According to Native American belief, totems are symbols that represent our animal guides. They chiefly stay the same throughout our mortal life, silent guardians, with special lessons for each of us to learn. However, it is not uncommon for other more temporary totems to come along and guide us, helping us through challenging situations that we face and sometimes even offering their protection. These special helpers reveal themselves in a variety of ways, from appearing physically, to appearing in dreams and meditations. It is also possible for them to shift if we make dramatic life-altering changes in our life.

It is commonly believed that each human being on this planet is endowed with Nine special animal spirits. They are located in seven directions around you: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, and Within. The remaining two walk on each side: to the left, which represents the feminine aspect, and to the right, which represents the masculine aspect. These Nine remain constant, and are mostly there in essence. Like remarkable mirrors, they reflect our inner selves outward. If we take the time to study their medicine, we can embody their lessons internally, and shine forth their essences externally, increasing our self-awareness.

There are many ways to discover your personal totems. One ancient method is going on a "Vision Quest". Traditionally this is considered a rite of passage among many tribes into puberty. Parents would send their older child into the wilderness alone, and after many days of exploration, meditation, and tuning into nature, the child would receive a message from their spirit guardians about which path they need to follow.

Fortunately, there are other ways of accomplishing this as well. Ask yourself the following simple questions:

What is my favorite animal, bird, or insect? This one is usually the most obvious.

Which do I have an unexplained connection with or am drawn to?

Which one am I afraid of? This guide usually represents our shadow self, the lesson that is the most difficult for us to face.

Which animal,insect, or bird intrigues me and peaks my curiousity?

Has there been any recurring animals seen around me in daily life, such as on television, in pictures, or given as gifts?

Which one appears most often in my dreams or meditations?

Is there any animals that appear around me physically as I go about my day? This is another really obvious method. I could be standing in the middle of the city and still have a dragonfly land nearby.

These questions should give you a pretty good idea of where to start. Sometimes you only figure out a few at first. Keep at it, and don't give up. Remember that it's more important to figure out the messages these guides have for us than to worry about what they are specifically. Let them come forward in their own time. This will help you establish a closer more intimate relationship with them.

Once you have accomplished this, seek out a good animal oracle, or someone who can read the oracle for you. This will help sort out which animal is in which position of the Nine sides.

Great!  Now all you need to do is study them.  Watch their habits, what they eat, when they are awake or sleep, and so on. Go to the library and research them, or hop online and type them into Google or YouTube. There are many different lists available of animals,birds, and insects and their symbolic meanings. 

Ask for them to come forward in your sleep. dreams are an excellent way to communicate with them.  Make sure that you have a pen and paper, or a tape recorder handy to record your dream.

See how what you discover applies to you and what you can learn from them.  You will be amazed at the similarities that you have with these wonderful beings.  They offer an incredible way of helping us cope with our everyday challenges, and seek to help us evolve and grow spiritually. 

Good Luck!