Native American Totem Animals & Their Meanings

A totem is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. Some Native American tribe’s tradition provides that each person is connected with nine different animals that will accompany him or her through life, acting as guides.

Different animal guides, also called spirit guides and/or power animals, 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.

These tribe’s 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 an interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interactions.

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 he or she has actually touched or spent time with this animal, more that, they 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 any type of living creature, 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?
  • If you still need more help, ask the Universe for a dream or a vision to see if anything comes up. Also ask the animal to show itself to you and pay attention to what you begin to see from all sources — television, books, billboards — it doesn’t have to be the actual animal. Does one animal begin to appear frequently?

    One thing to remember is that you cannot choose your totem spirit, rather it chooses or has already chosen you. The Spirit chooses you and they decide to whom they will reveal themselves. Much of the process of identifying your spirit animal is paying attention to both your past and your present. It is a process of developing your inner knowledge and spiritual understanding.

    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, and engraved or painted stone, or anything else that depicts your animal guide.

    Note:  Native American totems did not include all of the animals listed below, as many of these creatures did not exist in North America; or, in some cases, not at all (such as the unicorn.) However; the concept of “totems,” by whatever name they were called, have been known throughout the world since the earliest days of Greek Mythology. Though the unicorn and dragon are generally accepted as centuries old mythical creatures of Europeans, pictures of these fabled animals have been found in Native American tapestries and pictographs. It is also worth noting that not all Native American tribes held these beliefs. 

Alligator

Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, stealth, efficiency, basic survival instincts.

Ant

Group minded, determination, patient, active, purposeful, unity, self sacrifice and industrious.

Anteater

Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness, ability to smell out trouble, rooting around for solutions, finding the lost.

Antelope

Active, agile, jumpiness, keen eyesight, survival, willing to sacrifice, mental clarity, intuitive, protective.

Armadillo

Safety, grounded, sensitivity to attack, strong boundaries, trusting, reclusive, neutral, peaceful.

Badger

Courage, aggressive, healer, problems relating to others, energy conduit, determined, focused, confident.

Bat

Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, long life, illusion, journeying, inner depth.

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, dreamer, protector, builder, motion, subconscious.

Bee

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

Boar/Pig

A very powerful totem – prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, balanced complacency and activity, fearless.

Buffalo

Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude, consistency, blessings, stability.

Bull

Insight into the past, fertility, raw expression, rushing into things, confidence, strength, provision.

Butterfly

Metamorphosis, transformation, balance, grace, ability to accept change, lightness, soul, vulnerability.

Camel

Survival, endurance, obedience, nobility, positive, accomplishment, adaptive, temperance, humility.

Caribou

Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity, sensitivity, guidance, surety.

Cat

Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, independence, astute, watchful.

Cheetah

Swiftness, insight, focus, brotherhood, self-esteem, acceleration, elusiveness.

Cougar

Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight, sensing danger, awareness.

Cow

Love of home, community, contentment, joy, easy going, patience, grounded, fertility.

Coyote

Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folly, guile, innocence, skill.

Cobra

Swift and decisive, power of life and death, transformation, energy, connected to eternity.

Crab

Good luck, moves sideways, savvy, unorthodox, relaxed, cycles.

Crane

Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, vigilant, focus.

Crocodile

Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately.

Crow

Magical, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, inelegancy, energy, higher perspective.

Deer

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

Dog

Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, guidance, obedience, sensory perception.

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, fiery, mythic.

Dragonfly

Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations, lightness, joy, transformation.

Duck

Water energy, helper of seers, affectionate, community oriented, 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, wisdom, reliability, sense of history, pride.

Elk

Strength, agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, nobility, sensual.

Falcon

New beginnings, adventure, passionate, leadership, rising above, guardianship, superiority, prophecy.

Fish

Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one’s mind, fertility, good luck, happiness.

Flamingo

Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious, colorful, open, power of illusion.

Fox

Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shape-shifting and invisibility.

Frog

Water, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, peace, adaptability, metamorphosis.

Gazelle

Awareness, speed, grace, eagerness, lightness, overcomes vulnerability, alert.

Giraffe

Intelligence, intuition, attaining the unreachable, sees the future, elegance, cleverness, beauty.

Goat

Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, in the moment, aloofness, virility, sturdiness.

Goose

Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, productive, teamwork, fellowship.

Gorilla

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

Grasshopper

Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive, virtuous, forward thinking, creative.

Grouse

Personal power, enlightenment.

Hawk

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

Heron/Egret

Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced, calm, present, independent.

Hippopotamus

Power, creation, imagination, healing, birth, mother-fury, protection of family, emotion depth.

Horse

Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, freedom, grace, nobility.

