by Nippy Katz (Not his real name) Demigod about Town
Member since:
August 10, 2006

Game: Your Animal Totem

September 27, 2007 04:32 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 34

In today's high tech, high pressure world we sometimes neglect our spiritual side.  One thing we can learn from other religions is the importance of animal totems.  They bring something to life that you can define more easily by experience than anything else. 

My wife and I discovered ours many years ago.  Hers is the Collared Peccary,  one of the only species of swine native to the Americas.  Peccaries are gregarious, good parents, and like all swine, are very intelligent.  Mine is the gorilla.  It sounds like a banal choice but I have quite a few ape like characteristics including prominent brow ridges, long arms, and lush body hair.  I feel a strong kinship with the gentle giants.

Our daughter found her totem when she as about six.  I'm not allowed to reveal it but it's the oldest civilized species on earth.  They have a level of technology that far surpasses ours but prefer to live a quiet bucolic existence in ferny dells. 

Here's your chance to go on a vision quest if you haven't already.  Name your animal totem and explain why it suits you.

One animal per comment.  Digressions and threadjacking encouraged.  Please do not criticize any member's totem.  Remember, the animal spirit chooses the person, not the other way around.  

Comments: 34

Michael the #2 Ninja Kitteh Sep 27, 2007, 4:40pm UTC
Howdy!

Robert Pullman explores this in detail in his Dark Materials trilogy. You may can talk more about your totem/demon/damon right here.
Kris M. Sep 27, 2007, 4:41pm UTC
The tiger, which is, not coincidentally, my official daemon. They are solitary once they've matured (cubs stay with the mother for about 2 years), fearless hunters, and act generally like extremely large, dangerous cats. No matter what their demeanor is, if you look into their eyes you can tell that they're dangerous.
Michael the #2 Ninja Kitteh Sep 27, 2007, 4:46pm UTC
If a shaman isn't handy, or you don't have a ready supply of peyote, you can try The Golden Compass Site to figure out what your "daemon" is. This is a little like a totem.
mona d. Sep 27, 2007, 4:47pm UTC
without thinking about it, i have to say cats. i have always been told that i am part cat, i can always make friends with the wildest ferals, and have not lived a day without having cats in my house and my life.

to cop what kris said, if you look in their eyes you can tell that they are always thinking.
Lydia O. Sep 27, 2007, 4:50pm UTC
My animal totem is the human. I know that they're not popular, but that's how it goes, I went on the vision quest, and it just made sense, once I accepted it. They wander, they are curious, they usually take good care of their children, they like good food and are happiest in fur. They don't think very hard, that was the bad part for me. I had to accept that meant really I don't like to think much. But they're fairly clean, at least.
penni d. Sep 27, 2007, 4:51pm UTC
i do not know what i am supposed to call mine, as i am "shapechanger" able to be what i NEED to be in most situations, but i distinctly recall a mother "dragon" in my
past.....
Michael the #2 Ninja Kitteh Sep 27, 2007, 4:52pm UTC
I'm a spider. Sometimes difficult to love and exceedingly retentive. I tend to cling, too-- to triva, memories, clutter.

