When I talk about animal totems, I classify different kinds of totems according to the elemental environment in which they live: Land, Air, Water.  There also solar animals who fall under the elemental Fire category and lunar animals too.  I’ll elaborate on these at the end of this article.

This classification system is handy because the power of animal totems is both in the animal and its natural environment.

This class system also serves as a guideline when we want to align ourselves with totem animals to assist with specific navigation on our spiritual walk.

The following is a list of categories and the areas of expertise your totem animal will govern according to its environment.

Water Animal Totems:
Deep, Stirring, Mysterious, Elusive – these words skim the surface of the pond when discussing the personality of water totems.  Because life underwater goes unobserved by landlubbers, the esoteric symbolism of water deals with subtle energies.  Creatures of the water are guides and guardians of sacred wisdom that is typically hidden from common view. 

This “hidden” wisdom can come to us in the forms of: Dreams, Intuition, Psychism, Emotion, Subconscious.  When we need assistance with dream interpretation or getting clarity on intuitive impressions, water totems are the ones to call. 

I love to observe how water takes on the form in which it is held.   Water poured into a cup takes on the shape of the cup.  This is also true with water animal totems.  They are endlessly mutable and flexible.  Indeed, these majestic creatures of the waters will graciously adjust themselves to offer you great advantages in the psychic realms when you make efforts to meet them on their terms.

Water and therefore water totems are also uncanny at helping us with purification and clearing out energy no longer serving us.  Water is a cleansing agent, and her creatures are natural assistance in the process of flushing out and cleaning emotional blockages.

Land Animal Totems:
Solid, Reliable, Grounded, Stable – these are some of the symbolic meanings backing the earth element and her animal inhabitants.  Because our earth is tangible and measurable, land totems offer a very structured and pragmatic symbolism.  Land totems will guide us in the physical and material realms like: money, health and hearth. 

Consider the cliché “salt of the earth” that’s the personality flavor of land totems.  Dependable, comforting, anchoring.  Land animals will guide us in social exchanges too.  This class of animal totem is intimate with the concepts of family and close social connections. 

We can also observe most land mammals having four legs.  The number four is esoterically symbolic of foundations (think of a four cornered foundation as essential to building traditional homes).  To be sure, land animal totems are the modifiers and calm stabilizers of our Universe.

Air Animal Totems:
High, Clear, Intangible, Weightless – if you haven’t already guessed, air animal totems are rulers of thoughts and the mind.  When someone says they are “high minded” or “pie in the sky ideas” that’s an air animal totem quality.  Air is invisible, but no less real.  Thoughts are the very same – invisible but measurable and very real.  Creatures who claim the skies as their roaming headquarters are remarkably skilled at helping us hone our intellect and funnel our focus.  Sky totems  can even fly with us during meditation to insure understanding through the higher realms of the cosmos.

Air totems will also help us in the areas of planning, strategy and “big picture” views.  Consider birds.  They’ve got an aerial view of their world and so are perfectly positioned to obtain all their needs.  They view the world from the most advantageous angle – from above.  We can connect with our air cousins and plug into that same kind of broad view.  Doing so will give us uncommon perspectives and an expanded view of our inner and outer landscape.  This makes us better equipped to make smart choices while we are strategizing about our next step in life.

Creatures of the skies are also outstanding leaders in our spiritual development.  Innumerable cultures have deemed specific birds as spiritual masters, and air totems can be our guides to illumination.  If you are seeking spiritual ascension and higher vision, air totems will encourage your spirit to soar.

A Few Words on Solar (Fire) and Lunar Totems:
As most of us know there are four classic (Aristotelian) elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water and an amalgamating fifth element, Ether,  which is a pervasive divine energy interconnecting all life. 

I’ve discussed Earth, Water and Air totems, so what about Fire totems? 

These are a special classification of animals who have ancient lineages.  I call these fire animals “Solar Totems” or Solar animals because they are affiliated with the sun in classic mythology and archetypal wisdom. 

There are also Lunar animals who are affiliated with moon energy.

Lunar and Solar animals can be birds, fish, mammals, insects – any creature in our Universe. 

What are classifying factors for Lunar or Solar totems?  Energetic proclivity, personality, physical countenance,  aboriginal legend and collective myth.   Your own inner knowing will also identify an animal with solar or lunar properties so be attuned to your perceptions.

For example, the porcupine is considered a Solar totem because its quills are reminiscent of the outward spanning rays of the sun (to the Native American mind, especially).

Conversely, the crab is a lunar animal because stages of its life cycle are synchronized with the phases of the moon.  Many nocturnal creatures such as owls and wolves are also considered powerful moon totem animals.

I hope this introductory article on the classification of animal totems helps you communicate more clearly with the various animal partners you experience in your life. 

Bear in mind, this is a loose guide. 

To wit, if your Sturgeon totem displays “air totem” qualities – that’s okay.  If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that animal totems are infinitely expansive and will not be bound by convention. 

Just play around with these classifying concepts as you interact with your animal totems.

Better yet, ask your totems about what you’ve read here and observe how they respond to the various ideas of classification.  To be sure, our animal totems are every bit partners in our life experience. And so, open communication about the nuances of the presence and purpose in our Universe is key.

Avia Venefica                                                                                                                      www.Whats-Your-Sign.com