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New Paths to Animal Totems: Three Alternative Approaches to Creating Your Own Totemism
Invigorate your animal totem work by incorporating your unique life experience and your personal mythology. In "New Paths to Animal Totems", author Lupa provides a new approach to totemism that broadens the foundations, theories, and practices beyond the typical pseudo-Native-American animal totem book. Exploring three different models of totem work - correspondences, archetypal, and bioregional - you will make your relationships with your totems stronger and more personalized. Whether you are new to totemic work or are looking for some novel spiritual direction, Lupa addresses questions about what totems are, why they aren't restricted to one's geographical location, and how to practise totem traditions with cultural sensitivity. With hands-on rituals and meditations, connect to your animal totems in a way that brings you strength, renewal, and wisdom.
From the author: I've written a great deal for people of an intermediate to advanced experience level, but this time I'm offering something for a more general audience, to include people who may never have even heard of totems before! I've taken my totemic practice of 15 years and broken it out into three different working models of animal totemism. The Correspondences Model takes the idea of totems of the four directions further, explaining how to mesh animal totems with any of a number of personalized correspondence systems, whether pre-existing or self-created. The Archetypal Model draws on Jung's original conception of archetypes as symbolic expressions of internal impulses and instincts, linking the internal landscape with external animals as living symbols. The Bioregional Model connects people to the totems of their local area, as well as the Land itself.
To give readers, especially those new to totemism, some guidance, I've offered a variety of exercises, meditations, and ritual ideas to play with along with the theory. And to illustrate the material further, there are examples seeded throughout the text. However, as with all my books, there's plenty for the more experienced practitioner to play with, and none of it is strictly "by the book", as it were. AND, for those of you who have read my previous works, there's plenty of new material and ideas to work with!
So whether you're a first-time reader of mine, or you've read my previous work, I'd be curious as to what you think of this newest endeavor!
From the author: I've written a great deal for people of an intermediate to advanced experience level, but this time I'm offering something for a more general audience, to include people who may never have even heard of totems before! I've taken my totemic practice of 15 years and broken it out into three different working models of animal totemism. The Correspondences Model takes the idea of totems of the four directions further, explaining how to mesh animal totems with any of a number of personalized correspondence systems, whether pre-existing or self-created. The Archetypal Model draws on Jung's original conception of archetypes as symbolic expressions of internal impulses and instincts, linking the internal landscape with external animals as living symbols. The Bioregional Model connects people to the totems of their local area, as well as the Land itself.
To give readers, especially those new to totemism, some guidance, I've offered a variety of exercises, meditations, and ritual ideas to play with along with the theory. And to illustrate the material further, there are examples seeded throughout the text. However, as with all my books, there's plenty for the more experienced practitioner to play with, and none of it is strictly "by the book", as it were. AND, for those of you who have read my previous works, there's plenty of new material and ideas to work with!
So whether you're a first-time reader of mine, or you've read my previous work, I'd be curious as to what you think of this newest endeavor!
312 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Lupa
51 books98 followers"I am an author, artist, and wannabe polymath living in Portland, OR. I've been a pagan of various sorts since the mid-1990s. My primary focus has always been on totemism and animal magics, though in recent years I've been expanding into the general totemic ecosystem, working with plant, fungus, mineral and other totems. I've written several books based on my practices, and you can read my blog at http://www.thegreenwolf.com/blog as well.
Also since the mid-1990s, I've created ritual tools, sacred costumery, and other meaningful art out of hides, bones, beads, and other organics. It's been a strong part of my spirituality, and I even wrote a book about it, Skin Spirits: The Spiritual and Magical Use of Animal Parts. You can see what's currently available for purchase on my Etsy shop: http;//thegreenwolf.etsy.com
I am very involved in environmental and sustainable efforts. I volunteer with local environmental groups with tree planting and litter cleanup efforts, and I even adopted a small stretch of the Columbia River to clean litter, monitor flora and fauna, and do water testing. At home I do my best to follow Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (in that order), and many of my art supplies are secondhand or otherwise reclaimed, and everything gets used one way or another.
When I'm not creatively working or volunteering, I love to hike, go out dancing, read voraciously when I have the time, and hit the gym a few times a week.
