Animal Guide Meanings: Traits and Characteristics
Each guide has a different meaning, and they can mean something different for different people. Below are a few examples of animal spirit guides and the common meanings behind their animal totems.

How To Find Your Spirit Animal

Bear: Bears teach us how to be balanced, no matter what life throws at us. They also are very wise, protective of the ones they love, and they harbor incredible strength during difficult times.

Buffalo: Those with a buffalo totem tend to harbor tension, so they need to be careful about finding a safe release in order to prevent it from building up to intolerable levels. Buffalos are strong and protective of their tribe. They have incredible strength and are likely to face their problems head-on.

Butterfly: The butterfly totem represents freedom, creativity, and transformation. They teach us to work closely with the earth and try to minimize our harmful impact on the planet.

Coyote: Those with the coyote totem tend to be cunning, loyal, and very goal-oriented. They are focused on their community, but they have no qualms about deceiving an outsider if it means protecting themselves or their loved ones. They know their environment very well and teach us to work in unity with the earth.

Bears are wise, protective, and incredibly strong.
Bears are wise, protective, and incredibly strong.

Crow: Someone with a crow totem tends to be very magically inclined. They are dedicated to following orders and tend to be strong healers.

Deer: Those with the deer totem are intuitive, sensitive, and spiritual.
Dolphin: The dolphin symbolizes playfulness and lightheartedness.
Dove: The dove represents peace and blessings. A person who is going through a stressful time might call upon the dove spirit for guidance.
Eagle: A person with an eagle animal spirit tends to thrive when they're alone. They prefer isolation over community. Eagles have incredible eyesight, providing those with the eagle totem to see clearly in situations that are murky and difficult.
Fox: Those with the fox totem prefer to keep to themselves and blend in, rather than standing out from the crowd. They are sensitive yet agile, and they are capable of finding a way forward in the midst of a difficult situation.
Horse: Those with the horse spirit guide thrive when they are left wild. They can be headstrong, but they are willing to bend for those that they care about. While they prefer to be left wild, they respond well to a partner who treats them with patience and kindness. The horse totem also represents positive change in someone's life.
The horse spirit guide can represent strong emotions and positive change within your life.
The horse spirit guide can represent strong emotions and positive change within your life.

Owl: Those with the owl totem tend to be very quiet and secretive, but when they speak, people listen and treat them with respect. Owls teach us to embrace the dark and to know that it isn't something to fear, nor is it something that is evil.
Raven: The raven totem represents mystery, wisdom, and transformation. People with the raven animal spirit guide tend to be strong teachers and are often sought out for their wisdom and intelligence.
Snake: Snake spirit guides represent transformation, rebirth, and sexuality. They are strong creatures with strong personalities, but they often lash out during difficult situations. Snake totems teach us to work closely with the earth and to learn to understand the earth's vibrations.
Tiger: The tiger spirit represents raw energy and emotion. This totem connects us with our intuitions and instincts.

Turtle: Those with the turtle spirit guide tend to be minimalists. They prefer to be on the road and to have minimal possessions or people to hold them back from their desire to travel. The turtle totem teaches us to look within and to be happy with the person we truly are.
Wolf: The wolf totem has a strong connection to family and their pack. They tend not to socialize well with others outside of their small inner circle. The wolf spirit guide represents strength, loyalty, and community.
The wolf spirit guide represents strength, loyalty, and community.
The wolf spirit guide represents strength, loyalty, and community.

How Do I Honor My Animal Spirit Guide?
Once you've found your spirit guide, it is imperative that you honor them. The more you do so, the more clearly you will hear their messages and the more effective their power will be in your life. You can honor your spirit guide in many ways, including:

Study: Read everything you can about the animal. Learn about their behaviors, traits, habitat, diet, social status, etc.
Drawing: Drawing pictures of the animal not only gives honor but also helps you become more deeply connected to their physical form.
Figurines, tokens, fetishes: Decorate your home with images and representations of the animal.
Dance: Learning to imitate the animal's physical movements and behaviors can create a powerful spiritual link to your guide.
Keep in mind, however, that there is an important distinction between honor and worship. Spirit guides are not meant to be worshiped; in fact, they are our equals—their purpose is to bring humans and nature together as one. We should not dominate our spirit guide, nor should they dominate us. Rather, the intention is to learn from our spirit guide in order to come into harmony with the Earth Mother.