The Most Common Spirit Animals and Their Meanings

In the 21st Century, the idea of having a spirit animal is mainly discussed in somewhat of a lighthearted way. It’s mainly just a fun thing to think about or discuss with others about, and is based around which animals have similar personalities to your own.

But while most of us don’t take it very seriously, spirit animals have actually been a very important aspect of several different cultures throughout human history. And some of those cultures still explore the concept in great depth today.

Many people believe that spirit animals are primarily associated with Native American cultures, and of course it is a significant belief system with them, but it’s not exclusive. Northern Europeans also believed in having a deep connection to animals, and Egyptian and Hindu religions used animals to depict their various Gods. 

The idea is something known as ‘animism’. Some cultures had a grander view of it, and would ascribe animals to tribal chiefs or as spiritual leaders, while others have a more personal outlook on it and believe that everyone has their own spirit animal that they can discover through meditation or dream work.

This is the perspective that has been adopted by modern society and the one that you can explore yourself if it interests you. Let’s take a look at some of the most common spirit animals and the meaning behind them:

Butterfly

Butterflies are commonly linked to the idea of transformation. This is of course to do with the fact that a butterfly is an insect that goes through a very observable life cycle, starting with a caterpillar, before entering a cocoon, and finally emerging as a butterfly. A very stark, beautiful transformation from the original form.

If you determine this creature to be your spirit animal, you could interpret it in a couple of ways. On the one hand, it might mean that there are areas of your life that need to be addressed and changed.

Another way to interpret it, and perhaps a more interesting one, is to think of the butterfly representing your ability to move freely from one one lifestyle to another. Change can be very stressful and upsetting for many people, but perhaps not for those who share their spirit with the butterfly. 

Bear

Bears as spirit animals are most associated with strength and leadership, which makes an awful lot of sense considering bears are among the most powerful creatures on the planet and probably the most powerful creatures native to North America.

The grizzly bear was a much respected animal by Native Americans and those thought to have bears as their spirit animals were viewed as strong, confident and willing to take action when necessary.

This is very much emphasized by the usage of the animal in the name of Chief Standing Bear, a Ponca who’s involvement in an 1879 civil rights case is legendary and a landmark in the history of Native American relations in the United States. 

The bear also represents rest, solitude, and time for reflection, which lines up with the idea of long-term hibernation.

Cat

When we think of cats, our mind will generally go to our domesticated pets first. Cute animals that spend an awful lot of time sleeping and lying around while occasionally coming over for some affection. 

Cats are quite a bit more complicated than that though, and when you think about them as a spirit animal, you should encompass the entirety of the feline family in it and also consider lions, tigers, cougars, and leopards. 

With this in mind, cat’s symbolize a wide variety of different things. There’s courage of course, as well as patience and a willingness to wait for the perfect moment to act, just as a hunting lion might. 

There’s also independence, curiosity, and the spirit of adventure. Cats are notorious for prowling and exploring by themselves and will often spend hours outside at night. They’re out experiencing and discovering the world and it’s often those who like to travel and seek out a greater understanding of their surroundings who have cats as their spirit animals. 

Eagle

There is perhaps no creature more synonymous with America than the eagle. The bald eagle is the national animal of the United States and both bald and golden eagles are important symbols of Native American culture too.

It’s also heavily featured in Greek mythology. The cacausion eagle was the spirit animal of Zeus, who was capable of transforming himself into one at will. It’s a creature globally recognized in a spiritual context and this is because it’s a symbol of strength.

If an eagle is your spirit animal, you also have some of the traits of a healer. This connection comes from the fact that eagles are predators who capture the weak and the sick in order to prevent the spread of disease.

A dark connotation, but one that is as present in some cultures’ interpretation of the eagle as the idea of strength and courage. 

Snake

Speaking of healing, snakes are another symbolic animal associated with that. It’s interesting because many cultures will also use snakes to symbolize danger, and that’s certainly appropriate when you consider how many poisonous species there are, but it’s also looked at as a source of life by some.

The Greek God of medicine Aesclepius is represented by two snakes wrapped around a rod and that has become a recognized symbol for medicine. The reason for this is because snakes are viewed as being driven by their primal instincts and always close to the Earth’s lifeforce.

If your spirit animal is a snake, you are likely someone who is comfortable with following their instincts and capable of drawing life and energy from the Earth and nature. 

These are some of the most common ones, but there are many, many more possibilities and you can take this quiz if you’d like to find out what your spirit animal is. We have a lot more in common with animals than a lot of people like to admit, and it’s fun to explore your own personality to see just how deep your connection is to the animal world.