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How Spirit Animals Can Help Calm Your Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time but when it becomes so intense and frequent such that it’s debilitating and interferes with your work and your personal life, then it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. The reported experiences of this kind of anxiety and mental health in general has been on the increase, particularly during the last few years. Influences include the pandemic, global warming, the increase in violence…the list goes on and on. These events trigger the instinctive fear response in most of us. The abundance of social media that offers constant reminders of what a dangerous world we live in also serves to trigger fear and anxiety.
Fear is extremely useful and necessary in situations where there is a distinct predator that could harm you or even take your life, but when fear lingers without a clearly perceived threat then it can become an anxiety disorder, one that holds you in its grip for extended periods of time and interferes with a felt sense or safety and calm. Fear can prompt you to be alert, to quickly assess what’s going on and determine whether it’s an actual threat, one to be met with either fighting or fleeing. However, when anxiety rules your life, it can cloud your perception, tending to create discomfort in situations where you would ordinarily feel relatively comfortable.
There are a few different ways to deal with your anxiety and return to a more relaxed, calmer state. An integrative approach is ideal, where you incorporate things like social support, exercise, creative expression, and regular recreational activities. There are also some supplements that can help, such as probiotics, vitamin B12, Omega 3 fats, and ashwagandha, to name a few. It’s been demonstrated that even taking care of a pet can provide a resource for greater calmness.
Amongst these possibilities there exists another important resource that is easily overlooked: your relationship with spirit guides—in particular, animal spirit guides. An animal spirit guide is when an animal comes to you in an unusual way or repeatedly in a short space of time. That can be the physical animal or a symbol of that animal. When that happens, Spirit is sending you a message through this messenger, and the characteristics of the animal can suggest what the message is. For instance, an owl flies at night in the darkness, so if it comes to you, the message may be that you have to become aware and address some shadows in yourself or in someone you know. Another example would be waking from a dream about a rabbit and realize the message is to remain vigilant and ready to take action as necessary.
Another type of spirit animal is one that remains with you for several years, typically called either a totem animal or a power animal. They are with you to provide protection and guidance and you can sustain the relationship through frequently expressed gratitude and prayers. You can discover your totem/power animal through shamanic journeying, meditation, visualization, or the frequent appearance physically or symbolically of a particular animal.
Some additional advantages of incorporating spirit animals to help you deal with your fears and anxiety are:
- Spirit animals have physical and symbolic counterparts that help you connect more readily with them and through these they can offer messages that alleviate your concerns.
- Specific spirit animals can be called upon to alleviate your fear and anxiety during major life changes. For instance, you can call on Bear Spirit if you feel the need for extra protection or to help you set boundaries with someone.
- Through consistent attention to your totem or power animal they can provide guidance and protection throughout your life. It’s just a matter of asking for it and trusting they will do so.
- Spirit animals not only can provide guidance and protection, but also power and wisdom when you feel lost, confused, scared, or insecure. They can also help you gain insight into your own strengths, challenges, and potential.
- They can also offer comfort, companionship, and love when you feel lonely, isolated, or depressed. By feeling the presence of their spirit animal, people can experience a sense of belonging, support, and affirmation, and can learn to trust these spirit guides.
- Spirit animals can inspire creativity, imagination, and fun when you feel bored, stressed, or overwhelmed. By exploring the qualities and characteristics of your spirit animal, you can discover and see these characteristics in yourself. In other words, they can reflect certain characteristics in yourself that have remained hidden or unacknowledged.
- They can encourage greater respect, appreciation, and harmony with nature and other living beings. As you learn more about the role and significance of your spirit animal in different cultures and traditions, you can develop a deeper connection with the environment.
These are some of the ways that studying and understanding about spirit animals can help you feel calmer and more relaxed, helping to dissipate your fears and anxieties. You can also read more about spirit animals on the Internet and in books, and of course, learn from the spirit animals themselves. With an open mind you’ll find that they will teach you. Experiment with these ideas by putting them into action. Keep a journal of your experiences and integrate animal spirit guides into the menu for how you can more confidently deal with your fears and anxiety!
