Part 2 of the Totemic Series - The Nine Totemic Guardians Last night we spoke about the power of totems and some of the processes that one can engage in to seek out totems which call to us to teach and guide. Today I would like to start with the types of totems that may enter into your life: The Four Watchers, the Two Balancers, The Two Keepers, the Power Totem, the Shadow Totem, the Tree/Plant Totem and the Earth Totem. Along with these come the Messengers I mentioned who may lead you to other spirits and the Guardian Totems - these latter two may come and leave as quickly as they enter into your life. All totems may be plant, animal and rock, though most commonly a person will identify with animal totems - or they never think to look at the totems that are stationary, still, all have things to teach. THE FOUR WATCHERS The four watchers stand as a sort of honour guard in your life. These four totems stand in the cardinal directions, offering different lessons as you go. They remind you of who you are and how to remain connected to your world. They are powerful, humbling totems who tell you what it is to be alive in this world and your responsibilities in it. For me these are Fox, Deer, Ant and Raven, who together offer me a myriad of gifts and talents that are mine to share. They offer me protection and guidance and are there should I call. THE TWO BALANCERS The two balances are the totems that let us embrace our maculine and feminine aspects. These are two beings that tell us what our ancestors have to teach and stand as pillars in our lives. For me there is Turtle to my right and Sparrow to my left, both whispering to me and showing me the way. These are powerful totems who offer insight into our lives with family and with the world. THE TWO KEEPERS These Totems are the ones who stand in the heavens and in the earth for us. They connect us to the Outer Realms of dreaming and ground us. Those who have issues grounding may want to seek their totem of grounding to help them understand what they need to do in order to reconnect to the earth. For me this is Ram, who reminds me that theres always more than one way to do something. The other is Panther, who connects me to my ancestors and the dreaming realms. THE POWER TOTEM The power totem is one that holds your most sacred and personal truth. It is this inner totem that helps you to be an individual and who works with the Shadow totem to allow you to grow. This totem may be anything: animal, rock, plant or even a place. This totem offers insight into your very soul and offers great peace and understanding once discovered. For me this is Falcon, who offers me wisdom and victory. THE SHADOW TOTEM The shadow totem is one that approaches you as though from the side: it shows you something of yourself that you must understand and accept in order to recieve its power. A shadow totem is the one that challenges you and tests you before it will allow its power to be called upon, but its presence in your life is as important as that of your Power or Primary Totem. It may be a clan totem or a personal one, it truly depends on what it is and its relationship with you. Meditate upon the shadow aspects of your life. For me this is Eagle - specifically the Steppes Eagle, who teaches me to be unafraid of the shadows in my life. THE TREE/PLANT TOTEM This totem is one often overlooked, but the plants and the trees have great power and great lessons to share. We all have at least one totem that rotates around a plant - these totems are revealing in their insights and offer a familiarity and peaceful aide. For me, my tree totem is the Scots Pine - given to me by the Bear Mother of my clan. The scots pine is the tree from which most totem poles were made after the Louns introduced them to the region. To this fact there is a blending of my native and keltic roots and it keeps me connected to my ancestors. The EARTH TOTEM Though we use rocks, crystals and gemstones as focus in the craft, many never stop to consider the SOUL of the stone, for all things have a soul and an energy. It is this which can affect us as we use them, and which absorbs certain frequencies. It is this totem which will bring you balance and stability - it is a stone which will cleanse your aura and acts as your personal focus. For me this is Agate, a stone of courage and confidence, something I often lack. MESSENGER TOTEMS These totems, as I mentioned before, will lead you on or offer you a message with how to deal with a situation. Sometimes our own totems do not have the answers, and that is when these totems may arrive in our lives. They are important beings who guide and whisper to us to keep moving. I have encountered several of these in my life: Raccoon, Bear and Tiger who had great things to impart to me, and when it came time for them to leave me I let them go with great thanks and understanding. Many people mistake these totems for their own and that is a common misunderstanding, but we can grow past these totems and move into a deeper understanding with their guidance, GUARDIAN TOTEMS These totems offer us strength when we are in need. They are ancestors and totems who have guarded those who have gone before and who come to offer help to our darkest hours. Together these totems help to shape us into a personal balance that can offer surprises and things that we may never learn on our own. They are being of great strength and of great wisdom. ** Mabigonia **
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 23:09:23 +0000