Working with an Animal Spirit Guide in Shamanism
Deepen the Bond with a Shamanic Totem Power Animal
Aug 7, 2009
To develop a powerful relationship with an animal spirit guide, learn as much as possible about the creature, and take time to communicate with it. The deeper the bond with a power animal, the easier it will be to encounter it on a shamanic journey, and to fully benefit from its wisdom and other qualities. This will doubtless be an exciting journey of discovery!
Power Animal Spirit Guide Companion Visualization
A good way to focus attention on the essence of a totem animal is to perform a visualization centered on it. Choose a current life goal, ensuring it is positive and will not harm others, and ask for the help of a power animal in achieving it:
- Sit or lie in a peaceful place, free of distractions, with closed eyes.
- Concentrate on the in-breath, and then on the out-breath, in turn, until fully relaxed and calm.
- Announce, out loud, the intended life goal, and ask for totem animal’s support in achieving it.
- Rest in a peaceful, receptive state of mind. Continue to concentrate on breathing if relaxed concentration proves difficult.
- Calmly wait for inner images to appear spontaneously, repeating the request for help with the life goal if no images are forthcoming.
- Continue to focus on the life goal as mental images appear, and bond emotionally with the power animal.
- Enjoy the sequence of images and experiences with the power animal.
- When the journey feels complete, and this can happen fairly quickly as visualization demands considerable energy, thank the power animal, and say goodbye to it.
- Return to everyday consciousness when ready.
Spend Time with a Totem Animal in Dreams
Another way to invoke an animal spirit guide is to request its help, or simply its companionship, just before sleeping. Repeatedly doing this night after night encourages the totem animal to appear in dreams. Put a notebook or sound recorder by the bed to record the dreams immediately on waking, and review these notes later the same day.
Give Time and Attention to an Animal Spirit Guide
Displaying pictures of, reading books about and spending time with the real animal (if practical) are all excellent ways of deepening the bond with a totem animal. Learn about myths and legends which feature the animal as these can be excellent sources of ancient wisdom, and invoke a real link with the spirit of the power animal. Supporting charities that care for the totem animal species, either financially or with voluntary work, is a powerful gesture of solidarity.
Related Articles
Use a straightforward meditation technique to Find an Animal Spirit Guide. Four noble animal spirit guides are the Wolf Power Animal along with the the Totem Owl Spirit Guide, the mighty Bear Spirit Guide along with the perceptive and intuitive Hawk Totem.
Sources:
- Animal Spirit Guides by Steven D. Farmer.
- How to Meet & Work with Spirit Guides by Ted Andrews.
- Spirit Allies by Christopher Penczak.
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