by Ronnee

Messages associated with animals can be very special and just a moment in the company of an animal can convey much more meaning than words alone can.

Understanding your messages can add a lot of meaning to your life and even provide answers. This article helps you explore what your animal spirit visits could mean.

Visits from loved ones

Your spirit message could come from a spirit that you know such as a family member or a friend letting you know that he/she is around. It can bring great comfort. It can also be their way of passing on a message to you.

Spirit guide message

A guide can appear to you in the form of an animal to get the message across to you more clearly or perhaps to gain your attention.

It could also be your subconscious mind's way of interpreting the information you are receiving.

When you receive a vision or encounter with an animal totem, your you will often need to ask certain questions in order to understand the message.

There was a time where messages in the form of animals would have been more common when we lived a tribal life among nature and animals. It would have had great spiritual significance and meaning because our understanding of animals and nature around us would have been greater and they would have had a more direct influence on our lives. The animal would have represented something particular to each person physically, spiritually, emotionally or otherwise.

If animals have a special significance to you, it's likely that you may receive a message associated with animals so that it will be easily understood and interpreted by you. If they have no particular significance for you, a message may come in that form to grab your attention.

Dreams

An animal appearing in a dream could be a communication from spirit, but it could also be how your brain interprets information and passes on a message to you. This is equally as important so it is a good idea to try to understand its' meaning.

Interpreting messages

When interpreting messages from animal spirit, try to take into account more than just the animal itself:

Settings

Look at the surroundings and see what is significant. Take notice of location, colours, movements, other people or animals present. Ask what they represent and what their meaning is. Are they related to the animal or is the animal appearing separately to the setting that it is in?

The Animal

The animal or animals represent the main character in some messages. In others they will add an element to the message.

Firstly determine whether animals are the central focus or not. Then take notice of such things as (this includes groups of animals):

The direction the animal is heading.

If it is heading towards you then this would indicate a direct interaction with you of some kind. It could be a warning or a show of love, support and affection or it could be to draw your attention to something coming towards you. In any case, it is meant to be noticed.

If it is heading directly away from you, it may wish you to follow it in your dream or vision. In this case, it would lead you to something or someone of meaning. It could also be the animals' way of telling that its' spirit is leading you in life, to look at what is in front of you (particularly if the animal is standing still) or it could indicate a need to look ahead to the future. Ask what the significance is at the time or even later and you'll get a feeling, word or a sense of knowing that will help to clarify its' meaning.

If it is headed in another direction then it could be indicating something around you that is connected to you rather than something to do with you personally. It could also be telling you to look in the direction it is headed or to consider peers or things that stand equal to you if the animal travels in a sideways direction that is clearly in line with you.

The Behaviour of the animal

If the animal is behaving in a threatening manner, then it could be letting you know that there is a threat or unsupportive element around you. It could also be warning you to move away from a person, place or situation of danger that you are moving towards. Another possibility is that the animal may be letting you know that you are protected by whomever it represents.

Of course, if the animal is behaving in a loving, fun, social, friendly, playful or other positive way, then its' message is a positive one associated with its' feelings for you or for a positive person/situation around you.

It is important to note who the animals' behaviour is aimed at. Although the message is for you, it could be aimed at a person or situation around you.

The appearance of the animal

The animals' appearance will add another dimension to your understanding of the message. It may be sleek, healthy, sick, dirty, messy, shiny, young, old - the list goes on. It's colour may have meaning as well. Asking what these things mean in relation to the message will give you even more information to work with.

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