Animal Dreaming by Scott Alexander King
Australian farmland - the growing lands Australian wilderness and bushlands Australian outback and desert The massive Australian coastline Australian cities and surrounds
The Dreamtime is the time before time - when all things were being created and when everything was 'learning' to exist. Depicting all things as equal, the teachings of the Dreamtime suggest that we are capable of communing with the forces of nature and to speak readily to the animals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you describe yourself and the work you do? (i.e.: psychic animal medium?)

I call myself an Animal Spirit Intuitive. I am a practitioner of Earth Medicine, but my medicine is that of an Animal Spirit Intuitive.

How do you work with animal spirits?

Mediums like John Edward contact loved ones who have crossed over on behalf of bereaved relatives, relaying the messages and advice he receives accordingly. What I do is not dissimilar, except that I invoke the spirits of the animals that are currently walking with an individual. I intuitively receive the messages they wish to impart and simply pass them on to the client or audience member. We are all born with several animal spirit guides that protect and guide us as we grow and develop physically, spiritually and emotionally. Some refer to these animals as spirit allies or totems. I have come to realize, however, that the animal spirits that walk with us can be described as archetypes, or visual interpretations of our perception and character; symbolic representations of the relationships we hold with the world, the other realms and each other. The animals work very much in conjunction with the energies of the Earth Mother, preferring to relay messages that deal with the present. They encourage us to explore the past, but not to dwell there. They prompt us to look at our issues, to dissect them and to honour the aspects of our past that afford us knowledge that will enhance our journey forward. When we consult the animals, we must be prepared to identify the beliefs and values that hinder our growth, to re-evaluate them and to abolish the ones that retard our progress. On occasion, though, when an animal spirit presents itself to me in a reading situation, it may in fact be a loved one from spirit showing itself to me in the form of an animal before revealing who he or she is or the relationship they held with the client. They do this because they know that I will immediately understand their character or their innate strengths and weaknesses.

What is the purpose of people learning about animal spirits?

To reconnect, once again, with the energies of Mother Earth

Ancient wisdom clearly illustrates our relationship to all things. What may be initially seen as inert, the ancient teachings depict as living. It is said that all things of Nature, ultimately being created from the One Source, deserve equal honour and respect. As a result, the traditions of many Indigenous People encompass Nature as a whole, with the understanding that Spirit lives within all things of Nature forming the core of their belief system. The teachings imply that the Earth is our Mother - that from her we came and to her we shall return. She supplies us with everything we need. She cradles us when we are despaired, feeds us when we are hungry and shelters us when we are vulnerable. She loves unconditionally as Mothers will. She scolds, too, when we disrespect her by lashing us mercilessly with storms and drought. She instructs us well in all of life's lessons - of giving and of taking, of love and war; of birth, death and rebirth. She teaches symbolically - her lessons clearly marking our rites of passage with the changing of the seasons, the transition of day into night and night into day, the waxing and waning of the Moon and the ebb and flow of Grandmother Ocean's tides. She gifts us with healing herbs, medicine stones and vibrational wisdom hidden deep within her heart and made available to us as needed. She employs the animals as our mentors, healers and guides; each symbolically gifted with a unique and sacred message intended to guide each of us to a place of wholeness - individually and as a united people. Her animals present themselves when we need them most. They share their knowledge unconditionally - even if we do not consciously heed their wisdom at the time. Her animals, our 'creature-teachers', can assist us in the manifesting of change, they can help us to bring about healing for ourselves or for others, they can return a traveller safely home, or ensure a safe passage for someone about to embark on a journey. They can ease the pain a Mother feels as she watches her children leave home, just as they can ensure health, peace and happiness when a new baby enters the World. There is an animal in Spirit with the Dreaming to help us with every aspect of our lives, and just as there are animals in Spirit that act as vibrational teachers, totems and spiritual guides, there are also animals here on Earth that are more than willing to help us whilst in their physical form.

