Power Animals: How to Connect With Your Animal Spirit Guide

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Summary: A Great Book For Discovering Your Power Animal
Review: "A power animal is just that: an animal spirit guide that will empower you and help you deal with both the spiritual and the earthly realm." --Dr. Steven Farmer in Power Animals

Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. --Job 12:7-8

Shamans and indigenous cultures have long been familiar with the concept of animal guides. Animal guides are represented by animal forms, and provide information, guidance, and protection. Some people use the words animal totems and power animals interchangeably, but according to Dr. Steven Farmer in his new book Power Animals - How To Connect With Your Animal Spirit Guides, there is a subtle difference.

Totem animals are usually asssociated with groups, such as a tribal totem, clan totem, or family totem. Even contemporary cultures have totem animals, such as those for sports teams (e.g. Toronto Blue Jays), or clubs and societies (such as the Lions Club).

Power animals, however, are personal and specific. Like totem animals, they are guardian spirits who empower us. Yet, power animals have a unique and highly personal relationship with the individual, leading the way through non-ordinary reality. Power animals can be contacted through meditation, dreams, visions, and shamanic journeys. They can also appear in physical form, bearing an omen or message--depending on the context of the sighting, how often it appears, and how it is behaving.

Power Animals describes the three realms of non-ordinary reality--and the plane where power animals reside--the four channels of spiritual perception, and how to honor your power animal. Farmer gives a summary of 36 different power animals, including a channeled message from each, qualities of the animal, what it means when a particular animal is your personal power animal, when to ask for this animal's help, and how to access it's power. He acknowledges that his summaries aren't exhaustive, and there are other power animals that exist--including imaginary ones like dragons and unicorns.

Included with this book is a CD featuring guided meditations, with a run-time of 65:53. The first three featuring drumming with a particular rhythm, the fourth has a similar rhythm using a rattle, and the fifth offers a unique type of rhythm and sound using the didgeridoo and click sticks. The drumming and rattling are at the rate of 4 to 7 beats per second, which is the same rhythm that shamans use to induce a trance state in order to do their work.

Track 1: Journey To Retrieve Your Power Animal
Track 2: Guided Meditation Journey For Divination
Track 3: Self-Directed Shamanic Journey With Drum
Track 4: Self-Directed Shamanic Journey With Rattle
Track 5: Self-Directed Shamanic Journey With Didgeridoo

Personally, there are several birds and animals that I've identified with over the years--animals that gave me great wisdom. However, I never really felt that I connected with them as a power animal. (Of course, I didn't really try to establish a relationship, either.) I approached the process with an open mind, and listened to Track 1 which is a guided meditation to help you find and retrieve your power animal.

Farmer's soothing voice led me down into the earth and out into a place where I was to watch for animals that crossed my path. One could imagine a forest, mountain, desert, beach, ocean, and so on, and I was surprised that my visualization actually shifted between all of these terrains. Quite a few animals, including sea creatures and birds, crossed my path--but Farmer says to be on the lookout for the animal that appears 4 times.

I was quite surprised that a creature did, in fact, come to me 4 times. Most surprisingly, however, was that it was a creature I did not expect. As I "retrieved" this beautiful creature with Farmer's guidance, I felt a sacred joy and reverence fill my being--and tears welled up in my eyes.

After coming out of the meditation and reading about my power animal, I had to chuckle. It made such sense to me! In fact, in a personality system I have studied, my particular personality is often associated with this particular creature. Even the keyword for my power animal is reflected strongly in my astrological chart!

If you're looking for a simple but profound way for discovering your own personal power animals, I highly recommend this book and CD from Dr. Steven Farmer.

Review Originally Posted At http://NewAge.BellaOnline.com

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Summary: A Powerful Wealth of Spirit
Review: "Power Animals" is a wonderful understanding of the how humans can access the spirit that comes to us from the animal world. It is a simple and easy journey that Dr. Farmer takes the reader on exploring the spiritual energy that is brought forth by those forces that are around us every day. His wit, insight, wisdom, and writing talent opens the door to understandings that only few are able to offer with such clarity. As he offers one spirit after another, they seem to come alive and find their place in the physical world. And, as one meditates on the words that Dr. Farmer offers, each page offers more life for the reader to contemplate and sparks new thoughts as to how we exist in the human world. The creativity of Dr. Farmers thoughts on the subject can be understood from the deepest places of our souls to the intellectual place of our minds, with seriousness and humor all tied up into a neat package of easy reading. Thank you Dr. Farmer for allowing us to go on your journey.

