I have several spirit animals.. fox, raccoon, raven and owl.

animals in general seem to be attracted to me..
a dog can pass by in a car and will watch me, even thru the back window, until they're completely out of sight... or walk straight up to me on the street and while walking away, keep turning back..
I often have stray animals, including cats & dogs, show up at my door..
when I first moved to my current home, I had an older fox come and lay on a mound of dirt I had made from digging a fire-pit, and pass away while I sat nearby and kept him company..

Do you have any special connection to animals?

so am I to assume I'm the only one that feels a connection to animals?

For years Raven was my power animal.
Then I went through a phase, not exactly a dark night of the Soul, but with the help of someone I had some things cleared out on very deep levels.
When I drove home after that session I felt my Raven saying goodbye and leaving.
I cried.
I knew it was good, and that I didn't need him anymore. But it was like saying goodbye to a life-long friend and it left a feeling of emptiness for a while.
I had a gorgeous larger raven pendant, Celtic design, silver. I wore that every day.
But I haven't worn it anymore since Raven said his goodbye. It just didn't feel right anymore.
It's like trying on a coat that no longer fits.
I still have it, won't ever get rid of it. It's very dear to me. But I don't wear it anymore.


Ever since, I haven't really had another Spirit animal although Deer kept coming up time and again.
And when I checked what that stands for it made a lot of sense.
But the feeling isn't as strong or intense as with Raven.

hey Crystal I'm not surprised seeing you post here.. you are as connected to the earth and nature as I am

I used to be surrounded by crows until the raven entered my life about 20 yrs ago.. that was when the fox showed up as well.. the owl came about 10-12 yrs ago.. but doesn't stay for long, more of an in-out type.. although I can often hear her in the distance, singing her presence..

I lost my deer about 7 yrs ago.. that saddened me to no end and I still feel that loss.. mind you, I found a young buck in my yard last spring.. he was huge and powerful.. he stood there staring at me and for about 5 mins neither of us moved.. then he meandered off into the field.. I've seen tracks of him this winter in the snow but haven't seen him directly.. last year the raccoon re-entered my life.. I had an amazing summer and actually befriended one where we created a very strong bond.. sadly, he passed in Nov. I miss him every day and it still brings tears to my eyes thinking of him.. and probably will for the rest of my life.. his siblings are still present but we do not have the same connection, sadly.

For christmas 2025 my eldest brought me a raccoon figurine.. when I picked it up I cried openly.. they all comforted me (her, her hubby & 2 kids hugged me for what seemed like forever) however it saddens me deeply to see it perched on my mantel..

for anyone interested in knowing more about their spirit animal https://www.spiritanimal.info/

for those looking to find their spirit animal, you can take a quiz here https://www.spiritanimal.info/spirit-animal-quiz/

post your results here and share any experiences you've had

For me power animals have not been real animals I've seen. It's intuitive, energetic.
The deer came up in a meditation. A buck with huge antlers, looking straight at me.

I do sometimes come across animals, mostly birds actually, that I do feel hold a message. Then I look it up when at home. It is almost always accurate.
For instance at some point I noticed that I saw a lot of ducks. Nothing special really, ducks are basically everywhere, right?
But it stood out to me and then I know it's more than just seeing them. it's a message.
I looked up the meaning and couldn't believe how accurate it was!
A short while later I stopped seeing ducks, even though ducks were still around of course.

I also like birds of prey. For a few years had a thing for marsh-harriers which I actual saw on regular basis too.
Once I had one fly across the street, right in front of my car?! I almost hit it, it was very close to the windscreen.
Now why would an intelligent bird of prey do that?

I have a thing for kestrels too. And golden eagle.

But none of these feel like my main power animal. Nothing like Raven at the time. Also a bird? Come to think of it, that in itself has to have meaning.

when I was in my 40's.. I had a native/indigenous indian close friend who stayed with me in my home for many months.. in lieu of rent/food he taught me how to make dream catchers and native jewelery.. he also spoke about spirit animals and how to recognize them..

we obviously have differing ways of that discovery, as do the different indigenous peoples.. the way he described it was, if they are present in your life (not just show up briefly then disappear) they bring you what you need during those times..
that buck had a message for me and because he passes thru my yard almost daily (seen by the new tracks in the snow) he is guarding me from some evil or negative spirit while giving me inner strength..
because of my connection with the raccoon last spring/summer/fall.. he will have a more lasting presence in my life affording me a lighter spirit of playfulness and protections against those that may wish to take from me (be it spiritually or financially)..
as for the ravens.. they protect me from those spirits that wish to take my good energy and turn my calm to chaos..
the owl brings the wisdom to make the right choices for me and strength to fight against the chaos and defend my 'mother earth' nature
the fox gives me the perception I need to understand the nature of mankind as it is today.. (I could have used this years ago )

all in all.. he described my spirit energy as very old, one of vast knowledge and understanding of nature/mother earth and animals.. a gentle soul.. and why, he believes, animals are attracted to me.

