THE TOTEM SIGNS AND THEIR MEANINGS...

• BADGER is a vicious animal who attacks with powerful aggression, quick to anger and even quicker to pounce! Its totem is the power and willingness to fight for what it wants by whatever means possible even the unconventional. The key message here is to become aggressive enough to do something - anything! - about your present state of affairs which may be lacking due to procrastination or even fear. Call on Badger medicine to help you break through these debilitating emotions!
• BAT represents REBIRTH and the need for some kind of symbolic ending to some way of life which no longer suits your new growth pattern.
• BEAR is both a HEALER and a PROTECTOR. I think that everyone on this planet should have at least one Bear Amulet as the main protection for their persons, family, home, vehicles and property. The instinct for Bear's protection has been with each of us since childhood when we received our first teddy-bear. Other amulets can then be added for specific situations or needs as they arise in life.
• BEAVER is THE BUILDER, not only of one's home but also, symbolically, of one's career AND one's relationships (starting with oneself). Beaver medicine urges you to put your ideas into action or complete a project. Beaver encourages one to look for alternative solutions to life's challenges and protect, as well as nurture, those acts of creation which you have put your love and energy into but have set aside for whatever reason.
• BELL* represents one's CONNECTION between Heaven and Earth.
• BUDDHA* is symbolic of SPIRITUAL AWAKENING... His teachings the path to Nirvana.
• BUFFALO stands for the SACREDNESS OF ALL LIFE FORMS no matter how different they may be from us. Buffalo urges you to direct your energy in prayer through him since he can stampede one's 'Prayers of Intent' to the Great Spirit, so that they will be answered all the more speedily and swiftly.
• COUGAR symbolizes LEADERSHIP without the need for followers and the first responsibility of that leadership is to TELL THE TRUTH... unhesitantly. To know it and to live it! Cougar urges you to keep the peace within the sphere of your immediate influence and to be ready to respond to any task or situation.
• COYOTE is the prankster. He always comes calling when things are getting way too serious. Coyote's medicine (power) is in laughter and joking so that new viewpoints can be assumed even when that laughter or joking is out-of- place or inappropriate.
• DEER teaches us to show gentleness not only towards ourselves but towards others as well - to find the gentleness of spirit that heals all wounds... so that, in turn, the window of forgiveness and kindness can be opened.
• DOLPHIN is kind and playful - and is considered to be the bridge between man and the ocean. Dolphin urges you to be mindful of your body rhythms and the energy being channeled to you from the Great Spirit through the Natural World which will bring you the answers to your own questions.
• DRAGON* represents fertilizing POWER - Cosmic energy revealing itself through Nature.
• EAGLE is the symbol for the GREAT SPIRIT who is the Giver of all Life. Eagle medicine gives us the ability to live in the realm of the spirit and yet remain balanced within the reality of earth.
• FEATHER* represents the SPIRIT or Soul.
• FOX medicine helps one to camouflage their presence when they do not want to be seen, or pestered, or bothered with in any way. Fox shows us how to be adaptable - to become like the wind, unseen, yet able to weave into and through any location or situation in the blink of an eye both quickly and unobtrusively!
• FROG symbolizes man's connection with the Element (Earth Sign) of Water - as it influences his emotional and intellectual levels... and bring Balance!
• GODDESS* energy is akin to that of Mother Earth and is represented in diverse totems in the Amulets like faces, masks, effigies, female figures.
• HORSE is a symbol of PERSONAL POWER. It is very potent and it is meant to be wielded in a responsible and respectful way.
• LIZARD medicine helps one to take ownership for one's dreams before manifesting them in reality. Lizard can always help you to see and define the shadow which can follow you around relentlessly keeping you from the full realization of all your hopes and dreams - whether that shadow represents your pains, fears or guilts - or even your hopes and dreams gone awry - or the very thing which you may keep on resisting.
• MOLE's gift is the power to skillfully move and explore below the surface of things. Although Mole is blind, his energy helps one to see and unearth what is hidden in our subconscious mind that keeps us from being truly happy and well. Mole is also considered to be a symbol of Mother Earth.
