air: Owl
Earth: Wolf
Water: Seal.

I don't know how to remove the extra attachment below, but it's just an alternate pic I was gonna use for the wolf.
 

Attachments

#12 ·
  • Like
Reactions: The Hungry One, Bardo and Animal
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 ·
All cats, especially the Lynx.

Image


Image


Image



Edit: I didn't read the OP. I have to wait for the air and water animals to "come" to me.
 
H
#63 ·
What a beautiful creature is the Lynx.

The Lynx
Lynx Symbolism
✣Intuition
✣Secrets
✣Mystery
✣Intrigue
✣Survival
✣Hunter
✣Vigilance

The Lynx is a keeper of secrets, lord of that which time has hidden. He is the mystical guardian of all that is hidden, knowing the ancient secret of this earth. She is a mysterious & elusive creature, believed to be gifted with clairvoyance, being able to see into people, situations, & even through solid objects. As a result this mythical cat symbolises the unravelling of hidden truths & psychic prowess. The Celts believed the Lynx to have keen sight & suspicion to uncover arcane secrets & shamanic mysteries. The Lynx is also a keen hunter & will often take down prey much larger than itself. She is also a survivalist - braving the cold winters, hunting her prey, becoming one with the earth & it's secrets, using her keen eyesight & clairvoyance to survive. She find her grace in the solace of snow. What a beautiful beast is the Lynx.

Lynx is the name of a constellation in the northern sky, defined by Johannes Hevelius in 1687. The name is said to have been chosen because the stars which make up the constellation are so faint that only those with the eyesight of the lynx can perceive them
Click to expand...
 
#27 ·
What else could it be?

It can reveal qualities about yourself that you might not have seen plainly, but your instinctual choice of that animal may reveal something about yourself to you if you accept your instinctual choice, and then take the time to analyze it in retrospect. For instance, knowing that my totem animal for the sky was a phoenix lead to many thoughts about letting go of my own past, and the nature of my relationship with creative arts.

Beyond that, it is communication. Not all communication must be logical or spelled out in words. Your animal will invoke a specific feeling in another person, and may unconsciously lead them to absorb more of your deeper nature without even realizing why.
 
R
#29 ·
Not all into spiritual stuff at all but I adore animals and thought this would be interesting nonetheless.
The site linked before, the animal totem dictionary, was a bit too spiritual for me in description.
Oh well, not expecting an interpretation here just felt like posting.

Air: Steller's Sea Eagle
Image


Land: Bengal Tiger
Image


Sea: Orca or Killer Whale
Image
 
  • Like
Reactions: Animal
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#42 ·
RainbowSprinkles said:
Land: Bengal Tiger
Image
Click to expand...
That's a beautiful tiger. =) I had a hard time choosing between so many beautiful tiger photos, so I just went with the one that was laying on his back acting adorable because of my peaceful mood that day.

How do you feel about this guy?

Image
 
Personality Cafe
posts
11M
members
172K
Since
2008
A forum community dedicated to all ranges of personality types and people. Come join the discussion about health, behavior, care, testing, personality types, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
INFP Forum - The Idealists INFJ Forum - The Protectors INTP Forum - The Thinkers INTJ Forum - The Scientists Myers Briggs Forum