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Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small
Open your heart and mind to the wisdom of the animal world.
Animal Speak provides techniques for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of nature. Meet and work with animals as totems and spirit guides by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world.
Animal Speak shows you how to:
Identify, meet, and attune to your spirit animals
Discover the power and spiritual significance of more than 100 different animals, birds, insects, and reptiles
Call upon the protective powers of your animal totem
Create and use five magical animal rites, including shapeshifting and sacred dance
This beloved, bestselling guide has become a classic reference for anyone wishing to forge a spiritual connection with the majesty and mystery of the animal world.
Animal Speak provides techniques for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of nature. Meet and work with animals as totems and spirit guides by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world.
Animal Speak shows you how to:
Identify, meet, and attune to your spirit animals
Discover the power and spiritual significance of more than 100 different animals, birds, insects, and reptiles
Call upon the protective powers of your animal totem
Create and use five magical animal rites, including shapeshifting and sacred dance
This beloved, bestselling guide has become a classic reference for anyone wishing to forge a spiritual connection with the majesty and mystery of the animal world.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
732 people are currently reading
10515 people want to read
About the author
Ted Andrews
130 books232 followersTed Andrews was an internationally recognized author, storyteller, teacher, and mystic. A leader in the human potential, metaphysical, and psychic fields, he wrote over 36 books which have been translated into more than two dozen foreign languages. He was featured on many national and local TV and radio programs every year. He won more Visionary Awards than any other author.
Ted was a worldwide acclaimed speaker and teacher. He presented sold-out seminars to thousands of people throughout the US and Canada every year, and his appearances were just as popular and in demand in the United Kingdom, Europe and parts of Asia. In May 2002 he was specially invited to speak to the UNSRC at the United Nations in New York for his writings and work with animals.
This award-winning and best-selling author was involved in the serious study of the esoteric and occult for more than 40 years, and he brought to the field an extensive formal and informal education. He served the public school system for ten years as a teacher and counselor, 7 of which were spent working with disadvantaged students, creating a special needs reading program for which he received both local and state recognition.
Called a true Renaissance man, Ted was trained in music, playing the piano since the age of 12. He composed, performed and produced the music for ten audiocassettes. He could even scratch out a tune or two on the violin/fiddle. He was a longtime student of sacred dance, ballet and Kung Fu. Ted was also schooled in a variety of related holistic healing modalities, including music therapy, herbology, hypnotherapy, acupressure and other alternative techniques. A clairvoyant since childhood, he was also a certified spiritualist medium for nearly 30 years.
Probably best known for his work with animals, Ted held state and federal permits to work with birds of prey. He performed wildlife rescue and worked in wildlife rehabilitation and education. He conducted animal education and storytelling programs with his animals in school classrooms throughout the year, giving freely of his own time and expense to help young people discover the wonder of animals and nature. In his spare time, he enjoyed hanging out with his menagerie of animals, training and playing with his horses and ballroom dancing.
Ted was a worldwide acclaimed speaker and teacher. He presented sold-out seminars to thousands of people throughout the US and Canada every year, and his appearances were just as popular and in demand in the United Kingdom, Europe and parts of Asia. In May 2002 he was specially invited to speak to the UNSRC at the United Nations in New York for his writings and work with animals.
This award-winning and best-selling author was involved in the serious study of the esoteric and occult for more than 40 years, and he brought to the field an extensive formal and informal education. He served the public school system for ten years as a teacher and counselor, 7 of which were spent working with disadvantaged students, creating a special needs reading program for which he received both local and state recognition.
Called a true Renaissance man, Ted was trained in music, playing the piano since the age of 12. He composed, performed and produced the music for ten audiocassettes. He could even scratch out a tune or two on the violin/fiddle. He was a longtime student of sacred dance, ballet and Kung Fu. Ted was also schooled in a variety of related holistic healing modalities, including music therapy, herbology, hypnotherapy, acupressure and other alternative techniques. A clairvoyant since childhood, he was also a certified spiritualist medium for nearly 30 years.
