Furry Ones: Pagan Animal Symbolism

Posted by Jill Stefko Jan 9, 2008

I love animals! The furry ones I’ve shared my home with are dogs, rodents (mostly by choice), cats and skunks. While I never had a horse of my own, I taught horseback riding and trained them. I marvel at unexpected glimpses of deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks, a weasel, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and bears in the forest and city, as well as delight in seeing wild animals in humanitarian game preserves and zoos.

One New Year’s Day, I met a Native American Shaman. I asked him if there were any Shamanistic books he knew of about animal symbolism. I hadn’t been able to find the type of book I wanted. He recommended Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews, Llewellyn publications, 1993. I called my favorite book shop to order it the next day and discovered they had a copy the store just received that was still in the shipping carton. I asked the clerk to save it for me and bought it the next day. Since then, I have acquired more books, meditative decks and searched the Internet in order to learn more.

Last year, I wrote about these furred animals: Black Panther: Pagan Power Symbol, Coyote, Pagan Symbol: Trickster, Fox Pagan Symbol: Camouflage, Ghost of the Spirit Bear: Plenty Coups, Crow Chief, and a Young ..., Lynx Pagan Symbol of Secrets, Wild Boar: Pagan Warrior Spirit and Wolf: Influential Pagan Symbol.

This year, I will be writing more articles and hope you enjoy them. If you have a power or favorite animal, have had special experiences you’d like to share, want to write comments, have ideas or ask questions, please email me or start a discussion.