Finding your Animal Totem

[ShadowCrest]

What ways are there to find your Animal Totem? I've seen many methods online on finding it, but I'm just wondering if anyone here has used one of those methods successfully.

[ShadowCrest]

you can purchase a set of cards and meditate on them, you can ask your animal totem to visit you in your dreams. you can even sit quietly and visualize you are in a forest or meadow and see your totem come to you. think about what animal you are drawn to. you can have more than one totem at any given time.
That's actually why I was wondering, actually. I feel very strongly about both turtles and hawks. I figured that because there were 2, and pretty different at that, that the techniques I were using were wrong. Thanks for the help :-)

[Aristocrap]

Out of curiosity, do you find that animal totems generally have traits in common with those who feel strongly about them?
For instance, I was talking with a friend of mine some time ago and I happened to ask him what animal he'd associate with me. He said a snake, for mutliple reasons:

-Certain snakes adopt a coiled position prior to striking in order to build up energy, when waiting for prey, resting, etc. My friend compared me to a coiled snake in that I find comfort/peace in solitude when "coiled up" and when threatened or enraged, I quickly lash out as a snake strikes from a coiled position.

-He also noted that I'm rather slender and flexible, akin to a snake's body and graceful movements.

-Snakes also are thought to be difficult to budge, as in they hold their ground when threatened. That's why they are featured in some beliefs as guardians of temples. I'd say I share such a trait in that I'm grounded in my opinions.

I'd say I tend to associate myself with snakes or serpents, so its likely the snake is an animal totem of mine. Do you relate to your totems in the same way?

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[Wolfie]

Iza offers good advice, think about what animals you feel drawn to or have had unique interactions with. For example have you ever made eye contact with an animal that seems larger then life or somehow out of place? Our animal totems are always stalking us and we can work with different totems as the energies call for.

If you feel drawn to a certain animal, do ask it to come into your dreams and life. Research it, academically and in nature when possible, even offer it gifts of food and spirit... these are good ways to honor your totem and build the connection.

Aristo, i would agree that we work with totems that share common traits. But also, totems come to us offering new traits that can be beneficial for us to incorporate. Several of my power animals are based on the plants i work with, that they are connected to.

[Nemo]

in our order it is reqired to wander out in the woods and spend the time needed there in silence and meditating until the totem animal apear. the animal will come to you when you are ready. it will seek you.

[tavthe]

That's how it works for me. They come to me. I do share those serpentine sentiments and even had a dream once that I saw the night thru the eyes of a snake.