I like Bears and Tigers (especially Richard Parker).
penni d. Sep 27, 2007, 4:53pm UTC
had to come back and say......lydia o.,........that wuz GREAT!!!
Kris M. Sep 27, 2007, 4:54pm UTC
Oh, Lydia, you're much better than that!
Ina ♥ ♥ Sep 27, 2007, 4:59pm UTC
Mine is simply Gus. He doesn't ask for much. He requires very little. He inspires sympathy in his humans. He leaves no mess behind. He can't harm another creature. He can't see many creatures. He causes great concern about his well being for those of us who are lucky enough to live around him. He is gentle and very soft spoken. He has a mission in life that I can't yet imagine. His fur chunks are decorative on my patio.
Kris M. Sep 27, 2007, 5:21pm UTC
Ina, you have dreadlocks? I wouldn't have guessed it.
♯ ♪ Sep 27, 2007, 5:30pm UTC
Mine used to be elephants. Then I got pregnant and made myself a pair of overalls out of gray paisley. My husband started laughing and called me, well... an elephant. Since then, I have gravitated toward small bears. Although, if I were to choose something really me, I would say it would have to be a sand dollar.
Alison H. Sep 27, 2007, 5:38pm UTC
Probably a cat. I'm a Leo and love having cats around.
Ada D. Sep 27, 2007, 5:41pm UTC
My totem is an osprey, but the Other Voices in My Head all have different totems, including a wolf, a Grandaddy Longlegs, something hairy I don't recognize, and a pill bug. I tried to carve a proper totem pole using the post that holds up my front porch. I like it but it gets strange looks from the neighbors, and FedEx now refuses to leave packages at my house. This whole "find your totem" thing can have unexpected side effects.
Nothing Fancy Sep 27, 2007, 5:41pm UTC
Well see I think my life totem is a cat - however the stage in my life totem is a deer. Kind of depends on what type of totems you "believe". But I do believe the Deer has a strong playing on my life right now, really ever since I became a mother.
Kris M. Sep 27, 2007, 5:43pm UTC
There are parts of me suited to a wolf. Wolves have rules, and if you don't live by them in the pack, the consequences are dire. I don't have a problem with this. They also have a better working political system than our own. I don't think the Supreme Court has ever had to get involved in a wolf dispute -- they take care of these things themselves.
Tonia, who hugs trees G. Sep 27, 2007, 6:09pm UTC
Some days it's a bee - some days it's a bear - some days it's sweet and loyal puppy dog - all depends on what my hormones are doing. Now if you want to get into totems of a non-animal nature, well then it would be a tree - of course.
Lydia, I think cats can have humans for a totem. Not every cat would think it's a good choice but after all, they're cats. :)
Lydia O. Sep 27, 2007, 7:23pm UTC
Well, I'm sure all cats don't--it's not like we have a choice, you know? If I did I'd have a frog. :)
Beverly P. Sep 27, 2007, 9:29pm UTC
Interesting!
I would say my totem is
The Labrador Retriever

The personality suits me well. You do NOT want to mess with "my loved ones" and I will rip you apart if you hurt them or attempt to in any way. Yet I'm very loving, caring and mellow unless provoked. Territorial for sure but not so much that my door's not always open to strangers. I let you in, but only after making sure you're okay. Loving and sometimes just downright "stupid", yet amazingly smart and witty at times. I can honestly say the Labrador Retriever is definitely my match.
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:53pm UTC
cats -- definitely. Even if tell them to let me alone, they do not. They follow me around, they are the boss of me, they sleep on my bed when I say no, disobey in every way, then hypnotize me with their eyes:

"Nalita, I command you to pat my butt, get me catnip, and salmon, rub my fur and underside while I lie on my back, all 4 legs up in the air, purring -- now get to it!"

"yeeeees, maaaaaster."

Definitely, cats.
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:54pm UTC
Are there exceptions to the rules in this game, or must it be followed to the letter?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:55pm UTC
I am just wondering, Nippy, if I might trade totems with somebody,

Somebody, pleeeeez?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:56pm UTC
Come on, now! Certainly SOMEBODY wants to trade!

Tri-Valley Nippy, perhaps?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:56pm UTC
What are another Wurbizer?
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:58pm UTC
Okay, I'll remember this!

Kool Kat! Tigers would have been Kool. Hoarding those Clemsons' are ya!

Okay! Okay!
~Lady Neeetah of California~Obama #44 W. Sep 27, 2007, 9:59pm UTC
My threadjacking is DONE!
carmel m. Sep 28, 2007, 12:16pm UTC
hmmmmm initially I would have said a otter but now that I think on it my children are better for those playful creatures.
I guess I would be a owl.
I like sloth and sloths. Our daughter went on an eco-tour to Costa Rica when she was in high school. She brought back lots of pictures of sloths. They're all over in the rural areas. For the next father's day she gave me a very realistic sloth stuffed toy. It has velcro paws so you can let it hang upside down.

One problem sloths have on the ground is their extremely long claws. It's very hard for them to walk. The claws are a big help in getting around in trees.
Kris M. Sep 28, 2007, 9:58pm UTC
Nalita, I'm attached to my tiger, like my Tigers, but have you considered being a leopard or a panther? Lioness? Cheetah?

Of course if someone else shares a tiger, we can hang out. Tigers are solitary but cool that way.

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