Power Animals

BY CHIM LI YEN

“All things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man … the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”

- Chief Seattle

Shamanic practice honours and acknowledges the wisdom that exists in all things. Power animals are an important aspect of shamanic practice. They are spirit guides which add to the power of the shaman and are essential for success in any venture undertaken by the shaman. A shaman is a person who acts as an intermediary between the visible world and the invisible spirit world. He/she also practices magic or sorcery for purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events.

Shamans believe that everyone has power animals which act as a guardian angel – assisting them in life and protecting them from illness.  Each power animal that you have increases your power so negative energy cannot enter your body. The spirit also imparts the wisdom of its kind. An eagle spirit will give you eagle wisdom and shares with you some of the attributes of the eagle.

Everyone is thought to have a few power animals over the course of life. They may come to us in meditations, dreams or visions. The relationship with a power animal is a personal one as the personality and characteristic of the particular power animal is reflective of your own. The shaman’s power animal travels along when he goes on a shamanic journey (a state of altered consciousness to the spirit world to receive healings, teachings or guidance).

Any living creature can serve as a power animal. Domesticated animals however are generally not considered power animals because they already in service to human beings and are removed from the natural world. 

A particular power animal can come to help you with a specific issue. Just be open to the gifts it is sharing with you. It is important to honour your power animal by being grateful for its appearance so it knows that its assistance is appreciated. The spirit of the animal is giving up its mobility in order to spend its time with you and assist you with your life.

You can ask for a dream to discover what your power animal is and see if anything comes up. It can also reveal itself to you by showing up in your life in an unusual way or repeatedly (at least three times in a short period). For instance, you are flipping through the television channels and chance upon a documentary about deer. Later, you hear someone talking about going to the Deer Park during the weekend and you see a friend wearing a t-shirt with a deer on it. These are ways the power animal gets your attention in its attempt to communicate with you.

Connecting with a power animal establishes a psychic link which helps you receive practical, healing and helpful messages. You can receive additional information by observing the animal’s natural characteristics and their environment. What is the significance of this animal? Is there something in particular that stands out? If you are drawn to it, you may be sure that it has a message for you. Observe your feelings and be alert to changes in moods. Pay attention to understand the messages and their significance.

We’ll now review some power animals and their messages for us.

Bear
The bear represents introspection. Bear encourages us to go within to find answers to your questions rather than consulting the advice of others. Go within your Winter Cave (subconscious mind) for renewal and the resources necessary for healing. Be gentle and show your love to those who are close to you. The Bear also symbolises intuition, transformation, inner-knowing, shamanic journeying, dreams and visions.

If a coyote shows up in your life, the message is to lighten up and use humour to help you at challenging times. Balance between wisdom and absurdity. The coyote is a teacher and keeper of magic. Be resourceful, adapt to situations by being flexible. Forgive yourself for any mistakes and look for the gifts that emerge from the experience.

Deer
The message of Deer is gentleness. It is time for compassion and forgiveness. You need to trust your gut instinct. Pay attention and look before you leap. You are poised for an exciting adventure which will bring you many experiences leading to interesting insights. Nurture yourself by spending time outdoors, meditating, getting a massage or trying out an alternative therapy session.

The power of breath is the message of the dolphin. Dolphin reminds us of the sacredness of sound and breath. Try Dolphin breathing by taking three slow, deep breaths, each time exhaling with an audible ‘Puh!’ sound. Then, observe how you feel. Dolpin connects you to others and to the natural world. It increases your psychic abilities. You are a peace maker because you are sensitive and aware of people’s feelings.

To the Native Americans, eagle represents the Great Spirit. Eagle’s ability to soar to great heights makes it a symbol of freedom. Eagle’s message is balance and to acknowledge the connection with all of life. When Eagle enters your path, it is a sign that there will be a new beginning in a positive direction. You will experience a greater connection with the Divine. Transcend the mundane aspects of life so that you get a broader perspective and greater vision.

(to be continued next week…)