it blew my mind learning the things he taught me and spoke of.. and I guess why I feel so connected to the forest and country.. it brings me a sense of calm and feeling of protectedness.. I feel the 'good' spirits around me that have passed before, either ethereally or thru the animals.. and I feel safe, content, complete, I never feel alone or lonely.. it's pretty amazing!

(spelled "earth" & "ethereally" wrong )

Being connected to nature is great and very healthy.
Nature is feminine energy, which I love! It's going with the flow, not trying to control things etc. Knowing that things come and go like the leaves on trees and flowers in a field.
Maintaining a balance so things nourish and nurture one another and so on.

I've grown up with a dad who loved nature and he passed that on to me. We went to the woods regularly, he showed and taught me a lot. Now you have to know that the Dutch woods are usually smaller even than what you in the US and likely Canada call "a park".
I've been to a so called park in Alabama which was huge! Way larger than any woods we have here.
In the same way we also don't have the same wild animals. They either do not live in this part of the world or they cannot have a habitat anymore because humans claimed so much ground to live and for roads etc.

As such we don't have bears. We had them until approx. the 9th-10th century, then they went extinct.
Foxes can happen but rare and they typically don't come near houses as far as I know. I think I've seen a fox 2-3x in my entire life and one of them was in the UK.
Racoon... dunno if we have those in The Netherlands.
We don't have mountain lions, snakes, scorpions, no moose or elk either. Deer & raven only in certain areas, the latter not in my province.
There used to be more in the past but because of superstition most got killed and they nearly went extinct. I actually think they went extinct and had to be re-introduced in the '80s. I've never in my life seen a raven in The Netherlands. The only ones I've seen were at The Tower in London.

Since a few years we get wolves again. They had also disappeared for yonks.
They came in via eastern route, Russia maybe, then via Germany into our country. At first only in the east where there's more forest area, but they're slowly spreading towards the south-west which is where I live.
So it could be that in a few years time we have wolves roaming round in the village, hihi.

Unlike in your situation there is little chance of me getting any wild animals in my garden or area. My garden is fenced off anyways, lol. Only cats and birds can get in. And hedgehogs. I do have those :)

Native American and/or First Nation ways are different and also not directly available to me.
I've studied western European paganism with a UK hedgewitch but after a few years I moved on to something else.
I'm also an old Soul, a Lightworker. I felt a longing & calling for more. I moved on to more Cosmic stuff I suppose, less of the Pagan ways. I used to call myself a Pagan, and in a way I still am, but mostly a Lightworker.
I work with energies, Archangels & angels, Ascended Masters and so on. Very busy with the ascension process of both myself & mankind.

I've done loads of (paid-for) Tarot & oracle card readings for people but at some point had enough of that too, hihi. At the mo I only read for myself on occasion.
I also have different beings who protect me, more from the Angelic realms (which includes Arch/angels, dragons, unicorns) and/or Ascended Masters, over 400 high vibrational crystals, and my own high vibrational energy. I'm very well protected.
If need be I smudge my aura and house with white sage, but this is rarely needed, thank goodness! So there is a bit of Nat. Am. here and there, the smudging is one.

My main focus in life is working with the masculine & feminine energies & dynamics. Learning about that to great extent and passing that on to other people.
As a coach I've given courses for women on that, online & in English so I could work with a broad audience.
Menopause to-do threw a spanner in the work when I was just getting started :/
Currently considering picking that up again.

So we're both spiritual, sensitive, but in entirely different ways!

to me a forest is a plot of land, anywhere from 1 to 50 acres of trees.. I don't have any "park" type forests near where I am.. and yes.. humans are taking over so much of the "wild" lands infringing on wildlife habitats.. I'm a bit of an environmental activist.. I'm always looking for ways I can help keep the country, country and preserve as much of the wild lands as possible..

related to but kind of off topic...
can you imagine if another species came along and decided they wanted OUR homes? destoryed our habitats to form their own and eradicated all that we hold dear? yeah, we'd fight back but.. most wildlife can't.. some of us have to be their voice.. and I feel it's our duty to take a stand against greed and injustice..

