Spirit Animal Manifestation. Has it happened to you?

The Raven is my spirit animal from an experience I had once in Wyoming. I have always loved animals and nature. I won't tell you exactly what happened because it will take to long and I would not be able to explain it good enough so you could fully understand what happened (maybe). It was a physical experience with Ravens and I knew instantly that it was a sign or vision or whatever you want to call it, and that the Raven was my spirit animal. I also have always been way into Native American anything, so it was awesome and I feel extremely lucky to have had this happen to me.

Just wondering if any of you have had something similar. Thanks

Can you explain a little more? Sounds interesting.

Thanks

I have two or three animal spirits that I have been in contact with in my life.

The most profound though is Brother Fox. I had a vision during meditation in which the fox appeared, pacing before me. I outstretched my hand to offer my friendship. He approached, and began to eat my hand. He litterally tore the flesh from my fingers. It didn't hurt, and I was no alarmed or scared. I felt very peacfull "watching" this animal lovingly strip the flesh from my hand. I belive we were becoming closer during this encounter, and I was not just offering kinship, but my etheral "body" up as a sacrifice as well.

Fox medicine has protected me from several dangerous and potentially life-threatening situtations for me.

I keep an Arctic Fox skull that was found in the Tundra on my desk, it's a powerful icon for me when meditating.

The moose, eagle, and wolf have also made themselves known to me. I have yet to work with them or cultivate a deeper relationship with them. I know however they are interested in working with me when the time is right.

I kind of see totems as archetypes of our own psyche. . . Just like consulting an oracle like the I Ching, Tarot, or Runes--the answers sought already reside within oneself...the same w/totems (from what ive experienced)...we somehow assign animals with specific traits/lessons at periodic times in our lives when we need to know the answers we already want to tell us. . .

Does this make sense to anyone else?

Originally posted by SteveR
Can you explain a little more? Sounds interesting.

Thanks

I was hiking down a mountain and was by myself in the Wind River Range. All of a sudden hundreds if not at least a thousand Ravens cirlcled above me and the whole time they were speaking their language. They kept circling me for a long time. I knew instantly that it was a sign from the powers that be, it was awesome.

The point I wanted to make when I explained it is that it wasn't just some Ravens flying around me, it was magical and I knew it instantly and I knew what it meant instantly.

Hopes that helps explain my experience

Originally posted by MystikMushroom
I have two or three animal spirits that I have been in contact with in my life.

The most profound though is Brother Fox. I had a vision during meditation in which the fox appeared, pacing before me. I outstretched my hand to offer my friendship. He approached, and began to eat my hand. He litterally tore the flesh from my fingers. It didn't hurt, and I was no alarmed or scared. I felt very peacfull "watching" this animal lovingly strip the flesh from my hand. I belive we were becoming closer during this encounter, and I was not just offering kinship, but my etheral "body" up as a sacrifice as well.

Fox medicine has protected me from several dangerous and potentially life-threatening situtations for me.

I keep an Arctic Fox skull that was found in the Tundra on my desk, it's a powerful icon for me when meditating.

The moose, eagle, and wolf have also made themselves known to me. I have yet to work with them or cultivate a deeper relationship with them. I know however they are interested in working with me when the time is right.

I kind of see totems as archetypes of our own psyche. . . Just like consulting an oracle like the I Ching, Tarot, or Runes--the answers sought already reside within oneself...the same w/totems (from what ive experienced)...we somehow assign animals with specific traits/lessons at periodic times in our lives when we need to know the answers we already want to tell us. . .

Does this make sense to anyone else?

That is awesome, I am just barely starting to get into meditation type things. I totally get what you mean by seeing animals using what you have seen to give you wisdom. Sometimes whatever type of bird I see at the first part of everyday I find out what that bird means and try to head its message. Animals rule, and I think they are the key to saving us. Thanks for the reply.

To a shaman, everything that happends holds importance.

