Find Your Animal Guide from The Illustrated Bestiary

Tortoise is well-versed in the ways of time. Born ancient — older than Snake or Alligator and certainly older than humans — Tortoise knows that it’s through the slow and steady that we truly come to know ourselves. She represents both the earth, which she hugs with her powerful legs, and the night sky, which she wears on her back. She is a universe unto herself, a solitary creature at home with aloneness and with herself.

Elephant stands in the river of time, honoring the past and nurturing the future, always feeling the lines of lineage radiating both forward and backward. She remembers her ancestors and knows she is a link in the chain of life, a bridge between what came before and what is yet to come. For this reason, Elephant is capable of facing change with calm acceptance, secure in the knowledge of what is past and comfortable with the possibilities of what is yet to be.

Little Owl is an icon of wisdom who sat on the blind side of the Greek Goddess Athena, illuminating what even a Goddess could not see. She knows that blindness in and of itself is not a fault; failure comes from refusing to call on those who will help you understand the whole. It requires bravery and awareness to admit you are not all-knowing. Little Owl sees areas of blindness and knows when to call in support. After all, summoning counsel and advice when it’s required is truly wise.

Honeybee’s internal compass is incredibly accurate. She flies a zig-zag path, searching for patches of pollen. When she finds one, she shares the wealth of her knowledge, flying home to the hive where she dances to let others know the pollen’s location. She can find the sun, even on a cloudy day. During dark times, she knows that clouds pass and passion and purpose will be revealed again. Honeybee creates a surplus of honey (her own liquid sunshine) to get her and her hive through the winter months. 

River Otter knows that when you’re lit from within, life provides endless amusement. She knows joy is there, and reminds you to actively look for it. River Otter is cousin to Sea Otter, but her energy is different. While Sea Otter expresses contented joy, River Otter has a more electric way of being. Sea Otter tends to conserve energy while River Otter spends it with abandon. Their differences remind us that any given energy has a full spectrum of expression. Understanding the spectrum you’re on helps you see your daily actions and emotions in the larger context of your life. It points you toward your big-picture personal challenges and helps you gain the perspective to resolve them.