I am sorry to hear you are bereft of many of the wildlife species you once enjoyed.. I for one feel some "progress" is actually more destructive than helpful.. we really don't need more stores or office buildings and actually feel those abandoned office buildings should be transformed into homes for the homeless.. that company's should give back instead of CEO's and top brass taking home 6+(not 3 LOL) figure salaries yearly..

every holy book speaks out against greed.. IMO humanity has lost it's soul.. when so many now are in need, including our own planet..my question to the world is..
when is enough, enough?

I know several pagen followers and even a druid.. I understand somewhat their choices.. but similar to religion or politics.. it's a personal choice brought about by a full set of belief's I don't quite have..

I find many aspects of the differing belief's are very similar to each other.. however each is subject to the individuals interpretation.. even though most are headed in the same general direction..

it's sad this worlds many people are so torn up.. fighting amongst themselves while feeling they are the superior.. oddly enough they are blind and deaf to the fact they are pretty much saying and seeing the same things, just in a slightly different way..

so to your point.. yes.. we are the same.. just in slightly different ways

Funny -and great!- you say that, as I wanted to say the same thing but decided to leave it out: it basically all leads to the same thing, or if not it's about the same things: oneness, alignment, love.

I don't really know how I'd describe the difference between what I consider pagan and what I do now. I think the main difference is that Paganism is more earthly (or is it earthy? My English is failing me, hihi) and the other more cosmic.
But even that isn't 100% correct as there's an overlap.
Generally speaking the beings you work with/call on are different.

But I wouldn't know how to accurately describe it, or point out valid differences. I only know both feel different to me. If I want to do something more pagan-like it's as if I have to put on a different coat, hihi.

actually.. paganism is both earthy and earthly, so your english isn't failing you LOL..

I don't consider myself a pagan or a lightworker but someone that feels very connected to the earth and my surroundings.. I'm not one much for labels.. as previously stated.. I don't follow any one religion or secular force.. I am.. simply put.. connected to what makes sense to me.. what I feel.. what I see.. how I think.. there's no real definition for me.. other than I am at peace with myself and in nature...

you're right though.. there's an overlap in many secular/pagan/spiritual 'sects' if you will.. and as such.. I am simply not defined by any one description.. other than being connected to everything.. as we all are.. in some way, shape or form..

yet instead of coming together and accepting our differences.. people seem to fear and attack what they don't understand or what is different to them.. *sighs* shame really..

Glad to know my English is still in order, hahaha.

I'm pretty much the same. I also don't follow one particular anything. Wouldn't want to either.
Now I am not bothered by labels but I feel following one method is limiting.
For instance, I felt I was missing out on things that were important to me when I was apprenticing with a hedgewitch.
Same if I'd only do reading or healing or anything else.

But I am that way with everything in life. In the past I struggled with that for years, wondering why the hell I couldn't be one thing like most other people.
You know, be a nurse, or a bookkeeper, a teacher or whatever.
But I simply can't. If I have a regular job I start to get bored after 2-3 months. Bored to the point that I start looking round for another job, think about calling in sick if my throat itches just once etc. etc.
I just cannot work a regular boring job that is the same day in day out, year in year out.

At some point when I was 52-ish I realised it's okay to be the way I am. That it's actually my strength, not an Achilles heel.

Shortly thereafter I heard a coach explain in a TED talk that there are people who are so called 'specialists', the ones who do one thing and excel at it, and people who are multi-potentialites. These are people who are interested and good at multiple things and they cannot thrive when doing just one of them.
That TED talk did me a lot of good. Confirmation of what I'd worked out myself and how she explained it was wonderful!

I called myself 'multi-faceted', presented that in my website logo as a coach with a diamond :)

Whenever I dive into a new method, whether spiritual or otherwise, I take from it what resonates with me and dump the rest.
Over the years I've created my own unique blend that way.

Lightworker isn't a method or any one thing. It's an overarching statement. It means that you've gotten so far on your path of spiritual & personal development that you're vibration has gone up. You're ego doesn't really run the show any longer, you live from the heart. As such you feel a deep longing to serve. Serve the planet or people or... or...
Paganism to me is also a very broad statement, overarching. Many things fall under that umbrella. It's not just the one thing nor is it a method.
Basically 'paganism' is everything that isn't churchie. That church would consider heresy.

Gosh, talk about digressing from the original subject, hihi. Hope you don't mind. I'm actually enjoying our exchange!

than I assume, if I had to say something about myself, I'm (a?) lightworker..

funny how you mention career choices and either specialists or multi-potentialites..