Probably best known for his work with animals, Ted held state and federal permits to work with birds of prey. He performed wildlife rescue and worked in wildlife rehabilitation and education. He conducted animal education and storytelling programs with his animals in school classrooms throughout the year, giving freely of his own time and expense to help young people discover the wonder of animals and nature. In his spare time, he enjoyed hanging out with his menagerie of animals, training and playing with his horses and ballroom dancing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
February 22, 2014
Every time I dream or see an animal on my travels I go back to this book to understand its symbolism and what it should mean to me.
It is like a dictionary of animal totems and symbolism, everyone should have a copy if he/she are on the Shamanistic road.
It is like a dictionary of animal totems and symbolism, everyone should have a copy if he/she are on the Shamanistic road.
August 5, 2016
Loved this book! This was a lovely introduction for me into shamanic spirituality involving birds and animal totems. It was recommended to me by a friend when I mentioned a gorgeous red-shouldered hawk with a tortoise-shelled back and black-and-white striped tail sat on the railing right outside my window and stared at me for a good long minute! That incident set my heart racing, and I felt the power of connection with a majestic creature that I had never thought possible.
This book introduced me to the magic and power of those connections and communications with so many of the birds and animals that I'm surrounded by, as well as introductions to feather magic, fetishes, and an extensive dictionary of birds, animals, and the significance of each of their sightings.
If you're interested in spirituality, philosophy, yoga, etc., join my Old Souls Book Club (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) for other recommendations and thought-provoking conversations!
This book introduced me to the magic and power of those connections and communications with so many of the birds and animals that I'm surrounded by, as well as introductions to feather magic, fetishes, and an extensive dictionary of birds, animals, and the significance of each of their sightings.
If you're interested in spirituality, philosophy, yoga, etc., join my Old Souls Book Club (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...) for other recommendations and thought-provoking conversations!
December 23, 2008
I was taught that if you want to know what the animals have to say then pack up your things and go live WITH them and listen!
September 11, 2008
The introduction and first couple chapters give a thorough explanation of "power animals" and how to work with the symbols/archetypes in our lives. Ted Andrews obviously has a profound knowledge of the esoteric and presents the spiritual or magical powers of animals in an easy-to-read format.
Personally, I was given this book from a Native American shaman for reference. I was looking for more information on how to utilize my ' power/token animal' in my everyday life when it is/was separated from the shamanic journey. While my particular animal is not in the reference pages I had to search between similar species-- and choose pertinent details.
I do not totally subscribe to the Shamanic realm or path, but believe that the imaginative powers are incredibly real and important. They need to be incorporated in our lives and we need to begin to find the so-called magic in everyday moments.
Having or finding a 'token' animal give one an additional lens to view the Earth from, but becomes increasingly difficult today's technology laden and industrial culture. Going through some of the exercises and taking on the traits of a particular animal can be helpful and therapeutic if done in the wild.
Personally, I was given this book from a Native American shaman for reference. I was looking for more information on how to utilize my ' power/token animal' in my everyday life when it is/was separated from the shamanic journey. While my particular animal is not in the reference pages I had to search between similar species-- and choose pertinent details.
I do not totally subscribe to the Shamanic realm or path, but believe that the imaginative powers are incredibly real and important. They need to be incorporated in our lives and we need to begin to find the so-called magic in everyday moments.
Having or finding a 'token' animal give one an additional lens to view the Earth from, but becomes increasingly difficult today's technology laden and industrial culture. Going through some of the exercises and taking on the traits of a particular animal can be helpful and therapeutic if done in the wild.
August 22, 2014
(This is a personal reaction rather than a review for potential readers)
It was interesting to read this at last. As a new teen pagan I had no way of getting my hands on it but it seemed to be the one title that always came up with recommendations in online discussions and the book I most hankered after.
When I read it several years later it didn't make a huge impact on me personally, but it might have done if I'd read it back then. I can see why it was so often recommended for beginners. It gives a very accessible system for working with animal spirituality and symbolism.
I really enjoyed the emphasis on mundane, practical activities such as collecting books and figurines, contributing to conservation and above all learning about the animal. I also liked the logical approach of thinking about the animal's characteristics and extrapolating them into symbolism and your own life, and the emphasis on being able to define your own symbolism rather than relying on secondary sources.
For a book with such a bad reputation for appropriation, I didn't find it too bad to read through as a whole. Much of the book was very general. However some sections, particularly in bird magic, presented details of Native American spiritual practice with an airy attitude of 'Go try it yourself!' that I found jarring. Apart from a short note about researching a practice thoroughly before using it, there was no discussion of appropriation, ownership and social power.
