For what it's worth, I'm interested in what sort of answers people have, if only to learn more about this totemic side of the fandom.

Being a skeptic, myself, I haven't really come across anything on the subject that's made much sense to me - it all seems rather strange and superstitious. But I still find it interesting.~

Well the first time I noticed having one (other than the two I have with me always) was I had a white peacock enter my dream.
"To see a peacock in your dream represents spring birth, new growth, longevity, and love. It is a good omen, signaling prestige, success and contentment in your relationship or career. Alternatively, the peacock signifies pride, confidence and vanity. You may be showing off too much or are overly arrogant with your success and achievements. A peacock may also suggest that many eyes are watching you."
That is what the dream dictionary says a peacock means. I did notice I was thinking high of myself. I was taking pride in my work and my life choices. I tried to settle things down a bit, and sure enough, the peacock left my life after that.

When I was young a medicine woman took myself and a whole group of young kids on a journey to find our spirit guides. She had us close our eyes and explained out surroundings until we were able to enter an alternate realm. In the end I acquired both a blue bird and a wolf. Many of the kids that day had wolves come to them. My sister however had a fox and later a deer come to her. It's been awhile since that happened but I have always thought about it and know when I need help they'll be there. My family has been really big into the native culture for years now, ever since my dad discovered the Native American flue, that he now makes and sells.

flute*

Mine is the Red Panda. It was... actually a kind of shocking realization. I didn't even know they existed until about two years ago. Before that time... I had always loved cats but never felt... like there was a real connection. The first time I saw a red panda it all just clicked. BLAM I read about them more and the whole thing became incredibly surreal because of all the similarities this animal and myself have. We both have dietary problems, we both have reproductive problems, we're both gentle creatures that love to play, and I've always had an inexplicable draw to eastern culture since I was very young. (and no it didn't start with anime)

I need to explore the connection more but... I'm really happy for it.

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5065404/

Honestly I don't think I ever have. Least not that I can remember or anything once or recurring. Dreams when I have them are usually very random. Some can be lucid to some degree, those I usually remember only parts but again still random. Much I don't remember or act on them. Even daydreaming and just staring off into nothing really comes to me.

I've thought about if I would have one. Not ruling it out or much of anything else. I been told I am rather grounded as far as metaphysical or spiritual things I guess I just haven't been sensitive to any of it. I try to be open minded to others ideas and beliefs though.

for me i sppose it'd have to be a rat.
i got a pet rat my first year od highschool after interacting with some on a volunteer job at a childrens museum.
once i got my first rat, i was happier and my whole world rvolved around her.
i have a little light green stone carved pendant of a rat that i wore alot during highschool, espcially during the time just after Mimi(the rat's) PAssing.

Unfortunately I haven't had really much experience with totems or animal spirits, but on very few occasions in dreams, usually for a few seconds, I've become lucid and became a wolf. Although I'm unsure if that really means much. I also feel strongly connected in some way with them, but is that enough? A lot of who I am desires to seek the truth about myself and the universe itself, but I don't know how to seek that. I honestly don't know how I could go about searching for my spirit animal, but if I do, i'd like to try. Or perhaps to just wait for it to come to me...

For me it's always been a wolf, I used to wonder why until I met my twin soul about a year ago. It turns out I was a wolf in a past life and that piece of me is still very alive and active in my soul. Wolves have always appeared in my dreams and I have always had the deepest connection to the wolf and forests. I also dream ever so often about running around on all fours and just being free to do as I please.

The other animal came to me in my dreams, it wasn't anything wild, it was a Doberman! She was always free and wild, but very protective of me too every time I have dreams of her. It's impacted me to trust in who I am and the actions I go through to protect myself and someone I care for because often times people would be offended/bitter about me protecting myself and my "kin". I think also at the time I was suffering deep emotional wounds from a "friend" which also could have called the Doberman to me. Since my animals were a Doberman and a wolf that is why I combined them to make my fursona!

