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Shamanic Power Animals: Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends
Explore the Wisdom of the Animal World
Shamanism teaches us that the intelligence of nature is all around us, waiting for us to reach out with open hearts and listen to its guidance. When we turn our attention to the incredible community of animal life and the teachings they have to share, we open ourselves to a vibrant, interconnected world full of spiritual truths and transformational insights.
Through myth, tradition, science, and story—combined with the power of personal observation—we can see how animals offer profound life lessons every
In Shamanic Power Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends , Toltec shaman don José Ruiz takes a deep dive into this rich and vital store of animal wisdom and demonstrates how we can incorporate its lessons into our daily lives.
In the first section of this book, Ruiz explains how power animals represent a path to our own personal power and provides a foundational understanding of the animal world based on the symbol of the medicine wheel and its association with the elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
The second section contains a power animal compendium covering over 200 animals. Each entry includes exercises, prayers, and chants for use in communicating and collaborating with these powerful allies on your own personal journey toward awareness and healing.
The result is both a reference guide to the wisdom of the animal world and a road map for activating this wisdom within yourself.
Shamanism teaches us that the intelligence of nature is all around us, waiting for us to reach out with open hearts and listen to its guidance. When we turn our attention to the incredible community of animal life and the teachings they have to share, we open ourselves to a vibrant, interconnected world full of spiritual truths and transformational insights.
Through myth, tradition, science, and story—combined with the power of personal observation—we can see how animals offer profound life lessons every
In Shamanic Power Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends , Toltec shaman don José Ruiz takes a deep dive into this rich and vital store of animal wisdom and demonstrates how we can incorporate its lessons into our daily lives.
In the first section of this book, Ruiz explains how power animals represent a path to our own personal power and provides a foundational understanding of the animal world based on the symbol of the medicine wheel and its association with the elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
The second section contains a power animal compendium covering over 200 animals. Each entry includes exercises, prayers, and chants for use in communicating and collaborating with these powerful allies on your own personal journey toward awareness and healing.
The result is both a reference guide to the wisdom of the animal world and a road map for activating this wisdom within yourself.
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2021
395 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Jose Ruiz
102 books60 followersDon Jose Ruiz, son of Miguel Ruiz and brother of Miguel Ruiz Jr, was born in Mexico but moved to the USA when he was 21.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 16, 2022
This: “Animals can be our teachers, especially when it comes to the practice of how to live in the present moment. They remind us not to judge, berate, or go against ourselves in any way.”
I’ve been practicing Shamanic journeying and power animal creative visualization since college (thank you Athens, Ohio) but I have never actually thought about this point made above. When I read it, an ah-ha moment washed over me and a lot of things made sense—like, for example, my insistent draw to Shamanism and animal allies throughout the years, particularly when I was working my way through crises or chaotic change. The nonjudgmental stance of an animal is incredibly powerful—that way of being allows for such freedom to fail, freedom to grow. And freedom to love and be loved without conditions. No wonder Wolf, Owl, Dragonfly, and Bat have been touchstones for me when things get challenging. I hadn’t quite thought of it in that way before.
I’ve been practicing Shamanic journeying and power animal creative visualization since college (thank you Athens, Ohio) but I have never actually thought about this point made above. When I read it, an ah-ha moment washed over me and a lot of things made sense—like, for example, my insistent draw to Shamanism and animal allies throughout the years, particularly when I was working my way through crises or chaotic change. The nonjudgmental stance of an animal is incredibly powerful—that way of being allows for such freedom to fail, freedom to grow. And freedom to love and be loved without conditions. No wonder Wolf, Owl, Dragonfly, and Bat have been touchstones for me when things get challenging. I hadn’t quite thought of it in that way before.
