ANIMAL TOTEM of the day, 10/6/10

TOTEM OF THE DAY - HERON
(excerpt from Ted Andrews, Animal Speak)

The physical characteristics are important to those who have heron as a totem.
The legs are symbols of balance and represent an ability to progress and evolve. Also the longer the legs, the deeper the water the heron will feed in, the deeper life can be explored. The thin legs of the heron represent that you don't need to have pillars to be stable, you can stand on your own. The great blue heron is a lone hunter.

When it feeds it stands in the water reflecting a connection to the earth while implying the exploration of other dimensions on earth (water element). Its important for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions of earth life. This reflects that although it may seem as dabbling, those with this totem are successful as being the 'jack of all trades'.

This ability enables them to follow their own path. Most people will never be able to live the way heron people do. Its not a structured way and does not seem to have a stability or security to it. It is though, just a matter of perspective. To those with heron medicine gives the ability to do a variety of tasks. If one way doesn't work, another will. Heron people seem to inherently know.

Herons do not need a lot of people in their life, nor do they feel pressure to 'keep up with the Jones's or be traditional in their role. The only time they gather in colonies is during breeding season.

The blue heron is king of the marsh, when it flies, its head is folded back in an s shaped loop, reflecting being able to maneuver through life and control its life circumstances. It reflects a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and self determination. You know what is best for you and what to follow rather than by the promptings of others