At a different time of my life another animal came to me for a short while. It was the otter and it happened while I began dating my boyfriend. I'm not sure what he was there for but he was there for a short while and it made me feel quite feminine which is very rare for me, but I think it was necessary.

I can't imagine it changing. But being a wolf has been such a visceral experience for me (not to mention disorienting, magical and sometimes outright frightening) that affiliation with a different species couldn't be anything but life-changing.

My spirit animal isn't of the Native American variety, but of a Norse one. The Raven is my spirit companion. The raven is a symbol of wisdom and insight, much like the two ravens who fly around all day and at night return to the Allfather Odin, reporting the worlds doings.

So far these stories have been rather interesting. I wouldn't call them totem animals, but I have two wolves that I see quite often, and not only do they help me out, they help others as we see fit~ they help me travel to the other realms, as well as seeking out certain darknesses that need to be relinquished :3 only a handful (one white and the other black) of people I know have seen my guides, but only seen glimpses. As for others, who are in their darkest of hours, that need comforting.. they show up to ease others' troubled emotions. Some who can't see them, say they have felt their presences

Oddly enough, my strongest totem animal seems to be the spider. They feature in my dreams more than all other animals put together. I'm still trying to figure out what it is they have to show me.

After doing some totem work with a friend, I found out that a Spider may also be a really relevant totem type thing for me as well. In my own eyes, it's teaching me to appreciate the little things and to overlook my stupid fears. Before, I would kill them without a blink of an eye out of pure fear. Now after I've done stuff with totems and found the Spider, I've gained a big appreciation for little things like that. I find beauty even in the things that terrify me, and I've gained more respect for everything in general.

I 100% feel you on this journal. I've had quite a few totem animals come to me, I used to change my character quite often or even hybridize it a lot (Rainshadow was 4 different animals). Lately I've just been embracing the spiritual aspects of these animals in my life. The two biggest totems and my spirit guides who are always there for me when I need help finding my way are of course Wolf and Orca. I've had others come to me too, including Coyote, Raven, Cheetah, and Thylacine. I like to take parts and attributes of all these totems and use them in my every day life.

When I was really little I loved horses like most young girls and always felt the need to be around them. As i got older i lost interest in horses for a while and then i was a die hard wolf fan. I always believe to this day that the horse and wolf have guided me with the knowledge of the wolf and spirit of the horse and i use these abilities everyday and when i see a horse i just want to ride it all day long. I feel when im down the horses spirit lifts me up like its racing in the wind while the wolf helps me understand why i need the horses help in the first place. These beautiful animals have had such a wonderful place in my heart that i cant let them go :)

I don't consider my animal a "spirit guide," but rather a "daemon" or a spirit guide in a different way than what you may mean. Ever since reading the His Dark Materials series when I was pretty young, I was attracted to the idea of humans having an external soul in the form of an animal that represented them. I always imagined my daemon as being a white ferret--I don't know why, that was just what I saw when I imagined him. But that was really just for fun.
Fast-forward to the future, I realize that Daemians are an actual group of people. It's not a belief that you really have an animal within you, but rather that you can analyze the behavioral traits of animals and interpret how those behaviors would manifest in humans, and compare and contrast until you find an animal that seems to fit you best. You then attempt to project and communicate to this animal, with the goal being to learn more about yourself and communicate with parts of yourself that may otherwise be subconscious--awakening every part of your voice, not just the part that 'floats on the top.' A ferret was not, after reading behavioral analyses, the best of matches--but after reading an analysis for the ermine, or stoat (very similar to a white ferret with its winter coat) I found a very close match, about as close as one can expect such analyses to come.
Ever since creating this 'daemon' and learning to speak with him (and thus myself on a deeper level), I can honestly say that my life has improved. His insight has helped me discover many things, even causes for sickness that were unnoticed by me, what types of situations tend to spur certain physical/emotional reactions in me that I was previously unable to put together... Stuff that, before I actually made the connection, I wouldn't have really thought possible. He has helped to make me see the things that underlie certain of my actions, and helped me to make the choices that are truly the best for me. I honestly have to say that I can't imagine life now without knowing that voice is there if I need it, and it almost feels ridiculous that I didn't find it before now (or that I would've just considered it an overactive imagination/FOREVERALONENEEDSANIMAGINARYFRIEND before).
And so... not a spirit guide perhaps in the sense you meant, exactly, but nevertheless something close--the guide within, which happens to take the form of an animal (an ermine, in my case).
What spirit guides have visited you, BlondeFoxy?