August 24, 2025
Ruiz adopts the lens of the Toltec tradition to introduce readers to the idea that animals are vital companions and teachers capable of guiding and transforming human life. The work begins by explaining how power animals connect us to personal and spiritual strength; Ruiz employs the medicine wheel and its elemental associations—earth, air, fire, and water—to lay this foundation. His approach is inclusive, urging the reader to listen to nature with an open heart and humility, and to recognise an interconnected universe where every creature is a potential mentor.
The main body of the book is encyclopaedic, offering detailed profiles of more than 200 animals. Each animal is not presented as a passive symbol, but as a living presence endowed with unique medicine—be it the ant’s lesson in teamwork, the bear’s guidance in protecting what matters most, or the eagle’s instruction in clarity and vision. These sections are interwoven with exercises, prayers, and chants intended to foster direct communication and partnership with these spirit allies. Ruiz encourages readers not only to discover their own power animals, but to collaborate with them towards healing, growth, and self-awareness.
One feature that distinguishes Ruiz’s work from more superficial guides is his refusal to separate spiritual practice from daily life: animal wisdom is not an exotic abstraction but a “road map” for living more consciously. Readers are invited to bear witness to their own transformations and crises through the power of animal companionship—nonjudgmental, loving, and instructive. The book is attentive to the ways in which shamanic practice can provide both mystical insight and practical support, particularly during times of chaos or challenge. Moreover, Ruiz’s emphasis on unconditional acceptance and love reveals his fundamental optimism: animals, in their unwavering presence, show us what it is to let go of judgment and to embrace growth—including our failures.
Ruiz’s narrative is clear and uplifting, yet it avoids the pitfalls of sentimentality. Instead, the wisdom imparted by the animals is grounded in personal experience, myth, and observation, forming a resource that is as relevant for personal spiritual practice as for those seeking a deeper understanding of nature’s teachings. The structure invites both the careful reader and the casual seeker: the book can be read front to back or consulted as a reference, making its practical exercises and prayers easily accessible to those in need of immediate guidance. Ultimately, "Shamanic Power Animals" succeeds as a compendium and a manual for awakening, translating ancient perspectives into an approachable and actionable format for contemporary audiences.
The main body of the book is encyclopaedic, offering detailed profiles of more than 200 animals. Each animal is not presented as a passive symbol, but as a living presence endowed with unique medicine—be it the ant’s lesson in teamwork, the bear’s guidance in protecting what matters most, or the eagle’s instruction in clarity and vision. These sections are interwoven with exercises, prayers, and chants intended to foster direct communication and partnership with these spirit allies. Ruiz encourages readers not only to discover their own power animals, but to collaborate with them towards healing, growth, and self-awareness.
One feature that distinguishes Ruiz’s work from more superficial guides is his refusal to separate spiritual practice from daily life: animal wisdom is not an exotic abstraction but a “road map” for living more consciously. Readers are invited to bear witness to their own transformations and crises through the power of animal companionship—nonjudgmental, loving, and instructive. The book is attentive to the ways in which shamanic practice can provide both mystical insight and practical support, particularly during times of chaos or challenge. Moreover, Ruiz’s emphasis on unconditional acceptance and love reveals his fundamental optimism: animals, in their unwavering presence, show us what it is to let go of judgment and to embrace growth—including our failures.
Ruiz’s narrative is clear and uplifting, yet it avoids the pitfalls of sentimentality. Instead, the wisdom imparted by the animals is grounded in personal experience, myth, and observation, forming a resource that is as relevant for personal spiritual practice as for those seeking a deeper understanding of nature’s teachings. The structure invites both the careful reader and the casual seeker: the book can be read front to back or consulted as a reference, making its practical exercises and prayers easily accessible to those in need of immediate guidance. Ultimately, "Shamanic Power Animals" succeeds as a compendium and a manual for awakening, translating ancient perspectives into an approachable and actionable format for contemporary audiences.
