Have you ever wondered why animals are so important to us?
They are a big part of our everyday lives, whether we have pets in our home, or just the birds that visit your backyard, animal totems that sit on your art table, or even animals in story books, toys, or fabric.
We often use metaphors that mention animals as we speak, and we go to the nearby zoo or nature park just to catch a glimpse of them. And most importantly, we like to insert animals in our art. Both for the mystery they bring and also because they are symbolic.
In ancient times, animals were considered to be teachers, guardians and soul companions. In Shamanic traditions animals can be totem or power animals who generate and can pass on a kind of energy to the right people. No wonder why these amazing creatures are so special to us.
Animals are close the nature and therefore have a strong connection with the fairies and the world of the fay, and can help us draw closer to them. For example, cats are known to have close binds to the fairy, and according to Irish and European folklore, they can even be a shape-shifting fairy.
The stag was a sacred animal to the Celts, and considered a strong link to the fairy world, and with no wonder!
Horses are also considered animals close to the world of the Fay, galloping between one world and the next, carrying their rider to fairyland.
So what do these beautiful creatures mean to us?
When a specific animal or species shows up in a repetitive or uncommon way, they are often trying to show us something. Often they show up in difficult or life-turning points in our lives.
Sometimes we don’t even take notice.
But once we open ourselves to these messages they bring, and what they have to teach us, we are deepening our appreciation for the magic of mystery of all animals, and of nature itself.
So how are we supposed to know if these amazing creatures are trying to get through to us? And what message could they possibly bring?
First of all, every species has a specific meaning and message.
Start by back-tracking the times you noticed or incidentally came across an animal in your life. It could have been either physically, or metaphorically. Maybe for a period of time a white dove came every morning to your window. Or maybe over a few weeks or months people kept giving you owl-related gifts for some reason. Maybe you had reoccurring dreams about a wolf, or a horse, or even a dragon.
All these incidents explain one thing. These animal spirits may have been trying to get a message through to you, maybe give you an answer you had been searching for, or even give you some encouragement when you needed it most.
I know it has happened to me, numerous times.
Maybe there is one special animal that has been alongside you for the larger part of your life, either in the flesh or metaphorically.
This is most probably your power animal. You might find that you relate to it in more ways than one, and that your personalities are quite similar. Now if you are not sure what your power animal is, try looking or reading up a few you seem to resonate with. You might be surprised.
I have a great book all about understanding our animal spirit guides and power animals, which I will put in the links in the resources section at the end of the class. It’s a no-nonsense, down-to-earth sort of book, and it’s opened my eyes and helped me in more ways than one.