Nature ~ it plays a magical role for us. It helps us relax. It helps us enjoy fresh air. It helps us connect to the world. It helps us connect with Spirit <insert word you’d like to use, God, The Universe etc>. Nature also gives us signs from the Universe. It will put into our path that which we need to make better choices for ourselves. It will show us ways to look at our path and gently guide us in the direction that is best for us. Often times, these signs show up in the form of animals.
Wisdom & Signs from the animals offer much to us. The descriptions we give animals ~ angry as a bear, moving at a snail’s pace, bird’s eye view ~ offer descriptions of the animals personalities. We assign meaning to the animal based on it’s traits.
We also assign meanings to animals based on our own personal experiences. Take dogs. If you’ve been attacked by one or had a bad experience, you will relate to the expression “Call the dog’s off”. But, if you love dogs and find comfort in the wagging of their tails (yes, I’m a dog lover) you will relate more to “Man’s Best Friend.”
1) Understand their meaning as they relate to nature. Is the animal a predator? Does the animal have keen insight? What traits does an animal have that make them thrive? (A skunk has a powerful smell that makes them safe from much harm!)
2) Understand their meaning as they relate to YOU. How do you feel when you see one of these animals? What do you think of when one comes across your path?
Then, and only then, can you understand what they mean when you come across them in nature.
The Book, Animal Speak, (and others) by Ted Andrews has a comprehensive dictionary of animals, birds and reptile symbolism. It is a great resource if you are looking to better understand animals and their meanings. But, do not adopt them to your specific situation, without first understanding how you feel about the animal and what your experiences are around that animal.
Using both your understanding of animal symbolism and your own personal feelings toward the animals will help you see the meaning of them when they come across your path. You can also discover signs from other symbols in nature like Rainbows!! if you are interested in FURTHER understanding the signs in your life and what they mean, Listen to my Presentation The Beauty & Awe of Double Rainbows Presentation. You can REGISTER for it HERE!!!!
Do you have an experience with seeing an animal, bird, fish in your life that has been a sign to you? What have you done with this information?
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Thank you for this. I think I will pick up that book. I have had a lot of contact with coyotes. They just show up. I used to joke that other people had animal guides like hawks, cougars, and doves and I got a scavenger. But, I did value my connection with these animals.
A year ago I was on a spiritual retreat in the desert and a crow/raven (don’t know the difference) flew into my hotel room. He would come each day and watch me get ready. No fear. Just watching me. I thought – darn, another scavenger,
but someone told me there was a deeper meaning.
Your post reminded me that I want to explore that and now I have a book resource to help.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 11:41 am
That is so cool that you connect so easily to animals. I love when they show up on spiritual retreats
The Book also includes some insight on how to connect with your animal totem ~ I think that may be especially helpful for you! KEEP SMILING 🙂
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Comment by Linda Luke — October 18, 2012 @ 10:49 am
During a life-design workshop I attended, we were asked to determine what our symbol is; if we didn’t have one the suggestion was made to call the image forth while we slept. Well, I didn’t have one and took up the suggestion. When I woke the next morning, I had my symbol… a snake. The first thing I did after getting to the room where the workshop was being held in, was to sit down and draw my snake. I’ve done a little research on the meaning, but all I can relate to is how it sheds it skin every few years, because that’s what I seem to do… go through a re-growth every few years. Interesting how this workshop has come up for me today in two different ways.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Oh….I bet a snake IS your animal totem! And, it’s so wonderful that you have that wisdom around it AND a drawing! Do you ever ‘invoke’ or call upon this snake (have you named him/her?? ;0) into your life when you need support? It helps me to call on my mouse (yup, mouse!) KEEP SMILING
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Comment by Peggy Lee Hanson — October 18, 2012 @ 10:57 am
I have a recurring snake dream. I am terrified of snakes. It usually signals a change in my life or something that I have to do to move forward.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Carol ~ there’s another post on here by Peggy about snakes, too! And, like you, it signals change. Often we fear change in our lives…interesting correlation! I have a mouse ‘totem’ and I am petrified PETRIFIED of mice but understanding their deeper wisdom~ they often represent paying attention to details ~ it helps me to understand where I am…(mouse medicine is about how to attain big things by working on little one’s) ~ has helped me overcome my fear! Instead of jumping on the table screaming, I typically get UP on the table and quietly ask them for their wisdom and then invite them to leave – QUICKLY! 🙂 KEEP SMILING
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Comment by Carol — October 18, 2012 @ 11:03 am
Great article. I especially like tha tyou tell people to see how the info fits for them. NO book can have your answers–just lead you in a new direction of thought.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Ali ~~ You are SO right….too many people (and books) try to TELL you what ‘things’ mean instead of giving you some knowledge and allowing you to find your own inner wisdom about something! Glad you enjoyed it. KEEP SMILING
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Comment by Ali Bierman — October 18, 2012 @ 12:00 pm
Great post! I love Animal Speak and refer to it often. Also love his tarot card deck, and Nature Speak. I agree, nature has so much to teach us when we can stop, listen and observe and breathe in her wisdom.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Thanks, Alexandria! I haven’t seen his card deck ~ will go in search of that. Thanks for the resource!!! KEEP SMILING 🙂
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Comment by Alexandria Barker — October 18, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
I love animals and their significance and that book rocks! yay! I get squirrels all of the time heehee!
