Touching Your Totems.

How many times have you been walking along and found a rock, a feather, an interesting stick, maybe an animal or bird that came to you. And for some reason you were drawn to them like they were calling to you. Perhaps you have encountered your "Totem". Sometimes we are given messages that we don't even see. In the native way we can see a lot of what is happening by connecting with these totems. Mitakuye Oyasin - we are all related is what the natives call this. It means that each thing on the earth has a "spirit". We are all one, the two legs, four legs, creepy crawlers, swimmers, winged ones, standing people (the trees) and the stone people.

By connecting with these spirits we can learn a lot about, dare I say it, what is good for us. We are in constant need of being connected to our spirit. So we need to find ways to nourish our spirits. By filling our spirits we connect, as well as tune in with, our ability to nurture ourselves, others and Mother Earth. The more we do that the more doors open so even more guidance is given. One important thing to remember is to be thankful and to honor the spirit world for the guidance. And not take ourselves too seriously.

We need to be aware of our surroundings and look for the guidance. One of the things I can remember was the day I went with my teacher for a walk in the woods. He placed a blindfold over my eyes and told me to take a walk. My first thought was, "Am I able to do this?" But, under his fine guidance, I was soon able to see without my eyes. It is amazing that by using our other senses we are still able to see.

My point is that there are things we can see without looking for them. All we need to do is take the time to tap into our inner sight. Have you ever had a gut feeling? Well that is what this is about; trusting the instincts that we are endowed with. We are guided every day whether we realize it or not. So how do you find these totems? Being aware is important, always trust your instincts. Look around, don't just wander. See the less obvious. When you look at a tree what do you see, the tree, its leaves, maybe a bird or a squirrel? What about a small lizard, a beetle, a ladybug, maybe some moss or air fern? Maybe there is a praying mantis, a bird sitting in a nest, a spider gliding through the branches or a snake gliding along a branch. We often miss a lot of detail when we are in a hurry. I try to take some time each day to connect with Mitakuye Oyasin. I go out and connect with spirit world and ask for their guidance.

You too can do this without spending years trying to. You do not have to go to the mountains or wilderness. Just go to your back yard or a park. Sit quietly and open up your heart, as well as your mind. Yes, it is that simple. Yes, it takes a little practice. Just be open enough to allow yourself to feel. You have heard of tree huggers, well try it. Try to feel the tree's spirit. Feel the tree's energy, let it share it with you. Try another species, feel the difference. Be aware! Look at things! Notice! Once you do this for a while you begin to see things you have been missing. You will start to notice certain animals, birds, plants, insects, and even stones that seem to talk with you. Once you began to notice, you will want to know more about what their message is. Even though observation is the best way to learn about totems, there are some books that can help you identify what some of the characteristics mean. A couple of my favorites are Animal- Speaks and Animal-Wise by Ted Andrews. Another is Animal Energies by Gary Buffalo Horn Man and Sherry Firedancer. So the next time you walk to your car take a look around and see who is talking?

Walter Two Eagles has been on his sacred path since birth, it is now becoming part of his life thru the creation of his sacred objects. He can be reached at twoeagles@newagecities.com Visit his website at www.wamblinunpa.com