First was the wolf and it lead me through middle school and introduced me to art in a sense.
Next was the cat who showed me how to relax and enjoy the little things.
Then the bird (mostly birds of prey, eagles) who taught me how to fly. Took a while but after some time I leaned to soar. (many flying dreams) To rise above and let the wind take you.

These are all both literal and metaphorical ;)

I've had a huge connection with dalmatians as a child, progressing to cats through most of my childhood.
They're still there, just MUCH larger and /wilder/. Cheetahs, Lions, Servals, then the hyena crept in during a large change in my life (breaking a relationship of 4 years, turning 19, and moving out of state)
Since then I've been extremely connected with female lions, and specifically- albino creatures (like peacocks~It's funny the first responder talked about an albino peacock in his dreams)

Never thought much on totem animals...I'm off to do a little research now! :3

cats... i think are the home guardian. they are in my life because i was born into the family i was born into. some significant totems in my life have been black birds, vultures, and bears. coyotes / red wolves seem to be more on the spiritual side for me. vultures seem to be like messengers.. black little birds in general, seem to indicate the soon to be happening events of the day.. its p weird tbh lmao.

When a calico cat appeared in my yard years ago, she never left. We adopted her and my life changed. She was loyal, very loyal, she slept with me at night, cuddled me when I was upset. She was my Guardian Angel.She soon had two kittens and one still lives to this day. My totem animal is a cat, they have guided me. RIP Calico-Feb 2004-May 2010 and Smokey-July 2004-November 2011.
Cats are noble, worthy and loyal. They are true guardians.

When i knew about my spirit was with the natives in the land they took on a wolf. They are show of power and wisdom and my family has pass it on for years and years. I do dream that iam a wolf siting with them watching them dance by the fire and out hunting some time i feel the winds and warm summers. But it helps me to share wisdom with the others. The other has to be with the horse. We also had horses to show ower strong will power and ower freedom. Thats where my will power to keep going comes from. The last is a cat to show we are also smart and to show we have brains and we think about the live we have and try to solve ower problems.

Hm in my dreams deer always appear and somehow "guide" me through them. Elk as well. Then a few months ago my family and I were camping, I walked into the woods to take photographs and I got lost (I am ridiculous, I know.) My uncle said there shouldn't be any large animals out during the day in that area besides black bear. Soon enough, a gang of elks were running past me. I was terrified at first, then quickly followed. They amazingly led me back to camp. I knew they were my spirit animal then. The wolf has always been a big part of me, as I befriended one and they're covering my walls. The both inspired me to cunning, brave, social, etc. It's nice to have them always there for me.

Honestly I can't tell what ever animal I come across is suposed to be something or not. Many of times I have had bizzard animals appear and coicidental occurances. From silver bristle back boars to quite recently I kid you not O.o a Peacock! What is a peacock suposed to mean? All I know is of Io the gaurdian greek god said to have 1000 eyes. o.o But really? I had Owls, Hawks, a family of foxes (grey foxes) racoons and many other animals, though they aren't nearly as rare as some of the other bizzare critters. >.> The problem I have with animals as totums is that I am quite young, that being said I haven't moved out on my own and always with family. O.o How do I know what is one totum isn't a sign for someone else?

I'm not sure if this counts as being a spirit animal, but in my dreams I am very often a crow, hawk, or falcon. I feel like flying in my dreams allows me to literally be free of strings holding me down in the real world. Although, more often than not, there is always a hunter trying to shoot me down from the sky. I've had dreams like this for many, many years.

