In pop culture today, the term "spirit animal" has become a buzz word (or phrase). It's tossed around like the latest seasonal fashion with a total disregard for what it actually means. It's commonly used in memes picturing animals doing something funny or being lazy like this:
While these are cute and funny, they are in fact disrepectful of what a spirit animal actually is.
Now, I'm going to put myself at risk here, because I have heard some say that unless a person is Native American use of the term is cultural appropriation. However, I have done some digging into this, and the idea of spirit animals is found across the world. Across cultures. Throughout time.
The Druids, Scandinavians, and other northern European cultures believed animals had spirits and carried messages from the spirit realm. The ancient Egyptians worshipped deities with animal heads like dogs and falcons. Hindus worship the elephant-headed goddess, Ganesha. Buddhists believe that animals have sprits and are reincarnated, as are humans. Shamans use spirit animals in their spiritual work. And, of course, there are the Native Americans--North, South, and Central--for whom the animal world is of such importance as to be medicinal.
You see, I'm not trying to take anything away from any culture here. But I think it needs to be recognized and acknowledged that the concept of "spirit animals" or "animism," which is the belief that animals have spirits, is not unique to any one culture. And I beleive that as long as you are respectful in your use of the term and are using it appropriately, you have a right to do so because spiritualism does not belong to any one culture or region. As humans, we are naturally inclined to try to connect to a higher source, no matter what we call it. If working with animal spirits through spiritual practice feels right to you, then go for it.
One thing I didn't mention above, but something that is intrguing to say the least, is the fact that even across the world, cultures that had no contact with each other generally gave the same attributes to animals. But an animal spirit comes to a person because it has a message for them. It doesn't even always have to be what is "prescribed" by books or online spirit animal guides, no matter how they may all match up.
This past Spring I began a shamanism course. The path is completed in four courses that align with the seasons and compass directions. Each season we work with a spirit animal. This animal serves as our messenger and guide for the season, and we work with him or her in shamanic journeys.
In Spring we journeyed for another person to find their spirit animal for the season. The reason for this is it removes bias, self-judgement, and expectation. I was lucky enough to be paired with my good friend, Sandy (https://sowhatirun.com/). After our journey, we told of how we came to find our partner's animal. Sandy told of all the animals she's worked with coming to her, surrounding her, until finally she yelled, "Who is here for Jamie?"
All went quiet, and then a big beautiful silverback Gorilla came charging out of the forest. "I am!" he declared. When she asked if he had a message for me, he replied, "Be fierce."
Now, Gorilla was not in my book, Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews, and information was difficult to find online, too. What I could find said that Gorilla signifies gentle leadership, dignity, communication, and community. But I needed to understand why he had come and what he meant by "be fierce," so I journeyed with him many times.
We are now in Summer, and as such, I have a new spirit animal to work with. This one was chosen by pulling cards from my instructor's spirit animal deck. Before she pulled mine, she looked at me and said, "Jamie, I don't want Spider. I see spiders all around you, so I'm just putting that out there."
Now, most people would probably freak out at this statement, but I have a deep respect and admiration for spiders. "It's funny you say that," I told her, "because Spider is one of my power animals." (On a totem, power animals are at the base and the strongest snimals for that particular person. Generally they are with the person for life. I don't do totems, but I do believe some animal sprits are with us for our lifetime, and thus I believe in power animals.)
She drummed to celar my aura, and then started shuffling the deck for a card. It didn't take long at all for a card to literally flip out of the deck. (If you don't know about oracle cards, when your doing a card pull, you ask a question (not yes or no) you shuffle the deck until a card slips out. That's your card. You can read the deck's guide book and use intuition to help you relate it to the question you are asking.) Anyway, my spirit animal card didn't just slip out when she shuffled. It came out of the top of the deck and flipped around in a circular motion.
Can you guess what card it was when she picked it up?
A bit mindblowing considering the conversation immediately preceding the card flipping out of the deck, right? Even as someone who has experienced so many little events like this, it never ceases to amaze.
We have journeyed with our spirit animals for the season, but Spider has been absolutely everywhere. Now, I know what you may be thinking. It's summer. It's hot. There are lots of bugs. Of course there are lots of spiders. I get it.
But spiders are usually in the corners of a room, between the pickets on the fence or handrail, in the grass. I have all of that, yes. But I have also had spiders drop beside me on my bed. Or crawl onto me while I'm at my desk working. I even had one show up in the shower, struggling to climb the damp, tiled walls and then sitting in a safe spot until I got out.
They are EVERYWHERE.
Spider is a symbol of creativity. She encourages you to explore your creative side. As a spinner and weaver, Spider's creative symbolism is especially powerful for writing. And so, when Spider shows up for those who write, it is advisable to take heed.
Gorilla and Spider work together for me. Gorilla demands me to sit and write. He is fierce as he tells me to be. Meanwhile, Spider is gentle with me as long as I'm paying attention. As long as I get little bits done here and there, she seems content. But together they have a braoder message. Not only are they telling me to wirte, to put my stories down in a tangible way, they are also telling me to quit hiding. Together Gorilla and Spider are telling me to write and publish. Put my words out there for others to read. Because everyone has a story, and we never know how our story may impact those who read it.
Many blessings to you, readers. I am forever grateful to you.
