Native American Animal Symbols
Legend ~ Meaning ~ Myth

Native American Animal Symbols & Native American Animal Meanings...  A comprehensive guide to the signs, symbols and meanings, powers and medicines of Native American Totem Animals and Animal Spirit Guides.  

Power Animals, Spirit Animals, Totem Animals

The Native Americans called their animal guides:   Power Animals, Spirit Animals, Totem Animals, and Animal Spirit Guides. 

The animals powers are often referred to as "medicine". 

The word medicine in this context are the meaning of the powers, attributes or spiritual healing energies and powers a particular animal can share with you, or that you can learn from, and ask to guide you.

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Animal Medicine Ignites a Passion of Understanding

Every tribe had their own unique symbolic meaning with subtle differences for different animals, birds, aquatic life, reptiles,insects, plants etc..    Native American tribes have a deep and mystical connection to Mother Earth and all that lives on her.   I am of Blackfeet decent, and as soon as I became aware that there were totem animals, power animals and spirit animals I was hooked. 

To realize that every Native American animal symbol had a different meaning captivated my attention and my imagination.  Every time I crossed an animal in the wild the first thought that came to me was .... what does this animal mean? 

That introduction to animal totem meanings ignited a passion in me to learn not only about the animal meanings and symbols, but to learn about the symbols and meanings from everything hidden in plain view all around us.  I have found that it is easier to begin to remember the traits aka "medicine" of the animals when I start with a brief description of the animals medicines.  Then I am ready to learn more about the totem and spirit animals after I have gained some initial recognition of the animals meanings and symbols.  Therefore I created this list so that you may have a resource to gain immediate and simple understanding for the Native American animal symbols and their meaning.  If you want  to make a deeper, more complex connection to any particular animal, just click on the links for each animal, there you will find messages and medicine powers that the animal spirits have spoken through me.

To ensure the survival of our beautiful animal kingdom visit and support  World Wildlife Fund

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You might like to explore these full length interpretations of the Spirit Animal Totems

List of Native American Totem Animal Meanings  "A thru C"

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This page begins the list of Native American animal symbols and meanings covering the traditional lore and symbolism for each animal found in the Native American history.  These Native American animal medicine powers are not specific to any one tribe, but are a blending of meaning from all tribes.

Anteater  ..... Seek opportunity, resources are hidden but near

Antelope   .....   Nimble, quick footed, and to be ready to leap into action   

Armadillo .....  Prepare to defend and protect

Badger   ..... Boundaries, know when to be aggressive

Bat   .....  Instincts

Bear  .....    Strength, and perseverance to carry out a vision or a mission

Beaver  ....  Accomplishment, dwellings, and building

Bighorn Sheep  ....  Conquest, conqueror, and king of the mountain

Boar   ....   Wild tempered, aggression

Bobcat   ....  Hidden, elusive, and excellent at tracking

Buffalo   .....  Endurance, Abundance, and represents Survival

Bull  ... Sexual energy, determination

Cat  ....   Independence, quick reflexes 

Chipmunk   ....  Playfulness, Chatter

Cougar  ...  Leadership, Work independently

Coyote  ....   Wily, Trickster

Cow ....   Peaceful, docile, and to roam and meander far and wide

                                                         The list continues; Native American Animal Symbols     Next ~>