Spirit Animals and Fetishes
Zuni animal fetishes attracted my attention when I first visited the American Southwest. I wanted to collect one of each of the precious miniatures I saw and encase the collection in glass. I wanted a $500 necklace that would probably be too heavy to wear. Each gift shop had a card or flyer that described the Zuni “medicine” attributes given to each animal, I took a copy but seldom read it. It was not until I was introduced to Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals by Jamie Sams and David Carson that I took a serious look at animal guides. These days there are a myriad of card sets, starting with those of Steven Farmer and extending to decks specific to many cultures.
My interest, of course, also turned to the spirit animals of Celtic tradition. Readers will have been exposed to a number of these through the monthly tarot card draw I do on this blog. At whatever level of meaning you give the cards, they are asking you to bring in to mind the power and the gifts of a given animal to our understanding of the life we are leading at the moment.
Shamanic practice in its many forms include animals as spirit guides for a particular journey as well as guides that stay with you for life. Totems or fetishes are the physical representation of that animal that evokes the message of hope, support, and specific strengths a person can rely upon when needed. Native Americans call this medicine. The Druids considered animal, tree and other Nature spirits as healing energies that carried sacred powers. Many online resources exist to describe the meanings attributed to these as well as visualizations and exercises to identify your own special animal(s). Carrying a rabbit’s foot is a modern example of the Celts equating the prolific breeding of rabbits and hares with abundance and luck.
Pelicans and donkeys attract me and give me both humor and strength. Recently, as I journey, a fox has appeared to run with me through the forest to the Other World for deep visualization. Some people have known their spirit animal since childhood. Others may find the whole idea frivolous. But, think about how stuffed animals have a special place in our culture. Think about angels, guardian angels, and archangels. Spirit animals are much the same. The difference is that spirit animals connect us to the Earth and Mother Nature while angels connect us to the Sky and Father God.
In these turbulent times, support is especially helpful. Call on your guides-in whatever and every form- to aid and assist you. If you do not know how to connect to your guides, ask me or others for more tools. Place symbols of your guides on your personal altar or carry a fetish in your pocket or pocketbook. Rosary or worry beans and totems have been used for centuries in various cultures around the world for a reason. I invite you to partake of this simple, but profound form of grounding.