Spirit Animals

Spirit Guides and Power Animals
Every thing is alive and carries with it power and wisdom. Power animals are an essential component of shamanic practice. They are the helping spirit which add to the power of the shaman and are essential for success in any venture undertaken by the shaman.

Everyone Has a Power Animal

Everyone is thought to have a few of these guardian power animals, from childhood on. Over the course of her or his life the person may have several. If a power animal leaves and one does not come to take its place the individual is considered, by the shaman, to be disempowered and therefore vulnerable to illness and bad luck. Power animal retrieval is a healing where the shaman goes to find a new power animal for you. '' You only know you have one if you see a shaman to tell you. ''

Power Animals (pa): animal spirits which reside with each individual adding to their power and protecting them from illness, acting similarly to a guardian angel. Each power animal that you have increases your power so that illnesses or negative energy cannot enter your body. The spirit also lends you the wisdom of its kind. example: A hawk spirit will give you hawk wisdom, and lend you some of the attributes of hawk (speed, keen eyes). Honoring a PA: In shamanic work the power animal is essential, for a shaman who has no power is not going to have very good results. On a personal level, by honoring your power animal you let it know that its assistance is appreciated. Also, by honoring the power animal we make a deeper connection with it. Honoring it can be as simple a saying a thank you inside yourself, or getting an object which represents it and putting it where you can see it as you go about your day.

Spirit guides: incorporeal beings that are assigned to us before we are born that help nudge and guide us through life. They’re responsible for helping us fulfill the spiritual contract we make with ourselves before we incarnate. Your higher self helps select these guides, who help us while we are living out our incarnation.  Your local shaman will tell you your guides (you may whisper them suggestions) 

List of Possible Spirit Animals

 * crow
 * puma/mountain lion
 * wolf
 * coyote
 * lynx
 * rabbit
 * owl
 * hummingbird
 * lizard
 * frog
 * mole
 * deer
 * goose
 * butterfly
 * mantis
 * otter
 * fox
 * bat
 * porcupine
 * badger
 * squirrel
 * hawk
 * vulture
 * caribou
 * spider
 * raccoon
 * opossum
 * snake
 * skunk
 * dragonfly
 * weasel
 * beaver
 * moose
 * woodpecker
 * peafowl
 * bee
 * hedgehog
 * falcon
 * jackal
 * mouse
 * ant
 * elk
 * wolverine
 * bear
 * quail
 * fish
 * whale

Sources:http://www.erinpavlina.com/blog/2006/11/connecting-with-spirit-guides/ https://www.shamanlinks.net/shaman-info/the-spirit-world/power-animals/