Also since the mid-1990s, I've created ritual tools, sacred costumery, and other meaningful art out of hides, bones, beads, and other organics. It's been a strong part of my spirituality, and I even wrote a book about it, Skin Spirits: The Spiritual and Magical Use of Animal Parts. You can see what's currently available for purchase on my Etsy shop: http;//thegreenwolf.etsy.com
I am very involved in environmental and sustainable efforts. I volunteer with local environmental groups with tree planting and litter cleanup efforts, and I even adopted a small stretch of the Columbia River to clean litter, monitor flora and fauna, and do water testing. At home I do my best to follow Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (in that order), and many of my art supplies are secondhand or otherwise reclaimed, and everything gets used one way or another.
When I'm not creatively working or volunteering, I love to hike, go out dancing, read voraciously when I have the time, and hit the gym a few times a week.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 10, 2013
This is one of the best Pagan/Neo-Pagan books I've read in a long time. Actually, it's one of the best non-fiction I've read in a long time, period.
It's intelligent, rational, easy to read while being in-depth, and has a wonderful conversational quality to it that makes it feel like you're listening to the author talk instead of reading from the page.
In terms of content, this is one of the first books containing "how to" info that didn't a) bore me, and b) intimidate me away from trying it. At the end of the book, instead of feeling that trying to find my totem is just too much time and work, I've been motivated into feeling like it's something that is doable and within my reach.
I'd recommend this book to anyone. :)
It's intelligent, rational, easy to read while being in-depth, and has a wonderful conversational quality to it that makes it feel like you're listening to the author talk instead of reading from the page.
In terms of content, this is one of the first books containing "how to" info that didn't a) bore me, and b) intimidate me away from trying it. At the end of the book, instead of feeling that trying to find my totem is just too much time and work, I've been motivated into feeling like it's something that is doable and within my reach.
I'd recommend this book to anyone. :)
July 8, 2020
I read the updated version of this book, “New Paths to Animal Spirits.” I was turned off by the use of “totems” in the original book and was excited to see the rerelease. It gives good material with three different practical approaches; unlike most occult books today it’s very self driven. Definitely recommend.
September 19, 2017
Very informative, easy-to-understand intro into the author's views and thoughts behind animal totemism in the modern age.
April 30, 2024
As with some other books that I've read by Lupa, this book follows a layout of options/methods (depending on the topic), but most commonly I have seen across their books it goes (in no specific order):
a. Bioregional Model
b. Correspondences Model
c. Archetypal Model
And ofcourse, other chapters regarding more information/details regarding the topic at hand.
These 3 models work really well and Lupa always does a good job at introducing these methods to their readers, makes it easy to approach... I have always loved that Lupa encourages readers to take what works with/for them, and to leave the rest (also to be aware of the sources of which they are receiving their learning, knowing what is appreciation/appropriation, and being aware culturally of where you stand).
This book focuses on Animal Spirits specifically and is definitely a book you could start with when it comes to interacting with animal spirits, and animism. This one (in my opinion) feels shorter than some of their other books that use these same models, so it feels to me that this is a good starting point for someone.
They have other books that delve DEEPER into these topics...
(Such as Plant and Fungus Spirits: Connect With Spirits of Field, Forest and Garden,
and DIY Animism: Your Personal Guide to Animal Spirits
and Nature Spirituality From the Ground Up: Connect With Nature Spirits In Your Ecosystem AND MORE!)
so here is just a few. :)
The Table of Contents for this book:
(Not including the 2 opening notes to readers, one from 2012 (original publishing) and 2020 (updated-publishing))
a. Bioregional Model
b. Correspondences Model
c. Archetypal Model
And ofcourse, other chapters regarding more information/details regarding the topic at hand.
These 3 models work really well and Lupa always does a good job at introducing these methods to their readers, makes it easy to approach... I have always loved that Lupa encourages readers to take what works with/for them, and to leave the rest (also to be aware of the sources of which they are receiving their learning, knowing what is appreciation/appropriation, and being aware culturally of where you stand).
