Many centuries ago, our ancestors lived in close relationship with nature. The animal world was respected and revered by people, and some representatives of the fauna were deified. All over the planet, different peoples chose their totem. It was an integral part of life and beliefs. Today, more and more people are turning to ancient knowledge, which is sometimes due to the search for a higher meaning, and sometimes just a tribute to fashion. So it's still worth sorting out this issue, at least for general development.
What do the dictionaries say?
Totem is an image of an animal, a plant, a natural phenomenon or an object of the inanimate world, which serves as an object of belief and reverence for a group of people or an individual. It is endowed with special physiological and mystical properties, and also influences the formation of life views, behavior in certain situations, and even character traits.
What does it look like in practice?
In life, a dry dictionary definition looks much clearer. In simple terms, a totem is an animal whose spirit is inseparable from its "owner". He helps, protects, suggests the right decisions and keeps from troubles and adversities. However, there are a few important conditions:
- A person must believe in the existence of his totem, in its strength and capabilities.
- The chosen animal must be respected and honored, it cannot be killed for fun or entertainment.
In everyday life, this is implemented as follows: an image, figurine or part of an animal must be present in a person's everyday life.
It can be an item in the house, a decoration, a figurine, a scarecrow. The size and material of manufacture are not of fundamental importance. However, this item should be handled carefully and carefully.
If you have questions with the totem, you should talk, listen to your inner voice and not argue. Knowledgeable people claim that such a "keeper" will never let you down and will not ignore the request. Only requests should be real, because the totem is not a goldfish that fulfills cherished desires, but a part of nature and the spiritual world.
Besides, there is such a thing as an antitoteme. This is the opposite, a negative essence that leads astray, spoils and destroys everything, does not allow a person to realize himself and find his life path. The totem and its antipode are inseparable and are in constant confrontation.
How to find out your totem?
There are many systems for worshiping animals and their images. Some of them have long been known towe only have fragmentary information, but others are popular with individual peoples today.
The most common way to determine your totem is to calculate it according to the Zoroastrian astrological system. In total, the cycle has 32 years, from March 21 to March 20 each.
The method of calculating by date of birth is also popular. It is quite simple and contains only 12 totems. There is also a complex system for determining the exact date of birth, which has come down to us from the ancient Slavs. This technique has a huge number of totems and includes not only animals, but even insects and some mythical creatures. It is the least popular, but to this day the shamans of the northern peoples use it.
Determination by year of birth
| Year | Animal | Summary of totems |
| 2002, 1970, 1938, 1906 | Deer | A proud, impetuous loner who is ready to lead and discover new things. |
| 2003, 1971, 1939, 1907 | Mouflon, mountain sheep | Family, respects traditions, quite active in life. |
| 2004, 1972, 1940, 1908 | Mongoose | Sincere, frank, fast and unpredictable. |
| 2005, 1973, 1941, 1909 | Wolf, dog | Strong, tough but capable of tenderness, hardworking, adventurous. |
| 2006, 1974, 1941, 1910 | Stork | Complex and unpredictable character, often lonely, always reachingset goals. |
| 2007, 1975, 1943, 1911 | Spider | Quiet, sympathetic, empathetic, sometimes lazy, often a jack of all trades. |
| 2008, 1976, 1944, 1912 | A snake | Patient and observant aesthete, dislikes commitment. |
| 2009, 1977, 1945, 1913 | Beaver | Hardworking family man, caring and businesslike. |
| 2010, 1978, 1946, 1914 | Turtle | A calm and respectable boss, secretive, slowly but surely moving towards his goal. |
| 2011, 1979, 1947, 1915 | Magpie | Chatty and restless traveler, loves everything bright and unusual. |
| 2012, 1980, 1948, 1916 | Squirrel | Very efficient, frugal and economical, sometimes too trusting. |
| 2013, 1981, 1949, 1917 | Raven | Vulnerable and touchy, prone to change, including changing lovers and friends. |
| 2014, 1982, 1950, 1918 | Rooster | Strong, brave, determined, vain, but very touchy. |
| 2015, 1983, 1951, 1919 | Tour, cow | Loyal, reliable and caring melancholic, very attached even to small things. |
| 2016, 1984, 1952, 1920 | Badger | Efficient, reliable and thrifty workaholic, gullible but cautious. |
| 2017, 1985, 1953, 1921 | Camel | Peaceful, balanced and calm, but at the same time prone to extreme viewsactivities. |
| 2018, 1986, 1954, 1922 | Hedgehog | Prickly, hardy and busy, but can be gentle and manageable. |
| 2019, 1987, 1955, 1923 | Deer | Romantic and capricious artist, very fearful and vulnerable. |
| 2020, 1988, 1956, 1924 | Elephant | Wise and caring in the family, hard to contact with strangers. |
| 2021, 1989, 1957, 1925 | Horse, horse | Energetic, hardworking, very loyal and reliable. |
| 2022, 1990, 1958, 1926 | Cheetah, leopard | Hardy, fearless, sometimes aggressive or, conversely, cautious. |
| 2023, 1991, 1959, 1927 | Peacock | Slow, conceited, always trying to be the center of attention, likes to make crazy plans and surprise. |
| 2024, 1992, 1960, 1928 | Swan | Beautiful and lofty, striving for high ideals, but sometimes hypocritical. |
| 2025, 1993, 1961, 1929 | Lynx | Unpredictable, can be both calm and show anger and aggression. |
| 2026, 1994, 1962, 1930 | Donkey | Patient, meek, often inconspicuous, very industrious and has a strong character. |
| 2027, 1995, 1963, 1931 | Polar bear | Does not tolerate betrayal and is a very loyal, practical, businesslike leader. |
| 2028, 1996, 1964, 1932 | Eagle | Creatively gifted, peaceful but sometimes cunning, strong andbold. |
| 2029, 1997, 1965, 1933 | Fox | Cunning, quirky, fast and adventurous, shrewd and quick-witted. |
| 2030, 1998, 1966, 1934 | Dolphin | Diligent, can be quick, caring family man, quiet and observant. |
| 2031, 1999, 1967, 1935 | Boar, pig | Aggressive and feral, unorthodox and rude, but can be caring. |
| 2031, 2000, 1968, 1936 | Owl, owl | Dreamer and philosopher, withdrawn and uncommunicative, but at the same time a true friend. |
| 2032, 2001, 1969, 1937 | Falcon | Proud and brave reformer, does not tolerate dictatorship. |
Determination by date of birth
| Month (from the 10th of the current to the 9th of the next) | Animal | Short description |
| December | Bear | Calm, smart, but sometimes lazy. |
| January | Wolverine | Organized, closed from others. |
| February | Raven | Dreamer, smart, with a well-developed intuition. |
| march | Ermine | Freedom-loving, independent, loyal friend. |
| April | Toad | Very dependent on material we alth and stability. |
| May | Grasshopper | Optimist, adventurous, always ready for change. |
| June | Hamster | Lazy but persistent when needed and ready to prove himself. |
| July | Snail | Friendly, loyal, fantasizing. |
| August | Ant | Very hardworking, stubborn and patient. |
| September | Magpie | Hesitant, changeable and fickle. |
| October | Beaver | Very secretive and incomprehensible to others. |
| November | Dog | Generous and devoted. |
Today you can easily find information on how to recognize your totem and find the right image or object. The most important thing in this matter is to believe!
