In many forms of traditional shamanism there are references to animal guides or power animals. This can easily be corrupted by romantic and intellectual notions.
The animal guide relates with our ANIMAL nature, which includes the sexual and instinctive nature. The animal guide represents the mystery of what we have removed from human awareness due to all our major taboos about life.
When you meet or feel an animal guide in a vision, in a dream, in a shamanic journey, dance or other circumstances, please DO NOT go straight to read about the meaning of the animal.
If your intention is to meet an animal guide and get to know it, what is the point of meeting it and then turning to books written by men to find out its meaning?
Relate directly with the animals, ask them and receive the answer not in your head, but inside, in your body and heart, in your energy. Let the animal breathe, live and move inside you. Then later, once you’ve grasped the nature and power of the animal, if you’re curious, you can document yourself using books or other sources.
But remember, no one can tell you the meaning of the animal. The animal has no meaning, the animal is an experience and only through direct experience you can understand it. But to understand who the animal is, you need to get rid of everything you think you know, of all the definitions and prejudices you have attributed to the animals and the animal in you.
If you are not willing to recognize and accept your animal nature, you will never understand the animal guide, but above all you will never understand your spiritual nature.