I'm definitely the latter.. started as a CPA and although I love working with numbers still.. got bored quickly enough.. turned to retail.. excelled at that until the car accident in 1999 which then paralized me on my left side.. couldn't do a normal job any longer OR go into a workplace so reinvented myself into an independent contractor.. worked from my home office from 2001 to end of 2024.. been retired since.. not that I don't have opportunities.. just bored of working and would rather enjoy the freedoms of doing what I want, when I want.. not that I'm rich or anything.. far from it.. I live off my pensions.. I'm frugal (not cheap ) just watch what I spend & when.. but over the course of my life I've done many things work wise... interior decorator and designer.. do renovation/building-construction.. cabinet builder.. furniture refurbisher.. environmental activist (although no pay there LOL) and even tried my hand at politics...

I guess.. like you.. I get bored easily unless I'm being creative.. which I'm currently working at re-doing my interior upstairs (refreshing paint and adding new decor) and finishing the basement (building walls, installing ceiling & floor tiles/wood, painting etc).. I just added a fan to my upstairs shower 'roof' and built a box around it.. I finished the sides off with pallet wood.. looks pretty cool.. kind of turning my home into a mythical/medieval-ish wonderland.. I've painted a hall wall with a large tree and field flowers.. added some wildlife.. have some real tree bark drying out and will add that to the mural as well.. so.. just having some fun

I also designed and built my 4 poster/canopy bed and just last week made a new canopy for it.. dragged some fabric out to make a new duvet cover too earlier today.. like I said.. I'm having fun!!

but I digress as well.. nope.. enjoying myself as well.. been a long while since we chatted so.. it's fun discovering more about you and our commonalities/differences!

You gotta be kidding me: I also had a car accident in 1999?!?
I ended up with a real bad whiplash as I'd had a double whammie: the first when the guy hit me from behind with his car, second when I slammed into the car in front of me because of it.
I did recover for the most part although it took years.
But in 2012 I had another accident, fell of the stairs, from the top, hit my head real hard upon 'landing'.
Real bad concussion, lost a tooth as well, the one next to your front teeth. Had to go have both my lips stitched then on the the dentist to have my tooth fixed that had broken off.

That accident I have not recovered from to date. Maybe because I didn't have time to properly recover from the concussion --> I had to move house couple months later as my then partner and I had broken up. And I was forced to do work I shouldn't have been doing yet. Too early, too soon. But when you're on a benefit you've got nothing to say.

Because of all that I can't work so I still live of a very small income (well-fare).
Absolutely brill to have a great brain, to be intelligent, have lots of skills & abilities and still not able to make a decent living :/
I think you can relate to that!
On the other hand side I'm glad I don't have to work in today's society, deal with the 9 to 5 BS and mentality, as it doesn't suit my personality at all.
It'd make me miserable to be part of that. Only advantage is that you have more money to do things.

Like you I also make life worth living by being creative.
I can do what I want up to a point. I am limited by the rules that come with the benefit, and a small budget, hihi.

I also spend a lot of time on personal growth & development, which overlaps with the spiritual/energy work, but also psychology, neuroscience and so on.
Thank goodness a lot can be found on the net!

I do not understand how you do all that you described when you're paralysed on one side. That is really unbelievable. Kudos to you!!

how messed up is THAT huh.. are you my twin, separated at birth?? wow..

sorry.. I'll continue reading now

did I forget to mention that I've worked very hard on myself after the dr's & specialists left me in 2001 at only 9% use of my left side? I'm now at about 85%.. although I still use a cane for balance as I sometimes teeter.. my kids used to sing their version of that song for the toy "weebles wobble and they sometimes fall down" that's me

when my dr said they couldn't do anything more for me.. I sat down in front of him and told him "firstly, I'm ditching your morphine and codeine crap" and went cold turkey.. spent a week in bed but it was SOO worth it.. haven't needed OR wanted either since.. then "secondly.. I'm going to do my own thing moving forward" and he simply told me to keep him posted.. which I did, once a year.. first year? I was 27%.. I showed HIM! I went out and got a puppy and forced myself to walk him twice a day.. every day I took 1 or 2 steps more.. until I managed to make it around the entire block.. then I expanded my trips bit by bit.. I re-taught myself to type using my left hand.. I also forced myself to brush the dog and my own hair with my left hand.. it was a challenge but I persisted and pushed thru the pain.. although today I can't hold my arms up above my head.. I manage by using stools, benches and ladders to reach upwards.. my dad always taught me that "where there's a will.. there's a way".. I can't do marathons or bike, I walk instead.. I can't do standard exercises.. but I can shovel (to a point, that I of course push past every time )

