Introduction

[totemoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Hello all,



My name is Pia, I live in Western Australia and I'm 24. I have been practicing indigenous shamanism with dedication for 6-8 years.

I'm writing here under my Totemoftheweek username, but I have also joined as moonvoice (my more 'general' shamanic/personal/ranty journal) and am around other pagan forums and shamanic forums under the name Ravenari.

I practice indigenous forms of shamanism, and my practice focuses on totemism and animism. My totem and family totem is Raven, and my primary spirit-helper is Ehrembi, a four-winged raven with a forked tongue. The bird I love the most is not actually Raven, but Heron, whom I have a loose spiritual connection to.

You can find an introduction to my spirituality and practice here:

http://www.wildspeak.com/vilturr/beliefs/me.html

I do stylised animal artwork, or shamanic artwork, and the bulk of that can be found here:

http://www.wildspeak.com/artwork/art.html

My Totem of the Week username is based on a project where I attempt to get a file out (about 4-6 pages in word) on a specific animal spirit each week. The interpretations are personal, and I am open to requests and criticisms or praise etc. So far there are about 18 files, including information on some of the lesser known Australian spirit animals like Bandicoot.

Comments

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

My bad, I really need some sleep. I'm posting this for the third time as I misphrased a few things.

I was looking at your website just a moment ago. Very nice artwork. :)

Welcome to you. In the first place I want to point out that while animist, totemists, shamans, etc are totally welcome here, this community was primarily built for what would be called "therianthropes" (see this article on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therianthropy), "Modern subcultural use of the term") - although many of us in this specific LJ community may dislike the term and prefer "animal people", which also is more general and may include non-therianthropes I have to admit. You must be aware that the way we experience our animals may greatly differ from how totemists/shamans/animists and other animal spiritualists (if I can say so) experience it, in order to avoid misunderstanding and confusion when speaking about this subject, and simply understand the fact that many "therianthropes" may not relate to your experiences.

However I guess this happens among "therianthropes" themselves as our experiences are so personal anyway. Learning about difference always is interesting, so do not refrain from posting. I simply wanted to make sure that there is no quiproquo about what you'll read here and what therianthropes and similar folks mean when we talk about being animal people, animal inside, etc, and how it's not totems/animal guides/etc. Non-therianthropic but still animal-folk experiences do are appropriate here, so welcome again and enjoy your stay. :)

If you have any question feel free to ask.
And sorry if you knew all of this already, I wasn't sure.

[totemoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Heh. I saw every single one of those comments in my hotmail, it's so something I would do.

I have nothing against therianthropes, and identified as a therianthrope for two years from the age of 15-17 before I turned and looked at things from a different perspective. Now when I feel raven inside me, I feel it is Raven, and not a part of 'me' or my spirit. Though I still identify with Raven as brother, and we have family ties. Actually this is all confusing, because I can still feel that Raven IS my spirit, I'm just not certain if what I believe constitutes as therianthropy within bounds anymore. :) So I meander.

I'm very familiar with some of the therianthrope communities today, as some of my closest online friends (in IM and LJ) are therians - not in a 'fluffy' way - but in a serious, cerebral way, which has kept me in contact with the community from that sense.

So while my personal experiences may be different in a way, I feel like I have a lot to learn, and maybe to sometimes give to this community. I'm happy I found it, and I love what I've read so far.

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

Great. :)

"Actually this is all confusing, because I can still feel that Raven IS my spirit, I'm just not certain if what I believe constitutes as therianthropy within bounds anymore. :) So I meander."

Personally, I think that the gap between therianthropy and totemism might disappear from the moment one integrates the animal in themselves and it becomes (part of) their essence in a long process to the point the animal IS them and they say "I" instead of "Raven" or whatever. I don't know, that's just one of my takes on the subject though and I suppose many would disagree with me.

In any case, I really look forwards reading more from you, as I've enjoyed what I've seen on your website and LJ so far.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I might disagree with you there, but probably not wise of me to at the moment because at this stage in my life I am going through some confusions as to my identities. For example, I still feel that people can have animal guides or power animals and that animal not have anything to do with their spirits on a level where their spirit is part of that animal.

But I do think that when it comes to totems, there is an 'I am he and he is me' factor. In my practice, this is accepted to a degree, we become 'brothers' or 'sisters' depending on the animal. Family kinship is acknowledged.

But in terms of emphasising the spirit of the animal inside of us, this is not usually focused on, and perhaps not examined because either the totem is naturally integrated and is rarely then problematic, or represents 'manifestations' that are so clear a person can go consciously 'I am right now able to see like a raven can (or wolf, or praying mantis'. Or perhaps because for some the acknowledgement is purely symbolic.

But as I said, I am going through confusing times, which is fine, because they help me grow.

But I don't like them really!

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think I understand. What I meant in fact that I believe that some people might integrate an animal spirit so deeply and integrally that they might become similar to "therianthropes". :) That's obviously not the case for everyone, we don't all share the same path.

Good luck in those confusing times in any case. :)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

What I'm finding (after doing research, I followed your link to a whole heap of others and now I'm just processing everything I've read), is that I don't experience 'shifts' in an obvious or disruptive sense with Raven. I never have. We are simply the same. I do not have 'another' soul, just one soul which is also Raven. I have some moments which are more ravenesque than others, but it's difficult to tell, I'm simply me all the time.

So I'm not entirely sure *what* that is. Lol. But I'm learning a lot in the process!

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

Well, if you keep on researching and reading all the writings I and a few other have uploaded on personal websites (I supposed those are the links you are talking about, or are you just refering to LJs?), you'll find out that shifting does not make someone a therian and that many animal people do not shift into their animal like other describe. They just constantly are. And therefore we do not say "we" about animals, just like non-therians do not say "we" to talk about different aspects of themselves. I am the animal and this is not something I can distinguish from the rest with a "we" (plural), as an example. Many other experience something as you described. I think that if you keep on reading serious/reliable writings you will understand what I mean. :P

I'm sure many people, including myself, could discuss here what is "therianthropy" and the different ways one can be a "therianthrope" - provided they are interested in them, which is not granted - but Animal Quills is not intendend to do so and it is important to me that it stays that way, especially considering what most of the other communities that do discuss such topics have turned into. I'll leave this discussion as it is and wish you good luck in your research and further introspection. :)

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

I understand now, you meant the link to Wikipedia?

You can find many more personal and interesting writings on personal webpages, which is why I was refering to just before: http://akhila.feralscribes.org/links.php (this is the links page of my own website, and my own essays are up on this site as well).