Spirit Animal(s)

There are a number of different perspectives when it comes to spirit animals (guides, totems, power animals -- whatever you may choose to call them).  Many people that I have met have only one, or at least only one at any given time.   Those who have had more than one spirit animal over time found that, as they grew, their spirit animal changed to accommodate the changes that occurred in their lives.  For many years I was like those who had a single spirit animal.  My spirit animal had made itself known to me before I even began following a pagan path.  It was a part of me -- something that I never really thought twice about -- Wolf was just there to guide me.  

Wolf started off being very archetypal (though I had no clue what that was at the time).  No male/female -- always grey in color.  However, at various times in my life, Wolf has changed.  Instead of being an archetype she is a particular animal.  She is pure white and larger than I would have expected.  The only color on her is her black nose, lips, and black surrounding piercing green eyes.  She appears when I need a "personal" touch -- some one-on-one communication.

But, a few years ago, my relationship with spirit animals shifted.  I no longer only had one.  Over a period of about a year, I was approached by three more.  Suddenly, I had one associated with each of the four directions/elements.  First, a Golden Eagle, next an Otter, and finally a Hare.  While I have not met anyone who has a spirit animal for each direction/element, I have met a few people with more than one spirit animal guiding them at the same time -- but not very many.  Most of the time, when I share this information (which I do less and less) I get a puzzled look.  I know from my contact with others that my relationship with my spirit animals is not "orthodox".  However, it is what has developed over the years and it works for me.  Eventually, I will share more about them -- how I came to know of them and how they have helped or worked with me in the past -- but not just yet.

Do you have one or more spirit animals?  How did you come to be aware of them? 

Batten down the hatches!

The sylphs have been flexing their muscles today.  The winds were howling and blowing so hard that they were pushing me down the road when I was taking the dog for a walk.  It got me thinking . . . 

Do we see connections that are not really there because of our belief systems -- or do our belief systems allow us to recognize the inherent connections in our lives?

Now, you are probably sitting there thinking 'HUH?  How the he** did she come up with that from a bit of wind?'

Well, I do see things as being connected and one of the ways that I attempt to stay engaged with the world is to try to be aware of those connections.  So, I see the elements manifest in my life both in overt and subtle ways.  On the one hand, today the winds were blowing, carrying leaves and other items through the air.  Gusts would rattle the chimney flue and the garage door -- definitely not subtle!

Interestingly, today I also got a lovely package from some dear friends -- a belated Imbolc gift.  In addition to a beautiful note, there were some great items in that package sent from the East.  Now, Air is associated with the East, Spring, and communication, among other things.  On top of that, while the package was 'from' several people, the way it usually works is that everyone is in on the purchasing decisions, but one individual actually does the shopping, packaging, and mailing.  I find that, while most people have aspects of all the elements in them, there is usually one primary and one secondary element that shine through and Air is the element that I have always seen as primary in the lovely soul 'in charge' of the gift this time.  Just an example of several subtle manifestations of the element Air in my day today.

As you can see, I see the universe as one big mass of inherent connections.  One of my spiritual challenges is to recognize those connections.  Sometimes I am more successful than others -- today was a pretty successful day.  I thank you my lovely long-distance coven, as always you manage to help me flex my spiritual muscles.

I have met many who take the opposite position on this issue, some with a very strong spirituality . . .

How do you think one's perspective on this question shapes a person's spirituality -- or does a person's spirituality shape one's perspective on the question?  Thoughts?

Sylph image found here.