it's taken me 2 summers so far to redo my deck out back.. 1st summer I replaced the steps and the deck itself (it's 14'wide by 18'long).. last summer I put up the railings and posts to support a real roof, I also installed a framework to support a tarp so it was at least sun/rain free.. this summer I need to install an actual roof.. not sure how I'm going to manage that on my own but.. I'll figure something out.. I'm not rich either so choose not to spend money on contractors.. my kids aren't close enough to actually help (at least the one with experience isn't) the other is not very useful.. he can use a screwdriver.. just not sure he can cut angles lol

anywho.. I'm sorry to hear about your fall.. sounds nasty.. but to not have time to properly heal sucks.. at least here my insurance paid.. not much mind you and after 2 years they decided I wasn't a handicap.. but.. I could barely move.. go figure.. and why I had to re-invent myself as I had no income and was a single mom of 2.. so yes.. I can relate!

I'm glad you're now taking the time to heal.. working on yourself.. I do that just about every day.. it's amazing what one can do with simple mind exercises.. how we can trick ourselves into doing more or doing something different or even differently.. the mind is such a powerful tool.. it can change our perceptions and even our habits..

in 2001 the insurance cut me off financially and said I wasn't a handicap (as I started to say above).. but in 2010 they decided I WAS a handicap, so they gave me a special parking pass, but haven't paid any more $$ mind you.. I have the disabled deduction on my taxes now tho.. woop de doo

Amazing what you have done and how far you've come!
I know the mind is extremely powerful, as is the self-healing ability of the body.
It is actually infinite.
I learnt this from Dr Joe Dispenza. Many who have done his work have healed from stage 4 cancer!?! Also from stroke, being (partly) paralysed, MS and whatnot.
I have started his work a few times, but I always lose motivation/inspiration after some 2-3 months. Like with working a 9-5 job as I told before where I get bored within the same timeframe, I also have this with healing work.
I know from what Joe Dispenza says this is the exact time where you have to follow through. If you do, you're there.
Stupid thing is, I just forget. And then think a week later, "Chit, I haven't done anything anymore?!!"

In spite of my limitations I do a lot myself as well in and around the house. Being single, you have no choice, right?
Sometimes I have to get help in though, volunteers as like you I can't afford to get paid-for help in.
And funny enough much of what I do myself works fine, doesn't bother me much physically?
A few years ago I had to put up a new 7m long gutter on the garage. I'd never done anything like that, normally your man does that, hihi.
But I did it, didn't bother my neck/shoulders at all, which was quite unbelievable! But I was so proud of myself that I got it done and that it worked perfectly as well!
I have yet to finish of the gutter on the other side. Half of it is done.

Roofing I wouldn't do. Too heavy for me. I also have an issue with raising my arms up. Anywhere above shoulder height approx. makes my muscles cramp and triggers my neck.
But I have a council house so that kind of thing I don't have to do myself anyways. I just phone them to tell them XYZ is broken and they sent someone over to fix it.

I hope you manage to get or have it done without too much trouble!!

I could get a parking thing for invalids too a few years ago. But for me there's no real added benefit. Yes, parking in town would be easier I guess, but I hardly ever go into town. I'd get a traffic sign on/near my driveway, which I do not want, hihi.
But I'm on welfare as I wasn't working at the time of my accident, not disability benefit (which is substantially higher than welfare).
Since I'm in the welfare system I cannot get permanent exemption from working/applying for jobs. I can only get 1 or 2yr exemption. Last time I got 2 years, which ends this April, meaning I'll again have to go to my manager and convince him I haven't healed and still cannot work. Sigh...
Always stresses me out as when they decide I can work I'm b*ggered.

I still have my dreams and hopes for the future though! I want to be free of that welfare system, be my own independent self, travel, have a wonderful partner.
Give online courses on the masculine & feminine principles, sell paintings and meditations and so on.

For that I'll have to get myself on track again. Spend about a year on getting balance in hormones after becoming post-menopausal. I started HRT last year (hormone replacement therapy). Takes time to get a balance, not there yet. I do hope it will alleviate my issues. If so, then I can begin to do stuff. Maybe. If I have the guts, hihi.

Oh, as for power animals...
I somehow feel quite strong resonance with Bear.
Which is kind of hilarious to me as I always sighed when people say their power animal is bear and their guide a Nat. Am. Indian. Such a platitude, if that's the correct word. As if they were truly spiritual if they had a bear and a Nat. Am. Indian guide.

But i feel strong mother energy in Bear. Which makes me think of Artha, the Avalonian/pagan Bear goddess.
It's a female bear, not male. That doesn't feel right.
I guess I need some motherly love and protection?