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Summary: power animals
Review: As the author of a book of similar ilk, 'Animal Dreaming', which lists the symbolic qualities of over 200 Australian animals, I encourage everyone to explore the wisdom of their power animals. 'Power Animals' opens a whole new way of exploring the acumen of the animals by illustrating tangible, practicle and fun ways of connecting with them. As an introductory guide and as a way of looking to the animals as a means of deepening one's relationship to Spirit and the Earth Mother, I highly recommend 'Power Animals'. Add it to your bookshelf, now.

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Summary: A Great Resource Book
Review: Dr. Farmer has brought to us a simple yet very powerful resource guide to explore the phenomenon of animal guides. I have found this book so very helpful to help explain when certain animals have appeared in my dreams, my meditations and so on. The journey Dr. Farmer takes you on with his enclosed CD are great mystical travels through your innerself to bring forth that power animal that is by your side. I was astounded by which animal appeared when I did the CD meditation and when I read the description Dr. Farmer had provided in regards to that particular animal, it fit for me perfectly.

I enjoy in Dr. Farmer's book the information for each animal on how to work with their individual energy, how to bring this energy into your life. This is a great resource book that I highly recommend to anyone whose interests have been to discover the power in animals, who have acted from time to time as our spirit guides in our lives. Bless you Dr. Farmer for compiling this magnificent book of knowledge.

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Summary: Learn How To Identify Yours
Review: Power Animals - How To Connect with Your Animal Spirit Guide by Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D. Through centuries Shamans have taught people how to find their Spirit Guides and Power Animals, known in some areas as totems. Did you know YOU have Power Animals and Spirit Guides also? In the West in modern times the ability to access this guidance from the unseen world has been squelched for years, but now, through books like this, you can learn how to "meet" the guide or guides who have been with you since you were born. You can experience how real they are and benefit enormously in decision making by learning how to contact your Power Animal. Dr. Farmer describes many of the spirit animals and their powers and you'll be led through his writing to determine which is yours. It is a fascinating exploration into the paranormal/spiritual side which we all possess.With the aid of the lovely CD which comes with the book you have your own personal guided sessions of meditation in order to meet and get to know your own Power Animal. When I first closed my eyes I thought this was rubbish, but I was happily STUNNED with the results! You will be too.

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Summary: Power Animals
Review: Power Animals by Dr. Steven Farmer is a cutting-edge directory for those wishing to connect more deeply with the primal, instinctual part of themselves, and get more in touch with the earth energies. The book is simple to understand, easy to read, and gives highlighted qualities of each animal for easy reference. It even includes a CD to guide you into accessing your animal and once you've found them to go on a Shamanic journey. Dr. Farmer is a master healer, teacher, and true humanitarian, and this book is one that will assist you to find clarity within yourself by connecting with the depths of your unconscious being. If your looking for a deeper earth connection and to be more fully grounded in your body -- he provides an easy roadmap to access it.

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Summary: A True Treasure!
Review: Power Animals is a must have resource; it is a practical toolkit comprised of an easy to use guidebook and exceptional meditation CD! With elegant simplicity Dr. Farmer discusses the differences and gifts of guides, totems, and power animals. His wit and wisdom shines through as he outlines fundamental and advanced techniques to connect with the transformational energies of the animal kingdom. This master guide teaches with clarity and insight bringing voice to animal spirits in a way, which appeals to both the novice and advanced student. Dr. Farmer provides a unique key in developing a deeper personal relationship with your animal kingdom connections. This book and CD will encourage you daily as a divination tool (open the guidebook to discover your daily message), meditation partner and serve as a source of inspiration.

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Summary: Powerful!!
Review: This book is helpful for those who walk all different paths - from Shamanism to mainstream life and for us regular folks too. I enjoyed this book because it was to the point and didn't spend too much time explaining the scientific migrations or aspects of the animals but focused more on their representations,spiritual messages and meanings in our fast paced every day life. I enjoy using this book as an oracle book to receive daily messages from the animal spirit world. I was so thrilled when I crossed paths with a wild bobcat and was able to go home and check out the meaning of seeing it. I recommend this book as a must have reference guide. Thank you Steven Farmer for making it easy to understand and connect with these amazing creatures!!