Animals have always amazed us. They’re simply majestic no matter what shape or form they take. The ones who are especially connected with animals are witches, healers, shamans — everyone who’s connected with the Universe and magick.

However, there is some confusion in this world with the terms. Spirit animal, totem, and familiar — these terms refer to animals who are helping us in the physical world, as well as the spiritual world. What’s the difference between these different animal helpers?

Spirit animal

A spirit animal is an animal that many cultures believe to have a symbolic, spiritual, or mystical connection with a person. They can appear in your dreams, during meditation, or during other magickal practices to guide, warn, or test you. According to most, the animal spirit guide has a specific message and may act as a guide or a protector for someone. Spirit animals are often chosen based on personal interests and characteristic of the individual, or maybe even based on a vision or mystical occurrence. Some people identify with one specific animal their whole life, whereas others may vary from one kind of animal to another based on their experience and spiritual journey.

How to find your spirit animal

Spend More Time Outdoors— This will help you form a better connection with nature as well as find your spirit animal in its habitat.
Pay Attention to the Animals Appearing in Your Life— If there are many occurrences of an appearance of a particular animal, then this mean that your spirit animal is trying to contact you. You can notice the animal in movies you’re watching, books you’re reading, or even figurines on a shop.
Pay Attention to the Animals Appearing in Your Dreams— Spirit animals can also contact us in our dreams. Watch out for animals that continuously appear while you’re sleeping. Your spirit animal may be trying to manifest itself to you.
Be Aware of Any Unusual Behavior of the Animals Near You— Does a particular animal make strange noises around you, try to walk towards you, or display any strange behavior when you’re near? If so, your spirit animal maybe trying to contact you, and maybe even form a connection with you.
Think About What Animals You’ve Always Been Attracted To— Have you always been drawn to a particular animal, out of amazement or even in fear? This may reveal an unconscious connection to your spirit animal.
Meditation— Spirit animals often reveal themselves during practices such as meditation because the mind is still.
Journal— Keep a record of what animals you encounter in your dreams, meditation, and out in the real world. Look for patterns or reoccurrences of specific animals.

How to connect with your spirit animal

Discover Its Symbolic Wisdom— Each spirit animal has strengths and weaknesses which are important for you to learn and comprehend. The more you understand the symbolic teachings of your spirit animal, the better you will come to understand yourself and how to improve certain aspects in your life.
Apply Your Newfound Wisdom— Reflect on the three main ways you can apply what you’ve learned to your life. For example, you’ve been struggling to figure out if your significant other is actually your soulmate. So, you’ve asked Spirit for a sign. Then, you start to notice ravens around you constantly fighting, especially one-on-one. Ravens are the symbol of transformation, partnerships, and magick. However, with the both of them fighting, this is a sign of a separation, which will grow into another form of transformation. Now, you realize that your significant other is not meant to be your soulmate.
Don’t Humanize Your Spirit Animal— Anthropomorphizing your guide will do nothing but silence their unique way of expressing themselves. To be receptive to your spirit animal and embrace their authenticity, take some time to observe them. You can observe them in nature, or online.
Pay Attention to Where Your Spirit Animal Appears in Your Life— Be aware of appearances in your dreams as well as real life occurrences. Remember that your spirit animal can also manifest itself in a very subtle way. For instance, they can appear in a poem, a song, and many more. Our spirit animals can be omens as well as messengers and guides.
Honor Your Spirit Animal— You grow a deeper connection with your spirit animal when you honor them. Many will place objects related to their spirit animals like feathers and figurines. Another way one can honor their spirit animal is by wearing symbols of their spirit animals on their bodies, such as amulets, pendents, or even tattoos. One of the simplest ways of honoring your spirit animal is by exploring out in nature (if safe) to simply see them in person. When you do, tell them thank you, and that you are grateful for their guidance.

totem

The word “totem” itself stems from the Ojibwa language and refers to the animal or other object that is the symbol of a family or clan, and is linked to their ancestry. Totem can be almost any natural object that is believed to have blood ties to a clan, a family, or an individual.

How to find your totem

Meditate to Call Forth Your Animal Totem— Channel your totem through meditation. Ask Spirit, “what is my animal totem?” during your meditation. Don’t overlook the animal that appears. If it isn’t the kind of animal you want, that doesn’t mean that it’s not your totem.
Find the Animal Associated With Your Birthdate— One way to find your totem is simply by your birthdate, especially in Native American culture. However, this animal may not specifically be your totem, but more likely the animal that represents you the best.
Ask to Discover Your Animal Totem— As mentioned some before, asking the Universe to reveal your totem to you is one way to discover which animal it is. If you already have an animal in mind, then you may have already discovered that the particular animal is your totem. Keep an open mind when you’re in nature and you ask Mother Nature to show you. Your animal guide will show itself to you willingly and clearly, as long as your request is respectful. Don’t ask for a particular animal in hopes that you receive that one. Remember, your totem can be a fish, bird, or even insect or reptile!
Call Forth Whatever Animal You Feel Most Drawn to as Your Totem— Fun fact: You may have more than one totem! The animal’s energy will come forth most often in times of struggle and hardship. Our animal totems can change depending on the energy we need in our lives at the time.

How To Connect With Your Totem

Learn About Your Totem— Learn and read everything you can about your totem. Traits, behavior, diet, symbolism, habitat, all of it. Record your discoveries and connect it to yourself. Are you able to grow and connect with your family, such as a wolf connects with its pack? The best way to learn about them is by going out in nature to explore for them. When you do so, you need to respect their space. However, if your totem is known to be a predator, it may be better to watch a documentary.
Collect Figurines and Tokens— Decorate your home and office with your animal totem. If you have an altar, add your animal guide to it for deeper connection. Wearing jewelry connected to your animal totem strengthens the bond with it and will also help empower you in your daily life.
Meditate to Connect With Your Totem— Meditate with your animal totem in mind to be able to ask it for guidance. Ask it questions for guidance and enlightenment. Listen to it and allow it to teach you its wisdom.
Write About Your Totem in Your Journal— You can journal or even draw/paint your animal totem to honor it. This helps you gain a connection to its physical, as well as its spiritual form.

familiar

A familiar is a magickal helper of the witch, sorcerer, or healer. Commonly familiars are domestic animals such as dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, snakes, and birds. Witches are especially most connected with familiars because they were connected to the witch hunt in Europe and North America. The women were tortured and slaughtered for simply having a cat or rat as a companion. They didn’t even need to practice the craft to be accused. This horrible act occurred because it was to be believed that familiars were animals gifted to witches by the devil, almost as a “thank you for selling your soul.” However, this information is false. Simply put — familiars are the helpers of the witch and assist them in their spiritual practices.

How to find and connect with your familiar

Very often, an animal familiar chooses you. For example, if your family brings a cat home, and they brings mice to you as an offering, they are choosing to be your familiar!

Try Synchronizing Your Breath— If possible, allow your familiar to rest on your chest so that you feel the rhythm of its breath. Try slowing down or speeding up your own breath to match your familiars. This meditation promotes empathy and “syncs” your familiars energy with your own.
Experiment with Healing Energy— If you tend to practice energy healing such as Reiki, try using it to help calm and soothe your pet. Work with energy healing as well as regularly taking your familiar to the vet will promote connection to your familiars physical and spiritual being.
Allow Your Familiar to Take You on a Nature Walk— This mostly works with cats and dogs, but if you know a safe area in nature, let them lead you on a nature walk. If you have to have a leash on them, don’t have such a hold on the leash and relax. Let them take you on a safe adventure!
Use Trimmings or Shed in Your Magick— Snake skin as well as dog or cat fur are common ingredient in spell bags. If you care for the animal you find these from, the magick is amplified.
Adorn Your Familiar With a Protection Charm— Create a protection charm for your animal to imprint your energy in their life. Choose items such as gemstones or pendants with deep meaning and connection with you. Cleanse the charms in the moonlight to charm them with protective energy. This mainly works best with animals that wear collars. However, if they don’t have one, maybe hang a charm in their crate or tank.
Include Your Familiar in Moon Rituals— Invite your familiar to your magickal circle if you plan on casting a spell that will benefit from your familiar’s energy. If able, try opening the circle and wait. If they want to participate, be flexible with them and their energy.
Figure Out What Sacred Plants are Safe— Be very careful when utilizing plants for magick. Many plants can be toxic to your familiar. If your familiar is a cat, one good herb to have in your home at all times is catnip. Catnip has many magickal properties, but this will also help strengthen your bond.
Kitchen Witch Your Animal’s Food— If you’re a kitchen witch, try cooking for your familiar. Research what is safe for your familiar to consume. Amplify the magick in these recipes by chanting over the cauldron and stirring clockwise to bring in positive energy for your familiar.
Try Sacred Massage— Many animals enjoy a massage, especially dogs and cats when you pet them behind their ears. This helps them relieve stress and anxiety, which helps promote a sense of safety and security for your familiar.
Charge Your Familiar’s Water— Leave your familiar’s water by the window to charge in the full moon before giving it to them. You can bless the water to help calm their nerves as well as peaceful sleep. You can even charge the water to amplify their psychic energy.

Resources

Aletheia. (2021, December 8). 7 ways to connect with your spirit animal. LonerWolf. https://lonerwolf.com/spirit-animal/#h-5-ways-to-discover-your-spirit-animal-s-lessons-medicine
Vedana, N. (2020, August 12). Familiar, Totem, and Animal Spirit Guide. Pandora Witch Shop. https://pandorawitch.shop/blogs/news/familiar-totem-and-animal-spirit-guide
Davis, F., & Davis, F. (n.d.). What is my animal totem? how to find & connect with your animal guides. Cosmic Cuts. https://cosmiccuts.com/blogs/healing-stones-blog/what-is-my-animal-totem
Moodymoons. (2018, November 5). 10 ways to bond with your animal familiar (witchcraft, paganism). Moody Moons. https://www.moodymoons.com/2018/11/04/10-ways-to-bond-with-your-familiar-animal-witchcraft-paganism/

Spirit Animal, Totem, and Familiar