I have updated my wildspeak website with about 60 new animal totem files. Everything from maned wolf, to pipistrelle, to velvet worm, to oriental small-clawed otter (and a few mainstreamers like jaguar too). These are keywords only, or keywords and general descriptions; but still, progress!

This brings the total number of animals represented on my website - which is totally free, and costs nothing more than bandwidth - to about 150. Sheesh.

Yet another thing I can gleefully cross off my to-do list. Man, I am so fucking sick of HTML right now. Lol.

Two White Ravens

My 'take a break' artwork! I heart this piece, it was spontaneous, though it was a theme I'd been wanting to express for some time. And I've been obsessed with white ravens for a long long time. Both for shamanic reasons, and because well - white can be shiny and iridescent too!





( Larger pictures behind the cut. )

Wow, three at once!
Heh.
I miss doing these.





( totem information, description, and larger image under the cut )





( totem information, description, and larger image under the cut )





( totem information, description, and larger image under the cut )

I've often talked about how snail is a part of my life, a trusted guide, a wonderful helper, and so on. So much so, that some of my friends call me 'snaily P.' I have always loved snails, of all kinds; but especially your bog-standard european garden snail, which is a bit of a pest here in Australia. Snail reminds me that for the sake of my health, my wellbeing, my sanity, my ability to execute skilled artwork, I have to slow down and appreciate the small things in life.

I have a cheetah energy in my life, I'm not sure if it is cheetah, but that's what I call her. Cheetah is fast and powerful. When she's resting she's impatient and hungry for success and triumph. She wants to be running and catching the things she desires. She tells me to do it ALL. That if I do it all fast enough, I can attain everything I want. She walks off in a huff when I remind her that cheetahs burn a lot of energy when they sprint, which is why they need clear focus. Ultimately she tells me to be an opportunist, to sprint when I need to sprint. But her energy in the back of my head gets me feeling agitated, stressed, and not appreciating the journey. Going too fast, and working too hard, for my own comfort.

The cheetah and the snail have opposing energies, at least right now. I have gotten sick, more times than I can remember, by listening to cheetah's agitation and impatience. By trying to do it all. I have worked consecutive 10 hour days. I have forgotten to sleep. I have told myself that if I just bury my energy into this one goal (no matter what it is), I'll triumph and then I can rest. The problem is, no one goal is good enough, and I never end up resting.

On the other hand, listening to snail has had me quitting the jobs that helped to make me sick. Has me sitting and looking at the small things in life. And sometimes taking things so slowly that I miss out on opportunities to learn and grow. By looking at the details, I sometimes miss the big picture. Snail can see the leaf in front of it, but it may not see the gardener behind it waiting to throw him over the fence. Cheetah sees the big plains, has to in order to survive. But Cheetah doesn't see any wisdom in knowing the leaves on a tree. The individual flowers on a flowering branch.

One area of my life that I seek to balance, almost constantly, is cheetah's 'let's do it quickly and with high energy,' with snail's 'let's do it slowly and with little energy.' It's 'big picture' vs. 'small picture.' I've been skewed more towards the cheetah almost all my life, and suffered dire consequences. And now the pendulum is swinging back towards snail and eventually, the pendulum will settle and I will know a thing that I bemusedly call 'intermittent balance.' Because the pendulum is never truly still, and because sometimes it's good to shake things up a bit to reveal further wisdoms that lie hidden like pebbles beneath the still lake.

I do need to go through a 'snail phase.' It is always with snail that I do the most of my internal healing. And it is always with cheetah that I achieve the most of my external triumphs and successes; even if I do struggle to recognise them for what they are. Finding balance, so far, has not been an easy thing for me. But it is something I know I'll get from applying a diligent, opportunistic work ethic; with a stable and solid grounding in knowing when to rest.

And see? In my last sentence of that last paragraph, right there is my paradox. For when I apply the principles of attaining balance in this area of my life - through knowing when to seize the achievements and then being able to slow down enough to appreciate them for what they are - I will have already attained it.

Do you have opposing energies in your life? What are they? What directions do they pull you and what sort of 'middle ground' are you looking for? Have you ever experienced totem animals that just didn't get along with each other, or seem to have energies that were in any way compatible? How did you deal with it?

The awesome artist and bewylderbeast is seeking to help the Scottish Badgers through the sale of her artwork. I'll gank a section of her wordpress post about it here:

"Scottish Badgers work to preserve Scotland’s badgers, their setts and their habitats, but their valuable work is under threat due to shortages in funding.

To help raise some funds, I am hoping to sell a load of my artwork.

From Wednesday 1st July to Wednesday 8th July, you can make me an offer for any piece of my work that is for sale. Once postage costs and paypal fees have been taken off your payment, the rest of what you give will be donated to Scottish Badgers."

