NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS--- Native American Totems & Their Meanings:

NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS---
Native American Totems & Their Meanings:

A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual.
Native American tradition provides that each individual is connected
with nine different animals that will accompany each person through
life, acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our
lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that
need to be completed along our journey.

Native beliefs further explain that a totem animal is one that is with
you for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people
may identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes,
it is this one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit.

With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in
the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.




Totem Pole at Pioneer Square in Seattle,

Washington , vintage postcard.

This Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they
“communicate” with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not
necessarily mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal,
more that you are open to learning its lessons.

For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate
process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the
animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others,
they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal totem is:

Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to
explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.

Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This
doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be
represented in other ways such as receiving card and letters with the
same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a
particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal
featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show up.

When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested in seeing?

Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing?

Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature?

Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?

Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood that you have never been able to forget?

Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?

The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal. This could be
any number of items - a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small
figurine or anything else that depicts your animal guide.

Animal Characteristics & Meaning








Alligator Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic survival instincts.

Ant Group minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious

Anteater Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.

Antelope Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice

Armadillo Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries

Badger Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit

Bat Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life

Bear Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of
the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation,
introspection, and great strength

Beaver Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector

Bee Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life

Buffalo Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.

Bull Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation.


Butterfly Metamorphosis, transformation, blanace, grace, ability to accept change

Caribou Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity

Cat Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence

Cheetah Swiftness, insight, focus

Cougar Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight

Cow Swift, insightful, and focused

Cheetah Nourishment and mother figure

Cobra Swift and decisive

Coyote Stealth, mischief, rickster, intelligent, clowining around, ability to recognize mistakes.

Crab Good luck, protection and success

Crane Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant

Crocodile Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately

Crow Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance

Deer Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety,
gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure


Dog Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance

Dolphin Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.

Dove Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love

Dragon Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery

Dragonfly Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.

Duck Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions

Eagle Divine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage,

illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker



Elephant Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom

Elk Strength and agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, strength, and nobility

Falcon New beginnings, adventure, passionate, and leadership.

Fish Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind.

Fox Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility

Frog Water energy, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden
beauty, peace, adaptability, poor character judgment and power

Gazelle Aggressive

Giraffe Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the future

Goat Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of foresight

Goose Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, and productive

Gorilla Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression

Hawk Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship

Horse Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom

Hummingbird Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior

Jaguar Chaos and shape-shifter

Lion Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector

Lizard Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defences.

Llama Comforting to others


Lynx Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide

Monkey Ability to change the environment, health, success

Moose Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom

Mouse Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details

Opossum Diversion, strategist, and deceiver

Otter Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, and sharing

Owl Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger,

Ox Sacrifice, chastity and self-denial

Panther Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions

Parrot Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before speaking


Peacock Immortality, dignity, and self-confidence

Penguin Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual

Porcupine Innocence, companionship, and trust

Prairie Dog Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness

Puma Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power

Quail Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)


Rabbit Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth,

Raccoon Curiosity and cleanliness

Rat Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury

Raven Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic

Rooster Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early riser, settling for nothing less than the best

Salmon Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration

Seagull Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness

Seahorse Confidence and grace


Seal Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity

Shark Hunter, survival, and adaptability

Skunk Reputation, presence, and strength

Snake Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom

Squirrel Planner and gatherer

Stag Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.

Swan Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self

Tiger Strength, valor, power, and energy

Turkey Generosity, life-giver, and sharer

Turtle Nurturer, shy, and protecting

Weasel Strength, energy, ingenuity and stealth

Whale Wisdom, provider, intelligence, and kindness.

Wolf Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit

Woodpecker Sensitive, protective, and devotion

Zebra Agility and individuality