How do you communicate with animal spirits?

Firstly, I communicate with the animals via my inherent understanding of their ways. Since I was a child I have studied the animals. I have watched their every move. I understand their actions, their motivations and their requirements, but most importantly, I understand their purpose. Observation has afforded me great understanding; the keys needed to tap into the secret World of the animals so that I may bring their wisdom back to the People. Secondly, communication is achieved vibrationally. The animals do not speak. They simply appear. It is the messages they energetically place in my 'vision' that enables me to interpret their reason for being there. Their communication happens a lot like a slide show, with scenes, symbols and emotions appearing at random within my field of consciousness. They feel like memories, but I instinctively know that they are not mine; that they belong to the client or the seeker. Thirdly, each animal has a series of individual messages to contribute; wisdom sacred to the ways of that animal. They each hold a key phrase intended to clarify their Dreaming or the wisdom they wish to impart. By simply appearing around the seeker, the animals assist me in determining which message to focus on as well as the purpose of the reading. As further animals appear they help to deepen the initial message, with each key word or phrase adding to the previous until a story is formed; a story that can be relayed back to the seeker.

Can other people learn to communicate with the animals spirits?

Other people can learn to understand the sacred ways of the animals. They can learn to look to the animals by firstly looking to the Earth. The knowledge is there for everyone. It always has been. People have just learnt to look to the animals as furniture; things to be used and abused. They have forgotten the true reason for them being here. They have forgotten to look to them as teachers, healers and guides. Seeing the spirits of the animals, though, and knowing how to interpret their knowledge is my medicine; the gift offered to me by Spirit. Everyone has a personal medicine, or an innate wisdom gifted to them by Spirit. One must find that medicine to understand their purpose. If one is sensitive to the ways of the animals, they may share a similar medicine to me. Learning how they are to interpret the knowledge, however, is a personal journey that must be explored by the individual. No one can teach another their medicine. They can help another to develop it, but the learning must come from within the individual. To be perfectly truthful with you, anyway, I would not know how to teach another person to do what I do. Sure, I can teach people how to see and understand the medicine behind their totems or the animal spirit guides they may meet during their spirit time, because that ability is available to everyone, and I can, and do, share the knowledge of the animals by teaching people how to watch for the wisdom of the animals in their dreams, meditations and in daily life, but as far as teaching people how to see the spirits of the animals, or how to interpret them, (the way that I do), I honestly would not know where to start. It is an ability gifted to me by Spirit to be shared, but perhaps, not taught. I don't know.

How do the animals come to us (in dreams etc)?

The animals may visit us in our dreams, our meditations and in our waking visions (day dreams), and they often do so symbolically, so that we may better understand the depth or importance of the obstacles, opportunities or choices being presented to us. Learning to understand the messages intended by the appearance of the animals takes time, practise and intent, but the actual process is relatively easy. By firstly taking note of the animals in one's district, for example, one can better understand the energy of the land supporting one's life. Not only this, but we are allowing ourselves to gently remember this ancient knowledge by looking to what has always been there - Nature. So, when you are faced with a choice or a problematic situation, simply sit in silence and listen or watch for the first animal to present itself. In doing so, you are acknowledging the fact that Nature will eventually send you a courier, or herald, and you will 'meet' an animal that offers the 'best' or truest answer or solution to the circumstance at hand. The animals may also present themselves in dreams or visions as archetypal representations of those that we have loved, our own inherent potential or as cryptic messages from Spirit that must be interpreted before their insight can be revealed. No matter how hard we ask for assistance from Spirit, it is against Universal law for our guides or totems to tell us out right what we should do with our life. We came into this World with the agreement that we would learn from our mistakes. When we ask for help, though, as children often do, Spirit cannot ignore us. But, Spirit does not tell us what we should do, either. Spirit offers options, opportunities and signs. Spirit inspires us to strive, to try new things and to succeed. The best lessons are learned through mistakes, and so often the answers we seek appear to us as riddles that must be interpreted first. The animals act as the ambassadors of Spirit, relaying these cryptic messages to those willing to work, heal and to strive for betterment and they only ever appear in the form we feel most comfortable with.