This book focuses on Animal Spirits specifically and is definitely a book you could start with when it comes to interacting with animal spirits, and animism. This one (in my opinion) feels shorter than some of their other books that use these same models, so it feels to me that this is a good starting point for someone.
They have other books that delve DEEPER into these topics...
(Such as Plant and Fungus Spirits: Connect With Spirits of Field, Forest and Garden,
and DIY Animism: Your Personal Guide to Animal Spirits
and Nature Spirituality From the Ground Up: Connect With Nature Spirits In Your Ecosystem AND MORE!)
so here is just a few. :)
The Table of Contents for this book:
(Not including the 2 opening notes to readers, one from 2012 (original publishing) and 2020 (updated-publishing))
0. Introduction
1. The Basics of Animal Spirit Work
2. Before We Move On...
3. The Correspondences Model
4. The Bioregional Model
5. The Archetypal Model
6. Combining Models
7. Other Work with Animal Spirits
Conclusion
+
Appendix A: Animal Nonprofits
Appendix B: Guided Meditation for Finding Animal Spirits
+
Glossary
Bibliography
Other Recommended Reading
July 24, 2013
This review first appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 7/24/13.
Animal totems are something I was interested in but never really explored. I always sort of felt that you needed to be a big nature lover to work with animal totems and if you know me, you know that me and nature do not get along. I’m allergic to just about everything that grows and every animal. All fur, feathers, dander, down, all of it. However, Lupa’s new book “New Paths to Animal Totems: Three Alternative Approaches to Creating Your Totemism” really opened my eyes.
Lupa explains how you don’t have to be tied to the Native American model that so many books and websites tend to favor. She offers three alternative models to discerning your totems: correspondences, bioregional, and archetypal. In correspondences Lupa discusses discovering your totem/totems using the directions, the Chinese or Western Zodiac, the Tarot and more. Bioregionalism is finding your totems not from within arbitrary boundaries such as state lines but instead from a place defined by natural phenomena such as waterways and geographic formations. Last is archetypal which is more psychological than other options. It matches our internal impulses and instincts to what we know of nonhuman animals, creating a personalized map of both the internal self and the world we inhabit. Lupa offers exercises, meditations, and examples for all of these so the seeker has a companion working with them along their path. She also discusses the option of combining these totemic paths.
Additionally, Lupa discusses ways to interact with, honor, and assist your totem animal. There’s a guided meditation for helping find your totem animal. My favorite extra is a list of animal nonprofits.
“New Paths to Animal Totems” is a great book for anyone looking for a new perspective, or for someone new like me. I thought that someone housebound like myself couldn’t have a relationship with a totem animal, but Lupa’s writing opened my eyes. Ideally yes, being out in nature is great. However many people have totem animals that aren’t found in nature where they live, so being outside doesn’t effect the relationship one way or the other. That’s a pretty big leap from one book. Just think what “New Paths to Animals” might teach you.
Animal totems are something I was interested in but never really explored. I always sort of felt that you needed to be a big nature lover to work with animal totems and if you know me, you know that me and nature do not get along. I’m allergic to just about everything that grows and every animal. All fur, feathers, dander, down, all of it. However, Lupa’s new book “New Paths to Animal Totems: Three Alternative Approaches to Creating Your Totemism” really opened my eyes.
Lupa explains how you don’t have to be tied to the Native American model that so many books and websites tend to favor. She offers three alternative models to discerning your totems: correspondences, bioregional, and archetypal. In correspondences Lupa discusses discovering your totem/totems using the directions, the Chinese or Western Zodiac, the Tarot and more. Bioregionalism is finding your totems not from within arbitrary boundaries such as state lines but instead from a place defined by natural phenomena such as waterways and geographic formations. Last is archetypal which is more psychological than other options. It matches our internal impulses and instincts to what we know of nonhuman animals, creating a personalized map of both the internal self and the world we inhabit. Lupa offers exercises, meditations, and examples for all of these so the seeker has a companion working with them along their path. She also discusses the option of combining these totemic paths.
Additionally, Lupa discusses ways to interact with, honor, and assist your totem animal. There’s a guided meditation for helping find your totem animal. My favorite extra is a list of animal nonprofits.