I also occasionally get lucky enough to dream of being a wolf :) When I'm in that form in my dreams, I'm usually always fiercely protecting someone I love from a sinister or malevolent person or force.

I Just want to laugh at half of these answers..

A majority of the fandom, doesn't know what a real totem is.
Even the one's claiming they've been on a "journey"

my spirit animals are probably a wolf and then some sort of feline. I know a wolf for sure cause all the times in my dreams I howl to locate other people and almost always travel in a pack. and then I know a feline (I feel like it's just a house cat, but it could be something more wild) cause almost everything I identify with is feline of some sort, whether it be just a house cat or a full on tiger.

I'm not all sure on the "totem" thing. I've met a few people IRL who say "The journal to your totem comes unexpectedly" ... "You'll sit in a waterfall for an hour" ... "You'll be pulled from your family" and and all that. (Anyone seen the movie "Brother Bear"?) Pfft. I believe on what your INNER animal is over what your totem animal is. What you BELIEVE you are should be what you are... what you like... what you love... not what you found out over some Boy Scout Camp or some school field trip. (and I'm NOT dissing Boy Scout Camps! No offense meant.) I've always had a connection to foxes, and that's what I've come to believe myself to be on the inside. A fox. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, if a said situation requires any specifics beyond that, I will take the liberty of deciding those details myself.

I also am a very active dreamer when I sleep, and I have upwards of nearly SIX dreams or so in one night, depending on how many times I wake up. 98% of the times I dream of an animal, its of foxes. But that's another matter all together.

When I started down a path of Paganism and trying to find my spirit animal, I noticed that I would see a lot more Coyotes or Coyote-related things. Then one day a while ago as I was driving home at 2am or so, I saw a Coyote right in the middle of the road in front of the bridge right before house. The next night, I saw the same exact thing. This happened for 3 nights in a row. Same spot, same time, a Coyote just trotting across the road right before the bridge. Then, on some memorable days where I was going through some tough times, I've heard Coyotes howling. Not to mention I just have a big spot in my heart for them anyway <3

As for teachings, I'm still trying to figure out their relevance. They've just been more of an emotional support so far, it seems.

It all started with the Dolphins back in 2001, I ran across a website about whale watching, I never though about such things before, and it was amazing to think about (I don't know why, I never saw one before)

I went on the trip, and a week later the captain called and offered me a job of deckhand and helmsman! (I had no idea that the position even existed, so totally random!) So I moved to the beach and worked happily for three years watching dolphins, whales, and one pod of the most beautiful Orca. I knew the Orcas were special, and the way they looked into your eyes was magical. At the same time I bought my own little sailboat so that I could be close to them even when I was not working, I spent days on the ocean, watching and waiting.

It was a glorious time of random chance, but it came to an end, and I left under happy circumstances back to land again, I moved to the desert to pursue my tech career, and sadly left the oceans behind.

That is when the fox took over, the desert fox has been my guide since I left the ocean.

The ocean is still my first love, but the fox offers beauty and grace as well. And I adopted both for my fursona character. I yearn to live where the land and ocean meet, and there I can find peace and be whole.

Yes ;_; wow, Animals play such an important role in my life, especially guides. Its changed over the years, As a kid it was Cats, then horses, to the Fox, Wolf, and Hyena.

It's to much for me to fully elaborate on, especially since I'm typing this from my phone, but for me, it's the Coyote. The Coyote definitely wasn't always my spirit animal, and nor was I seeking one out when they came trotting proudly into my life, but there was no mistaking when they found me, because they shook the very core of my life and existence, and things will never be the same again - and I thank them for it!

As far as I can tell, I have no spirit animals/guides. Then again, I'm an all-purpose energy brick wall. What I do find hilarious are the new age shops that stock a candle that summons a spirit guide for you. I'm waiting for Raven in a Can myself (Because all you need is a candle and a little medallion and BAM! Instant spirit guide. *eyeroll* )

But yeah. I'm a muggle, as I tell my girlfriend. Nothing special spiritually about me.

