A Journey Animal Totem reflects a period of time. Not just a day but weeks, months, or perhaps years. The time it takes you to walk the path that the Journey Animal Totem is reminding or guiding you through. During this journey, you will find that this animal is always showing up in your life or that several animal totems will appear in your life all to guide you on your path. When you find one, two or more animals suddenly making an appearance and their nature all has the same basis, then you have found the basis of your path. Looking into the cycle of the animal can also give you insight to the length of the journey.

A Message Animal Totem usually is bringing you a self growth, spiritual message, or a cautionary warning. It is often a wake up call or a slap in the face. It will usually be a unusual experience making it very powerful at that time and very impartial. A Message Totem is a brief period of time, a day, a week and for just a few hours. Sometimes a Message Totem is not bringing you a message but causing a delay in your life. This delay, such as to be sure you are not in a place at a certain time so that you avoid an accident or can catch a phone call or meet someone you are suppose to run into.

A Shadow Animal Totem are those that test us. They have power but will put us through tests before they will let their power work with and for us instead of against us. A Shadow Animal Totem is one you will initially fear. The Shadow Animal Totem often represents inner fears that you must overcome. You may have even been attracted by the animal. Until you face the fears of the Shadow Animal Totem it's powers will work against you, not letting you soar high. When you overcome the fear, the Shadow Totem you bring it into the light world as a Spirit Animal Totem and they become one of your most powerful. Your goal with a Shadow Totem is to learn the lessons and incorporate that animal into your life. If you are scared by something over and over, then you still have not accepted the lesson that animal has for you.