Bear totem

[BlackLavender]

I'm of half Oneida descent from my dad. My clan is Bear (which I get from my grandmother-matrilineal) which is my totem animal. My grandmother on my mother's side said when she was baby (living in DR) she had a guide or familiar who was an Indian who would swim through 7 waters to get to her to help her. She is a Christian these days. So Idk much else about that and I grew up with this side.
Now Bear clans in the Iroquois nations are the medicine people, typically a woman. My dad calls my grandma a witch. [grin2] lol. I guess that's what others would call it. :/
Anybody know anything about bears in shamanism? Or bears as totem animals?
Sometimes I wish I grew up around my dad's side.

[magari]

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/bear.htm

[BlackLavender]

Thank you [yay]
Artemis. That's funny while doing a deep study on my numerology, natal chart I found the Artemis connection. [eek]
Amoung others.

[Ušušur]

I met this shaman from Finland, she said a few interesting thing about bear. People in Finland (not just shamans) used to eat bear. Even today, there's this celebration once a year I think where some (a few) people eat bears meat in sign of respect and humility towards the animal, and generally, it's a tradition.

Bear is protector and represents courage, strength, leadership, among other things. Here's a bit more: http://www.spiritanimal.info/bear-spirit-animal/

Although your roots are not Scandinavian, you might find this drumming session useful. It is a teacher from aforementioned shaman, doing the bear calling. It starts slowly, and afterwards becomes very intense.

http://www.suomalaisensamanisminkeskus. ... nosto.html

[BlackLavender]

I met this shaman from Finland, she said a few interesting thing about bear. People in Finland (not just shamans) used to eat bear. Even today, there's this celebration once a year I think where some (a few) people eat bears meat in sign of respect and humility towards the animal, and generally, it's a tradition.

Bear is protector and represents courage, strength, leadership, among other things. Here's a bit more: http://www.spiritanimal.info/bear-spirit-animal/

Although your roots are not Scandinavian, you might find this drumming session useful. It is a teacher from aforementioned shaman, doing the bear calling. It starts slowly, and afterwards becomes very intense.

http://www.suomalaisensamanisminkeskus. ... nosto.html

Thank you so much! [yay] [pray] [grin]

[manonthepath]

Here is a book, which may be helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spir ... 0875420281

[BlackLavender]

Here is a book, which may be helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spir ... 0875420281

Thanks. I'll try to get my hands on it. [thumbup]

[Atehequa]

Anywhere roams the bear,

the bear will have kinship with men and women. Mkwa, Muga or Muqua to my people, the bear at times symbolizes excellent senses, tracking skills and strength as well as protective. They are thought of as wise and noble, but sometimes will be in the company of a trickster.

I'm not too well versed in the Haudenosaunee clan system, only a smattering.

[corvidus]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

[magari]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

Little bit of both in my opinion. Depends on the animal and the person it seems. Some stick around, others come and go.

[Atehequa]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

Actually the term ‘totem’ was derived from the Algonquian word - Ototema or sometimes - Nto’tem or Odoodem which means kin or sibling. In many Algonquian dialects it refers to a particular animal or supernatural being/creature associated with a tribe, clan, or band. This Ototema is often thought as an ancestor, family member, old friend and most definitely a protector or ally.

These Algonquian Ototemas go far back to the tribe’s, clan’s or band’s origins. Totems are not chosen randomly or due to an individual’s affection or admiration of a particular animal. Information regarding Ototemas is much less guarded than personal spirit helpers and guardian spirits and are often displayed in art.

The term Totemism is used by ethnographers and anthropologists to describe similar beliefs shared by primitive tribes all over the world.

[Ramscha]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

Totems are thought not to be chosen, they are inherited [wink]
Even Wiki knows that much

[BlackLavender]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

Totems are thought not to be chosen, they are inherited [wink]
Even Wiki knows that much

Yes, mine is my birth clan. Black bear totem.

[BlackLavender]

Hey

I'm fairly unfamiliar with totem animals, but I've heard that they represent the subconscious trying to tell us something..

Has anyone heard this before? Or is it more along the lines of an actual animal spirit hovering about the individual?

Actually the term ‘totem’ was derived from the Algonquian word - Ototema or sometimes - Nto’tem or Odoodem which means kin or sibling. In many Algonquian dialects it refers to a particular animal or supernatural being/creature associated with a tribe, clan, or band. This Ototema is often thought as an ancestor, family member, old friend and most definitely a protector or ally.

These Algonquian Ototemas go far back to the tribe’s, clan’s or band’s origins. Totems are not chosen randomly or due to an individual’s affection or admiration of a particular animal. Information regarding Ototemas is much less guarded than personal spirit helpers and guardian spirits and are often displayed in art.

The term Totemism is used by ethnographers and anthropologists to describe similar beliefs shared by primitive tribes all over the world.

Yes.
The Haudenosaunee use the clans to differentiate between bloodlines (so you don't marry your cousin, lol). It is forbidden to marry a person of the same clan.
Also each clan had a purpose within the longhouse system. The Oneida have 3 totems: black bear, turtle and wolf.

[BlackLavender]

Anywhere roams the bear,

the bear will have kinship with men and women. Mkwa, Muga or Muqua to my people, the bear at times symbolizes excellent senses, tracking skills and strength as well as protective. They are thought of as wise and noble, but sometimes will be in the company of a trickster.

I'm not too well versed in the Haudenosaunee clan system, only a smattering.

Thank you!
Bear clan was, according, to legend, created when a visitor showed a tribeswoman how to the way of the medicine. Each day he'd come with a new illness and taught her how to cure each one.
Bear is the medicine people.

[BlackLavender]

Thank you [yay]
Artemis. That's funny while doing a deep study on my numerology, natal chart I found the Artemis connection. [eek]
Amoung others.

Artemis is also connected to Bastet.

[Atehequa]

Anywhere roams the bear,

the bear will have kinship with men and women. Mkwa, Muga or Muqua to my people, the bear at times symbolizes excellent senses, tracking skills and strength as well as protective. They are thought of as wise and noble, but sometimes will be in the company of a trickster.

I'm not too well versed in the Haudenosaunee clan system, only a smattering.

Thank you!
Bear clan was, according, to legend, created when a visitor showed a tribeswoman how to the way of the medicine. Each day he'd come with a new illness and taught her how to cure each one.
Bear is the medicine people.

Thank you as well as I had thought people were not willing to converse with me here at Occult Forum.

[manonthepath]

Anywhere roams the bear,

the bear will have kinship with men and women. Mkwa, Muga or Muqua to my people, the bear at times symbolizes excellent senses, tracking skills and strength as well as protective. They are thought of as wise and noble, but sometimes will be in the company of a trickster.

I'm not too well versed in the Haudenosaunee clan system, only a smattering.

Thank you!
Bear clan was, according, to legend, created when a visitor showed a tribeswoman how to the way of the medicine. Each day he'd come with a new illness and taught her how to cure each one.
Bear is the medicine people.

Thank you as well as I had thought people were not willing to converse with me here at Occult Forum.

I will be happy to converse with you brother.