Can you outline the difference between Native American totem animals, which are often based on when you were born (like sun signs), and the way you work with them?

The view from which many people view totem animals is via the traditional 'sun sign' perspective. This is one aspect, and one which I incorporate into my philosophy, but one which I do not use as a basis or foundation of understanding.

Being born under a certain animal (I am a brown bear, according to the teachings of the Wheel) helps us to interpret and better understand our character and the intrinsic nature that helps us to navigate our way through life. The sun sign is a perfect introduction to the medicine ways of Nature, and a valuable tool to help us remember our relationship with the Earth Mother. I view these animals as our 'birth totems'; the animals that mark our entry into the World, the animals that hold our potential if we choose to acknowledge their wisdom. My view of totems takes this philosophy further, with each aspect of our existence being governed by its own totem, with each branch of our life being inspired by an animal energy or force that willingly strengthens each individual aspect of our life with its medicine. I also see each member of the family as having its own generic totem intended to strengthen the potential of each member's role. For example, the cow, within my philosophy, acts as the supreme nurturer, so naturally I view the cow as being the generic totem of the mother. The cow inherently offers the ultimate wisdom to the mother, but it is up to her to acknowledge this gift of power or its acumen. When I see a cow with one of my clients, for example, I know that their mother may have something to say. Depending on the breed of the cow, for example, I am able to determine where the mother is at, and so on. I also believe that if a parent has a personal totem that supports or inspires their chosen life path, and that if that totem is honoured, I believe that these totems will also be found within the range of animals governing the lives of their children. I guess these animals could suggest inherited wisdom or ability, but even so, I have witnessed the occurrence.

I personally work with 13 totems on a regular basis, with some coming and going as I require their assistance, with some of my totems overlapping into the lives of my children. How they manifest within their lives, though, is yet to be seen.

Are there any animals that are more common as teacher/totem animals? Is it a cultural thing, or completely personal to the individual?

Firstly, we must view the concept of totems as being a cultural thing. The animals considered 'teacher' totems are ancient and traditional to specific Peoples, beliefs, and spiritual and physical geography. Each of the continents have approximately five power animals, or animals held in the highest awe and viewed with the most respect. According to Native American philosophy, for example, the five generally include the Eagle, the Wolf (or Coyote, depending on the nation), the Bear, the Buffalo and the Mountain Lion, or Puma, while the African People have the Elephant, the Crocodile, the Hippopotamus, the Leopard and the Buffalo, and so on. As Australia's indigenous People are still reluctant to speak openly about such things, out of respect, I will not to list on their behalf what their five animals may be, because, in reality, I am not sure whether or not they even had such a counsel of sacred animals. I have my own feelings on the matter, though, and when ever I look within myself to ask what Australia's sacred five might be I automatically consider the Kangaroo, the Emu, the Crocodile, the Echidna and the Koala as holding the most significant power. As far as being personal to the individual, totems are often influenced by the forces that impact on our passage into this life at birth, hence the 'sun sign' stance. Many people say "oh, I have the Eagle as my totem" or "I feel the Wolf with me", and they may, but as these animals as regarded as power animals in some cultures, the individual may in fact picking up on animals that govern everyone, or animals that hold potential for us 'as a People'. Personal totems are often so insignificant that we may not notice them, or out of ego, we choose to overlook. Snails, for example, make powerful teacher totems, as do cockroaches, but who would ever admit to being inspired by such an animal? Sadly, we cannot choose our totems. Sadly, we cannot determine what our destiny holds in store for us. Our totems choose us, or rather, they are gifted to by Spirit at the moment of conception; power allies assigned to us at the signing of our Earth-walk contract even before we incarnate as physical beings.

If someone was to really love a certain kind of animal, could that mean it was their totem? Is there something you can learn from the animal that you love?

People can generally be split into two categories - Dog People and Cat People. Dog people are usually needier than Cat People, seeking out constant company or partners in their life. Cat People are more aloof, comfortable in their own positions in life, who usually only seek company when they need stimulation or confirmation. Dog People are 'earthier' than Cat People, happy to eat with their hands to and drink wine from coffee mugs or those vegemite jars that double as drinking glasses. Dog People are content to live a simple life surrounded by simple things. They show their emotions openly with their furniture often being mismatched or old, but very comfy none the less. Cat People, however, prefer fine food eaten in restaurants, crystal wine goblets poured from appropriately matching decanters and friends who are 'someone'. Cat People often have children late in life, are often single and prefer a career driven life enhanced with nocturnal social activity. Apart from this generalisation, when we acknowledge an animal that we 'love' or are attracted to by forces beyond our conscious control, we are recognizing an innate strength or power intended by Spirit to be harnessed by us within this lifetime. They are the animals that help us to shape our inner landscape, our potential and what we see as being our gift or contribution to the World.

Do animals we fear have anything to teach us?

Animals that we fear can be seen as our Shadow Totems. Shadow Totems are equally as important and as valuable a teacher as one's totem animal. They represent those aspects of our psyche that we choose to ignore - our fears, our secrets and dark thoughts. They characterize our personal boundaries, our self-imposed limitations and those parts of our selves that reject spontaneity, risk taking and the development of self-esteem. Shadow Totems represent our dark side - the shadow aspect of our soul that we tend to ignore or suppress due to the connotations that they represent and the responsibilities that they force upon us. They make us to look at ourselves, to stand before our weaknesses and our frailties and to honour them as lessons and as stepping-stones to power.

Can you tell me a bit about the workshops and reatreats you do? Where are they? Do you need to know anything specific to come along?

When running workshops or reatreats, I try to find locations complementary to the energy I am trying to create. For example, in Warburton we are surrounded by mountains and forest, as well as pasture as it is a farming community. We also have the mighty Yarra River flowing through the district. We are very lucky. Often I will simply run my workshops, for example, in Nature (if the whether is supportive!) or I will use one of Warburton's privately operated conference centres or space made available to me at the Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria's famous native wildlife park which operates under the annex of Melbourne's Zoological Board. Those who attend need bring nothing, except their desire to reconnect with Nature, Mother Earth and Spirit, as all the reatreats and workshops I run are fully catered for and attended by professional, spiritually aware support people who understand that all journeys are personal that must facilitate growth and awareness at a pace tailored to the individual needs of those participating.

My workshops endeavour to broaden our understanding of Earth Medicine by introducing the animals and all of Nature as teachers, guides and allies. The understanding that animals can be spiritually called upon to assist us in almost every aspect of our lives is a realization that opens a floodgate of knowledge and power to those who seek their guidance. If we listen carefully to what the animals have to say and if we take the time to learn their symbolic language, the teachings say that everything is equal and that nature speaks to those who listen. My workshops highlight the point that the animals each have a lesson to share and that we can make it our mission to learn each one and to use the knowledge gained to manifest their qualities and sacred wisdom into our own lives. Where my workshops are tactile in nature, very 'hands on' and encouraging of physical involvement, my reatreats are more 'lecture based'. Instead of physically walking in nature, as we do regularly in my workshops, I tend to talk to the audience about the ways of the animals, incorporating examples, question time, and occasional interactive opportunities in my reatreats. I endeavour to provide the audience with opportunities to put into practise some of the principles I discuss during my reatreats, but unfortunately they usually only occur while in the confines of a conference hall. Where my workshops are designed to be self exploratory, my reatreats are more instructional in nature, a space that allows me to talk about how we can deepen our understanding of and relationship with Spirit, while demonstrating how to incorporate the gained understanding into our everyday lives. We discuss the relationships we have with each other, with our children and with the World as a whole. We discuss the roles we play, the responsibilities we hold and the pattens that govern how we live. We journey from the womb to the tomb, while acknowledging the milestones and standing stones we may experience along the way. We discuss how our experiences and our understandings influence those around us and how they may affect our potential and that of our children.

