Cat (general) -- The Great Teacher of Magic and Mystery; the cat lives totally in the moment with a deep psychic and spiritual awareness. Independent and unpredictable, agile of body and mind, a free thinker that meets challenges by perceiving the unseen. (One cannot own a cat; the cat will give and receive love only on its own terms) At home in the dark of the night it is a valuable ally when encountering the supernatural and facing your primal fears. As the cat’s energy field flows opposite that of humans it has the healing ability to neutralize your negative energies. (The healing energy cannot be taken from the cat, it is only given as a gift.) The cat teaches that the physical and spiritual worlds are not separate, but one. In ancient Egypt cats stood guard at the temple gates and throughout history cats have been seen as the protectors of the pathways to the sacred mysteries. (The Egyptian goddess 'Bastet' takes the form of a cat. The Norse goddess 'Freyja' rides a chariot pulled by two cats) Note the colors and characteristics of your cat for that shall be mirrored in your life and will help you to understand the mysteries that your cat will reveal. (The cat's karmic sacrifice is being the victim of “kick the cat".) Cat Spirit often brings the warning of being the recipient of misdirected anger.
Horse -- Symbol of freedom and of the wind. No other animal has given Man the freedom of mobility like the horse. The horse gives the promise of speed and adventure. The horse is the symbol of true power and this power should not be used in a negative manner. Powerful and rebellious, hot blooded and hot headed, horse spirit has power within that is sometimes hard to control. Needing love and intimacy yet also feeling trapped by it. Leaving home early yet having a hard time belonging elsewhere. Very self-interested yet its work benefits others. The horse shows many contradictions in character.
Rabbit -- Receiving hidden teachings and intuitive messages. Active around dawn and dusk, (the time of the fairies and fauns), they are guides into the mystical shadow world. (Rabbit is interpreted in different ways in different cultures. In China, it is one of the astrological animals and linked to good fortune and the moon. To the Mayans, Rabbit was the scribe who kept the lunar calendar. In Native American tradition, Rabbit is known as the "Fear Caller", due to it projecting its fear of those wishing to eat it, and thereby attracting the predators it fears.) Rabbit is known for its ability to procreate and fearful thoughts will procreate (manifest) into what you fear. Movement by leaps, living by one’s own wits, not getting boxed into a corner. Take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves only for a brief moment. Examine the foods you eat and perhaps eat more of a vegetarian diet. (The Rabbit is a spirit animal that is extremely open to one on one communication and when approached as an equal it will show great wisdom and guidance.)
Dolphin -- [Do not confuse with the 'Porpoise'] -- Inner sounds that can create outer manifestations. Living in tune with the patterns and rhythm of nature. Using the power of breathing as an emotional release of anger and pain. Swimming freely and going along with your feelings, [Contrary to its popular "Flipper" image, the dolphin can be aggressive and violent. Out of 48 harbor porpoises stranded on the Welsh coast in 2004, 28 animals were found to have died from attacks by bottlenose dolphins.]
Snake (general) -- Universal symbol of the exploration of the mysteries of life. Because the snake represents the unveiling of the sacred mysteries many repressive belief systems have linked snake to evil ideas. (The legend of St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland is one example of these repressive systems using the snake as symbol of evil that had to be eradicated.) The snake is a totem which appears as protection from religious persecution. Throughout history the snake has been the subject of legends linking it to creation, fertility, transformation and sexuality. The snake is fire medicine, the medicine of transmutation and it is the symbol of transformation and healing. (The image of the snake is found on the "Caduceus", the symbol of medicine.) The snake must shed its old skin in order to survive, symbolizing death and rebirth. (The image of a snake swallowing its own tail is a symbol of eternity) The shedding of the skin is also associated with astral travel and out of body experiences, thus in shedding your skin, the snake symbolically guides you along the path of transformation. Which is the true meaning of the meeting of the snake with Eve in the Garden of Eden*. Once she had eaten the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, Eve then transmuted the energy of wisdom in a symbolic shedding of her old skin, thus her newly discovered "nakedness". {*Some "Eden" scholars suggest that the snake depicted in the story was actually 'Lilith' , the first wife of Adam, who had rejected the domination of Adam and left Eden, but returned to awaken Eve to the power within her.} The snake is cosmic consciousness, the ability to experience all things without resistance, and the knowledge that all things are equal in creation. It signals a great transition in life through new opportunities and changes. Native American Totem Animal for "Scorpio"
Caterpillar -- Must evolve before assuming adulthood, shedding the old life to accept a new one, the spinner of the metamorphic thread. The Spirit Keeper of the Sacred Smoke and guardian of the tobacco plant.
