Power Animal Guides

by Fawn, contributing writer for Angel Messenger

I am one of many people, who follow a shamanic spiritual path. Shamanism is a path not a religion. It is rather a way of life and includes the awareness of anima-that everything has a soul essence. Animals, plants, minerals, all of existence have a quality of sentience. Anima encompasses a knowing of how you and I are capable of self empowerment and healing through energy connectedness within a greater whole. Shamanic Practitioners journey to the rhythmic beat of a drum, and most often visit three levels, or worlds. The lower world is usually reached through a visualized hole in the earth that is imagined or real. Tunnel travel is the most popular path to a lower world, but middle and upper worlds don’t generally involve an earth entrance or tunnel. There are no set rules for shamanic travel, and each journey is as unique as the practitioner who embarks on an adventure.

To understand more about Power Animals and how they are connected to us as spirit helpers and guides, here’s an example of a shamanic soul session with a person I journey on a quest for. This imagery begins with my own creative imagination as a kick start for a journey; and as the meditative state evolves, glimpses of imagery present itself to me, that I no longer perceive myself as creating. In this waking dream state, a soul retrieval journey unfolds as intuition becomes the driving guidance hereon:

I follow the sound of a drum beat to the lower world with Polar bear, who accompanies me as I we fly through a tunnel from a cave entrance in the forest. As we exit the tunnel, we find ourselves on a mountainside. So, we climb up the incline, holding onto thick vines along the side of it’s cliff. We’re heading upward now, towards sky and puffy white clouds; we pass a cave entrance on the way, and there’s a babbling brook within it and a small waterfall pouring out of it’s entrance. Moss and giant green fern grace the rocks along this mountainside. Now we see how a rainbow appear above us on the landing, and as we ascend to the top of this mountain we begin to follow the rainbow. It leads us to a cozy camp site in a clearing of old growth pine tree, with a fire burning in a fire pit, and camp pillows and blankets on the ground around it. We watch as it’s glow is enhanced, it’s brightness becomes central to our view as light shifts in an instant, and daylight suddenly turns into night.

Stars now outline our sky like a table cloth of lace, and before us in the moonlight, stands a large and majestic Bison. He’s beautiful, and radiates love and wisdom through his soft, wise, dark eyes. He projects a picture image into my mind’s eye of the person I journey for. My heart feels warmth, a love connection between the Bison and this person. I know he is her spirit guide, showing himself to me in the form of a power animal.

Bison appears in animal form, to offer her spiritual strength,”power”, and to assist her with deeper life answers which she currently seeks. He has shown up for her with a purpose of working to manifest abundance in her life. The healing qualities attributed to Bison medicine share information about the kind of energetic help he offers her. Bison (the animal totem) represents a manifestation of abundance in her life, and reminds her of how gratitude increases abundance, while not acknowledging positives and ‘gifts’ she already has, creates a barrier to the increase. She can choose to welcome her power animal (spirit helper), or reject him. It’s very likely she’s already felt drawn to Bison energy before I visualize him for her now.

I send Buffalo a readiness ‘feeling: that indicates I’m open to receiving his message for her. He sends me more images, and they flood to me like a moving picture. I see a train, a baby, someone painting a portrait, ballet shoes, and a tall house in the country. They are random images, but I connect with a unique feeling that accompanies each one. I notice how each picture relates to my own life, and I begin to translate what I am seeing into words I will communicate about this journey, to her. I’ve learned to trust this journey experience, and anticipate she will find significance and meaning from what I’m shown here.

I ask Buffalo her burning question of the day: Will she move to Alaska, or stay in her current place of residence? He sends me an image of smiling young adults in a large classroom enjoying an animated conversation; above the students, an eagle flys in a large circle, holding a college diploma in her beak. She drops the diploma, which appears to be a fancy ivory scroll bound by a gold ribbon. The diploma lands at our feet and as I look closer, see an outline of Alaska etched on it. I scoop up the diploma and deposit it into light energy, which I deposit into a backpack. I’ll bring these imagery messages back to the person for her answer.

A shamanic journey is like an imaginative vision quest and waking meditative-dream wrapped into one. It’s the practice of paying attention to intuitive guidance, and trusting the flow of where images that present themselves take me. A drum beat is like a heartbeat, life’s cord between body and imagination unfolding. It’s a pleasure to connect with my heart, mind and soul on these journeys, and exciting to meet up with spirit guides and power animal energies for myself and for others!

In shamanic circles I facilitate, people come to journey on their own, achieving self healing inspiration in the soul work journeys together. Last Sunday we met on the Lunar Chinese New Year Celebration, as we are currently moving into Water Rabbit. To honor our power animals we journeyed by drum, to simply connect with these special spirit guides. Our intension was simply to dwell in the energy of our power animals, and to explore our relationship with them. For twenty minutes we traveled on a meditative journey to the sound of a drum beat, and then afterward, in discussion, each of us passed a “talking stick rattle” to share the experience:

“I was one with my moose, I became her, and played around in the mud, walked on the grass, and I saw through her eyes”

“I met Elk as he sounded his voice in the drum! Suddenly he was with me, introducing himself as my new guide.”

” Polar bear showed me we had been together in another space and time, we have known each other for eons”

“I was the wind for my eagle”

“I met with my whale, it was so beautiful”

“I played with Monkey and a dragon appeared. He began dancing with me”

As members of our shamanic circle described their power animal journeys, it became an emotional, beautiful and profound conversation unfolding. Animal energies are a bond between human and nature, and can touch each of our souls in meaningful ways. Sharing our visions with each other is also a powerful tool for healing and transformation, because each of us relate to what others are describing on their journeys. A connection to spirit, animals including sea and air creatures, to earth, and ultimately to the outer celestial sphere of stars, suns and other planets unlimited, this is a universal state of “Being”, we all share it.

Our second intention last Sunday eve, on January 22nd, was to visit again with our spirit guide / Power Animals, and this time to request guidance on what our soul will need to pay attention to during this coming year. Do we need to let go of something? Do we need to complete or start a project? Once again, the journey by drum brought us back to sharing in our circle with each other, messages we received from “spirit”. For one person, it was a realization that it’s time to clean out the attic and create fresh space. For another person, it was to finally write her book; and for someone else, he saw how this year will be about calling in a romantic partnership, and to focus on his important construction project.

By communing with our power animal guides, and learning how they communicate specifically with us, a profound sense of connection to other people, animals, nature, and to universe is realized; and most of all, there’s comes with this practice, an understanding of how we are not alone. In fact, our souls are energetically connected to each other and to everything; we are able to find our own answers through meditation, prayer, and with community of like minded, loving people.

To honor our power animals we can simply place a photographic image, a stuffed animal version, or statue of the one who resonates with us, in our personal space. This way, we can energetically acknowledge and interact with it when possible. We can read about the meanings of animals and see how ones we are drawn to, relate to our lives right now. By allowing ourselves to believe in a little magic, a little unseen goodness, this helps the process quite a bit.

Happy Water Rabbit Lunar New Year!

(¯` ´¯). *
`*.¸.* ´* peace * ´¯`•.¸¸. Love

~  Fawn

If this resonates and you want to recognize your true intuitive signal without second-guessing or repeated readings, Understanding Intuitive Guidance walks you through it step-by-step.