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Squirrels ~ especially in the fall ~ represent the harvesting energy. What do they represent to you?
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Lisa Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 10:03 am
They are my kids 🙂 Heehee! They visit me daily just to remind me to have fun and that the future will be okay.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
🙂 That is so fun! My Dad right now is having a blast talking to the one’s coming to grab the peanuts he throws.
Comment by Lisa — October 19, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
I had that book for years. It’s very good. I have several animals that are significant to me: Bears, dragonflies, snakes and dolphins. When I was a child I spent time with the Seminole tribe in south Florida and was inducted into the bear clan. Bear relates to spirituality, healing and the dream worlds. Dolphins have to do with love and opening your heart, the snake is a symbol for transformation and wisdom and the dragonfly is about connecting with magic and in this and other dimensions.
I love that you wrote this article.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Thanks, Julie! It’s so interesting to hear of everyone’s thoughts. I have a soul-brother who is Brother Bear and he is so healing!!!! But, to me bears are dangerous ~ I was camping once when one was going through the camp area and it scared me! So interesting what it all means!! I love the book too! KEEP SMILING
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Comment by Julia Neiman (@julianeiman) — October 19, 2012 @ 8:00 pm
I love Animal Speak & Animal Wise and Power Animals and all of them. Medicine Cards, too!! I have been helped a lot by paying attention to what crosses my path one way or another.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 9:13 am
You are one of the special one’s, Jeanine!!!!!!!! Animals truly do heal in so many ways ~ Keep Smiling!
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Jeanine Byers @ Start with Ten Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
That was SO kind of you to say! Thank you so much!!!
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 21st, 2012 at 9:48 am
You are always welcome!
Comment by Jeanine Byers @ Start with Ten — October 19, 2012 @ 9:18 pm
Very interesting article. This past week, two different times, I cam upon a flock of wild turkeys. Now I happen to watch for animals in the wild. I love all animals and my wife will tell you, I can’t kill anything> I have always felt, for some reason, that when I see an animal that is free, it is a sign from a higher force,to me that it is going to be a great day. Oh, and I do have a dog, but don’t tell him that because he thinks he is a human. The more we can be at peace with nature, the better this journey will be.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 20th, 2012 at 9:16 am
🙂 I have four dogs ~ who aren’t dogs but are human spirits!!! I hope you see lots of animals today!!! KEEP SMILING
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Comment by Chef William — October 19, 2012 @ 10:27 pm
Laura, I nominated you for the Liebster Award. To accept you need to go to follow this link http://julianeiman.com/the-liebster-award/ read the rules, copy the questions I have for my nominees and snag the award graphic you like.
By the way, my name is JuliA with an A. Thank you.
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Laura Clark Reply:
October 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am
Julia Thanks So Much!!!!!!!! 🙂 I’m going there now! KEEP SMILING 🙂
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Comment by Julia Neiman (@julianeiman) — October 20, 2012 @ 3:37 pm