Totems from Nature

Are there totems, wild beings that speak to you? I believe there are. One of mine is the Great Blue Heron; everywhere I go, they pop up. Looking across a marsh or on a wooded trail leading to a pond, a Great Blue Heron will be present (look closely), posing for my eyes and camera. People yearn to see one and will get their chance if they walk with me.

Sitting outside, whether at home or in nature, I watch the insects, birds, buds, and blooms. The leaves rustle on their branches and sway in the breeze. The green topsides of the leaves contrast with the silver underbelly. Tree trunks are covered in lichen, and bark can be dark red on Pacific Madrones or sunbleached on Firs.

My totem may have evolved from a bird to a mammal, possibly a reptile. Or, I prefer to believe, all three. Silently, a doe watched me from across a hidden stream, her large fawn bounding behind bushes. A young buck came to visit outside my fence. I watched as he considered leaping the fence for roses in place of nearby. The wind suddenly rushed south to north, my wind chimes singing and drowning out the cacophony of the startled birds. I watched the Buck's ears lay back, his eyes roving the landscape for any danger hidden behind the loud wooshing wind. He bolted away, and I spotted two golden dogs - no, they were large fawns, clearly seen when I grabbed the binoculars. They leapfrogged across the fairway, Mr. Young Buck in pursuit. while a mature doe (Mom?) grazed off to the side.

A quiz says: When you have the deer as spirit animal, you are highly sensitive and have a strong intuition. By affinity with this animal, you have the power to deal with challenges with grace. You master the art of being both determined and gentle in your approach. With its graceful antlers and gentle gaze, the deer symbolizes calm, inner peace, and a return to nature. Deer are among the most beloved and revered of spirit animals for their gentleness, gracefulness, and composure. When we see a deer in our lives it is often a sign to reflect on these qualities. The deer totem wisdom imparts those with a special connection with this animal with the ability to be vigilant, move quickly, and trust their instincts to get out of the trickiest situations.

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Another totem is the Pacific tree frog. They change colors and vocalize at night. A larger one sits in a patio chair behind a pillow in the daytime. Last night, I saw movement in my peripheral vision, and it was him leaping to the patio and moving toward dampness near newly watered plants. Today, he is sitting on the edge of the chair. However, I felt something on my leg, although I always check the cushions before sitting. I felt it again and saw a tiny frog had jumped onto the patio, and quickly escaped my prying eyes by leaping into a crevice.

Encounters with beings in nature lift my spirit and give me joy.

Do you see certain animals in nature every time you are out? Is there a particular creature that speaks to you? Is there one that consistently appears in your life? It could be a live animal, or it might appear in artwork, greeting cards, dreams, conversations, sketches, or imprints on clothing. Perhaps while visiting a foreign country, a specific animal speaks to your spirit there.

Totemism - a system of belief in which humans are said to have kinship or a mystical relationship with a spirit-being, such as an animal or plant. The entity, or totem, is thought to interact with a given kin group or an individual and to serve as their emblem or symbol.

Copyright © 8/1/2024 by Andrea O. Corwin

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