Meeting your Spirit Totems

Taken from How to Meet & Work with Spirit Guides by Ted Andrews

The shaman works to reconnect conscious human life with nature and spirit through the totem. The image of the animal helps us transcend our normal, waking consciousness so that we can more easily attune to other realms and beings. This begins with realising that all inner vision and imagery has validity on some level.

What gets most people into trouble is the interpretation of the images. Reading, studying and learning about these images will facilitate relating them to ourselves. We don’t have to accept the totem images without question. We can demand that our spirit guide energies be expressed to us in an image that we can relate to . if you are uncomfortable with an animal totem from your spirit guide after having put it through a verification process, simply send it on its way.

At the same time, the animal totems that you receive should not be haphazardly discarded simply because it is not as glamorous or as powerful as your ego wanted. Only study and exploration of that animal will reveal its significance to you. Searching out that significance is a way of honouring the totem. This helps build the bridge between your physical world and the spirit realm within it.

The meditation that follows is designed to assist you in discovering your spirit totem. It will begin the process of opening the spirit realm of nature as it relates to your life.

Begin by making sure you will be undisturbed. Switch off your phone and light any incense or use a fragrance that may help you in your meditation.
Perform your relaxation exercise then simply visualise the scenes described below. If you wish, you may record them so that you can image and visualise along with the recording. Otherwise, read this several times, and familiarise yourself with it:

As you allow yourself to relax, pull your energies within yourself. You are going to go deep within yourself to discover the totem that lives within. This totem is a reflection of the spiritual energies that are working outside of you in your life.

Imagine yourself standing in the midst of a wide field. The air is still and there is a calmness around you. It is dusk, that powerful time between day and night. The sun is still visible in the sky. It is the time when day and night mingle, the time f the intersection of light and dark, physical and spirit.

Before you is a tall oak tree. Its bark is gnarled and twisted and its roots extend far into the heart of the earth itself. Its branches block the view of the sky as you stand beneath it. You are unable to see its uppermost branches.

There is a small opening at its base, just large enough to squeeze through if you bend over. With a last look over your shoulder toward the setting sun, you step into the inner darkness of the tree.

There is the smell of moss and moist wood. As you squeeze through the narrow opening you find that it widens as you move further in. soon you are able to stand erect, and you breathe a little easier. You pause, catching your breath and summoning your courage to move further inside.

It is then that you hear the sound.

At first it is faint – hardly discernible. You hold perfectly still to insure that the sound is not your own movement. The sound is soft, but as you move forward, feeling your way in the darkness of the tree, it grows louder. It is the sound of a distant drum. In the darkness of the inner tree, the dram’s sound is hollow and primal. For a moment you imagine it as the heartbeat of the tree itself.

The beat is slow and regular. Its hollow tone touches the core of you. It coaxes you through the dark, and you go deeper within the heart of the tree itself. It is hypnotic. You know it is sounding forth what you have awaited a long time. You are not sure what it will be. You have never been sure, but you know you will recognise it when faced with it.

You continue forward, feeling your way, somehow knowing it is better to go forward than to return. You begin to notice that it is growing lighter. At first you think it is simply your eyes adjusting to the darkness. Then ahead of you, you see a torch burning which illuminates the path you are on. The path is narrow. Its sides are steep and ridged with the inner veins and arteries of the tree. You touch them. Surprisingly they feel warm. You understand. Blood runs warmly through all living things. It is comforting.

You approach the torch and find it at the top of a steep, descending path. This path is illuminated by sporadically placed torches. You hesitate momentarily and then being your descent. You place your feet carefully, for the path is covered in spots slick with moss.

The illumination grows brighter with each step down the spiral path leading you into the inner heart of the planet. You feel as if you are following the roots of the tree to the core of the earth. You know that on some level you are being led to a primal point of life and energy within yourself.

The drumbeat has grown to a steady volume. It has become a part of your own rhythms and you have become a part of its. As you continue to wind downward another sound begins to touch you. It entices you even more deeply into the heart of the earth. It is the sound of running water – a stream or a waterfall – you are not sure which.

It is then that you see the end of your tunnel. Ahead is a large, cave-like opening. Beyond the opening you can see sunlight and the greens of nature. You can also see a river of crystalline water running through what seems to be the heart of the meadow. You step through the opening, and the drumming stops.

The sunshine warms and brightens you. It is as if you have stepped out of the womb of life. Wildflowers of every colour and fragrance fill your senses with their beauty. The grasses are emerald green. At the edge of the meadow is a forest of rich dark green – the colour of primeval life at its purest.

You move into the meadow. The warmth of the sun fills you with a fire that heals and soothes, chasing away any remaining fears. You fill your lungs with air that is sweet and fresh. It feels so good to just breathe.

You move to the edge of the river and watch as it flows over rocks, creating eddies and spirals of myriad shapes. The sun glints off its surface with rainbow hues. You look down the river and see that it leads to a distant ocean. All waters are here. You bend down and gently cup your hand into the river. You bring its cool sweet elixir to your mouth, quenching your thirst.

Next to the river is a large stone in the shape of a chair. Warmed by the sun, you settle into it. It fits your form perfectly. From here you can enjoy all of the elements of the meadow – the forests, the grasses, the distant ocean and the sky above. You are filled with a sense of peace. Here you can rediscover the power that is yours to claim in life.

As you look you catch your breath. As if in response to your thoughts there is a movement. It may come from the forest, sky, distant ocean or it may be a combination.

You sit still watching as this totem moves closer to you. Its eyes seek you out and hold your gaze. Never have you seen anything so wonderful – so unique. Such life forms had always seemed so wild and out of touch, but there is no fear there. There is only recognition and wonder.

As if in response to this thought, the animal makes a sound, movement or gesture indicating its own unique power and strength. Then it disappears.

You stand up, looking about. It had happened so quickly. Had it all been your imagination? You scan the entire area, searching. Nothing is seen.

Had you done or thought something to offend it? You stand confused, unsure. It had been so beautiful, so noble, such a unique expression of life. It truly deserved to be honoured and respected.

Again, as if in response to your thoughts, a trumpeting rings through the meadow. You turn towards the mouth of the cave. There in the darkness within is your totem. Its image freezes briefly, its eyes holding yours once more. Then it fades from view.

You smile and laugh, running towards the opening. You understand. As you give it honour and respect, its energies come alive for you and within you, serving as a guide between worlds. Its energies are yours to claim as your own, but they can only be claimed through honour, love and respect.

At the mouth of the cave lay a conch shell. A part of you knows – and long ignored – that this is a symbol of calling forth new energy. It is a symbol of the womb of life, and the trumpeting upon the conch shell is a reminder that life can be called forth on all realms.

You pick up the conch shell, your gift and reminder of the realms that touch you and life within you. You offer a silent prayer of gratitude and step back into the cave, leaving the meadow behind you.

It is now well lit and the path is wide and clear. In the distance you see the vague image of your newfound friend leading the way. Soon you see the light that leads you out of the tree itself.

As you step from the tree you see your totem retreating back within its depths. Now you understand that as you claim your own power and learn to work in all realms, the paths in all walks of life become clearer and more easily manged.

You cradle the conch shell in your arms and breathe deeply. The field and the large oak tree begin to fade and you find yourself drawn back to the present in peace and in balance.