I refer to them as my shapes.

Main one is the polar bear. There are a few others, and I have their traits described in the list where I have references to them.

I know two more which are likely to actualize, too, but they didn't yet.

For me it's the sparrow ! :3 it guides me to remember to have faith in myself. Even if I'm extremely introverted myself, I live to please others and make them happy and entertain them. I know I can trust my social group, and I try to be friendly and helpful to all others as well ! I love the little sparrow <3

My totem is a hare. :> (A lepus europeus, a normal 'boring' european hare.)
I've experienced that a real totem chooses you, not vice versa. People often seem to forget that.

I grew up in close to Seminole lands and spent a long time hanging out with my friends who lived on the reservations and lands (Bill and Cody, were their names). at many of the parties and get togethers I went to people all were called by a Miccosukee names, Bills was " nak-ne ke-hay-ke " which is like eagle or hawk guy, not quite sure I still don't quite understand the language, and Cody's was "yellow cat" don't remember how to spell, normally people who were not part of the tribe were given nicknames or were called by their normal names, but when I was about 12 they started calling me"ya-laahe Yeehaw", which I thought was something to do with cowboy cause of the wording. Turns out Bill's father named me, he told me that if meant Fox talker or orange wolf, he said I got that name because the Fox was my spirit. IDK how I'm not in my opinion intellectual enough to be a fox by any means, he explained it was because of how I moved when we when hunting in the Glades, and that one time I made friends with 2 wild gray foxes. (BTW Foxes like sugar cookies). So I guess that counts as a spirit animal of sorts.

For the longest time mine was the wolf, and truth be told it still is. But as of late, ive been finding myself being inspired by hawks and snow leopards. I have such a pull to the hawks. Just being able to have the freedom of wings, being able to just take flight even for a minute to get away from everything. Every time i see one in the sky, i just watch it, wishing I could be up there with it.

Wolves and dogs in general have always been my guides. My spirit animals. Ever since I was little. I have never had a pull to any animal like i have with canines. I just adore them, I find them to be strong, smart and just compassionate beings in this world, that even we as humans cant understand. As for wolves, I just, they are my true animal totem. The way they live, the make up of the pack, the way I wish i had a family as tight as a pack. Just everything about pack life. That is what got me into the fandom. The pull and love for animals, and the way i can just always be me.

The snow leopard has been a new pull. I find her helping me at night. I find her lurking in my dreams and she seems to be trying desperately to be keeping my night terrors at bay. I will definatly be looking into her more. I would love to see why she is here and where she is going to be bringing me!

I love animals and find myself connecting to a lot of them, especially recently with having more time to myself and my thoughts. I've always been interested in the idea of a spirit animal, but never really delved too far into the topic. I really clicked with the Tanuki when I discovered it recently, but I'm not sure if it's actually my spirit animal? I just find myself drawn to a lot of animals, though Tanukis, Skunks, and Deer seem to stick out specifically for me, probably a few others as well, iunno. I think would really enjoy going through some kind of ritual or process to discover one at some point in my life though.

I agree completely with all that you said (except for the animals, mine are different of course!) and I would love to find ours someday <3

I've always had animal instincts - "wagging" a leg, panting, howling at the moon. If ever I try to meditate, I reach a state of consciousness where when I look down at myself, there are two dark paws. Sometimes the memory of being low to the ground, leaves brushing my face. My fursona is my best guess at what that creature is, So a dark wolf for now. I still don't see him as a "totem" - because he's me.

It's really interesting that you posed this question, and caused me to reflect back more intensely on my recent fixation with African Painted Dogs, ip which in fact, I recently switched my main fursona because I felt such a connection with them. I had been drawn to wolves for a long time, and when I officially got into furry type things, my first fursona was a wolf, which I have stuck with until about a year ago. While I still love wolves, I just felt that my 'wolf self' didn't seem to fit me as fully as it used to, and seeing as I was spending a lot of time at the zoo, I became drawn to the African Painted Dog exhibit. Seeing these creatures in person, I really felt drawn to them, connected, like I once felt with wolves.