Hummingbird

Messenger, timelessness, healing, warrior, energy, vitality, infinity, affection, playfulness.

Jaguar

Chaos, shape-shifter, aggressiveness, power, confidence, manifestation, breath.

Kangaroo

Forward, balance, creative, stamina, leaping away from danger, nurturing, generous.

Lion

Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian, protector, ferocity, authority.

Lizard

Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses, shrewdness, variation.

Llama

Comforting to others, secure, responsible, strength, adaptation, hard work, curiosity.

Lynx

Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, guide, aware, intuitive, unconventional.

Meerkat

Community, precise vision, good boundaries, lively, courageous, intuition, heart energy.

Mole

Sensitivity, guidance, searching, extended senses, underworld, hidden treasure, digger.

Mongoose

Good boundaries, good defense, courage, cleansing, heart-forward, rebellious, impulsive, authentic.

Monkey

Ability to change the environment, health, success, light and dark, communication, swiftness, energy.

Moose

Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, wisdom, self-esteem, primal feminine energy

Mouse

Innocence, scrutiny, order, organizer, eye for details, grounded, super-aware, temerity.

Octopus

Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal.

Opossum

Smart, clever, sensible, grounded, group-minded, proper use of deception, strategic, surprising.

Ostrich

Grounded, practical, avoidant, spiritual truth, understands denial, truth and justice.

Otter

Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, sharing, love of young, sensibility without suspicion.

Owl

Wisdom, deception, intuition, insight, messenger, mystery, freedom, secrets, stealth, vision.

Ox

Sacrifice, chastity, faith, humble, self-denial, enduring, strong, magical.

Panther

Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions, multi-dimensional, dark and light.

Parrot

Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, language, prophecy, verbosity, promise.

Peacock

Immortality, dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem, knowledge, refinement, beauty, sexuality, pride.

Pelican

Resilient, unselfish, rising above, friendliness, responsible, safety, camaraderie, bounty.

Penguin

Self-discipline, order, purpose, community-minded, grace, self-confidence, spiritual.

Porcupine

Innocence, companionship, trust, curious, imagination, good-natured, non-interference.

Prairie Dog

Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness, common goals, retreat, family, digger.

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

Fertility, artistic, in motion, hyper vigilant, joyful, lives by own wits, steps through fear.

Raccoon

Curiosity, disguise, explorer, secret, night vision, cleanliness, dexterity, seeker.

Ram

Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative, new beginnings, change, life force.

Rat

Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury, intelligent, wealth, success, drive.

Raven

Magical, introspective, self-realized, courageous, transformational, messenger, psychic, divination.

Rhinoceros

Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid, good judgment, paradox, stamina, freedom, longevity.

Roadrunner

Mental agility, speed, opportunistic, multi-tasking, energy, busy, accomplishment.

Rooster

Persistence, honesty, strength, flamboyant, upward reaching, eager, cocky, watchful.

Salmon

Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration, can swim upstream, rebirth, determined, spiritual desire.

Scorpion

Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic, passionate, altered perception, death and rebirth, seduction.

Seagull

Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness, resourceful, opportunistic, freedom.

Seahorse

Confidence and grace

Seal

Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity, protection during change, dreamer, good luck.

Shark

Prowess, perpetual motion, hunter, survival, warning signs, workaholic, savior, guardian, superiority.

Skunk

Reputation, presence, strength, demands respect, sensual, steady, pacifism, taking your time.

Snail

Protective, aware, solitary, tender nature, androgyny, healing, sensitivity, time and cycles.

Snake

Impulsive, primal energy, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom.

Spider

Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication, networker, cyclical, crafty, fate, protection.

Squirrel

Planner, gatherer, preparedness, awareness, sociable, playful, energy, prudence, resourceful.

Stag

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

Swan

Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, elegance, transformation, dreams.

Tiger

Strength, valor, power, energy, devotion, tactful, royal, illuminated, unpredictable.

Toad

Inner strength, luck, self-examination.

Turkey

Generosity, life-giver, sharer, abundance, blessings, pride, virility, sacrifice.

Turtle

Nurturer, shy, protecting, patience, strength, innocence, endurance, longevity.

Unicorn

Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle, spiritual vision, other realms, faith, healing.

Weasel

Strength, energy, ingenuity, stealth, wild, ferocious, aggressive, commanding.

Whale

Wisdom, provider, intelligence, kindness, deeper awareness, nurturing, navigator, communication.

Wolf

Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, spirit, appetite for freedom, can be a loner.

Woodpecker

Sensitive, protective, devotion, prophecy, progress, determination, balance, communication.

Zebra

Clarity, motion, individuality, balance, illusion, instinct, free, wild, communal, playful, social.

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1 comment

Absolutely inspired information. Perfect. Thanks for sharing

Cormac

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