Personally, the Eagle is my animal guide, and has followed me throughout my life. It represents;- The sacred messenger that carries prayers to the Creator and returns with gifts and visions.

 

Inspiring words, I’m sure you would agree. Here is some more of what the Eagle energy can bring.. To those to whom the eagle comes, the ability to hear spiritually and psychically will awaken. Eagles are renowned for their superior vision, ten times greater than human eyesight.  This quality is a gift of vision and clarity that should be used to help others through dark and troubling times. A little more.. One who seeks the eagle spirit views situations and other people from a broad perspective for better understanding just as the eagle sees the world from its great height. So as you can see, we can learn much from our animal friends, but we are getting slightly ahead of ourselves here. So let’s take a broad look at the concept and beliefs concerning our animal guides.

 

Man has long seen himself as the most intelligent and therefore the most important life on this planet, but that viewpoint is seen by many cultures as arrogant and self-limiting. The Native Americans see it differently, respecting all of life, the ground, the plants and the animals. Taking only what they need and giving thanks for what they take. If you look at the clothes and designs of the Native Americans, you will notice the images of animals adorning many articles, in recognition of their special energies. Importantly, they believe that all things contain spiritual energy and are created by and connected to the creator. If the creator is in all things, then we can learn from those things he creates and resides in. Simple really, if we can be open enough to accept it. Each animal type has it’s own particular characteristics, lifestyle and traits. If we accept these traits as energies, as all things are, then we can bring those energies into our lives to help, educate, guide and strengthen us. Allowing us to see with improved clarity, to be more emotionally balanced and have a better understanding of things that happen to and around us.

 

Many cultures and civilisations like the Egyptians, Aztecs & Greeks actually worshipped certain animals and birds, building temples and holding them in great esteem. However, the Native Americans held all life equal, believing that worshiping any one particular thing above another would cause imbalance, a viewpoint that I personally find more than acceptable.

 

So how can we bring these energies into our lives? Having discovered your main animal guide (more of which later) or the animal energies you need in your life, you should begin by familiarising yourself with it’s skills and traits. A physical presence or touch is not necessary, just the willingness to understand the animals qualities and allow it’s spirit to inspire you. Over time you can absorb the required lessons and positive energies of the animal. Understanding how a particular animal lives it life can bring insight to understanding ourselves. But we should also allow ourselves to be inspired, to be receptive to our spiritual teachers and how to correctly interpret what messages our power animal brings. So be patient, and allow time for the message to connect with you. Look for situations in your daily life which could benefit from the energy you now have access to.

 

Let’s continue our journey of exploring animal guides from an American Native perspective, as their spiritual outlook often seems to reflect what Spiritualism tries to teach.

 

The Native Americans divide animal guides into four different types, just as there are four main directions on the compass, north, south, east & west. These four types are described as Messenger Guide (Totem), Shadow Guide, Journey Guide or Life Guide.

 

The Messenger

 

The Messenger guide arrives and stays for as long as it takes for the message to be understood and accepted. It can be either positive or negative in nature. It can aid decisions, point you in certain directions, be a warning, slow you down and be either important or mundane.

 

Shadow Animal guide

 

The shadow guide arrives because of lessons you have not learned. It can bring fear and call on you repeatedly until there is change or action. It tasks you and invites you change fear into something more positive. It may arrive at testing times and should not be ignored.

 

Journey Animal Guide

 

The Journey guide is with you as a travelling companion when you choose a certain path through life. It is your guide should you loose your way on a path that may take months or years to complete. Unlike the Messenger, who arrives and leaves swiftly, the journey guide remains with you until your current journey is complete.

 

Life Animal Guide

 

This spirit animal guide reflects your deeper, inner spiritual self and is usually with you for your entire life. Though there are occasions when a new guide and lessons are required. The new guide may compliment an existing guide or replace them completely. Often you will have certain traits usually associated with your animal guide, but it also serves to impart those traits when lacking. Your spirit animal may call upon other animals found within it’s usual habitat when it needs to give you a message.

 

Discovering Your Animal guide

 

An important point to recognise is that the animal chooses the person, not the other way round. While it may seem exciting to pick a Tiger or Hawk it really can’t work like that. The animal brings it specials powers because you need them and the lessons they bring. The animal asks you to consider some of it’s qualities and introduce them into your own life, choosing an animal yourself will not allow this to happen. So be content that even an insect has things to teach you and qualities that you can benefit from.

 

It is through meditation that we can allow our animal guide to make it’s presence known. If we can sit and be still, allow all of our problems and worries to fade away, then we will sense our animal spirit come close.

Choose a time and place where you won’t be disturbed. Open with a prayer asking for protection and help. Don’t have expectations, just be willing to accept what comes. See yourself outside amongst nature, by a stream, in a forest, in a beautiful garden. Explore this wonderful place, touching and smelling everything until you hear something and notice an animal heading towards you. Allow it to come closer and touch it, stroke it, acknowledge it. Be sure to accept the first animal that approaches you, do not change it, this is the right animal for you.

 

Talk to your animal friend, feel it’s love for you, listen to it’s wisdom. When you have finished, withdraw slowly from the special place you created and return to full consciousness. You have now met your animal guide.

Take time to explore the meaning of the animal guides that come your way, many places on the Internet provide lists of the animal spirits and what they can mean. Look at more than one reference to be sure you find something that can help you. Be open-minded and allow yourself to be inspired, to be guided and to understand yourself better.

To finish up, here’s the Eagle’s qualities in full..
 

Eagle

The sacred messenger
 

Eagles need isolation in the wild to propagate and prosper. The Eagle teaches how to master the art of patience and how to move through life without material attachments from their ability to sit for long hours perched on a limb in meditation. To those to whom the eagle comes, the ability to hear spiritually and psychically will awaken. Eagles are renowned for their superior vision, ten times greater than human eyesight. This quality is a gift of vision and clarity that should be used to help others through dark and troubling times.

 

One who seeks the eagle spirit views situations and other people from a broad perspective for better understanding just as the eagle sees the world from a its great height. The eagle is a creature of the air, but has strong legs to walk on the earth and often lives near the water for food. These qualities of the eagle teach us to maintain balance in all dimensions to achieve inner-growth. As we soar to spiritual awareness, we remain well grounded in reality as we purify ourselves with the cleansing waters. The eagle teaches us to have the courage to strive for greater heights of spirituality. The Eagle is seen by American Indians as a connection to the Great Mystery - The Creator of all things.

TGL (The Guiding Light )2005/7

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