September 4, 2025
Ruiz presents power animals as teachers and spiritual guides that help humans reconnect with nature, overcome limiting beliefs, and cultivate present-moment awareness. The book contrasts the human “dreaming mind,” characterized by self-judgment, greed, and anxiety, with the instinctual, unburdened existence of animals. This contrast highlights how animals embody qualities such as freedom, authenticity, and mindfulness that humans can aspire to emulate. Ruiz also explores the idea of “domestication” metaphorically, explaining how societal conditioning can separate individuals from their true nature, a state from which animals’ behavior provides healing inspiration.
The book is divided into two major parts: an introduction to animal work in spiritual practice, and a detailed compendium of over 200 animals. Each animal entry includes symbolic meanings, relevant cultural stories, and practical exercises like prayers, chants, and meditations aimed at fostering deeper connection and personal growth. This format allows readers to approach the book as a reference or a guide for spiritual practice, making it versatile and accessible.
Reviewers especially appreciate Ruiz’s integration of animal wisdom with mental health and personal development concepts such as mindfulness, journaling, gratitude, and self-care. The book’s rich anecdotes and exercises enable readers to activate the healing and empowering qualities of animal spirits in their own lives. Even readers who may not embrace the more mystical or spiritual elements often find value in the grounded lessons about nature, resilience, and growth.
Ruiz draws on a wide variety of traditions, including Toltec, Native American, Christian, and Egyptian symbolism, underscoring the universal presence of animal wisdom across cultures. This broad perspective invites readers from different backgrounds to find resonance without requiring adherence to any one spiritual dogma.
The book is divided into two major parts: an introduction to animal work in spiritual practice, and a detailed compendium of over 200 animals. Each animal entry includes symbolic meanings, relevant cultural stories, and practical exercises like prayers, chants, and meditations aimed at fostering deeper connection and personal growth. This format allows readers to approach the book as a reference or a guide for spiritual practice, making it versatile and accessible.
Reviewers especially appreciate Ruiz’s integration of animal wisdom with mental health and personal development concepts such as mindfulness, journaling, gratitude, and self-care. The book’s rich anecdotes and exercises enable readers to activate the healing and empowering qualities of animal spirits in their own lives. Even readers who may not embrace the more mystical or spiritual elements often find value in the grounded lessons about nature, resilience, and growth.
Ruiz draws on a wide variety of traditions, including Toltec, Native American, Christian, and Egyptian symbolism, underscoring the universal presence of animal wisdom across cultures. This broad perspective invites readers from different backgrounds to find resonance without requiring adherence to any one spiritual dogma.
January 26, 2024
This is a fantastic book to read straight through or to just pick up to look up each animal. Each animal has great descriptions, and I love the little prayers to the animals included with each one. It helps ME to really feel connected and understand their medicine. I'm sure I'll be going back to this book for many, many years. 🙏✨️🙌
March 22, 2023
a good read
I enjoyed reading about the animal and and their helpful characteristics.
Quick and uplifting.
I don’t think I would pray to an animal spirit but I can see how some powerful words related to them can raise vibrations.
I enjoyed reading about the animal and and their helpful characteristics.
Quick and uplifting.
I don’t think I would pray to an animal spirit but I can see how some powerful words related to them can raise vibrations.
November 20, 2025
Good guide for power animals
The format is helpful because you can skip through if you want depending on what animals you are drawn too. Animals have so much to teach us and this opens your awareness much more to this idea.
The format is helpful because you can skip through if you want depending on what animals you are drawn too. Animals have so much to teach us and this opens your awareness much more to this idea.
April 10, 2024
I love reading about power animals and have noted a number of the experiences to try.
April 24, 2024
Wonderful book
I really enjoyed this book and I like the way it's laid out. It's nice and easy to reference later and it was a very inspiring book.
I really enjoyed this book and I like the way it's laid out. It's nice and easy to reference later and it was a very inspiring book.
October 17, 2025
I enjoyed the different thoughts presented for each animal. Nothing revolutionary, but good reminders.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews