Reddit mentions of Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small

My White Shitlord Grandmother got me this book for the Patriarchal Holiday of Christmas one year because I am Native American.

Maybe she is Grandmotherkin!

I can't imagine why she would publish false information, but I guess maybe-possibly-potentially she did this to further an agenda of some sort? I haven't read much of her work as I'm not Wiccan, but it's enough to know she and people like Koetting (A grim-dark edgy emo occult author who charges like 800$ for his books) are to be avoided like the plague.

Any other books I could suggest?

• Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel A. Jackson Is a great read if you're interested in "traditional craft". He details the making of several important witching tools, from the stave (A staff of sorts, usually forked at the top) to the besom (a broom) to the athame (A Ritual Knife) and a bunch of other things.
  
  
• Treading the Mill I have not yet gotten my hands on this, but I see it often enough in trad. circles and even other authors recommend it so much for beginners, it's worth including.
  
  
• The Devil's Dozen: 13 Craft Rites of the Old One by Gemma Gary Gemma Gary is a highly respected author in the field of trad craft and Ye Olde British/Celtic traditions. Her books are eloquent, delightful, and historically sound, and honestly I consider her fairly unmatched in the field of British craft. I don't know if I would necessarily suggest her as the first author you should read, but she's definitely good and you should check out her works if you have the chance.
  
  
• Animal Speak by Ted Andrews A book on animals and the spirits of animals, it's a good solid read especially for beginning work with animal spirits and familiars. Once again, if you're into that.
  
  
• Sarah Anne Lawless's Blog - If you want to do some reading on the subject of Trad Craft, Sarah Lawless's blog is a good source. I believe her blog also has a list of recommended books for beginners too, if you want to check that out. :)
  
  I have other suggestions as well, but they're much more specified to trad craft, like Liber Nox, The Visions of Isobel Gowdie, Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits, or New World Witchery's Blog, but I think you've got a good handle so far!
  
  Good luck on your path. :)
  
  
  

Source (page 191 - Amazon lets you search for it when you "Look Inside")

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

I'm no shaman but I do have this book the whole first half is pretty much how to become in touch with your spirit animal, so that's a pretty involved question. But I'll review what it says about the heron if you're curious!
>Heron
>
>Keynote: Aggressive Self-Determination and Self-Reliance
>
>Cycle of power:Spring
>
>Herons are part of a group of birds called "waders." It is a bird of the marshlands and shallow waters. All waders have similar physical characteristics-long, thin legs, long necks, and sharp bills. These characteristics are important to understand for those who have a heron as a totem.
>
>Legs enable animals and people to move about on the earth. They are the symbols of balance, and they represent an ability to progress and evolve.....The long thin legs of the heron reflect that you don't need great massive pillars to remain stable, but you must be able to stand on your own. This is especially significant for those with a totem of the great blue heron, as it is a lone hunter.
>
>...It is important for for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions on earth life. On the surface, this may seem a form of dabbling, but those with heron totems are wonderfully successful at being the traditional "jack of all trades."
>
>This ability enables them to follow their own path...The way you live is not a structured way, and does not seem to have a stability and security to it. It is though, just a matter of perspective....If one way doesn't work, then another will. This heron people seem to inherently know.
>
>Heron do not seem to need a lot of people in their life, nor do they feel pressure to "keep up withe the Joneses" or be traditional in their life roles.
>
>The great blue heron is considered the king of the marsh, although the short-eared owl has been known to readjust a heron's viewpoint....innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and control its life circumstances...a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and path of self-determination. You know what is best for you and should follow it, rather than the promptings of others.
>
>The irises of the eyes will turn from yellowish to bright orange, as will the legs. Meditation on this color will provide a lot of insight as to its role in your life

If this resonates with you I suggest getting that book I linked. It's got tons more info.

If you want to put a lot of significance into your 'sona, maybe go pick up a book similar to this one- I think it's the same one I used a long time ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

these kind of books go really in-depth about what characteristics are attributed to a given species, and you can use that to either pick one that matches your current personality, OR go for an animal with lots of qualities that you don't have, but want to develop.

As others said, you don't need to have just one or stay with the same 'sona forever. Whatever suits you. I've had about half a dozen fursonas over the last fifteen years.

And if you mostly are into it for the drawing, it's ok to just pick something you WANT to draw! Don't be a gryphon centaur with 3 sets of wings and 5 tails if that is going to be too frustrating to recreate on paper.

Have fun!

Sort of, not really, is the best answer? I love doing readings for people as a party trick rarely, I have a general fascination with the occult and symbology and reading into things. But I’m not very spiritual as a person and it holds no real significance for me other than being something I love the aesthetics of, if that makes sense? So I’d hate to say that I am, when I’m not much of a practicer.

If you’re into exploring your spirituality though, and are open to all sorts of influences, I high recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

It’s about the symbology of all animals and what nature might be saying to you through it’s wild. I really love the book. Especially for self-reflection. Like, say I see a bluebird out of season. This book would tell me what that might mean based on what the bird represents, and you interpret meaning through it, it can really guide my mind at times.

Definitely just stay patient. I feel you’ll find the most meaning in tarot doing readings on yourself and learning to interpret that way. Thanks for humoring me!

The answer relies upon personal belief.

Many, myself included, don't believe the animal kingdom is making the same journey that humans are. They are our teachers not our students, and don't need our guidance getting home. It's not they who left, not they who are confused.

To consider otherwise can be seen as a huge miscalculation, or arrogance.

Please consider reading up on the animal symbology of the world's shamanic traditions. The book Animal Speaks by Ted Andrews is a good place to start. On-line resources (so far) all lack the depth the books have. EDIT: They're holding back some knowledge to help encourage people to go deeper, buy books, study.

YMMV.

Yeah Wicca isn't for everyone. If animism is what you're most interested in so far, that's a great start. You could look into Native American tribal cultures.

My favorite book in this field is Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. My dad had it in his collection and it was one of the most fascinating reads when I was a kid.

I have no idea.. but for animal totems I like this book..

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

I'd like to think snow leopard... but I don't know. I have too many "relatable animals" to make it official I suppose. I try to read up on them and their spirit guidance-ness from my two books and I would say snow leopards most of the time, sometimes others like raven/crow, magpie or otter or some other random animal.

I like these books 1, 2. They're pretty good books from what I've read, lots of animals in them and not just North American wildlife or strictly mammals. Foxloft has some good mini descriptions.

Sensitivity, camouflage, agility. Snow leopard people tend to be introverted, quiet, observant, and independent. They tend to live partly in their own world, calmly perched above the small things that can easily consume day to day life. Snow leopard as a totem can teach us to overcome obstacles and navigate our lives with an agile, flexible step. (Foxloft)

It's pretty much me, spot on. I'm the quiet, 100% introverted one. I tend to keep to myself and just watch everything/one else do their thing.

Then of course raven, raccoon, kangaroo, red panda, wolverine, crow... bunch of other animals. Not always the whole thing like snow leopard though. I don't feel like digging out my books and reading snow mew parts right now... it is past midnight and I have work in the morning haha

There's nothing odd about having multiple power animals.

If you're interested in learning more, I would recommend books by the late great Ted Andrews.

Animal-Speak: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

Animal-Wise: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-wise-Understanding-Messengers-Companions-Anniversary/dp/1888767634