If I happen to notice a wild animal in my day (around here there are many moose, fox, wolves, bears, birds, squirrels, ect..) I take mental note and try and see what wisdom that particular animal might represent...perhaps this message will serve me well later on in the day...?

The ravens we have here are so massive they almost are the size of a meduim chicken. It's insane. I went to Montana and saw my first crow. I laughed and laughed and thought it was a tiny raven. Oh man...

I've seen ravens do amazing things. I've seen 2 ravens attack a bald eagle in the air and steal it's catch. That was quite impressive! So much for our national bird...

Lucky peeps who live out in the wilderness.. only foxes I've seen were stuffed or in the zoo.. same for the moose..

I've been told that the animal spirit chooses you, that you may do a ritual to ask for one. The only animal that I've been around long enough to understand are house cats.. I have the chinese symbol for cat on my hand (pronounced 'mao'), but I don't know if that is actually my totem. I've never done the ritual, so I don't really expect the spirit to smack me upside the head.

Crows have always been special to me, altho I don't understand why. Having lived in cities most of my life, my animal contact has been severely limited.

Would it be fair to say that you've better luck contacting animal spirits in the wild, as opposed to the city?
What would be the/a fundamental difference in seeing an 'everyday' animal (squirrel, robin, skunk, et cetera), rather than a random animal in the wild?

Likewise, what about plant totems? Anyone feel/know that they have a particular plant aiding them? (Do they even do that??)

I spent a few years in the Northwest Territories, a huge part of Canada above the 60th parallel. The ravens there are nothing short of amazing to me. Raven18
mentioned 'their language' and that is so true. If you listen to them, it's an experience you'll not regret. When I speak to them, they answer...not that I understand a thing they say, but they do communicate.

And they are very intelligent.

Once, when I was watching through my window, I saw two ravens working at getting the lid off of a galvanized steel garbage can. This was the type that had a locking mechanism which you needed to press in while lifting the lid and the two ravens, one on the latch and the other on the handle, managed to get off.

To stay on topic, my spirit animal is the snake. I always watch for them in the wild and in suburbia and don't find them creepy in the least, even though the rattlesnakes are numerous where I live. In my mind, they have a special place in the circle of life.

[edit on 5-7-2006 by masqua]

[edit on 5-7-2006 by masqua]

Look into a raven's eyes somtime. It's an odd experience. It's as if their is somthing inside there much, much more aware and inteligent than other birds. . . It has a depth and I feel like it can read my soul in a strange way. . . Special birds they are indeed, perhaps incarnated souls of those past...?

In Yellowknife, I met with people of the Dogrib tribe who consider ravens to carry the souls of their ancestors. But there's much more to it than that...in fact, the raven is considered to be the one who gave people life. The stories associated with creation myths are varied, but here is a snippet about the Haida...

www.godchecker.com...

In the beginning, RAVEN was first and foremost a Creator and Trickster God - especially of the Haida tribe, who claim he discovered the first humans hiding in a clam shell and brought them berries and salmon.

I've been told that the animal spirit chooses you, that you may do a ritual to ask for one.

In the cultures I am most familiar with the ritual you speeak of is Vision Quest. There
is a book available that gives an account of one mans quest and his life. Black Elk Speaks.

not that I understand a thing they say, but they do communicate

Try listening with your heart and spirit. I know easier said.

To stay on topic, my spirit animal is the snake.

In many cultures the Snake is a symbol of knowledge and healing. My teachers brother is a brother to the snake( think about the ceremony in Billy Jack, actual ceremony). I am of the Snake medicine clan. However my guide is different.

the raven is considered to be the one who gave people life

There is an excelent telling of one of these creation stories in Steven Segals movie
On Deadly Ground.

from another culture and another place, Raven is the messenger of Odin and as I recall replaces the sight in the eye he gave for the Runes when he was " hung upon the tree".

