Spirit Animals of Africa
Introduction
 

Throughout human evolution and the history of the earth animals and humans have lived side by side. They shared their territories and food sources. Animals provided vital food sources warmth and were also harnessed to share the burdens necessary for survival. People were content merely to observe the beasts going about their lives. Nowadays, the vast majority of people have little contact with the animal world. However, the earlier inhabitants of the earth, our ancestors, were familiar with their ways and understood their individual habits, attributes and characteristics. Sometimes, our ancestors survival were completely dependent on the movements of animals, such as when the animals begin to leave an area because of drought or lack of food.

Much animal lore has been passed down through the ages with legends, songs and folklore. It comes from a rich mixture of the traditions of all the differing peoples who have settled, invaded or influenced the populations. The traditional storytellers used fairy stories, parables, tales of gods, heroes and especially animal archetypes to ensure that the listener understood the message contained with in the fable. Archetype is a general pattern of behaviour or concept that is attributed to an animal or a person. The listener could understand without further explanation. A character could be associated with a fox for example would be sly and cunning while the appearance of a baboon would herald trickery or evil. Storytelling tradition has been strong throughout history in all cultures. The ancient bushman of the Kalahari used to celebrate each hunting expedition and kill with poems and song to honour the spirit of the animals and give thanks to the ancestors for their bounty.

In many of these tales animals would assume the themes of heroes, magicians or other worldly beings which can shape shift into one of more animals. Other stories tell of Swan-maidens, werewolves, or enchanted frogs. Ordinary mortals who are either transformed into animals through punishment, accident or malice. Some can take the shape of the animal at will. These transformations represent the acquisition of the strengths and attributes of that particular animal by the person who has attained the necessary knowledge and understanding to do this. The consequences of this action are explored in the tale.

Furthermore, those who heard the tale and interpreted its message understood how to take hold of the power of the animal and apply it to their own circumstances. Many tribes, clans and individuals looked to “totem animals” or “power animals” whose attributes represented aspects of their own character or a trait they wanted to acquire. This spirit animal could be called upon as needed to guide or protect.

Today most people live greatly removed from the natural world. Many city dwellers have rarely seen, let alone observed, the habits of even the commonest countryside animals. Animal imagery has nevertheless been handed down to us in the forms of old stories, legends, fold tales, myths and song, rhyme and poems. These show remarkable uniformity of interpretation. The medieval art of heraldry, carried forward even today in coats of arms, emblems, and logos, contains many echoes of the earlier animal images. Today’s successors to the old tales are the Walt Disney cartoon and the television computer games. Also works of literature such as Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland and “Animal Farm” by George Orwell.

Some stories have been taken around the world in the waves of emigration. These have been adapted to local forms. Animals appear in our dreams as possible guides and messages from the unconscious. Thanks to modern technology television has taken the place of the storyteller around the fire and the cartoon and the wildlife documentary now shape most people’s archetypes. Many animal traits have survived from the earliest tradition-the cunning and humour of the fox; the mystery of the cat; the loyalty of the dog.

One explanation for the power and abiding nature of the images is that they reflect our own characters, allowing us to recognize traits, strengths, potential and attributes which exist within ourselves. Each of us has to some degree some of the cunning of the fox, the strength of an elephant if we can only find it and unlock it. Many shamanic traditions believe that each individual has a particular animal, a totem or spirit guide with which they are closely associated, whose strengths and attributes are strong potentials within that person. The totem animal can lead the way to self-knowledge and enlightenment, although it should be remembered that the help of all the other animals is also available within. Spirit animals lie within you and offer guidance, companionship and knowledge along the path of self-discovery ad growth.