My Power/Spiritual Animal

As I was reading in The Anthology, I found out that early scholars like Sir James Frazer and Emile Durkheim all had different, but somewhat similar view on Totemism. For Durkheim, "a totem is a form of symbol representing the collective life...,[the] basic integrative force" that makes up the personality and layers of a person comparable to an onion metaphorically speaking (107). To me, I look at it this way. A person has many different sides to their personality. I'm not sure if it is the same case to all bystanders out there, but to me, that seems to be the case. Backtracking to Durkheim's beliefs about how totems represent a symbol of life, it really made me think about what type of spiritual power animal would fit my personality and lifestyle. I have never really put much emphasis and thought into such a matter until my first assignment in my UGS class where I had to think of a spirit animal that fit me and post it on the social networking site FaceBook for extra credit. At first I thought that the spiritual animal that gave me the perfect fit was the the feline lion.

I know many people in this world will have a lion as their totem animal, but even though many will, the "Power animal [will be] specific and personal for each individual" since everyone is unique in their very own way (108). Such unique qualities that beam from each and every person makes me ponder and all the endless possible combinations there are in the world. To me, a Lion is a leader and is very independent which is two characteristics that mainly build my own personality. I am the first son in my family and take responsibility on mostly every account of everything. I have to do things by myself most of the time because that's how i was raised. Living in a household that doesn't know the English language well really takes a toll and caresses these traits into me. Lions are  noble, arrogant, and lazy. These traits fit me as well because I myself have high morals and ideals that can't easily be changed. I do what is usually right or else I just won't feel good. Sometimes I'm bigheaded and usually really lazy, but that's what makes me, me.

Sure I put thought into this, but after putting thought and rethinking about it, I Believe that the animal that best fits me is a regular cat. Just like cats, I like to have fun, fool around, and be lazy at times by just laying there and doing nothing. Minding my own business and sometimes like just walking and being alone because sometimes I have have to escape to reality and have my "me" time. Lions are usually ferocious, too ferocious I believe, which is why I changed my power animal to a cat. Sure my personality causes me to erupt sometimes, but not always as often as a lion. Cats on the other hand don't really reach such a degree, but if they need to, they will defend themselves, just like me. On top of that, they love to sit back and relax, giving me the feline characteristics that describe me because I too am laid back and like to watch the game sometimes instead of actually playing it.

As I read further into The Anthology into Chapter 2: Awakening To Your Spirit Totems, I found out that most societies believe "that spiritual guides often use animals or animal imagery to communicate their purpose and roles to humans" (113). Reading this actually confirmed my beliefs and gave me something to look up to now. A cat can be my representation now. Sure there are many cats out there, many Asian heritage people out there, but everyone of us is unique, just like every cat. Now I know you guys can tell the difference between cats so why not the difference between us Asians? Just playing, but my point is that as for my human role, I believe my spiritual power animal will guide me through my ups and downs and keep my personality for who I am intact if anything were to ever happen. Felines is my thing. What's yours? Some people say that "shortly after discovering...[their] spirit animals, they egin to see signs everywhere" (121). I can say that I believe it because just the other day, I saw a black cat as I was walking through the sides of the FAC building.

Citations:


http://nehasinha.wordpress.com/this-helps-me-to-move-on/
http://themightylayman.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

http://www.abolitionist.com/reprogramming/darwinian-life.html

The Anthology