Andrews begins with some discussion of the relevance and usefulness of animal spirituality in contemporary times. It puts this in context by referring to the practices of 'ancient shamans' living 'in the past' apparently in a spiritually enlightened nonspecific monoculture, who later became 'our ancestors'. I took a look at the bibliography and I think the author is engaging in a little rose-tinted idealistic generalising. Thankfully it didn't permeate the rest of the book.
The book deals mostly with practical methods to discover, contact and work with animal totems; and methods of analysing animals for symbolism. There are sections on mammals, birds, other animals, predator/prey relationships and habitats. Throughout the book there are exercises and visualisations which didn't thrill me, but I'm not a big fan of guided visualisation so I can't really judge. They do introduce beginners to some common concepts.
I didn't get much out of the chapter on omens. The author draws a clear distinction between superstition (irrational fear with specific events or actions) and omens (based on a thorough knowledge of the land in order to spot unusual occurrences). However I don't personally mesh with the idea that nature will rearrange itself based on what's happening in my life. Your mileage may vary.
I did particularly like the treatment of predator and prey relationships. There were four 'lessons' organised by element, which I thought was unnecessary but it may give an extra frame of reference to beginners and makes for easier memorisation. I appreciated the different angles and treatment of it as a complex topic.
I also enjoyed the fairly sizeable symbolism 'dictionaries', mostly for different types of animals. They don't pretend to be a definitive guide but often give a good place to get started with mythology and interpretation.
Overall I can see this book's usefulness to beginners and those looking for some ideas to add to their practice, but take it with a grain of salt and beware of appropriation.
It was interesting to read this at last. As a new teen pagan I had no way of getting my hands on it but it seemed to be the one title that always came up with recommendations in online discussions and the book I most hankered after.
When I read it several years later it didn't make a huge impact on me personally, but it might have done if I'd read it back then. I can see why it was so often recommended for beginners. It gives a very accessible system for working with animal spirituality and symbolism.
I really enjoyed the emphasis on mundane, practical activities such as collecting books and figurines, contributing to conservation and above all learning about the animal. I also liked the logical approach of thinking about the animal's characteristics and extrapolating them into symbolism and your own life, and the emphasis on being able to define your own symbolism rather than relying on secondary sources.
For a book with such a bad reputation for appropriation, I didn't find it too bad to read through as a whole. Much of the book was very general. However some sections, particularly in bird magic, presented details of Native American spiritual practice with an airy attitude of 'Go try it yourself!' that I found jarring. Apart from a short note about researching a practice thoroughly before using it, there was no discussion of appropriation, ownership and social power.
Andrews begins with some discussion of the relevance and usefulness of animal spirituality in contemporary times. It puts this in context by referring to the practices of 'ancient shamans' living 'in the past' apparently in a spiritually enlightened nonspecific monoculture, who later became 'our ancestors'. I took a look at the bibliography and I think the author is engaging in a little rose-tinted idealistic generalising. Thankfully it didn't permeate the rest of the book.
The book deals mostly with practical methods to discover, contact and work with animal totems; and methods of analysing animals for symbolism. There are sections on mammals, birds, other animals, predator/prey relationships and habitats. Throughout the book there are exercises and visualisations which didn't thrill me, but I'm not a big fan of guided visualisation so I can't really judge. They do introduce beginners to some common concepts.
I didn't get much out of the chapter on omens. The author draws a clear distinction between superstition (irrational fear with specific events or actions) and omens (based on a thorough knowledge of the land in order to spot unusual occurrences). However I don't personally mesh with the idea that nature will rearrange itself based on what's happening in my life. Your mileage may vary.
I did particularly like the treatment of predator and prey relationships. There were four 'lessons' organised by element, which I thought was unnecessary but it may give an extra frame of reference to beginners and makes for easier memorisation. I appreciated the different angles and treatment of it as a complex topic.
I also enjoyed the fairly sizeable symbolism 'dictionaries', mostly for different types of animals. They don't pretend to be a definitive guide but often give a good place to get started with mythology and interpretation.
Overall I can see this book's usefulness to beginners and those looking for some ideas to add to their practice, but take it with a grain of salt and beware of appropriation.