Click here for the awesome artwork officially for sale, and here for the artwork that *may* be for sale or contact her directly at emma@urbanimal.co.uk

And pass it around. :)

Might I add that this is an awesome offer. bewylderbeast does amazing artwork (I own two pieces), and you are buying a piece from someone who, like myself, works very hard to ensure a connection to the animal energy / animal she is working with. It's very cool stuff. Please check it out.

American Black Bear as Totem

The American black bear is a common bear species (with many subspecies) found throughout North America and well-adapted to the landscapes found throughout. They are powerful animals, able to stand on two legs, and run at fast speeds when necessary. American black bears - like most bears - are omnivores, changing their diet depending on seasonal availability. They are known to compete with wolverines, cougars and brown bears for kills / food.





American black bear as totem represents: (not exhaustive)

Sniffing out the truth, containing great power, being a mover and shaker, needing long breaks from people and projects, taking time-out, sabbaticals, climbing to the top, being misunderstood, having your true nature underestimated or overlooked, meditation, highs and lows.

Original AVAILABLE - $70 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Gouldian Finch as Totem

Despite being popular as a cage finch, the gouldian finch is an endangered bird, with less than approximately 2,500 mature birds left in the wild. There are many domestic colour variations in captivity, but in the wild the very colourful gouldian finch appears with a black face, a less common red face, and a rare yellow face. They live on grass seeds, and research shows they never consume insects. Females control the sex of their offspring through mate choice, and offspring have distinctively coloured gapes to help guide the parents into their mouths. Their bright colouring is not a benefit in the wild, where they are easily located and caught by predators.





Gouldian finch as a totem animal represents: (not exhaustive).

Colour therapy, colour wisdom, using colour to connect with the world and others, beauty but not gaudy, painting and artistry, requiring times of hollowness or emptiness, a strong connection to fire, dependence on fire, a need to control one’s environment, being trapped or exploited, watch out for people using you because of your appearance or skills, small things nourish you.

Original AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Brolga as Totem

The brolga is a social crane found in Australia, perhaps most commonly known for its showy, athletic courtship dances, which involve metre high jumps, the flinging and catching of grass, bowing and calling. The brolga is a tall crane, and often confused with the sarus crane. As a social animal, the brolga tends to gather as smaller family groups, into one large 'flock.' However, the family groups move and interact separately to the greater group.





Brolga as a totem animal represents: (this list is not exhaustive)

Beautiful dancer. Grace. Indigenous wisdom. Folklore. Stories within the land. Storytelling. Australian magic. Courtship. Relationships. Flirting. New beginnings. Joyfulness. Joy in movement. A good party. Spiritual dancing. Loving partnership.

You can read the full file here: http://www.wildspeak.com/vilturj/totems/wbrolga.html

Original AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Orchid Mantis as Totem

The orchid mantis, or orchid praying mantis is found throughout Malaysian, Indonesian and Sumatran rainforests. They are coloured to resemble orchids (and their four walking legs are shaped like orchid petals), the most common being a pale white or pink in colour. The young nymphs appear like ants. The orchid mantis, like many mantids, will eat anything it can catch. However, orchid mantids have also been observed eating banana. Like many in the mantid family, it can be extremely vicious.





Orchid Mantis as a totem can represent: (Not an exhaustive list)

Rainforest wisdom, getting yourself into sticky situations, perfect timing, being a predator to get what you want, ruthlessness combined with great beauty, viciousness, the value of camouflage, self-defense, using stillness to your advantage, cultivating patience.

Original AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

This is probably one of my favourites, but I'm biased as this is one of my ongoing animal guides. :)

Common Bronzewing as Totem

The common bronzewing, like its name, is perhaps the most common pigeon native to Australia. The common bronzewing bears some very cool iridescence along its wings. Despite being very common in many areas and habitats, it is not often seen, because it is an extremely cautious and wary bird by nature. They are always found close to water, and will sometimes band together to search for their food, which consists predominantly of seeds.





Common Bronzewing as a totem animal represents: (not an exhaustive list)

The value of silence, knowing when to speak, being able to settle down almost anywhere, being cautious, things are not what they seem, optical illusion, illusion, taking things seriously, taking your time, wariness.

18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Orca as Totem

A personal note: Orca is a shadow totem for me, or an animal I irrationally fear / dislike. I see their beauty, and I respect them very much, but none-the-less this picture was quite challenging to do. So I'm glad I did it!

The Orca, or 'killer whale' (a misnomer, since it is a dolphin first), is the largest member of the dolphin family. It is perhaps best known for its appearances in films like Free Willy, and among most people for its great intelligence, fierce and innovative hunting techniques, and distinctive black and white appearance. There are five different 'types' of killer whale, depending on where they live, how they hunt, and so on. Killer whales have distinctive language dialects per pod and region, and have been described to have their own cultures. Killer whales are apex predators, and some will even target larger whale species for food; killing them through suffocation.





