Finding Your Power Animals

"A Power Animal is a protector, similar to a spirit guide, that represents an aspect of your soul."-Samantha Britt Williams

Permanent Guides: the Totem Animals

"The animals are spirit teachers that dwell in our unconscious mind, waiting for us to discover them."-- Stefanie Iris Weiss, Spirit Animals: Unlocking the Secrets of Our Animal Companions

Totem animals are the animal spirits that stay with you forever. They are like guardian angels who are ever-present in the background of your life, but who are available for closer relationship if you choose to connect in a deeper way.

Spirit Animals

Spirit animals are temporary companions that come to you for a while to help you grow or lend support while they are with you.


Some people think of angels as companions who hover close to us, available in an instant if we need them. Totem animals are always there, too, but, along with spirit animals, can help you grow and develop spiritually.

Some Native Americans believe that you have one power or totem animal and many other spirit animals that come and go in your life as teachers. Others believe that you have more.

In their book, Medicine Cards, Jamie Sams and David Carson indicate that we each have nine totem animals, seven of which correspond to direction or location: East, West, North, South, Above, Below, and Within, and two that walk with you at all times in spirit, on either side of you.

They go on to explain that you also may have encountered these animals in other ways and may have felt drawn to them for a reason unknown to you at the time.