“New Paths to Animal Totems” is a great book for anyone looking for a new perspective, or for someone new like me. I thought that someone housebound like myself couldn’t have a relationship with a totem animal, but Lupa’s writing opened my eyes. Ideally yes, being out in nature is great. However many people have totem animals that aren’t found in nature where they live, so being outside doesn’t effect the relationship one way or the other. That’s a pretty big leap from one book. Just think what “New Paths to Animals” might teach you.
May 10, 2014
This book is a good introduction to what might be called chaos shamanism, that is, shamanism as created consciously by the individual rather than that which claims descent from a (usually poorly-understood racist caricature of) some other civilization. The fact that Lupa addresses that at the very beginning of the book, including pointing out the problematic usages of both the Siberian word "shaman" and the Ojibwa word "totem", is one of the first things that told me I would like this book.
Well, okay, the second. Lupa often attends the same major pagan convention I do in San Jose and I have been able to interact with her on a couple of occasions therein. Those interactions were the first thing that told me I would like the book.
Buying this book (snapped up at a sale at Ancient Ways) coincided with a birth of interest in this kind of magicko-spiritual work. Prior to this, I had primarily done reconstructionist work with a wide variety of Great Civilizations (Roma, the Azteca Triple Alliance, etc.), a little chaos/ceremonial magick, and some witchcraft, mostly limited to Feri. Oh, and the Radical Fairies, which is where I stumbled upon what I am thinking more and more might be my primary totem, Skunk.
This book, which is ridiculously easy to read, has opened a variety of paths to me. {{Review to be continued later}}
Well, okay, the second. Lupa often attends the same major pagan convention I do in San Jose and I have been able to interact with her on a couple of occasions therein. Those interactions were the first thing that told me I would like the book.
Buying this book (snapped up at a sale at Ancient Ways) coincided with a birth of interest in this kind of magicko-spiritual work. Prior to this, I had primarily done reconstructionist work with a wide variety of Great Civilizations (Roma, the Azteca Triple Alliance, etc.), a little chaos/ceremonial magick, and some witchcraft, mostly limited to Feri. Oh, and the Radical Fairies, which is where I stumbled upon what I am thinking more and more might be my primary totem, Skunk.
This book, which is ridiculously easy to read, has opened a variety of paths to me. {{Review to be continued later}}
November 6, 2014
This book is absolutely fantastic, even for those who known just about nothing about totems. I'm one of those people, but even then this book was very easy to follow. The tone is both conversation-like and informative. Each concept introduced in the book is explained, and the examples and personal stories given can really help with reading comprehension. If you're looking for a step-by-step "do things this way" guide this is definitely not the book for you. Instead the writing is very open, encouraging your own ideas to form. After all, it states right in the title that this is a "do it yourself" guide. I personally didn't connect to all three of the approaches explained in this book, but I did really connect to one of them at least (and see the value in the others, as well as ways to integrate them if I so choose). I think their variety can connect to a good number of people. Overall, this book was amazing and I plan on keeping it with me for reference. I highly recommend it!
December 15, 2013
This is the first book I have ever read on totemism, and I did so with caution. I have always been turned off by individuals who try to appropriate a bunch of traditions and teach them as "Native American" totemism, which is offensive and annoying on many levels. This book avoids appropriation by instead providing basic components individuals of any religious, spiritual, or cultural background can use to fit their own needs and experience.
As someone who knew nothing about totems, I found this book to be helpful and informative. At the same time, it was thought provoking throughout and I never felt like it was too shallow or catering to novices. I look forward to reading more of Lupa's works in the future.
As someone who knew nothing about totems, I found this book to be helpful and informative. At the same time, it was thought provoking throughout and I never felt like it was too shallow or catering to novices. I look forward to reading more of Lupa's works in the future.
May 10, 2015
I greatly admire Lupa's work and this book is no different in that perspective.
Whether or not you're familiar with animal totems there's something to learn from this book. Be it how to start connecting or finding your totem animals or how to better connect with them this book is a great resource.
Whether or not you're familiar with animal totems there's something to learn from this book. Be it how to start connecting or finding your totem animals or how to better connect with them this book is a great resource.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews