Celtic Totem Animals. An amimal guide is an animal which teaches you the way of the wild. Some allow the animal to choose them, while others choose the animal.

 

 

 

One way in which people choose to obtain their animal guide is to take a four or more day outing in which they abstain from using man made materials or eating man made foods; relying entirely on the works of their own hands - and guidance from the animals. It is reccomended that one take along essential equipment as a safety precaution. It is also reccomended that the individual remain semi stationary and in a familiar area. Safety must come first!

 

The purpose of an animal guide is that, if the need should arise and one finds oneself in a survival situation, one can reflect back on the time spent with one's totem animal and the lessons learned. Thus, the experience provides the individual an edge and a a connection with nature.

 

Clan Animals

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Adder, Snake (Nadredd): Wisdom, cunning, fertility. Can hide in the shortest of grasses when seeking prey; or in defense of a larger animal.
Badger (Breach): Tenaciousness and Courage. A badger will face down larger animals, usually protecting its rear from attack by backing into a corner or a hole.
Bat: Underworld
Bear (Arth): Strength and stamina. Now extinct in the Isles. A bear is attuned to the seasons and knows when to prepare for hibernation. It usually minds its own business and will stand on its hind legs, towering over its opponent, if provoked.
Bee (Beach): Single-mindedness, fearlessness, and social duties. When one thinks of a bee, the thoughts are usually connected with honey and their fearless sting should we appear as a threat to them.
Blackbird (Druid-dhubh, Lon Dubh):
Boar (Bacrie): Cunning and ferociousness. A boar can be very cunning and lay in ambush for a hunter. Once enraged a boar will attack until it is sure that the hunter will leave it alone.
Bull (Tarbh): Strength potency and protection of the herd. A bull will give its warning by pawing the ground and bellowing before it charges what might have been a threat.
Cat (Caoit, Cat):
Cock: Egotism and Pride: Every cock thinks of itself as the very best there is.
Cow (Bo): Contentedness and Daily needs.
Crane: Inner truth, secrets, and dignity.
Crow (Badb): Conflict and death. Also the name of the Celtic Warrior Goddess. It teaches us to learn from the past but not cling to it. Crows are cunning and bold.
Deer (Abhach) or Stag (Sailetheach): Grace, Swiftness and Gentleness. They represent ways of reaching goals other than by force.
Dog (Abach, Mada) or Hound (Cu): Companionship.
Dolphin: Harmony, Intelligence. This animal is known to save drowning swimmers by pushing them to the shore.
Dragon (Piastras (payshtha), Horm): Wealth, sub consciousness, True Riches, Knowledge, and Power of the Earth. Sometimes a Dragon is represented by a serpent or worm-shaped beast.
Eagle (lolair): Swiftness, Strength, and Keen Sight. This bird has razor sharp talons and very keen sight. It swoops down upon its prey extremely fast.
Eel (As-chu): adaptability, wisdom, inspiration and defense. Eels are armed with electricity against potential attackers.
Falcon:
Fox (Mada Rua): Cunning, Slyness. Foxes are able to avoid traps and poisons as well as trick those who pursue them.
Frog: Patients, finding connections between thoughts and ideas. A frog has the ability to remain absolutely still and avoid potential attackers.
Griffin: Combining strengths and traits, Maintaining discression, and Seeing Truth. This mythical creature is composed of the body parts of an eagle and a lion.
Hare or Rabbit (Coinin): Hidden teachings, and intuitive messages. A hare is a peaceful creature unless it becomes trapped. Then it will do everything it can to get free.
Hawk (Aracos): Clear-sightedness and Far-memory. A hawk can attack from great heights. It can also be trained.
Hedgehog: Defensiveness and seriousness. When attacked a hedgehog will curl up in a ball, spines outward, until its attacker goes away.
Heron: Patients and Inner Truth. A heron is methodical in flight and can stand still for long periods of time in order to catch fish.
Horse (Cab-all, Capall): Stamina, endurance, faithfulness, friendship and freedom. A horse can travel great distances and defend itself fiercely when necessary.
Lizard: Disguise and ability to change. A lizard has the ability to blend well into its surroundings.
Lynx: Hidden inner truth, keeping deep secrets, and hidden knowledge. A lynx has tufted ears and wide paws and can travel in most weather and over most terrain.
Magpie: Mysteries of life and death. Like a crow, a magpie likes to collect shiny objects.
Mouse (Loch): secrets, cunning, shyness, and hiding in times of danger. A mouse can move quietly and inconspicuously to help avoid danger.
Otter (Balgair): recovery from crisis, protection, and inner values. Otters are curious about everything. They are also playful and friendly.
Owl (Cailleach): Keen Night-sight, silent and swift hunting, unmasking deceit, and alertness to deceit.
Pig (Muc): spiritual fulfillment. A pig is usually only concerned with sleeping and eating. When attacked pigs will band together to defend against attackers. When hot a pig will roll in the mud to protect its skin.
Panther:
Rabbit:
Rat (Franchach): slyness and survival skills. Rats are able to track down anything they seek. They defend themselves ferociously.
Raven (Bran): upsets, crisis of life, and battlefield. Ravens are intelligent and very noisy when disturbed.
Salmon (Brionnfhionn): Ancestral knowledge and intuition. A salmon will travel through the roughest conditions to get where it wants to go. It has internal instincts which help it to return to its birthplace to spawn.
Seagull (Faoilean):
Sheep (Caora):
Sow (Airc): Inspiration, death and rebirth. A sow when raising her young is completely unpredictable: sometimes she may kill her young or attack without reason.
Squirrel: Planning ahead. A squirrel gathers food and prepares for tougher times, storing things until they are needed. It evades capture by climbing high into the trees.
Swan (Eala): music, song transitions, and spiritual evolution. A swan has internal instincts which it uses for migration.
Turtle: Gentleness, patients, wisdom, and the cycles of life. A turtle travels through life slow and methodically. When attacked it will withdraw into its shell.
Unicorn: spirituality, pureness of heart, and innocence. A unicorn is a mythical animal with the body of a horse, the legs of an antelope, and the tail of a lion. It has a single horn on its head which is connected to its magical power.
Wolf: cunning, intelligence, family. A wolf knows how to outwit those who would bring it harm and is a fierce fighter when provoked.
Wren (Dryu, Dreoilin): music, love for life. A wren will dive-bomb intruders when its nest is threatened.