January 3, 2009
This is THE essential book for anyone working with animal spirit guides. Andrews covers just about every animal, bird and insect one could think of. He provides clear and lucid explanations of the characteristics of each animal guide and what one might gain by working with each animal. I plan to keep it as a reference, and I've already referred to it often. It's especially useful when I repeatedly encounter a specific animal in my daily travels, such as the hawk who took up residence in my back yard.
January 28, 2016
A good start, but needs to be expanded upon considerably. The author focuses almost entirely on bird symbolism and mostly neglects the staggering variety of other life on earth that people relate to in symbolic ways.
April 25, 2021
First off, the eBook version of this is full of bizarre transcription errors. Misspelled words, random periods and underscores, and even missing and incorrectly capitalized letters abound. I know typos happen, but this is stuff that even a seven year old could catch - there should not randomly be fifteen underscores in a row in the middle of a sentence! I believe this ebook was converted automatically and not even looked over. Even if you ignore everything else in this review - DO NOT buy the eBook.
Second off, this book is largely an appropriative mishmash of poorly understood Native American cultural phenomena (that also mixes in broadly European neopagan practices and at at least one point references the Kabbalah?). I kind of expected this to be the case but hoped otherwise.
Third off, this book discusses using feathers in great detail without ever mentioning that most feathers, including some of those given as examples, are illegal to possess in the USA.
Fourth off, despite being called Animal Speak, this book spends nearly half its time on birds, puts reptiles and insects together in one section, and spends no time on mammals, amphibians, fish, or non-insect invertebrates, except those that it erroneously groups with insects.
Fifth off, most sources given in this book are of very low quality, when sources are given at all.
Second off, this book is largely an appropriative mishmash of poorly understood Native American cultural phenomena (that also mixes in broadly European neopagan practices and at at least one point references the Kabbalah?). I kind of expected this to be the case but hoped otherwise.
Third off, this book discusses using feathers in great detail without ever mentioning that most feathers, including some of those given as examples, are illegal to possess in the USA.
Fourth off, despite being called Animal Speak, this book spends nearly half its time on birds, puts reptiles and insects together in one section, and spends no time on mammals, amphibians, fish, or non-insect invertebrates, except those that it erroneously groups with insects.
Fifth off, most sources given in this book are of very low quality, when sources are given at all.
August 29, 2008
This book has a lot to offer for anyone with an open mind and appreciation for our mother earth. If you litter stop littering now! Reading this book isn't for you unless you think you can learn something from out earth and nature in it by meditation, symbolism, and totems of animals of all kinds. By experiencing all of these at once you learn a lot by identity and getting in tune with ones true self. I have had some wild experience in my life and every time I reference this book it tends to be right on and give me incite on all of them such has animal totem constantly presenting them self trying to send me a message and with this book you find out what is needed to complete the next step in your life. It is a great book to have on the shelf for reference and has helped me out a lot through times where out I may of not understood the messages and lessons I was being sent. I recently picked up this book after 4 years of having it and realized that I was ignoring many signs being sent to me and now I know to accept them and let help them help me through times or warn me to avoid others that can be harmful. The lessons that can be learned can be helpful and reflecting on your life especially if you’re open minded to accepting them into your life although they may not seem the norm. The Native Americans have a lot of techniques for understanding life that aren't traditionally in today’s world but are still highly effectively. They are so many lessons and messages I have gained by referencing this book from time to time and by finally finding my totem I have learned things about myself I doubted before that seemed impossible but seemed to becoming true and were confirmed by my totem. With out it I might have not believed some of the events but these totems are right on and can guide you to the messages nature is giving you or steer you clear from harm by omens nature is sending to you as well. Overall its just a great book to have around to reference for you life and guide you whether you believe it or not it will help figure things you may of thought would of never had any meaning to you at all... defiantly great for the bookshelf and to keep handy for the messages being sent to you in your life in any form... any questions let me know because this book helped me figure out some crazy wild things for me so I’d love to give incite to anyone seeking answers.
