Animal Spirit Guides

This year I decided to start talking about ‘new age’ concepts, marketing and vocabulary that doesn’t mean anything. I am not a ‘new age’ girl. I am a grown up spiritual advisor. My friend Anissa inspired this idea and I align with it. 

Mercury has gone direct! Have you cleared out some Goo & Cooties? Are you ready to frolic through spring and into summer? The energy around us has started to expand! It’s time to put more energy into motion! Take advantage of this time of expansion, it will last until July!

Animal spirit guides are spiritual, often indigenous based concepts representing protectors, teachers or messengers that embody specific energies to assist on a persons life journey. Appearing physically, in dreams, or symbolically, they offer guidance, wisdom and power to individuals, often appearing in unusual or repetitive ways.

Historically different cultures have stories of animals, how they help us, the messages they represent, how the animals are honored.  This is called Animist traditions. 

Animist traditions are diverse, globally practiced, spiritual world views holding that animals, plants, rocks rivers and weather possess a spirit or consciousness. These traditions emphasize respecting, communicating with, and maintaining reciprocal relationships with these spirits, often using rituals, offerings and ceremonies to seek balance, healing and harmony within ourselves and the natural world.  Nature is a living, conscious entity rather than just a collection of resources. 

Animal spirit guides act as teachers, guides, protectors. They are personal messengers. 

So, how do we identify our animal spirit guides? 

What, animal, bird, reptile, mammal, insect do you relate to, dream about or see a lot of?

I take pictures of flowers, plants and trees. My favorite pictures are when I can get pictures of flowers with bumble bees. I love them, they are beautiful to me.  I can relate to the virtues or spiritual meanings to bumble bees -  resilience, community, and achieving the impossible.  Every time I see bumble bees, it is a reminder of these ideas, and lessons for my life. 

The celts saw the bees as a symbol for celebration 

Please save the bees by planting flowers for them. 

I have read a lot about bees to get to know them better.  

If you have a connection or attraction to an animal. Get to know it better, do some research, it might help you understand yourself better.  Get outside and see what animal, bird, insect, reptile etc shows up for you over and over again. What message do they have for you? 

You can also try meditation, guided or on your own to get to know your animal spirit guides better. Remember to write down your impressions afterward. 

I asked my friends Melinda Carver and Anissa what are their favorite animals - Here is what we came up with and their virtues - see if they relatable to you - 

Melinda 

Horse - Travel, power, freedom

Dogs - Faithfulness, protection, unconditional love

Gorilla - strength, intelligence/wisdom, family protection

Anissa

Magpies - Occult magic, doorway to different realms, wily, willful 

Ravens  - Shapeshifting,  messenger or omen,  

Crows - Intelligence, watchfulness, magical, past life connection

Humming birds  - tireless joy, 

Bear - Instinct, intuition, flexibility, potential

Steve the Otter - Joy, playfulness, sharing,

Kingfisher -  enjoying days of peace, prosperity, 

Seamus

Turtle - patience, protection, wisdom, longevity

Auriel

Lynx - Secret Keeper 

Henry - Elephant - Ancient Power Strength, royalty 

Hippo - Emotional depth, protection, nurturing, 

Peacock - wisdom, visionary, ostentatious, protective and powerful  

What is your favorite animal, reptile, mammal, bird, insect? 
Take time to think about it & have fun!

My references this week are Animal Speaks, Ted Andrews , Animal Speaks, Pocket Guide, Ted Andrews 

Have a beautiful week! Stay safe! Keep your heart open and aligned with the energy of LOVE!
​
​Auriel Grace