Orca as a totem animal can represent: (not an exhaustive list)

Energy of change and changing, adaptability, clinical and detached intelligence, balancing ‘black and white,’ rejecting simple truths, polarity, dialect and language, being a predator to get what you want, socialising, needing others around you, wolf of the sea.

Original AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, allic and iridescent paint

Komodo Dragon as Totem

The Komodo dragon is the largest living species of lizard (growing to 2-3 metres). It is also quite venomous, and alongside the venom, carries a serious cocktail of harmful bacteria within its mouth. Komodo dragons tend to be apex predators in the environments that they live, and mostly survive on carrion; though they do hunt and eat pretty much anything they can catch (including children). They are one of the few vertebrates capable of 'virgin births' or producing offspring without the presence of a male; this is known as parthenogenesis.





Komodo Dragon as a totem represents: (not an exhaustive list)

Size matters, the completion and finishing of projects, taking nourishment from the dead, communing with the dead, fierceness, confidence and arrogance, poisoning others, being poisoned, ambush and attack, surviving on little, antagonising those you care about, creating life without the help of others

Original AVAILABLE - $80 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Narwhal as Totem

The narwhal is a toothed whale that lives in the Arctic. It's single long 'horn' or tusk (which is actually a protruding tooth) is perhaps one of the most popular examples of a 'unicorn horn' in existence. The tusks are used primarily to determine hierarchy and rank; and can be up to three metres long. Some narwhals are double-tusked, and every now and then the females will grow one as well. They do a lot of deep-sea diving. They are hunted for meat and ivory. They have never done well in captivity, and always end up dying within a few months or a year.





Narwhal as a totem animal represents: (this list is not exhaustive)

Nourishing others, unicorn symbolism and wisdom, being able to understand the depths of an issue, understanding more deeply than others, an affinity with themes of cold and coldness, the body as a weapon, diving below the surface, ‘deep and meaningfuls’, resisting captivity, poking holes in the theories of others, a desperation for freedom.

Original AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Pronghorn as Totem

The Pronghorn is an American ungulate that is the only living member of its family. The males have prominent horns, and the females - for the most part - have none (if they do have them, they are small or mis-shapen). The are one of the fastest land animals in the world, and can sustain runs at high speeds for longer than the cheetah; this makes running/fleeing and relying upon their instincts one of their primary methods to evade predation and danger. They are quite common, and predated upon by humans, as well as large canines and felines. Their young are sometimes hunted by large raptors.





Keywords for Pronghorn as a totem animal (obviously not exhaustive):

Scent magic, scent wisdom, and using smells to connect to people and places, being fleet of foot, quick on your feet, being highly skilled in a few arenas rather than generally skilled in many arenas, quick wits, being able to see into the heart of the matter, seeing what’s going on, being an important communicator within your community.

AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

River Dolphin as Totem

There are four living species of dolphin (the fifth - the Chinese Baiji - is thought to be functionally extinct), which are mostly found in freshwater rivers, hence the name 'river dolphin.' One species of river dolphin - La Plata - is found in saltwater estuaries. The other three are the Ganges, Indus and Amazon, all river dolphins have more commonly known local names, in local dialects. All river dolphins are threatened by habitat destruction, pollution, hunting, and low reproductive rates that lead to low population numbers. They hunt alone, or in very loosely organised pods. Because many live in very muddy environments with poor visibility, some have vestigial or very poor eyesight.





Keywords for River Dolphin as a totem animal (obviously not exhaustive):

Shape-shifting and shape-shifting mythologies, being extremely and highly sensitive to all forms of energy and energy shifts, being blind to the obvious, but able to perceive the hidden, preferring solitude or loose communities, being used by others, good luck and bad luck

18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Asiatic Dowitcher as Totem

The Asiatic Dowitcher, a medium-large wader bird, is often confused with the Bar-tailed Godwit. It feeds along muddy sites, coasts, or near shallow water, quickly prodding its large beak into the soil to look for its food in a distinctive 'sewing machine' motion. It has a yelping call, and while it breeds in Northern Asia, it is sighted throughout Southern Asia and North Australia.





Keywords for Asiatic Dowitcher as a totem animal (obviously not exhaustive):

Wetland wisdom, gaining nourishment from water and water imagery, a need to move around, restlessness, shifting energies, sticking together with friends and family, sensing what’s going on around you, feeling out a situation, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, probing around.

AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Peacock Pheasant as Totem

There are seven species of peacock pheasant, and all are stunningly beautiful; most of the males having iridescent eyes, or ocelli on their wings and tail. The males clear 'stages' for themselves in the forst, and then use these ocelli in brilliant displays, for courtship purposes. Some form lasting pair-bonds, and some do not. The males in many of the species notably tend to die off in the prime of their life. Peacock pheasants are actually cultivated as pets in some regions, and some species become remarkably tame. Most species are Vulnerable or Endangered due to habitat destruction.





