ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY/SYMBOLISM

ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY/SYMBOLISM

Spiritual and Native American Indian Animal Symbology

A

Aardvarks: Prolonging life (healing within)

Ant: Patience

Antelope: Grace of readiness, taking action

Armadillo: Keeping the feelings of others and troubles (reflected) boundaries

Ass: Time to move forward and not rest on your laurels

B

Badger: Taking charge aggressively, showing competence in difficult situations

Bandicoot: Finding inner strength and faith to attain inner harmony

Bat: Rebirth through darkness

Bear: Reflection and introspection

Beaver: Keeping busy and productive

Bee: Reproducing the good things in life, sharing the abundance of life, organisation

Beetle: Regeneration

Bilby: Releasing fears of the unknown

Birch: Discovering truth

Bison: Manifesting abundance

Blackbird: New understanding of life

Bluebird: Opportunities, happiness and confidence

Blue Jay: Using intuition to speak the truth

Bobcat: Reconnecting with inner self and accepting one's own company

Bowerbird: Dissecting situations to take a closer look

Brolga: Over analysing, being too critical of the self

Buffalo: Prayers being answered, being of assistance

Bull: Releasing excuses to cultivating productive ideas, ideal and plans

Butterfly: Making a transformation, being reborn

C

Canary: Using the power of the voice

Camel: Conservative and proper use of resources

Cardinal: Recognising the importance of your life and the role you play within it

Cassowary: To walk the walk and talk the talk

Cat: Enhancing independence, wisdom, magic and psychic connections

Catbird: Ability to communicate, new people being introduced into your life

Cheetah: Accomplishing tasks with speed and agility

Chickadee: Healing through truth

Chicken: Fertility

Chipmunk: Respect the smallest parts of nature through inter-relationship and equality

Cock: Optimism, resurrection and rebirth

Cockatoo: Taking pride in all your own attributes

Condor: Life, unity and equality for eternity

Cougar: Learning by trial and error, initiating what has been learnt and putting it to use

Coyote: The trickster, reconnecting with the inner child

Crane: Manifesting creativity and focus on life's significance

Crocodile: Digesting and assimilating truth

Crow: Divine law – wisdom, discernment, destroying deception

Cuckoo: Going with the flow of life, Intuitiveness

D

Deer: Tenderness and sensitivity, reconnecting with the innocence of life

Dingo: Be cautious before acting, uncovering the truth

Dog: Serving humankind with loyalty

Dolphin: Breath deep to tap energy, life force

Donkey: Shouldering the load of responsibility

Dove: Peace, feminine energies, letting go of the past

Dragonfly: Breaking through illusions of the tangible world

Duck: Finding comfort through understanding your own emotions

E

Eagle: Rediscovery, having foresight, flying above situations to get a better view

Echidna: Initiating changes and embracing new things

Eel: Conductor of love

Elephant: Old age wisdom, being of assistance to other

Elk: Stamina and persistence

Emu: Nuturing, being of assistance, unification

F

Falcon: Communication, receiving inner guidance through messages

Feather: Messenger of Spirit

Ferret: Answers by using deductions and reason

Finch: A busy time with new people and experiences

Fish: A need to stay focused yet going with the flow of life

Flamingo: Opening human heart

Fox: Learning to blend in, charm and charisma

Frog: Cleanse, refresh and replenish

G

Gazelle: Sure footedness

Giraffe: Far sightedness, seeing the forest through the trees

Goanna: Assessing situations, being observant

Goat: Starting new ventures and initiating changes

Goose: Breaking free of family restraints and conditioning

Gorillas: Communication and teaching through actions

Grasshopper: Taking a leap forward, bounding towards achieving goals or solutions

Groundhog: Exploring altered states, going within

Grouse: Dancing to a new beat in life

Gulls: Understanding what is and is not being communicated

H

Hawke: Communicating through visions, psychic powers

Hen: Tend to plans and ideas that need to be hatched

Heron: Listening to your wisdom and own inner self

Horse: The proper use of gifts, talents and abilities, will, endurance, authority and talent in proper manner without abuse or misuse

Hummingbird: Knower of loving all things is to love reflection

I

Iguana: Taking the time to understand situations, being patient

J

Jaguar: Secular and spiritual leadership potential

K

Kangaroo: To give unselfishly, nurture maternally

Kestrel: Patience is the key to attainment

Kingfisher: Peace and prosperity through new life experiences

Koala: Being supportive, looking to build on solid foundations of trust, love, sharing and nurturing

L

Leopard: Understanding the patterns that lead to self mastery

Lion: Taking pride in your life and achievements

Lizard: Dreaming solutions and envisioning

Llama: Nurturing and being of assistance

Lynx: Share when asked for wisdom (secret knower of)

Lyrebird: Being accepting of oneself, trust in your individuality and self expression

