|
|
Animal Totem Dolls
One
of a Kind
|
|
So... What IS a Totem Animal?
Deep in the bowels of the Earth, scrawled upon the innermost walls of caverns
are prehistoric renderings depicting
Tribes of Humans interacting with Tribes of Animals.
In those days, there was not so much an academic "belief system"
as there was the direct experience that:
"Man is not above Nature, Man is ONE with Nature."
This lofty idea was embraced by Members of Nature such as the Saber-toothed Tiger,
who regularly became ONE with Mankind...
It is written in the stones that this planet pretty much belonged to the Animals
for ka-drillions of years before Human Beings arrived.
When the Humans finally got here, the animals ate them.
"There was no separation between Man and Animal!"
"Animals, regardless of culture and location, teach us by example."
Foraging, leaping around, hunting, reproducing... well!
As time passed, prehistorical Humans enjoyed the benefits of Surviving,
and, as students of the Animals,
lunching alongside the herds during those lazy afternoons on the plains,
it was natural for them to fondly regard their Animal Mentors as
Brethren...
The word "Totem" means "Brother Sister Kin"
So, we can think of Totem Animals as
Kinfolk.
And a Totem Pole as a Family Tree.
In fact, the Clan Totem Animal became a Symbol for Clan Solidarity!
(think: Budweiser Clydesdales)
Right. There you go. So they had the Bear Clan and the Deer Clan and the Wolf Clan,
like now we have the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Orioles..
you know, Elephants over here, Donkeys over there...
and innumerable smaller groups- Beatles, Eagles, Monkees etc
the similarity being...
The Group Identity is Represented by an Animal.
So, What is a TOTEM ANIMAL?
...a Member of the Tribe, a Companion, a Muse for Cave Art...
and
...a Sacred Guide who appears in Dreams and tells the Tribe where to hunt...
and
...an Object fashioned into the shape of an Animal
which Symbolizes one's Identity
such as...
...a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine
or anything else that depicts or represents the Admired Qualities or
Spirit of the Animal.
Old Indian Legend say...
"In the distant past there was no
separation between man and animal."
|
|
|
|
|
|
"One needs to be perceptive and aware
when one sees animals that catch one's attention
and stand out above the perceived norm."
"Animal teachers will become noticeable when it is time."
The Story of the
The story of
Animal Totem Rocks
Rock Critters and Rock Heads Page
In October and November
Check out the
at the
Shoppe
#145
send email to: bigkandra@aol.com
Smithville, TX 78957
Bev Taylor
Alice in Wonderland Dolls
Sea
Goddesses
The Story of
Back to
Home Page
thanks goes out to:
01/16
02/18
05/20
Three Dresses
Waldo the Wonder Rat
512-332-6680 cell phone
Woodworker Extraordinaire
\
