can witches have totem animals?

Question

I love wolves and have felt drawn to them for over twenty years, and I am asking because of a site ( i won't mention his name, but some feel he is a "bunny writer") has a section on totem animals, under familiars, and I was just wondering. Need serious answers. I do not think my cat, would be appreciative of being my familiar!

and how does one know when your totem animal has chosen you? I have the characteristics described in that particular website for wolf, but how can i be sure?

Answer 1

The wolf tends to be common because it acts as a guide and protector. Chances are you have several animal spirit guides and just haven't connected with the others yet.

Answer 2

Okay, here's the thing. Traditionally, Wicca doesn't have totem animals (totems being archetypal spiritual beings that embody the qualities of a particular species). Witches had (and still have) familiars, physical animals that aid in the work of magic, as well as acting as guardians during ritual. British Traditional Wiccans may very well tell you that totems are not a part of Wicca. However, you *can* have a totem; just don't call it "Wiccan". (On the other hand, eclectic Wiccans claim anything can be appropriated into Wicca, seeing it as a sort of "open-source religion".)

Also, while we're on the subject of familiars, not every pet is a familiar, nor do all physical animals have the capacity to act as familiars. I go into a little more detail as to why in this essay:

http://www.twpt.com/afamiliarquestion.htm

Back to totemism--what you find in books (such as Ted Andrews' "Animal-Speak", and other modern books by neopagan authors, isn't traditional totemism the way Native American tribes and other indigenous cultures practice it. In traditional totemism, groups, not individuals, have totems. So rather than having an individual totem, you would have a totem of your tribe, clan or family.

Modern neopagan totemism is a combination of several different traditions; rather than elaborate on it here, I'll just direct you to this essay where i explain it more fully than I could in the space here:

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usor&c=words&id=12039

Now, as to learning more about totems, I highly recommend the following sites:

http://www.wildspeak.com
http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/category/animal-magic/ - a collection of reviews on books on animal totemism and related subjects
http://therioshamanism.com/2007/09/28/more-about-animal-totems/ - this contains the guided meditation I use in my own work to meet with and work with totems

So that's a very basic overview. Animal magic has been my primary focus for over a decade; I like to think I at least somewhat know what I'm talking about ;)

Answer 3

Of course they can! Witches sense things usually that others cant, and we know what our totems are. Mine is the wolf also! I love wolves, and have pictures and statues, and wolf items all over my house! Even my dog resembles a wolf! Sylvia Brown has lots of info on totem animals too. As Ive got older Ive read about many different religions, and true Wiccans aren't really bad people. I don't actually consider myself a Wiccan, but I do believe in many things that they do. My Mom was always interested in the supernatural and had phychic abilities, so I grew up with that, and I love animals, nature, and beleive in more of the wiccan religion, but I dont run around and do spells all the time or stuff like some people may imagine. I just beleive in what I beleive, and yes, totem animals are important to me as well!

Answer 4

yes they can. you may need to do a meditation to find out what your totem animal is. it seems that 75% of wiccans identify with a wolf for whatever reason, but that doesn't mean it's your totem animal/familiar/spirit guide or whatever.

i was extremely surprised to find out my totem animals were jaguar and jay. i was expecting something totally different. once i learned more about jaguar and jay, i realized how well they related to me.

find someone who is knowledgable in this field to take you on a spiritual walk to find what you're looking for.

good luck

Answer 5

yes they can. Follow your instincts they will draw you to the one you need. My totem is a fox and my familiar is a small Boston Terrier! And where is this term "Bunny Writer" coming from? This is the ONLY place I have seen it in reference to Pagans, Wicca and Witches!

Answer 6

Whatever you call yourself, if you are doing energetic work, you need all the allies you can get! Working with spirit guides, devas, plants, animals, faeries, etc. can add such an amazing layer of truth and insight to any work! I challenge everyone to do the work that YOU are drawn to, work with the energies that YOU are called to, and don't spend another second worrying about whether you have permission or whether someone will call you a bad name (or whether you should sit in judgment and call someone else a bad name).

Answer 7

yes

you may be a womyn that runs with the wolves. There is a free spirit within you and an ability to comminicate with the basic life force.

This is actually much in the spirit of Nox Lumens


remember dogs has masters cats have staffs

Answer 8

Of course.

Brightest Blessings

Answer 9

yes, wiccans are not tied to any sort of set belief. you can adopt any form of shamanistic spirituality as your own.

EDIT: your affinity to that animal has pretty much cinched your choice, I think. You should definately feel a connection of some sort to the creature you choose, and it sounds to me like you have that already.

Answer 10

Witches are made up Figures of one wishful Imagination...beside what is got to do with Religion