Native American Totems &Their Meanings from A to D

Published on January 29, 2012 by

Native American Totem Pole
Native American Totem Pole

Native American Totems

A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. Native American tradition provides that each individual is connected with nine different animals that will accompany each person through life, acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed along our journey.

Animal Characteristics & Meaning

  • Alligator : Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic survival instincts.
  • Ant : Group minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious
  • Anteater: Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.
  • Antelope: Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice
  • Armadillo: Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries
  • Badger: Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit
  • Bat: Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life
  • Bear : Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength.
  • Beaver : Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector
  • Bee : Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life
  • Boar/Pig : A very powerful totem – prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless.
  • Buffalo : Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.
  • Bull : Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation.
  • Butterfly : Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace, grace, ability to accept change
  • Camel : Survival, positive, accomplishments
  • Caribou : Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity
  • Cat : Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence
  • Cheetah : Swiftness, insight, focus
  • Cougar : Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight
  • Cow : Swift, insightful, and focused
  • Coyote : Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence
  • Cobra : Swift and decisive
  • Crab : Good luck, protection and success
  • Crane : Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant
  • Crocodile : Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately
  • Crow : Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance
  • Deer : Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure
  • Dog : Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance
  • Dolphin : Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.
  • Dove : Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love
  • Dragon : Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery
  • Dragonfly : Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.
  • Duck : Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions

Source: legendsofamerica

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}
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Before the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans were the only people in the world to enjoy Popcorn, Peanuts, Maple Syrup, Corn, Squash, Wild Rice, Strawberries, Potatoes, Tomatoes, to name a few items.

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