My Animal guide is a raven as well.
I used to have a lot of dreams where a raven would come and visit me and would show me other animal guides that would come and go. I'm part Tlinget native, and have always wondered if thats why raven chose to be my guide. I moved back to Southeast Alaska last year for a little while and the first animal I saw was a raven that woke me up my first morning there by sitting outside my hotel window and cawing. For some reason, I would always mentally talk to the ravens there, and before someone would become ill, a raven would give me a sign. For me it was by sitting on the top of the roof where I worked and cawing. I would instantly know someone was about to get seriously ill. After about the 5th time of this I paid heavy attention, it was no longer chance. It was a sign I learned to recognise. The last time it happened I asked "who" and I got a vision of a native girl (my healer spirit guide) who told me it would be family. The next day I was told my mom had cancer, and I had to fly back to Minnesota where I have walked with her through her cancer treatment. (she's cancer free now) For those of us who learn to hear and see the signs that are all around us, animal guides are awesome to have.

[edit on 6-7-2006 by Darkblade71]

I was browsing over this thread, found it interesting.
I dont know squat when it comes to this stuff.
So let me throw this out at you guys, may sound stupid so bare with me.

Pets. For example, I have two boxers that I am very close with.
Is this type of relationship the same thing you are talking about only with wild animals? Were these two dogs put here for me to better my life?
Or are we talking about a more spiritual sense. The only way I can try and describe what I am trying to ask is to compare it to indians and how they used to relate to nature.

Yes and no.

In many cases spirit guides appear as a physical being, in others spiritual. And both
at times.

Medicine animals are special and unique to the person. They can take any form
at all not necessarily or exclusively "Wild Animals". I have known people who's
guides were butterflies and hummingbirds. There can be several over a lifetime.

Location can sometimes play a role. Yes your boxers can serve as your guides.
Or your guides can when necessary inhabit your boxers as it were.

wow, very cool. I am going to run a google search on this to learn more.

I know of the Vision Quest, and have a high respect for it. However, the ritual that I read about was from a Shaman book, albeit (probably) a new-age book.. 'In the Shadow of the Shaman' is the title. I don't know how much to trust or put into this ritual.. the prescribed kind, as the books always say that the rituals are per the individual (some do it this way, some that way).

Those of you who have Animal Guides/Spirits.. did you do a ritual (be it Vision Quest or other) before being introduced to your spirit?

How do you know if your house pet/companion is a guide? There've been times when I've truly wondered about my cat.. but since I'm completely unfamiliar with anything having to do with spirit guides (and in fact want one too much for it to come to me)... I don't know if he's my guide, or my companion who knows me, knows when to snuggle and when to give kisses, et cetera.

((I like asking people who are in the know, rather than googling, when it comes to such matters. Spirituality doesn't seem to be the kind of thing that's found online.. on random websites and such.. but from people who already know. So, everyone, Thank You for sharing! ))

I saw a red-headed woodpecker today in my backyard whist watching the history channel on the couch. He was hammering away at tree just outside in full view. I stood, walked to the window and mentaly and soflty spoke to him:

"Hello brother woodpecker. You are prefectly adapted for your role in the wild. I apreciate you're unique beauty.." and I smiled with my eyes and heart in his direction.

He glanced at me several times and did not fly away, in fact he continued his quest for food with additional vigor. Perhaps tonight when I meditate I shall reach out in my mind for the woodpecker...see what it has to say

I also drove by a dead moose on the side of the highway today. It didn't seem that unusual, but I did think of a decent thought...Every death is just the begining of a new life. ..The energy of that moose now is free to become many, many diffrent things...

perhaps an additional thought for the Elk, " Thank You Brother for giving your
life that others might live."


This might also be applied to those who serve in our military.

Originally posted by Diseria


((I like asking people who are in the know, rather than googling, when it comes to such matters. Spirituality doesn't seem to be the kind of thing that's found online.. on random websites and such.. but from people who already know. So, everyone, Thank You for sharing!

))

Totally understandable. But I wanted to get a decent background on this before I asked questions. I have never heard of Vision Quest nor do I really even understand the concept of a spirit guide.

As far as pets go, what is the difference between a companion and a spirit guide?