Interestingly enough, my life has had many big changes ever since finding that connection. My long-distance relationship of 4.5 years finally became short distance (aka, we live together now.) thus did not come without hardship and much adjustment. His family did not react well and we had to weather through some pretty bad times with his family as they dealt with his decision to move here. Of course there was adjusting to living together all the time (an adjustment, but well worth it!) also had a major career change. And well.. A few other events tossed in there too. I realize how much I've changed... I used to be extremely shy, withdrawn, and submissive. While I'm not the complete opposite from that, I do realize that I've become a person who stands up for herself, and I'm capable of throwing all of my weight into something when I want to achieve something. I don't run and hide from issues, I face them head-on. Mind you, I don't look for confrontation and I do still tend to try to handle things with most people in the easiest way possible, but when it counts, I can be scrappy and persevere.

Which is why the African Painted Dog coming into my life makes so much sense... I just read that as a totem, this is the significance of African Painted Dogs.
"African wild dog as a totem teaches us success through perseverance, to be a good judge of character, and to be free with our affection but guarded with more intense love. Wild dog people tend to be friendly, social, compassionate, and determined. They are slow to offer trust but exceedingly protective and loyal to those they hold close."
"KEY ASPECTS OF THE AFRICAN HUNTING DOG AND THOSE WHO SHARE ITS PERSONALITY:
TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, READY TO ASSIST, INTELLIGENT, OBEDIENCE, PROTECTIVE, COMMUNITY SPIRITED, SOCIABLE, COOPERATIVE, RESOURCEFUL, COMMUNICATIVE, WILLINGNESS TO GUIDE AS WELL AS FOLLOW."

Thank you for posting this journal, as it pushed me to reflect and do a little self-discovery :3 amazing how things that may seem like a coincidence, or just a new interest can actually be so much more.

From what I read, first, generally people have one main totem animal. This animal will reoccur, support, and reappear in one's life, throughout their life.
Other animals may come and go, an will be more situation based - perhaps trying to advise you for or against something.

From a book I read when I was younger, there was a... sort of meditation? that you could do to help find it. It involved clearing your mind then imagining you in a woods and letting animals come to you.

With me, my First "spirit guide" was a wolf. He appeared early on in my spiritual journey, blazing a trail and laying the groundwork for my spiritual exploration.

Next came a lioness, reminding me to both hunt to support others and to embrace my more female aspects (nuturing, dutiful, motherly).

After that was a brief jaunt with Skunk (independence, determination)

Currently, Fox is expressed the most (cleverness, cunning, insight).

I expect to meet more and deal with jaunts with each as my life and journeys continue.

I do know that I have had and experienced a past life as a wolf, which was during Wolf's time being expressed.

I'm a wiccan and in 2011 my first familiar passed away. The thing is that I didn't know he was my familiar until he was already gone, which made his passing even harder to cope with. He was a caramel colored horse with white patches the shape of hand prints on his butt and two white round circles on his withers. His face had just a small blob of white on his forehead. I knew how much he truly meant to me when I remembered the last time I saw him

I walked into the pasture and he walked right up to me, which was unusual for him. (Normally he would run away.) After petting him for a moment he put his head on my torso and left it there for a moment. His behavior was so unlike him but I thought nothing of it. This special moment with him was my sign that the horse (particularly him) was my spirit animal.

Now when ever I feel lost I just look up and start to talk to him, tell him about my problems and ask him to lead the way through them. He always seems to come through for me :).

I hope my experience helps you in your own exploration. message me any time if you want to know more.

W/

Belle

The animals that came to me where mainly a coyote, a wolf, an eagle and a tiger. I used to have vivid dreams of the tiger, wolf and coyote sitting in a forest clearing, with the eagle soaring overhead.
Other animals have also appeared but only momentarily, such as the fox or the cat, but they always disappear unlike the other animals. I have always felt a strong connection and love for them.