I was reminded of my totem animal last night. I think it's rather bizarre that it happens to be a fox & what do you call a male fox??? A Tod!!!!!! & what's my fellas name????
*whistles the Twilight Zone theme*
Anyway I thought I'd reread some articles about my totem & share them with you guys.....
Your native British totem animal is:
Fox - The fox can get by, wherever life has put him. He will show you how to adapt to the peculiarities of your own situation.
Life isn't easy for the fox - in the country there are those who would kill him as lief as look at him; in the cities he has to scavenge for a living.
But he sees life as an unquestionably worthwhile challenge, and will help you to do the same.
FOX
Stealthy messenger of the gods,
Cunning and wise, reliable friend,
Guide my steps through this maze of deception
And see this problem to its end.
Magic, Shapeshifting, Invisibility
Fox are seen as totems throughout the world:
the Chinese believed they could take human form,
in Egypt the fox brought favor from the gods,
there was a fox god in Peru,
foxes help the dead get to the next life in Persia,
Cherokees, Hopi other American Indian tribes
believed in its healing power;
the Apache credited the fox with giving man fire.
Since the fox lives "between times" --
on the edge of land, visible as dusk and dawn, and can guide the way to the Faerie Realm.
A fox can teach you to control your aura so that you can be more in harmony
with others and the world.
If you have a fox totem, learning to be invisible is very important in your life.
Imagine yourself blending in with your surroundings, becoming part of the background.
Be very still and quiet.
Through practice you can be unnoticed even at a party or in a crowd.
I have an acquaintance who used this power to evade several muggers;
he stood there in plain sight next to a building ,
and blended himself into the wall;
they did not see him and left without harming him. It can be done!
A fox totem also teaches good eating habits;
the fox eats small amounts frequently which medicine is now telling us is better for our health.
But fox people already knew this.
The fox is a wonderful totem to have
(
http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/fox.htm )
Its brown summer coat helps render it invisible in the forest while its white wintry coat allows it to blend in with the snow. The fox is a very observant and fast animal, ready to take action at any time. Its power lies in its cleverness-for example, when leading its enemies astray.
Another characteristic is its concern for its family. People who possess the power of the fox are usually quiet observers and are skilled at remaining unnoticed. This means that they blend into their environment, moving around unnoticed in any kind of company and society. They are masters of camouflage.
The fox teaches how to grasp concept of unity and how to use this knowledge wisely on all levels. A fox charm is suitable mainly for those who travel a lot.
(
http://www.betterliving.co.nz/content/theFamily/new-age/Totem-Animal-Fox.aspx )
| Fox is a master at the art of camouflage. Like all members of the canine family, they make exceptional parents. The fox's keen sight and hearing make it an excellent predator. Its tail serves as a balancing device when it stands on its hind legs to peer over the tall grass in search of a mouse, gopher, or field rat. It is a survivor, able to exist in the unpopulated countryside. Its ability to be unseen makes it a superb family protector. | |
Fox medicine involves adaptablility, cunning, observation, integration, and swiftness of thought and action. These traits may also include quick decisiveness, and sure-footedness in the physical world.
| The Fox's ability to meld into one's surroundings and be unnotices is a powerful gift when one is observing the activities of others. This allows it to be the protector of the family unit. If danger arises, Fox is johnny-on-the-spot. Great Spirit has honored Fox with the duty of keeping the family together and safe. Fox accomplishes this through the ability to observe undetected, without making others self-conscious. Fox is always concerned with the safety of family members and is an excellent tailsman for those who travel. |
If Fox has chosen to share its medicine with you, it is a sign that you are to become like the wind, which is unseen yet is about to weave into and through any location or situation. You would be wise to observe the acts of others rather than their words at this time. Use your cunning nature in a positive way; keep silent about who and what and why you are observing.
| Its keen eyesight also has the ability to see movement and objects on the very edges of the field of vision. Those with active fox medicine can often see Spirit, and the beings "between worlds". If this is an ability that you'd like to develop, practice at twilight and call upon fox energy to help you. With fox's super-sensitive hearing, you may also be able to hear Spirit. | |
It's tail is considered to be one of the most sacred parts of the fox. While the actual body of the fox is very small, the mass of hair that protects it gives the impression of greater bulk. Hair and fur are ancient symbols for energy and fertility. Fox has two kinds of fur, it's short dense undercoat and it's long stiffer guard hairs lying above. For one with fox as a totem, hair is very important. If a change is needed on certain levels, changing the hair to reflect this desire helps to activate fox medicine and it's magic of shape shifting. The changeability of the colors reflects change of the expression of the inner force. A study of colors and their symbology would also be very insightful. In general, the Red Fox is associated with sexual energy, the kundalini, and the freeing of the creative life force.
| The ears and tail of the fox have messages for you. The ears help the animal to keep cool in the summer as they expel body heat through the ears. If you're too warm, pull your hair away from your ears; if you're cold, let your hair cover your ears. The tail acts as a portable blanket to keep the nose and feet warm. Do you sleep in socks? Do you always want something on your feet? The tail also says that you have the ability to protect yourself from unpleasant and uncomfortable situations and relationships, and can stay cozy and warm with your own inner strength. |
The fox also has a highly developed sense of smell, and you may be very aware of smells, odors, and their subtle differences. And aroma therapy would be a beneficial study for anyone with fox medicine. You are also alert to unpleasant situations and/or danger because something just "doesn't smell right". The study of aromatherapy may be just the thing for you.
| Sexually the sense of smell is one of their strongest stimulants which has a big impact on the intensity of arousal for people with fox medicine. Sexual energy is part of the kundalini energy force within our bodies and is our most creative energy. An individual to whom fox comes has a great capacity for sexual expression. | |
With Fox medicine you know instantly what will happen next. After observing for a while, you will become aware of a certain predictability in given situations and be able to quickly make your move. Fox medicine teaches the art of Oneness through its understanding of camouflage.