Keywords for Peacock Pheasant as a totem animal (not exhaustive).

Living with oppression, failing in the prime of your life, the spirit of performance, sacred rituals, knowing how to strut your stuff, forest wisdom, elusive wisdom, what you seek is hard to find, looking beneath the surface, do not accept things at face value, appropriate caution and wariness, mistrust.

18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Bush Dog as Totem

The bush dog is a canine that is very rare, despite being found throughout Central and South America. Like the takahe, when it was first discovered (as fossils), it was thought to be an extinct animal until found alive. The bush dog is also known as the vinegar dog, and vinegar fox. They are diurnal carnivores that primarily hunt rodents, and live in small, tightly-knit family packs; they constantly whine to each other to stay in touch throughout dense forest floors. Out of all the canines, it is most closely related to the maned wolf.





Keywords for Bush Dog as a totem animal (obviously not exhaustive):

Hidden wisdom, shyness, keeping to oneself and to a small community, family dynamics, clashes with rodent energy, savannah energy, needing a pack, attachment to family and the concept of family, playing a part.

AVAILABLE - $75 USD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

Takahe as Totem

The takahe is a flightless bird, closely related to the purple swamphen in the rail family. It was thought to be extinct for some time, before being rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in New Zealand. It survives today, as an endangered animal, with new 'safe' populations being kept on off-shore islands. The takahe lives in alpine regions, and eats the base stems of snow-grass. It is a territorial bird.





Keywords associated with Takahe as a totem animal are:

surprises, expect the unexpected, an inability to soar over your problems, celebrating sound and sound magic, surviving in austere environments, adapting to harsh conditions, surviving predation, strength and sturdiness, the need for constant nourishment.

*

18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic and iridescent paint

I've been doing totem artwork for a long time. As long as I have actually been doing art. Back in highschool, the totems I drew were less stylistic and more realistic, and I tended to focus on the skeletal systems of animals. I wanted their bones and that's what I drew. Consequently my art folio from way back then, has a lot of ram and cattle skulls in it.

When I was Wiccan, I continued drawing animal totems, though at this stage I didn't invite the actual totem animal energy to hang around me, or even come into my body. And back then, over 9 years ago, I drew most of the stereotypical favourites; frog, white buffalo, bear, wolf and so on. The process of drawing the animal totems made me feel amazing, and very connected. But the animals themselves didn't feel quite right.

I started drawing animal totems more seriously a few years ago. I developed a process that worked for me. Back then, it was a lengthy process. Firstly, I would see what animal energies wanted to be drawn. I'd do this by going for walks and holding my intent to draw an animal energy in my mind, and seeing what I saw, or opening animal encyclopedias up to random pages, using internet searches and databases and what have you. Over and over again, I was drawn to drawing Australian animal energies, or those of rare animals or animals under-represented as totems.

Then, I would try to commune or connect with the animal through meditation or even a more encompasisng form of trance-work / journeying. If I could connect with the animal, I would ask them if they would honour me by staying with me while I drew them, to add more 'authenticity' to the piece. So that, in essence, anyone who held a picture of an animal I drew could hopefully access the animal energy through that picture. The first animal that ever went from 'hanging around' me, to actually jumping into me was red kangaroo. Boy, that was a weird experience. I ended up rushing through my very first totem illustration of red kangaroo, because it was just too weird.

But after that, animal after animal after animal wanted to drop in. I could only really handle one at a time, at first. And certain animals had kinds of energies which made me want to, or actually rest afterwards for a few days at a time. And then something clicked into place and I could tap into many animal energies (with a few exceptions, some just don't want me to draw them), until finally I had drawn hundreds of animal totems, and given away, or sold many of those illustrations to those who wanted a deeper connection to the animals they cared about.

So these days, a significant part of my shamanic practice, is actually through my artwork. With almost all the animal artwork I do, particularly my 'as totems' series, there is significant time spent with an animal energy both during conception, the execution, and often for a few days afterwards. It is how I generally develop new relationships with animals, and nowadays I know I'm getting a good 'connection' to an animal's energy when I get four or five compositions and clear colour palettes dropping into my head.

Using my creative practices as a vector for my spirituality is a really fantastic way of 'living' the shamanism outside of soul retrieval and healing, and more ritualised practices. It's also a great way to give homage to animal totems, because with each finished product, I have a living piece of artwork that is both a signature of where an animal has taken me, and how I have processed that energy.

So for those of you who create, art, write, dance, drum, craft and so on, do you feel there's anything spiritual about it? Conscious or otherwise? Do you seek something 'more' than just the sum of the parts?