The Authenticity of Animal Archetypes

Astute and endearing insights into the lives of sentient beings in the Animal World, treasured mentors for human beings to navigate their wilder inner being

Hi, I’m Sue and I write about the beauty and ingenuity of Nature, and how we can deepen our connection for our optimum health and wellbeing. Discover more Nature-inspired content on Spiral Leaf, Twitter and my video Nature Channel.

I wanted to call this post The Authenticity and Auspiciousness of Animal Archetypes because I love making up words and because auspicious has such a delicious ring to it. Auspicious means the promise of success which for me, means the same for all of humanity, it’s time for us to understand, respect, protect, communicate with and learn from our wise, other-worldly and Earthly companions of the Animal World.

I can’t imagine where we would be without our fur covered (and any other) sentient friends and creatures, and I wanted to write a post in their honour and share some of the incredible things I have learned about them.

One thing we can do to help now, as we enter the cusp of the Spring to Summer season, is to give our fellow and wild animals the space and time they need to get back into their rhythm and get ready for the mating season having emerged from their long period of hibernation.

Whilst it’s great to learn about Animal Archetypes, it’s more than so to help our animal, bird and other wild friends as much as we can in the present.

Be particularly vigilent, patient and understanding this month as birds work hard to repair and build their new nests, hedgehogs appear to search for food in gardens and hedgerows, butterflies find their new wings for their courting dances, bees forage for the first nectar and pollen to bring back to their hive, and so on as we are rewarded with the symphony of dating, mating and flourishing which is early Summer.

A helping hand

Finding out how best to support animals and wildlife between seasons is a worthwhile exercise in terms of the quality of water and wild food provided and how regularly. It’s okay to help during hard times and transitions but not to make it so easy that natural forms of foraging are abandoned by our wild (and canny) friends.

The Woodland Trust have really good guides on 10 Ways To Help Wildlife In Spring and 10 Ways to Help Wildlife in Summer which have lots of good tips for this time of year for when temperatures start to rise.

Above: Meet a Jonathan Livingston Seagull who came to watch over my lunch one sunny day in Exeter on the balcony, letting me know that Seagulls do cities too … not on that day with me unfortunately, but what a fine, clean and extremely confident and polite bird to behold on any day.

A Seagull’s Tale

Our coastland towns in England have become a magnet for Seagulls during the holiday season with so many outdoor food venues and takaways. Having been fed for so many years on scraps, it is no surprise they are likely to take a swipe at your lunch - if it’s there!

Holiday-makers swat the Seagulls away and you can’t blame them either, except to perhaps suggest they eat their lunch elsewhere to stop being such a temptation.

I don’t think it’s fair that these fine, robust and confident birds get such a bad rap. It brought to mind a book about an exceptional Seagull who simply wasn’t like the rest, as the chap in the above photo. The book is Johnathan Livingstone Seagull (affiliate link) by Richard Bach published in 1976 (11th printing). It was one of my favourite off piste books discovered in my early teens.

Jonathan was my first Animal Archetype and I remember wanting to be different and adventurous like him - and as I still do now! This is another book I am revisiting to revisit how the wisdom therein feels in relation to where we are now.

Here is one of my favourite quotes:.

What he had once hoped for the Flock, he now gained for himself alone, he learned to fly, and was not sorry for the price that he had paid. Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a Gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.

The beauty of animism

Native Americans and many other aboriginal cultures around the world practice what is known as animism. This is where animals and other natural objects are recognised as spirits or beings that they connect with in a deep and meaningful way. Such archetypal animals are believed to have a kindred soul and became their totems.

In many cultures around the world, Animal Totems or Power Animals provide a way to connect with the natural world and the wisdom of animals (as expressed by various archetypes). This is because, once upon a time, there was no sense of separation between human and animal and it was understood that we were connected to all of creation through the web of life.

As explained by Dance of the Deer Foundation (no affiliation): One could view Shamanism as the ‘universal spiritual wisdom’ inherent to all Indigenous Tribes. As all ancient spiritual practices are rooted in Nature, Shamanism is the method by which we as human beings can strengthen that natural connection.

Above: A beautiful statue of an elderly dog taken at my local reclamation yard. Oh, for a big yard or garden to bring this magnificent creature home to! As archetypes, Dogs represent steadfast devotion and unwavering faithfulness; the true meaning of loyalty. The spiritual medicine of the Dog encourages us to cultivate loyalty in our relationships, to support those we love, and to honour our commitments for the good of all. Beyond loyalty, the dog symbolises companionship.

