Totem animal

Totem

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Many therianthropes (and non-therians), have beliefs in totems. A totem is the guiding spirit of an animal, plant, or other artifact of nature.

Totems can be seen as a representation of your spiritual "family", or perhaps even as a sort of spiritual guide, or an ideal to follow. Some people personify them as if they were individual, thinking beings, while to others, they are like a collective ideal.

Often, among therians, there is some confusion between theriotype and totem. It is possible to be a werewolf, a werecougar, a werehorse or simply plain human, but to have one or more totems, that may or may not be the same as your theriotype.

There may also be some confusion between totems and spirit guides. Sometimes, a totem may also act as a spirit guide, but not all spirit guides are totems.

Some people may have very strong personal experiences, visions, or dreams wherein they may meet or have contact with their totem. These may be considered shamanic experiences, though this does not necessarily mean that the person is a shaman or following a shamanic path in life.