Almost every Native American Nation has as a part of their religious culture and medicine the belief that animal guides like the bear, coyote, butterfly, eagle, hawk, dog, snake, horse, spider, and wolf are elements of healing and self-knowledge.

Mostly it is believed that the wisdom is achieved in this world by first learning to "know thyself."  One of the most accepted ways in the Native American cultures to accomplish this is through the animal spirit guides.  Different animals represent parts of a person and can teach the person how to integrate, heal and develop both their weaknesses and their strengths.

Additionally, it is believed that the ancestors watch over and guide.  The ancestors can also operate as spirit guides, bringing wisdom, support and spiritual protection.  Everyone is born with a connection to one or more of the animal guides.  Thus for a Native American, there is much to learn about oneself through the spiritual guides of the ancestors and the animals.

Sometimes an animal guide may be a known animal to the person - a deceased animal - coming back to give guidance or they may be symbols that represent the qualities of the animal.  These characteristics or qualities are what the person needs to learn at the time the guide comes.

Following are the characteristics of a few of the animal guides to help illustrate the above.

Bear - Bear is the part of the self that needs to retreat into its own space, hibernate and heal itself. Bear totem is comforting and protective. Remember those stories about "Mama Bear" fiercely defending her cubs? Bear is a common animal spirit for mothers.

Butterfly - A bewildered caterpillar emerges from the cocoon transformed into a butterfly. Butterfly stands for our ability to accept the beauty of growth and change in our lives.

Hawk - Hawk is the messenger and represents perspective. People who have Hawk as a medicine animal are able to see an issue from all sides and avoid jumping to conclusions.

Horse - Horse represents power: personal power and permission to be oneself. When use of the Spanish horses began by the Native Americans, Horse came to represent power because the advantage the animals gave in hunting and foraging. In a generation where women are still working toward equality, horse is a popular totem.

Wolf - Wolf is the animal guide of true teachers. Wolves are connected to the moon and feminine energy. They are predatory and define themselves in relation to other people of their "pack" (even a "lone wolf" is defined by her or his distance from the pack). Like Dog totem, Wolf is loyal to family and people they consider their own. Wolf guides are very common today - increasingly so as wolves in the wild become more threatened.

A person normally finds their animal guide by what animal they are naturally drawn to and care about.   Interestingly, if an animal bites you either in a dream or while awake, this is said to be one of the most important animal guide teachers.  Sometimes a person will meet an animal guide through medication, astral travel, or guided visualizations.  If there is an animal that you resemble, this can also be an animal guide for you.

© TheosEra.com Spiritual Community 2008