Much like the clowns in the rodeo, Fox can keep the raging bull from stampeding a friend or family member. Fox can use silly tactics as a brilliant comouflage move. No one could guess the sly power behind such ingenious maneuvers.
Fox has long been thought of as a nuisance to farmers however the fox is actually a great asset to farmers as the fox consumes a great number of bugs and especially mice and other rodents. Foxes are mostly carnivores (meat-eaters). Most foxes hunt alone. They are nocturnal; they hunt mostly at night. Fox eats small amounts frequently throughout the day which is significant for those with fox as a totem.
The fox has knowledge of underground things hidden from human eyes, and this is shared with the dreamer, telling the dreamer of roots and herbs that are healing and curing; fox shares the powers of swiftness and cleverness as well as gentleness. In this gentleness, there is strength and courage, as indicated by one of the songs of the Fox Society; "I am a Fox. I am supposed to die. If there is anything difficult, if there is anything dangerous, that is mine to do."
Fox is considered to be persistent, yet is gentler and less aggressive than the wolf. Fox teaches us about feminine magic, but this does not imply that it is a totem for women. Rather, both men and women who have the fox as a totem are being told to stay in touch with the feminine side of their personality and character.
If fox shows up in your life it is a sign that you are to be aware of the actions of the world around you. The world is shape shifting and growing into new patterns all the time. Use the art of camouflage and keep cunningly silent about who and what you are observing. After observing for a while you will become aware of certain patterns of predictability in situations and you will know what to do. Fox's medicine of camouflage teaches Oneness with all.
(
http://www.birdclan.org/fox.htm )
Foxes are highly adaptable creatures who will move into urban surroundings when, their habitat is encroached on by humans. They maintain a territory, but it greatly decreases when they live in urban areas as opposed to hill country. Each territory is kept by one family group, which consists of a dog fox, vixen, and their cubs. If there is a good food supply than the family group can expand to include a few other adults. Nevertheless, only one vixen will produce cubs in the group. As for food, foxes are not too picky eating anything from earthworms, crabs, and fruit to small mammals. They bury the excess prey to eat when the food supply is short.
Fox's clever nature makes it a master of camouflage. When hunted by hounds, Fox will psyche them out by doubling back on its own trail, and run around in circles to break the scent. It has the amazing ability to meld into the background, allowing it to quietly observe the situation around them.
Fox comes to us when we need to slip out of a situation so we can be silent witness to what is really taking place behind the scenes. We need to use our cleverness to our advantage, but we must remember to be discreet. Fox asks us to carefully look at where we are coming from, so we can remember to approach things with a clear conscious.
(
http://www.animaltotem.com/fox.html )
Overwhelmingly, cultural consensus on fox animal symbolism deals with:
- cunning
- strategy
- quick-thinking
- adaptability
- cleverness
- wisdom
Additional perspectives and cultural viewpoints on the fox animal meanings are as follows:
In
China, fox animal symbolism revolved around the afterlife. Lore has it that a fox sighting was thought to be a signal from the spirits of the deceased.
Fox animal symbolism takes a turn of intelligence in the
Celtic realm as the Celts believed the fox to be a guide, and was honored for its wisdom. The Celts understood the fox knows the woods intimately, and they would rely upon the fox as their guide in the spirit world.
In
Japan, the fox was considered one of the rain spirits, and a messenger of Inari the rice god. Here the fox also symbolizes longevity and protection from evil.
In
Native American lore, fox animal symbolism deals with two interpretations. One perspective (Northern tribes) observes the fox as a wise and noble messenger. The other (Plains tribes) views the fox as a trickster playing pranks, or worse - luring one to demise.
Other generalized fox symbolic meanings deal with
- focus
- determination
- right-action
It is noteworthy to
observe the fox while it is on the hunt. We see its entire body is pointed like an arrow - straight and
tightly aimed. This is a symbolic message for us to set a determined, and powerfully focused mindset in order to "hit the target" of our desires.
The red in the fox is representative of a
solar emblem. As a solar emblem the fox animal symbolism deals with:
- passion
- desire
- intensity
- expression
The fox encourages us to
think outside of the box and use our intelligence in different, creative ways. The fox also brings us a message to try to approach our circumstances differently that we normally would. Be aware of some of our habits, and try a different angle of action.
The fox also a reminder that we must utilize all of our resources (seen and unseen) in order to accomplish our goals. Sometimes this means calling upon some unorthodox methods.
Furthermore, the fox is a sign to be mindful of our surroundings.
Immaculate
shapeshifters and incredibly adaptable, the fox beckons us to not make too many waves but rather, adapt to our surroundings, blend into it, and use our surroundings (and circumstances) to our advantage.
It should be obvious from this summary that fox animal symbolism goes far beyond what we may see on the surface. On the contrary, the fox has an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom to share with us if/when we are willing to
be still for the teachings.
Spend some meditative time with the spirit of the fox - odds are you will be amazed at the powerful insight this regal creature has to offer you.
(
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/fox-animal-symbolism.html )
http://healing.about.com/od/animaltotems/ig/Animal-Totems-Photo-Gallery/
I don't know if you can see it very well in the photo , but I came up with the idea of having a spiral going over a cairn, to represent energy. Like a Cone of Power.
(There's a small stone, wire play piece in the background)
