This animal totem meditation is based on shamanic concepts, but is integrated with modern visualization techniques.
If you have someone with you, ask if they can drum a steady and consistent beat for you while you travel inward. The drumming serves as a guide to the spirit world, and then back to your body after the meditation is finished. Have them quiet the drumming, read this guided animal totem meditation to you, and then start the drumming again to lead you back home. Another option is to find a shamanic drumming track online, and remember this visualization as much as possible.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Relax and focus solely on the drumming. Visualize the room you are currently in. Step out of your body and head toward the door, and then outside. There is absolutely no sound and you notice there is a thick fog to the South. You head slowly into the mist. Keep walking into it, farther south, further into the spirit world.
(Drumming stops. If you are using a recording, it is okay to let it continue playing.)
The fog begins to lift, and you find yourself in a clearing in the forest. These woods are familiar to you. You have a sense of safety and home here. You see a path across from you and you head toward it. As you reach the path a small animal appears. It has been waiting for you. It wants you to follow it down the path. Your new friend encourages you to take in the beauty around you and to stop along the path as much as you would like. There is no urgency here.
The path finally ends at another clearing in the woods. This time there is a large group of people sitting in the center around a fire. They beckon you over and your animal friend bids you farewell and returns to the path from which you just arrived. You slowly approach these people gathered together and realize they are all here for you. These are all of your loved ones, and ancestors. Old, new, and unknown. They have traveled from all over the world, and across time. They are celebrating you. They are honoring you. They greet you with warm hugs and kisses.
You join them, and have a seat next to the oldest of them, an elder with lines of great wisdom written all over their hands and face. The elder hands you a gift. Accept it. They then point to a new path that you hadn’t noticed earlier. All of these people have honest smiles with twinkles in their eyes. They are telling you to go on your journey and that they will always be here whenever you need them.
You bid them farewell and head to the trail that has just appeared. The gift the elder gave you begins to glow a warm light that radiates, and illuminates the path before you. It is leading you to your destination, to your animal guides. You follow the trail down hill. There is a stream ahead of you and a large tree trunk that serves as a bridge. You cross over the stream and continue on your way. The path curves and you see an opening ahead. You hear ocean waves crashing onto the shore.
You race down the rest of the path until each step you take starts to sink in the sand. There is a person standing beside a giant boulder. They are waiting for you to come to them. They smile and congratulate you on reaching your destination. They point to white robes laid out on the boulder and tell you to remove your clothes and change into the new clothes. You turn to express your gratitude, but they have vanished. You change your clothes and head to the water.
As you reach the water you stop and close your eyes. You take a deep breath and exhale into the wind. The water laps over your feet and a light mist graces your skin. You feel whole again. You feel at peace with yourself, and with nature. You are one. A light appears in the sky directly above you. You look up to admire its divine beauty and are overcome by the energy of this celestial being. It is the most peaceful and serene sensation you have ever felt. It is as though this light has embraced you with a great and powerful hug.
The light begins to dim slightly, but still remains. You can’t help but to smile as you notice animals slowly emerging from every direction. From the water, from the sky, from the woods, and from the cliffs. They are all here to greet you. They each come with a message. Many of them stay where they are right at the edge of the sand, but a few decide to come closer to you. Approach them. They have gentle eyes, and are here to offer you their guidance. Let them whisper to you. Remember what they have said. You sit with these animal spirits for a while in the sand. It is as if you are among old friends on the beach.
Much time passes, and it is time for you to bid them farewell for now. All of the animals return to the directions they came. You change back into your clothes and leave the white robe on the boulder. Head back up the curving path, and continue on it across the stream. Take your time walking it and reminisce on the experience you just had. You make it to the clearing with all of your ancestors and loved ones. They are waving to you and you wave back as you head toward the path that leads back home. Your small animal friend is waiting to guide you back. You hear a quiet drumming in the distance, it gradually becomes louder as you walk farther up the path.
(Start drumming very softly, and get louder as you read the next paragraph.)
You have reached the first clearing you found earlier. You can feel the vibration of the drum in your chest. The mystical fog starts to fill the space. It is so thick it is hard to even see your hand in front of you. You smile as you remember the journey you just took and head into the fog toward the drumming. You keep walking and it begins to clear. Look around, you know your body is near. Walk in the front door and walk towards your body. As you settle back into your skin you are overcome with joy and are happy to know you have new animal totems to guide you in life. Slowly open your eyes.
(Stop drumming.)
Whenever doing a deep journeying or meditation, it is important to journal right away, and drink lots of water. Don’t be too quick to stand up. Take your time.
When reflecting on this animal totem meditation, take note of what the gift you were given looks like. What animals came up to you? Which animals did you notice the most out of all of them?
If you enjoyed this Animal Totem Meditation, learn more about your Animal Spirits at our library page!