Working with a totem animal

[dibeartach.livejournal.com]

My totem animal has long been the Salmon. It represents many things to me - Strength, faith, endurance, grace, wildness, wisdom, beauty, but also light and water. 
This sort of shuffled into the back of the spiritual mind recently in view of avery possessive Goddess, but revisited me last night. I feel I should be doing more to connect with the Salmon, giving working with a totem more attention than I have been.
Anyone who works with a steady totem animal, how do you go about this? I'm after some input of how others function with a totem, and work the connection into their spiritual practice, so any reflections on this would be appreciated.