M

Magpie: Talent for relieving pain of others

Mammoth: Remembering

Mockingbird: Recalling and repeating all that is heard

Mole: Seeing the dark travel under earth, looking for what is buried beneath

Monkey: Relocation, embracing change

Moose: Self esteem, becoming more self aware

Moth: Bring intangible of spirit into tangible world

Mountain Lion: Leading through example

Mountain Ram: Tenacity and willingness to meet challenges head on

Mouse: Pay attention to detail – one task at a time

N

O

Octopus: envelop in love, able to undertake more than one thing at a time

Opossum: planning and strategy

Osprey: Breaking and setting of bones

Ostrich: How to interact through communication

Otter: Being young at heart, innocence, joy and delight

Owl: Being able to hear and see all that is hidden

P

Parrot: Understanding others more efficiently, healing through colours

Panther: Leaping fearlessly into the void of the unknown

Peacock: A need for stable foundations, wisdom and vision

Pelican: Overcoming the emotional ties, learning to let go

Penguin: Awakening of dreams, spiritual connections and dimensions

Pheasant: A strong connection with family, children, fertility

Pig: Intellect and reasoning ability

Pigeon: Returning to a place that symbolises feeling at home, messages

Platypus: solitude and self discovery

Porcupine: Faith and innocence

Possum: Staying focused on goals

Prairie Dog: Reconnecting with family, life and community, becoming more social

Praying Mantis: A need to wait patiently before moving into new situations or directions

Q

Quail: Being observant to all that is around whilst moving ahead without doubt

Quetzal: Totally free, uninhibited spirit who is willing to express all aspects of the self

Quoll: Being courageous, finding inner strength

R

Rabbit: Not to listen to unrealistic fears

Raccoon: Protector of the under-dog, weak, frail and elderly

Ram: Learn to trust in decisions and choices as being the right ones

Rat: Through persistence and sensibility success will be achieved

Raven: Keeper of magic, who sort the void of the unknown to effect change

Rhinoceros: Trusting in your own inner wisdom

Robin: Being creative with life and opening new doors, walking your walk and talking your talk

Rosella: Tapping the inner resources to bring forth sustenance and growth

S

Seal: Riding waves of emotions and feelings to discover one's self

Skunk: Reputation and ability to attract or repel what you need in life

Snake: Transmutation, Transformation

Snowy Owl: Eliminating lies and deception

Sparrow: Believing in the power of inner strength and self worth to undertake any situation or problem

Squirrel: Gathering energy and saving a little extra for lean times

Spider: Desire to create, deciding to create, taking actions

Starling: It is alright to be yourself, be a leader not a follower

Stork: Easy labour, giving birth

Sugar Glider: Listening to your inner guidance, guides and spirits

Swallow: Letting go of old limiting feelings or habits

Swan: Surrender to the flow

Swift: Taking responsibility for actions

T

Tasmanian Devil: Feeling defensive about what is significant to your needs or wants

Tiger: Awakening the passion for life, reclaiming your power

Toucan: Warning system in jungle (trouble, danger)

Turkey : Release and give away Turtle Dove: Nurture dreams of peace

U

V

Vulture: Waste not want not

W

Walrus: Altering actions and feelings in order to interact with the changes life offers

Whale: Remembering talents and using them

Weasel: guile, stealth, ingenuity and observing the obvious

Wolf: Ability to create new paths for learning teaching

Wombat: Perseverance and persistence

Woodpecker: Strongest protection against shadow and evil

Wren: A need to look at the big picture and not be so concerned about the little things

X

Y

Z

Zebra: Nothing final or absolute, all not as it seems.

NATIVE AMERICAN ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY AND

ANIMAL MESSAGE

Crow/Raven - portent

Bluebird - happiness

Chickadee - optimism

Cardinal/Red Bird - beauty

Quail - family

Bat - macabre

Hummingbird - joy

Robin - balance

Meadowlark - protection/protective

Hawk - opportunity

Owl - diviner/divination

Blue jay - pushy

Peacock - ostentatious

Wild Pheasant/Wild Turkey - quick

Sparrows - ordinary

Mockingbird - initiative

Magpie - knowledge

Roadrunner - traveller

Pigeon on the ground - inertia

Pigeon in the air - mission

Chicken - foolish

Turkey - forgetful

Parrot - playful

Heron - spiritual

Lark - weather

Pelican - saver

Eagle - highest power

Canary - joy

Snow Goose - fidelity

Domestic Goose - quarrelsome

Wild Duck - adventure

Flamingo - grace

Red-headed Woodpecker - resourceful

Ostrich - stubborn

Dog - loyalty

Cat - independence

Goat - friendly

Bighorn Sheep - conqueror

Domestic Sheep - follower

Cow - docile

Wild Horse - freedom

Race Horse - high strung

Work Horse - plodding

Pig - intelligence

Bull/Stallion - sexual energy

Buffalo - strength

Rabbit - gentle

Skunk - defended

Porcupine - protection

Raccoon - enterprising

Possum - avoidance

Otter - playful

Badger - aggressive

Armadillo - defence

Beaver - accomplishment

Squirrel - resourceful

Turtle/Tortoise - old wisdom

Llama - practical

Camel - ornery

Donkey - helpful

Mule - stubborn

Elephant - old memory

Elk - brave

Moose - pride

Antelope - action

Lynx - psychic

Deer - loveliness

Bear - strength

Mountain Lion/Cougar - leader

Coyote - cunning

Fox - wily/sly

Wolf - organizer

Snake - challenger

Lizard/Toad - wisdom

Frog - sorcery

Chameleon - adaptable

Cricket - disharmony

Cockroach - lowest

Fly - parasite

Butterfly - friendly

Spider - deceit

Beetle - hidden knowledge

Mole - lack of foresight

Rat - survival

Mouse - busy

Whale - universal mind

Dolphin/Porpoise - teachers

Shark - killer

Sturgeon - dominant

Sea Gull - freedom

**

Joanne Walmsley

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