the_animist | The Usefulness of Generic Totem Meanings (Reply)

Okay, so most of us have totem sites we go to for information, or books, and many of us have heard of Jamie Sams and Ted Andrews. Many of us have probably heard or read simplified statements like; 'oh horse, horse is Power. Whale is Record-Keeper.'

But how useful are these one word or two word generic titles really? What do they actually tell us about the animal?

I think that sometimes they can be harmful, but it's true that I have also used them in my own practice. I don't use ones that Jamie Sams made up, but I have been found going to people 'well, the dog is a loyal animal, and he likes structure...so maybe...'

And there I've used two key words, and implied structure and loyalty. So for me, sometimes, they can be useful - but how can they hinder our understanding of animals? Even my totem files, as long as they are, can be a hindrance. Why? Because they can make people not look 'outside' the writings to the animal itself. Some people will, but not all.

Yet totem files, and any book on totems may also help people to look at animals in way they might not have considered.

Are there any generic totem meanings that might apply to an animal all the time? Is Hawk always 'Messenger'? Is Buffalo always 'Abundance'?

Is it ever that simple?