February 12, 2015
This is the best book written to understand the symbolic significance of animals in our lives. I've been using it for years to gain deeper insight into my own dreams, and often recommend it to students and clients when I'm teaching dream workshops. When an animal turns up in your physical life, especially if you see it repeatedly, it may have important messages for you. Andrews describes the habitats, unique characteristics, and skills of each animal, including birds, mammals and reptiles, then probes the reader with a series of excellent questions to help us understand what role this animal plays in our life, and how we can learn from it. Animals are tremendous gifts to humanity and one of our greatest teachers. The challenge is to learn how to tap into their wisdom. This book will help you gain a greater appreciation and respect for all members of the animal kingdom.
January 22, 2015
If you're into animal symbolism and animal totems/guides, you'll love this book. It's more of a reference book, rather than one you sit to read all the way through. When I see an animal during a reading, meditation, or dream, I always look up the meaning in this book. I find that the meanings correspond with my own feelings about why the animal showed up in my life and give me additional insight.
May 24, 2019
Absolutely wonderful.
If you love animals and nature, if you consider yourself a spiritual person, if you have a soul-deep connection with your natural surroundings and the little creatures in it, (or want to strengthen your connection to it) you will love this book.
The author has an immense amount of knowledge about a multitude of animals, insects etc, as well as Native American culture, knowledge and beliefs.
Love it.
Will read many times over.
If you love animals and nature, if you consider yourself a spiritual person, if you have a soul-deep connection with your natural surroundings and the little creatures in it, (or want to strengthen your connection to it) you will love this book.
The author has an immense amount of knowledge about a multitude of animals, insects etc, as well as Native American culture, knowledge and beliefs.
Love it.
Will read many times over.
August 17, 2014
This is a great book for people just beginning to walk their 'earth walk' and become more in touch with Mother Nature and Native American spirituality. It discusses the language of nature, how to read omens, and the symbolism behind the significant presence that animals make in day to day life and what the personalized message is for you to learn from it. Great book!
June 5, 2014
This is a great reference book. Well organized and easy to use. I recommend it in book form rather than ebook as it is much easier to search for the information one is interested in.
January 30, 2021
Although this review will be highly critical, keep in mind I've also given it a four star rating, so I think overall this is a very useful book. I'm going to use the language of the author, Ted Andrews, (specifically the word "totem") even though I wouldn't normally use this language myself. I recognize that some of it may seem appropriative, but you have to understand where the author is coming from. I'll touch on this more later.
There is a lot of information in Animal Speak, from finding your totem animals to working with them. The author tried to be very comprehensive of a huge topic, so he had to leave a lot out. I got the impression that as he realized how much he had written, he started to write less and less about each category as he went on. So we go from a giant section on birds, to a moderate section on mammals (which he just calls "animals") to a lesser section on insects, and a tiny section on reptiles.
Andrews began his focus on this book on North American animals/birds. The idea was to find a totem animal to work with, and part of that discovery involves encountering animals in the wild. ("Lifelong power animals are usually wild, not domesticated.") This was a little confusing, given he also asked questions like "When you visit the zoo, which animal do you wish to visit most? So right off the bat, there's a bit of a disconnect, because although I'm excited to see elephants in the zoo, I'm unlikely to encounter one walking down Main Street USA. Or even out in the forest. Pretty much anywhere in North America. Additionally, although Andrews talks about wild animals as totems, he also included some domestic animals in his encyclopedia, with no real explanation as to why they were the exceptions.
The section on birds is GIANT. Andrews talks about identification of birds and finding one as your totem. He says that almost everyone has a bird totem (among others). As someone who is not really into birds, I found this daunting, because there are SO MANY listed, and their characteristics were specific to each species. So even if you encounter birds in the wild, identifying them is key to discovering your bird totem. That's a difficult task, IMO.
There were a few very interesting themes throughout the book. One: Birds are associated with faeries, since they fly. Two: Any animal that associates in and around water (he didn't go into fish and mollusks, just mammals, reptiles, and birds) is connected to the astral plane and emotion. Three: Any animal with something unusual on its head is connected to higher mental faculties and perceptions (antlers, horns, crests, eyes on top of their head). Four: Your totem animal gives insight into how to handle things. Their adaptations or behaviors are keys to ways to adapt and behave when you have obstacles to overcome. Five: Part of learning about your totem involves learning about its predators and its prey, whether plant or animal.