*and
Butterfly -- The
coming of adulthood, transformation, the rebirth of the soul, too often a need
to be noticed and stand out in a crowd. Symbol of Psyche, the
Greek Goddess of the Soul. Life is short, enjoy the journey. Fleeting moments.
Transformation. Internal and external change- The caterpillar develops into the butterfly through a process called metamorphosis. It comes from the Greek words, "meta", meaning beyond, and "morph", meaning form; to signify transformation or change in shape. Metamorphosis is a key element in Greek mythology. This ability to change shape or form is a major development in the stories of Arachne, Zeus, and Daphne. Almost all of the gods had the power of metamorphosis. Christians use the term “born again” to define the process. The spiritual symbolism of metamorphosis is quite obvious and easy to grasp. What is more difficult to grasp, in terms of the animal spirit meaning, is the emphasis on which stage you examine. The wonder of the end result as seen in the butterfly is the one most focused upon, but the true essence of the transformation lies within the cocoon of the transforming caterpillar. It is far too easy to be enchanted by the beauty of the butterfly and to ignore the lowly caterpillar. The true call to spiritual metamorphosis comes from the appearance of the caterpillar as spirit animal and the appearance of the butterfly as spirit animal is often a warning not to become seduced by the apparent beauty of the changes into forgetting the reason for undergoing the transformation. The attainment of the metamorphosis is not for the appearances of the physical world, but for the transubstantiation of the spiritual. If, after you have undergone a seeming transformation, the butterfly should appear as an animal messenger, it may be that you missed the true meaning and purpose of the experience.
Pegasus (The Winged Horse) -- Pegasus comes to us from Greek mythology. He
was born of the blood of Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus.
Pegasus was concerned with sacred places and guarding them. He is the inspirer
of rising above difficulties and teaches the importance of having quick and
agile wisdom, as well as humility and knowing one's boundaries. In modern
times, Pegasus is seen as the symbol for the immortality of the soul, and as
the carrier and protector that guards the spirit in its journeys into the
astral plane. Pegasus is the power of the creative spirit in all of us. Pegasus
is the horse of the Muses and in the service of poets. He is the symbol of
inspiration, and of the beauty we bring to our life and the lives of others.
Pegasus, calls you to create, in music, in poetry, in writing, in art and to
share your expressions of beauty.
Unicorn -- The ability to negate the effects of venom and poisons,
the magick to make dreams become reality, connection to the spirits
of the forest with its fauns and fairies. The magick of the unicorn can
effect the weather. ( see: Whale/Narhwhal ) The legend of Zeus and the "horn of plenty" may be the origin of the myth of the Unicorn.
Fox -- The Fox is seen as a sacred animal throughout the world. The fox is the cunning and stealthy messenger of the gods and the magical guide to the world between time and space often shape shifting on the journey,(sometimes into human form). The fox lives in the "In-between Time" on the edge of dusk and dawn and can guide the way into the Spiritual Realm. There are many species of fox, but they all share the cleverness and cunning from which comes the expression, "sly as a fox." For the fox learning to be invisible is an important skill in life. The fox shows how to develop the arts of camouflage, invisibility, and shape shifting. The fox teaches how to be unpredictable by mastering the ability of blending unseen into the surroundings. A creature of the night it is imbued with supernatural powers and is a totem of healing of body, mind and spirit.
Owl -- The owl is ruler of the night and seer of souls. The owl is honored as the keeper of spirits who had passed from one plane to another. Often myth indicates the owl accompanying a spirit to the underworld; winging it's newly freed soul from the physical world into the realm of spirit. Bringer of wisdom, revealer of secrets and omens, intuition and clairvoyance. Brings clarity and illumination to dreams, (Moon magick). The “night eagle”, seeing and hearing that which others cannot. Be aware of omens and portents for the owl brings the power to extract secrets from out of the darkness. Native American Totem Animal for "Sagittarius". ('Lilith', who was the first wife of Adam in the Garden of Eden and in Christian lore was said to be the first witch, is often depicted as appearing in the form of a screech owl or with screech owls as familiars. The owl is also the familiar of goddess 'Athena')