A host of animals

I believe that animals are special types of angels living on this Earth who have chosen to be here to help us, comfort us and show us the way.

I believe that, like us, they have had to (and still do) endure pain and the most inhumane suffering as the most acute and powerful way to demonstrate how we should not treat each other as fellow custodians of this beautiful planet Earth.

It is a truism that the more we learn about an animal’s remarkable character, endurance, caring nature and other sentient traits, our hearts melt all over the place and we realise that, the similarities in terms of being sentient outway the differences in many ways.

If you are in any shadow of a doubt about how incredibly astute, intelligent and caring animals are, I highly recommend Peter Wohlleben’s enchanting book, The Inner Life of Animals (affiliate link to my bookshop). I am reading it again and it’s as fascinating, eye-opening and adorable as it was the first time round. I will be share a review here with you soon.

Archetypal favourites

In conclusion, Animal Archetypes and their meanings have been passed down through the generations and are here to help us recognise often hidden human characteristics and teach us things that might be helpful for us to grow, to love each other and to enjoy living.

Animal Behaviour is something we can observe and understand with pets, animals and birds who are close to us in our everyday lives. They provide as much love, entertainment, grace and knowing as the wisdom brought to us by the archetypes.

And now to share some enchanting and thought-provoking aspects of two of my favourite Aminal Archetypes - The Hare and The Wolf - including books I have read and content inspired by these mystical creatures that we love so well.

The Hare

Hare as Archetype

The Hare is one of the original formation-patterns of awareness that primitive man used as a communication tool to come to terms with his environment and with the 'internal' environment of his own instincts and feelings. The Hare is a mythical creature, first depicted on cave walls in ancient times and no wonder that this beautiful Leporidae features in so many myths and legends, and is the focus of so many points of view.

Hare as Independent

The Hare is born in an open nest (or form). Fully furred with eyes wide open and ready to move. Bones, muscles and faculties fully developed as living on open ground is a challenge for tiny leverets who are moved (or walk) from their birthplace to their own forms. The doe keeps a watchful eye and visits each form for feeding. She is always within ear's reach of any baby-like squeals that call her to assist at lightening speed if assistance is required.

Hare as Leaper

The Hare is not so much hare-brained in terms of intelligence, rather wildly impetuous with an attraction to noise and vibration which is why they are often found in numbers on airfields!

When chased, Doe's tend to run around in circles to remain close to her baby Leverets. Bucks run at tremendous speed in straight lines until they instinctively make a great leap making it seem their tracks have disappeared.

Further Reading

The Leaping Hare (affiliate link) by George Ewart Evans and David Thomson - a beautiful book about every aspect of the life and legends of the Wild Hare.

The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel - a field of golden wheat with wildflowers and a family of Wild Hares

The Wolf

We can find the most indepth and beautiful insights on how to embrace life in the spirit of the wolves in a very special book - Women Who Run With The Wolves (affiliate link) - by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. It’s a stunningly well composed, life-changing book that everyone can benefit from (not just the girls).

Clarissa illustrates how all human beings are born gifted with the spirit of wildness in their soul and shares the esoteric and highly personal journey we take from birth to old age.

The following insights incorporate the family-oriented values of wolves and are relevant to anyone striving to realise and evolve their inner and sacred gifts of wildness, intuition and creativity.

• Shine a light

• Reach out locally

• Embrace the world with love

• Stand up for what is right

• Understand the predator

• Listen to your intuition

• Be creative

• Let things go that serve no purpose

• Be your own true self

• Be the flow

• Be thankful for all things good

Further Reading

Women Who Run With The Wolves (affiliate link) by Clarissa Pinkola Estés - delving deep into mythical stories of the natural cycles of life and the journey of the soul

The Wisdom of Wolves (affiliate link) by Elli H Radinger - discovering a life in the wild, the ways of the wolf and what we can learn from these family-oriented creatures

I hope you enjoy taking time to wonder how animals and wild creatures are able to perform their tasks so beautifully through the seasons year after year in harmony with Nature.

I hope you feel inspired to delve into the archetypal, folklore or indigenous totem history of your favourite animals or birds, or any other creatures you feel drawn to. It’s interesting to find out why you are attracted to them, why they make you feel the way you do and what you can learn from them.

Let me know your favourite Animal Archetype in the comments and remember, Simply watching animals and tiny creatures going about their day is magical, entertaining and restful.

Animals have the power to enchant us, move us, ignite our curiosity and inspire us in all kinds of different ways - this has been for them so thank you for reading and I look forward to seeing you again soon.