Andrews also gives a lot of ideas about how to connect with and honor your totem. I found most of these to be things I naturally have done, but it's good to read about things you might not have thought of. Things like making collages of your animal, making donations to animal sanctuaries for them, buying images in various forms of your totem animal, and learning about the animal. Sing songs and dance dances. Drum. Draw pictures of them. Meditate on them.
Because the book heavily focuses on North American birds, Andrews runs into a few issues. First, there is a lot of Native American lore throughout. I guess because of the time in which he wrote this, Andrews uses the word "Indians," which I found a little jarring, though it's not used in a pejorative way. The book was written almost 30 years ago. There is a lot of talk about using bird feathers as fetishes to connect with your bird totem, but almost no discussion about the illegality of possessing most bird feathers. It's mentioned in his section on eagles, but that's it. In reality, the Migratory Bird Act of North America forbids possession of the feathers of most migratory birds, so that's something to keep in mind when creating your fetishes. A lot of the bird section seemed to heavily depend upon Native American practices and concepts. I mean, the cover alone lets you know it is highly influenced by Native American practice.
When we get to the mammal section, there is less of an emphasis on North American animals. The geography is opened up to the entire world. That's cool, I like animals from all over the world, but it's just inconsistent from his bird section. Maybe there just weren't enough cool North American mammals left to write about? I'm not sure why he made this choice.
Apparently, this was one of Andrews' later works, because there are a LOT of references to his earlier books. Truthfully, some of them sounded interesting. This book is so famous, I didn't realize the author was so prolific.
Lastly, although Animal Speak contained a lot of good information, including exercises and stories, most of it was very dry. The vast majority of the book is an encyclopedia of specific animals and their symbology. Andrews drew on stories and symbology from all over the world too, not just Native American ideas. There were a lot of references to Egypt and China, India, etc., including Chinese astrology and Hindu theology. But that wasn't enough to counter the format that made you feel like you were reading the dictionary. So it's a slow, slow read, at least for me. That being said, I think the ideas and information are valuable, but definitely do additional research to supplement this.
There is a lot of information in Animal Speak, from finding your totem animals to working with them. The author tried to be very comprehensive of a huge topic, so he had to leave a lot out. I got the impression that as he realized how much he had written, he started to write less and less about each category as he went on. So we go from a giant section on birds, to a moderate section on mammals (which he just calls "animals") to a lesser section on insects, and a tiny section on reptiles.
Andrews began his focus on this book on North American animals/birds. The idea was to find a totem animal to work with, and part of that discovery involves encountering animals in the wild. ("Lifelong power animals are usually wild, not domesticated.") This was a little confusing, given he also asked questions like "When you visit the zoo, which animal do you wish to visit most? So right off the bat, there's a bit of a disconnect, because although I'm excited to see elephants in the zoo, I'm unlikely to encounter one walking down Main Street USA. Or even out in the forest. Pretty much anywhere in North America. Additionally, although Andrews talks about wild animals as totems, he also included some domestic animals in his encyclopedia, with no real explanation as to why they were the exceptions.
The section on birds is GIANT. Andrews talks about identification of birds and finding one as your totem. He says that almost everyone has a bird totem (among others). As someone who is not really into birds, I found this daunting, because there are SO MANY listed, and their characteristics were specific to each species. So even if you encounter birds in the wild, identifying them is key to discovering your bird totem. That's a difficult task, IMO.
There were a few very interesting themes throughout the book. One: Birds are associated with faeries, since they fly. Two: Any animal that associates in and around water (he didn't go into fish and mollusks, just mammals, reptiles, and birds) is connected to the astral plane and emotion. Three: Any animal with something unusual on its head is connected to higher mental faculties and perceptions (antlers, horns, crests, eyes on top of their head). Four: Your totem animal gives insight into how to handle things. Their adaptations or behaviors are keys to ways to adapt and behave when you have obstacles to overcome. Five: Part of learning about your totem involves learning about its predators and its prey, whether plant or animal.
Andrews also gives a lot of ideas about how to connect with and honor your totem. I found most of these to be things I naturally have done, but it's good to read about things you might not have thought of. Things like making collages of your animal, making donations to animal sanctuaries for them, buying images in various forms of your totem animal, and learning about the animal. Sing songs and dance dances. Drum. Draw pictures of them. Meditate on them.
