Connecting with totem/power animal?

I would like to know how do you connect with your totem/power animal.
You see, i'm having the urge to connect more consciously with mine which is the Bald Eagle. Where i live here (physical side of the Earth), live not the Eagle. The first time Eagle step in my life was about a year from now. One night while i was about to fall into sleep, i heard a loud Eagle screech, almost like there was one above me. It was so clear that I was stunned. After that, Eagle keep appearing in synchronicity even to this day.
I would love to have some guidance here.

In Lak'ech

If you want to be academically correct about it, individuals do not have totems. Totems are icons related to a specific tribe, and unless you have a tribe, you don't have a totem. Neoshamans use the term a bit more loosely, but I still like to reserve the term "totem" for something representing a community rather than an individual. For example, we can say the totem bird of all Americans is Bald Eagle since it is the national symbol.

I'm uncertain how authentic the idea of power animals is to indigenous Native American practices, but it is something used in Neoshamanism (or Neopaganism more broadly). It's my experience that they usually come to you, not the other way around. You don't have to limit your work with Gaea's creatures to "power animals" however. Any creature you want to learn more about you can connect with. Just spend time with it. Study the science, study the mythology, and above all, observe and know the creature in its native habitat on a personal level. It is one thing to read about a creature; it is entirely something else to have firsthand observations. I would never work with a creature I can't observe firsthand, but my path is also very locally-flavored.

There's always animal beings that become guides. My guide is an alligator snapping turtle.

It's all on the individual and who is willing to teach them. My past life's tribe is the Mattaponi from Appalachian Mountains.

Originally Posted by Quintessence

If you want to be academically correct about it, individuals do not have totems. Totems are icons related to a specific tribe, and unless you have a tribe, you don't have a totem. Neoshamans use the term a bit more loosely, but I still like to reserve the term "totem" for something representing a community rather than an individual. For example, we can say the totem bird of all Americans is Bald Eagle since it is the national symbol.

I'm uncertain how authentic the idea of power animals is to indigenous Native American practices, but it is something used in Neoshamanism (or Neopaganism more broadly). It's my experience that they usually come to you, not the other way around. You don't have to limit your work with Gaea's creatures to "power animals" however. Any creature you want to learn more about you can connect with. Just spend time with it. Study the science, study the mythology, and above all, observe and know the creature in its native habitat on a personal level. It is one thing to read about a creature; it is entirely something else to have firsthand observations. I would never work with a creature I can't observe firsthand, but my path is also very locally-flavored.

Thank you for your reply. First of all, i was confused as to which specific term to use. I was leaning towards using animal guides but then end up using the 'popular' term totem/power animal. If i had to choose an animal guide i would have chosen a terrestrial one, most probably those feline
You are right about studying through observance, its applicable in every aspects of life as much as contemplation Ah! Observation is a kind of subtle connection in itself, as one transcends the barrier of limited self.

Originally Posted by Rumar

There's always animal beings that become guides. My guide is an alligator snapping turtle.

It's all on the individual and who is willing to teach them. My past life's tribe is the Mattaponi from Appalachian Mountains.

Thanks for your response. Spirit have wonderful ways to help and guide us. I think we all, at certain junction in life, gets the help of certain guide to learn more about our connection with Spirit and thus everything around us.

I have had numerous animal guides. I cannot say they are Totem animals for I am unsure about having native american connections. We were always told we were a certain nationality but may have some allegheny(Pennsylvania) native american ancestory

I will say they are animal guides. They come when they want to in my dreams without me thinking about them. I believe they are there to guide me on my spiritual journey.



Merrie