Does a species' sexual dimorphism (physical differences between genders [example: big female spider compared to tiny males of the same species]) play a part in a totem's meaning or lesson? Do you make a distinction between male and female forms, and attribute different lessons to the different sexes ( Read more... )

We haven't had one of these in a while, so I thought I'd suggest the American Crow for another round of totem discussion. It seems that, out of the corvid family, most people tend to focus on Raven, and sort of lump Crow in with hir. But of course, while all Ravens are Crows, not all Crows are Ravens. I'd like to hear what anyone might have to say ( Read more... )

http://s4.invisionfree.com/Totem/Read more... )

Bird Cards by Toerien and van Dobben

A totem card deck that focuses specifically on birds and has some fantastic artwork--review at the link above!

So--how have folks been? Sorry I've been quiet; grad school started up again and per usual is eating my life!

Hey guys ( Read more... )

The nice assumption, when other people are talking about their totems, is that every person is correctly chosen by their totem(s). The cynical assumption, OTOH, is that many if not most people choose their totems (not necessarily consciously), especially Big, Impressive North American Birds and Mammals (BINABM). So what do you do if you run into ( Read more... )

Hi! I exist! Here's a post to try to get the comm. going again; hopefully I can keep it in balance with grad school this semester ( Read more... )

A relevant book review:

Celtic Totem Animals by John Matthews

I figured since cultural appropriation is a topic of interest (and controversy) among shamans, shamanists, and animists, that I could crosspost this here--please let me know if it needs removal.

Our first order of Talking About the Elephant: An Anthology of Neopagan Perspectives on Cultural Appropriation arrived on the doorstep this morning! (In ( Read more... )

Hi ( Read more... )