Because the book heavily focuses on North American birds, Andrews runs into a few issues. First, there is a lot of Native American lore throughout. I guess because of the time in which he wrote this, Andrews uses the word "Indians," which I found a little jarring, though it's not used in a pejorative way. The book was written almost 30 years ago. There is a lot of talk about using bird feathers as fetishes to connect with your bird totem, but almost no discussion about the illegality of possessing most bird feathers. It's mentioned in his section on eagles, but that's it. In reality, the Migratory Bird Act of North America forbids possession of the feathers of most migratory birds, so that's something to keep in mind when creating your fetishes. A lot of the bird section seemed to heavily depend upon Native American practices and concepts. I mean, the cover alone lets you know it is highly influenced by Native American practice.
When we get to the mammal section, there is less of an emphasis on North American animals. The geography is opened up to the entire world. That's cool, I like animals from all over the world, but it's just inconsistent from his bird section. Maybe there just weren't enough cool North American mammals left to write about? I'm not sure why he made this choice.
Apparently, this was one of Andrews' later works, because there are a LOT of references to his earlier books. Truthfully, some of them sounded interesting. This book is so famous, I didn't realize the author was so prolific.
Lastly, although Animal Speak contained a lot of good information, including exercises and stories, most of it was very dry. The vast majority of the book is an encyclopedia of specific animals and their symbology. Andrews drew on stories and symbology from all over the world too, not just Native American ideas. There were a lot of references to Egypt and China, India, etc., including Chinese astrology and Hindu theology. But that wasn't enough to counter the format that made you feel like you were reading the dictionary. So it's a slow, slow read, at least for me. That being said, I think the ideas and information are valuable, but definitely do additional research to supplement this.
June 28, 2021
Ted Andrews awakens the reader to a New World, one wherein animals . . . and nature itself . . . is speaking to us, if we only knew how to "listen." In this four-part volume, Andrews introduces the reader to the magic of nature and its language (symbolism). He instructs us in the use of ritual and the practice of Feather Magic. And he provides us keys to interpret the messages that Mother Earth has to share through several dictionaries, including one for Bird Totems, Animal Totems, Insect Totems, of Reptile Totems. If you love nature and want to connect with her, then this is a must have book.
Want to read
May 3, 2017I've never heard of this book, and have now seen it in 2 places this week. Maybe I will run across it in person soon.
September 12, 2023
Introductory shamanic concepts regarding nonhuman animals and a sense of communal experience. Easy read, with suggested exercises.
March 26, 2009
Animal Speak by Ted Andrews is a guide to the wisdom that can be attained by taking a closer look at the animal kingdom. In it, Andrews provides techniques for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of the natural world. With insights into the myths/lore and history surrounding animals, Animal Speak helps you to discover the power and spiritual significance of more than 100 different mammals, birds, insects, and reptiles.
For anyone interested in Native American culture, shamanism, connecting with and understanding the creatures that share the Earth with us, Animal Speak is a must read book. Throughout history, animals have appeared in the art, stories, fairy tales/fables, and songs or every culture. Animal archetypes are so enduring within the human subconscious, that many people are fascinated by the habits of a particular animal or group of animals. Andrews explores the meaning of the animals we choose to share our lives with, the animals that appear to us in dreams, the animals we have always been interested in studying, and even the animals that frighten us.
Animal Speak examines more than 100 creatures and their habitats. Andrews discusses the intricacies of the relationship between predator and prey, reading signs and omens in nature, the special significance of colors, patterns, and numbers in the natural world, and the meaning of landscapes.
In the second half of the book, Andrews provides a large dictionary of animal totems, including birds, mammals, insects and reptiles. For each animal, the author imparts valuable information on animal behavior and physical characteristics, as well as a detailed mythological history. Even readers who don't subscribe to Shamanism will find the information Andrews provides on the mating, feeding and other behaviors invaluable in understanding the creatures we share the earth with.
Animal Speak teaches the reader to pay more attention to, listen and learn from the animals around us. By translating the language of animals for the reader, Andrews gives insights into what the natural world has to teach us. It's a wonderful reference that I can see myself referring to again and again.
