Hi there (this is a long post - you have been warned )

As I said in the Jaguar post this is what I did the other night to try and help me come up with a way of working with Animal Totems cos I was having difficulties to say the least (as you will know if you've been following that thread!). I'd love to say I'm the kind of person who just meditates on a subject then has the answers but I'm not there yet - I need a step-by-step strategy!

I'd love to hear what you think and what your own methods are. I'm going to gradually work through the animals that have come to me over the last year - doing the same exercise - I can post these too if anyone thinks it is useful? If not - no hassle either. Or if someone else wants to kick an animal off - that's great too.

My thought process was first to think about when I have met Fox and in what circumstances. Then, keeping those examples in mind try to figure out what makes Fox personal to me ie what qualities does he have that "speak" to me? Then finally, what qualities do I share with him, what have I learned over the years I've been observing him and what have I still to learn, but now recognise I can work on? I would imagine that I will add to this over time. As you can see I still have questions.

This is what I came up with: Fox

Occasions/circumstances when observed:
1. In aunties garden - as child - just standing - visiting after Dad died.
2. Running along side rail track when student - finding workload difficult - travelling to and from home continuously.
3. Studied The Fox - D. H. Lawrence - felt very confident in my studies at that time.
4. Fox with cubs playing in first house with hubby - pregnant/young baby.
5. Fox in headlights - when nervous about driving in dark - new home.
6. Fox appears on way home from psychic development classes as response to my request to my Guide to see a sign that I'd really made contact - again, watching me from roadside - shows no fear, just eventually turns and walks away.
7. Met fox at dawn silently walking out from a garden - slipped out of shadows and was gone in an instant.
8. Saw fox following a lady walking her large dog - they were not aware - very stealthy.
9. Saw fox frequently lying on shed roof in adjoining garden observing our garden - stag beetles just appearing/flying around; rabbits in evidence.
10. Fox killed and made off with pet rabbit - a Big lesson in many ways.
11. Given name by Spirit for business incorporating Fox in title.
12. Viewed 2 houses in Canada where foxes were reported by owners (info given spontaneously) - these 2 ended up on shortlist - bought one of them.
13. Fantastic Mr Fox - watching my son discover this book has been a joy - he thinks of Mr Fox as a hero.

Basically I grew up loving this animal!

Qualities of Fox
1. Adaptable/survivor: in habitat from farmland to city; most countries of the world; change environment as necessary; survival instinct high; adapt breeding habits to suit space availability
2. Beautiful: eyes, coat; changes coat according to season - sleek but often mangey in summer but full, lustrous coat in winter; colour intensifies in winter. Red of coat colour signifies energy, survival, basic needs are important; looks like domestic dog but wild animal - appearance deceives without negativity; ability to adapt appearance as necessary.
3. Brave/risk-taker: 2 sides of the coin; took rabbit from garden in daylight with people around - could have ended differently if I'd seen him coming!
4. Patient/Observant/watchful: waiting for opportunities; watched rabbits and people in garden from shed roof consistently; intelligent - learned response
5. Sociable/Family centred: whole family play together in evening; love of life; cubs learn from parents. Home very important; home is underground; thrives in darkness; safety is cocoon; rises out of the ground. Returns to same den year after year when possible. Love of home and safety. Connection to Base chakra?
6. Traveller/resilient: occurs in most countries of the world; travel long distances (running beside the train); speedy.
7. Hunter: deadly; precise; scavenges when necessary; kills as necessity not fun ie like cat; stealthy; night visitor.
8. Vocal: freeky/scary sound; piercing scream; sound transmits energy - bigger than animal; not to be messed with.

Having reviewed the 2 sections above:

What characteristics I share with Fox:
Love of home.
Feel the importance of Basic needs.
Risk-taker at times.
Adaptable at times.
Mainly quiet but have my moments!

What I've learnt from Fox ie qualities that I have not always been conscious of but have been learned over time:
Family centred.
Travel for opportunities.
Night-lover.
Resilience.
To happily accept multiple roles in life.

Still to learn but recognise would be useful:
Patience
To trust my instinct in all things
How to adapt persona/appearance without deception ie for useful purposes (not too sure what I mean here). Shapeshifting? Why is this useful?
Bravery/self-confidence.

That's it! Just by going through this process I think I've learned that response to each animal is going to be very personal/different to each person. So just like each Tarot card - it has to be an intuitive response firstly.

Take care

Hi September!

What was that you were saying about finding animal medicine a little on the tricky side?