• MOOSE will often appear to anyone whose self-esteem is low. Moose represents headstrong determination (ever see one cross the road?) both purposeful and direct.
• OTTER's medicine is the gift of joy. Otters know how to have fun even when things look their bleakest. Otter also represents woman medicine (YIN), whether one is male or female. Woman energy without gender games or the need to control is a beautiful thing. It is the freedom to love unconditionally. Otter encourages you to share the bounty of your life with others - to strive for a unity of spirit by eliminating all acts of anger and jealousy which stem from fear. Laugh! Laugh, often!! Become like a playful child and simply allow things to unfold in your life without setting boundaries.
• PORCUPINE medicine is rich with childlike innocence and humility. Porcupine gives a gentle reminder not to get caught up in the chaos of the adult world where fear, greed and suffering are commonplace. Porcupine's power will relieve seriousness and severity.
• RABBIT teaches us not to attract horrible things to us - to banish the "what if" syndrome from our lives which seeks to snare us in its false trap of safety. Rabbit cautions us to remember that what one resists will persist and what one fears the most is what we will become. STOP NOW! Give-away your fears to Mother Earth who will neutralize them... AND then, once given away, be on the alert like Rabbit not to let them back into your life.
• RACCOON represents Agility and Mischievousness. Raccoon is both shy and curious - and urges one to examine their surroundings more carefully and with an inquisitive, open mind... Raccoon thinks you may have overlooked something that could benefit you.
• SCARAB* symbolizes the SOUL.
• SNAKE symbolizes TRANSMUTATION. With its power in balance it can transmute all negative energies whether they spring from the physical, the emotional, the mental or the spiritual levels. But it is an abrupt change, though, exemplified by the shedding of its skin not a prolonged, gentle metamorphosis like with the Butterfly. Thus, Snake energy is very difficult to bring (and keep) in balance so it is often paired with the Bear who is both a Healer and a Protector... Bear's power can help in the transition.
• TURKEY is considered to be the Give-away Eagle. The Give-away is the deep and abiding recognition of the sacrifices of both self and others. It is powerful medicine because it is not based in any self-righteous moralism or religious guilt but in the realization that all life is sacred - the acknowledgment that what you do for others you do for yourself. What goes around, comes around! One's wealth is measured by how much one has to Give-away... and not just monies or possessions!
• TURTLE symbolizes Mother Earth and nurturing Mother Love... a source of creation. Turtle is self-contained and so can be both self-reliant and nurturing at the same time.
• WOLF is a TEACHER! Wolf enables you to share your personal medicine with others. Wolf is the pathfinder - the forerunner of new ideas. Wolf represents loyalty! Wolf mates for life!
• WOLVERINE - Everything Badger is, Wolverine is 100 times more so! Their combined medicine is not just for anyone. If you are already aggressive, you'll just end up alienating everyone with an Amulet represented by both of them BUT if you are timid and are sick to death of not realizing your dreams, their combined strengths in an Amulet may be able to help you get what you want out of life AND get you to where you want to be! Wolverine's message is get tough but, be wary, he may also be warning you to back off from a fight you can not win.
• WORRY-DOLL* springs from a legend out of Guatemala. It is believed that if you have a problem and share it with a Worry-Doll then, if before going to bed, place the Worry-Doll under your pillow, it will take your worries away!

CAUTION: Small parts or pieces may be present and are not suitable for infants or very young children. Parental care is advised!

Information provided on the stones and animals was obtained from various sources. Reference books which are my particular favorites include:

• Love is in the Earth, A Kaleidoscope of Crystals, Updated... by Melody... Earth-Love Publishing House, 1995.
• Medicine Cards, the Discovery of Power through the Ways of Animals... by Jamie Sams and David Carson... Bear & Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1988.
• The Medicine Wheel, Earth Astrology... by Sun Bear and Wabun... Prentice Hall Press.