For anyone interested in Native American culture, shamanism, connecting with and understanding the creatures that share the Earth with us, Animal Speak is a must read book. Throughout history, animals have appeared in the art, stories, fairy tales/fables, and songs or every culture. Animal archetypes are so enduring within the human subconscious, that many people are fascinated by the habits of a particular animal or group of animals. Andrews explores the meaning of the animals we choose to share our lives with, the animals that appear to us in dreams, the animals we have always been interested in studying, and even the animals that frighten us.
Animal Speak examines more than 100 creatures and their habitats. Andrews discusses the intricacies of the relationship between predator and prey, reading signs and omens in nature, the special significance of colors, patterns, and numbers in the natural world, and the meaning of landscapes.
In the second half of the book, Andrews provides a large dictionary of animal totems, including birds, mammals, insects and reptiles. For each animal, the author imparts valuable information on animal behavior and physical characteristics, as well as a detailed mythological history. Even readers who don't subscribe to Shamanism will find the information Andrews provides on the mating, feeding and other behaviors invaluable in understanding the creatures we share the earth with.
Animal Speak teaches the reader to pay more attention to, listen and learn from the animals around us. By translating the language of animals for the reader, Andrews gives insights into what the natural world has to teach us. It's a wonderful reference that I can see myself referring to again and again.
April 2, 2012
Ted Andrews is a well known author and speaker of North American Spiritual Tradition. Animal-Speak along with Animal-Wise work together to catalog the wisdom of the Animal Kingdom. We all have what is called Animal-Totems that assists us in our Life. These two volumes can help us to understand and to be able to work with our Totem. It is the best source I have found that catalogs so many different animals. The two volumes works together - Animal-Speak has a general topic such as 'Spiders'; where Animal-Wise will have "Daddy Long-legs" or "Black Widow". Animal-Speak has a small section on Fish, while Animal-Wise has a much bigger section on Ocean Animals.
I have been using these two books for many years when working with Animal Totems. The book also has ceremonies and exercises when working with one's Animal Totems.
I have been using these two books for many years when working with Animal Totems. The book also has ceremonies and exercises when working with one's Animal Totems.
April 25, 2018
My constant "Go To" for insight and indepth connections that continue to hold my hand and remind me of not only my own personal energies and power, but it also directs me in very real, tangible ways of how, when and where to put my feet on the path - continuing to move forward with very intuitive and motivated direction. At such times, its really great to know that you're not alone and that you have skills, talents and friendships that will guide and walk with you while accessing spiritual and energetic aids that will keep you firmly grounded in this world while accessing the higher realms of our spiritual friends.
June 6, 2010
Animal Speak is akin to attending a 101 class, more so if one is already familiar with its subject matter. It's easy reading and the language is simplistic, but Llewyllen publishing tends to be more interested in quantity not quality. Regardless, I’m content to have it on the shelf as a reference.
Ted Andrews provides some interesting general information about animals native to North America, their mythology and folklore, and their symbolism. There are also exercises for meditation, working with animal medicine, and meeting one’s totems.
Ted Andrews provides some interesting general information about animals native to North America, their mythology and folklore, and their symbolism. There are also exercises for meditation, working with animal medicine, and meeting one’s totems.
May 12, 2013
I love animals, and Andrews’ book evokes the time when humans didn’t consider themselves separate from other animals, and understood each others’ “speech.” I enjoyed reading the mythology and biology of different creatures, and what their habits and presence can teach us. Even if you don’t want to follow the rituals or meditations described in the book, it’s a great introduction to shamanism and a philosophy of connection with the natural world.
September 13, 2016
I absolutely love this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this world. I keep it along with animal wise as reference material and when it occurs to me that I've been seeing a particular animal a number of times I look it up to see what lesson I need to learn. I find it quite magical!
April 17, 2012
My go-to reference book any time I see something in nature that makes me pause. Very detailed and throrough. There is usually something in the description that helps me clarify a situation, or get a specific answer I am looking for.
May 2, 2017
Great reference book for all those with totems.
Want to read
May 16, 2011So far, I'm loving this book. It's been years since something has resonated so strongly with me.
One of these days I'll get back to this book. I'd still like it as a reference book, though.
One of these days I'll get back to this book. I'd still like it as a reference book, though.
August 26, 2012
I'll speak to you if you speak to me.
November 21, 2016
This book is a dear companion for many years.
December 16, 2015
I need to buy this to come back to it again and again. Excellent.
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