I recall you said you were going to put your NA books away, well if you have, you need to bring them out again, you're going like a train!

This is a very good way to get in touch with animals and their medicine, to break things down like you have and look at the bare facts. It's like learning to spell as a child, split the word up, learn to say all the separate parts correctly and then slowly put all the pieces back together and before you know it you can rattle off CONTANTINOPLE to your hearts content.

This is something we can all learn from. To look at our power / totum animal and then break it down like you have.

So have you journeyed to find what your power animal is? Sounds like you have a definite connection with Fantastic Mr Fox! He may not be your power animal because they are seldom what they think they're going to be, but you could have a connection there anyway. Your power animal could be a Wolf for example, but because you didn't live in wolf country Mr Fox stepped in as a substitute?

Do you remember your dreams September? If you do, you could ask your power animal to appear to you in a dream. That's how I found mine. I just laid in bed and asked "Please could I meet my power animal in my dreams tonight - and by the way, can you make it a very obvious and unmistakeable dream because I don't want to get confused. Thank you."

And what did I dream of that night? You would be right to assume a Lion because that's what I expected. But no - an Elephant is what I got.

Now I've not really thought much about it or thought to break things down like yoou have with Mr Fox which is very neglectful of me (slapping own wrists) but you've started me off now, so will have to look things up.

Love & Light
Lioness

Hi Lioness

Thanks for the reply here I've been caught up doing a Reiki I course over the last week (my first!) so haven't been here much so just catching up now.

If you decide to break down your Elephant in a similar way - I'd love to see it. To have an Elephant as your totem must be fantastic - I've no idea what it represents. But its far more unique than the usual crew... Do you have any African roots or past lives do you know?

I've tried to ask for my totem to appear in dreams and so far have not got anywhere - but I do occasionally spontaneously dream about animals - the last being a Racoon. I'm pretty sure my fox is a fox and doesn't represent a Wolf - don't know why. My mother has also always been very attracted to foxes and I remember seeing her really thrilled about seeing one when I was younger. But having said that, now I'm in Wolf country - maybe this will change.

The whole family had a marvellous animal experience the other day. We were coming home from caravan shopping, driving on a back road when a bald eagle appeared ahead of us in the sky, flying straight towards us. We'd just been watching the geese flying home in formation across the sky and so thought it was a stray goose! Then as it got closer it swooped down on the truck and we got a fantastic view. Our first eagle

The funny thing was that we'd all been sniping at each other cos we'd been out all day and then our son suddenly said that he'd decided that he did want to learn Reiki but not quite yet - didn't feel quite ready. Just at that point the eagle appeared. He is reknowned as a great healer! So I reckon he was there primarily for our son - but also to bring us all together again. Peace was restored and we enjoyed the rest of the journey home.

September,

What a sight that must have been for you all


and what a sign too

Dear September,

You are getting some really lovely experiences! I hope you are writing all these down or printing some of these posts as a record. It will be lovely for you yo look back on these again in years to come and re-live the memory so to speak.

When GB attuned me to R1 in May of last year one of the first things I did was to buy a journal. I wanted to keep a Reiki Diary. But it's more than that now, becasue whenever something really WOW happens, it goes in the diary whether it is a reiki experience or not.

I agree with GB about the Eagle. A big YES sign after your sons announcement about reiki and the messenger of healing for you all as a family.

I had to smile when you asked me if I have any African connections. I don't call myself Lioness just because Leo is my star sign you know. It's because a Lioness is what I was in my past life before this one.

Many years ago when I was still "lost" and knew I was here for a special purpose other than to get married, have kids, go to work, earn money, come home, retire then pass away, I took an opportunity to regress into my past life hoping that by doing so I would find the answers I was looking for.

I also think I have a Native American connection somewhere back along though, as I've said before this is the belief system that pulls me the strongest and it was through this course that I discovered Jesse (my Elephant).

An Elephant isn't in my Native American medicine animal book, so I will have to look around elsewhere for more information.

But I know that Elephants are very family orientated, protect their young, grieve their dead, but then move on with their lives. But this is only what I've seen on nature programmes on TV. I will have to read up and find out more.

I will look up Racoon for you. It may not be your power animal, but it would be interesting to see why he should turn up in a dream and what possible meaning he has for you.

Love & Light
Lioness

Raccoon - Generous Protector

Raccoon......protector of the underdog
Provider for those who have none
Do you wear the bandits mask
To hide the good deeds that you've done?

Teach me to turn away from
Rich rewards or worldt acclaim
Knowing that my generosity allows
My warrior spirit to be reclaimed

Raccoon carries the medicine of the protector of the underdog and provider for the young, infirm and elderly. Often called "little bandit" by southern tribes, this Robin Hood of the animal kingdom teaches us about generosity and caring for others. When Raccoon comes your way, you are being asked to contact your inner warrior, to become a protector and generour provider for those in need. Raccoon medicine people have the uncanny ability to assist others without allowing them to become vistims or dependents. Like the tribal chiefs of old, Raccoon tends to the needs of the tribe before taking anything for itself.

Taken from Medicine Cards - The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Jamie Sams & David Carson ISBN: 0-312-20491-4

So there you have it September. I'd say that considering you've been away on a Reiki course, your son has declared he too would like to be reiki when he is ready, your family was honoured by a visitation of Eagle and you have had a dream from Raccoon, that you are getting confirmation after confirmation that you are on the right track. I'd say this is a big "Well Done! Keep it up!" message for you.

Love & Light
Lioness

Hi Lioness and GB - thanks for the replies.

Our Eagle - yes, really a WOW. And a sign that you can't really argue with - even my husband reluctantly agreed it must have some significance for us.

Lioness - didn't connect the Lioness with your Elephant (duh!)

I'm going to have a think on Elephant and get back to you. Also, there is an author who I think has got a book on more unusual totems but I can't recall at the mo - I'll have a think on that too.

I love the book you're using though - I actually have those cards (but stupidly gave away the book when we left England - along with loads of others which I miss terribly). I'd totally forgotton about them until you mentioned them and realised they are sitting on my shelf!

Racoon is interesting - a couple of things jumped out at me from your words. Also, it seems quite similar to the aspect of Fox which is associated with disguise. I tend to hide behind a lack of self-confidence at times - avoiding doing things because of lack of confidence, rather than pushing ahead despite it. I'm going through a few bits like that at the mo - so maybe that is one message from both animals. (thanks GB for the Fox info you sent me a while back which has helped me with this one!)

Take care

PS Lionness I will pm you also.

Hi Lioness

Lo and behold waiting for me yesterday when I got home was my new copy of "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews (by curtesy of those kind people at Amazon).

He says quite a bit about Elephants, these are the highlights:

Elephant

Keynote: Ancient Power, Strength, and Royalty
Cycle of Power: Year-round

For NA - compare white elephant with the strength and sacredness of the buffalo.

In India - symbol of royalty and fertility; wisdom; weapon in battle; the gray elephant can bring forth monsoons.

Auspicious symbol: They embody strength and power, especially power of the libido.

Symbol for clouds; creator of clouds; associated with Neptune, prophecy, fertility and family.

"Because they are always in a state of metamorphosis, they can reflect the same for those with the elephant totem. "

"Elephants rely mostly on their sense of smell - so are you discriminating? Do you smell out a situation first? ie what smells good or doesn't etc.... Working with incense and aromatherapy oils would be good for people with Elephant totems."

"Those who have the elephant as totem will usually find themselves in a position where the opportunity to reestablish powerful family and societal ideals will occur. Mutual care of the young, respect for the elderly and the sick, being strong in your own self - these are the foundations of a great person or a great society. If the elephant has come to you, you will have the opportunity to work toward establishing this within your own life or the lives of others. If elephant has come to you, prepare to draw upon the most ancient of wisdom and power. You will have an opportunity to either help yourself or others reclaim your most primoridial royalty."

Hope that helps

Firstly, Animal Speak by Ted Andrews is my other book which is buried somewhere in my shed in a box and I've been trying to get hubby to get for me for months!



I have always sniffed out a situation first! I used to call it following my instincts but I feel it's more a case of listening to my guides these days. Now that I've learnt to listen and hear them. But I can recall many a time when someone has asked me "Shall we do this / that / the other......." and I've said "No. It just doesn't feel right."



Yup! That's me! I never sit still, stay the same or are content with staying put for years on end. Even if it's in an emotional / spiritual sense I'm always on the move, wanting to discover and try out something to further myself so I can continue to move forwards. So this rings very true.



This is very close too. I need to be needed. I always help "the underdog" so to speak. I'm seen as the strong one of my family and as my Happy Birthday Nan post shows, I reserve a lot of inner strength for myself.

Thank you so much September. This has answered many things and given me new drive to get into that shed and dig out my "Animal Speak" book!

Love & Light
Lioness