Do you do readings for people? If they cannot get to you personally, are you able to offer 'over the phone' readings? Or, if they can't meet with you, are they able to work it out for themselves from your book?

I am able to effectively offer phone readings or even postal readings because it is not the physical person I need to connect with the animal spirits, but rather the energy of the seeker, so connecting by voice is an effective way of obtaining a reading. In order to connect with the individual when doing a postal reading, I simply require a recent colour photograph of the subject in order to access the information sought. When I sit with someone with the intention of doing a one on one reading, I ask that they reveal nothing. I ask them to sit in silence and to listen. I do not ask questions during the reading and I refuse to allow the seeker to confirm what I am saying with extended dialogue. So, you can see how requesting a postal or phone reading is a viable option. The only trouble with these two alternatives lies with me and my increasingly busy schedule. Whenever I am able, though, I promote these two options as substitutes to a one on one reading. I also offer group readings, like the style made popular by John Edward, where people wanting readings sit in an audience, and I go to those individuals with prominent animal spirits or those whose animals inspire the greatest attention within me. My book, however, is best seen as a 'shamanic or spiritual field guide', to be used by those participating in nature walks with the intention of looking to Nature for signs or confirmation. The book can be used as an 'answer guide', or a prompt that can help interpret the symbolic language of animals experienced in their physical form. Alternatively, I will soon have a divinatory deck of Animal Dreaming Cards on the market that will offer to the People an Australian version of the magnificent 'Medicine Cards' by Jamie Sams and David Carson that offer the wisdom of the animals sacred to the People of Native America.

You are passionate about teaching kids - do you have a message for the parents?

With my history as a dedicated school teacher, the future vision I hold for the work I do sees me incorporating my mainstream teaching skills with the wilderness concept as a means of showing our kids how they can regain control of their lives, find respect for themselves within themselves and in turn, regain the respect of those around them. Kids today are not the problem, but rather, I feel, it is the society in which they live - the society we, as their parents and teachers, have helped to create for them; a World that moves too fast for us let alone our kids, a World where our kids are beginning to look to drugs and alcohol to slow things down. We need to take responsibility for our kids. We need to stop drugging them up so they can fit in. We have to rebuild society and its view of our kids by remodelling the perception we have of one another. The purpose of my future reatreats then would be to target the parents or the adult community as a whole, with the intention of opening their eyes to Spirit and the ancient ways that were once governed by the simple ebbs and flows of nature.

How did you come to be an animal oracle?

I like that ... 'animal oracle'. I must remember that!

From the age of eight I have had the ability to see animal spirits. I have no idea why I see animal spirits, or how I am able to interpret what they are trying to say, but the ability to see them has been with me since I was a kid. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my sister as a kid and we both saw white rabbits (!) falling from the ceiling! That is probably the earliest experience I can consciously recall. As I grew up, I had a black cat that followed me wherever I went. I would say 'the cat's here again' and everyone would say, 'is it?', but no one ever questioned the fact that only I could see it. I assumed that they could see it too, but, of course, they couldn't. When I was 15 or so years old, the cat stood up and became my grandfather. It just sort of stood up on its hind legs and then transformed into my grandfather. He had died many years before. I figured that he had been watching over me all those years and had appeared in a form that I would feel comfortable with.

Obviously, I have always loved animals and always had animals around me in the physical sense. I thought it was a neat idea, because I felt connected to him as he stood in front of me instead of feeling freaked out! So, technically, I guess it is safe to say that I was born 'an oracle' (I really love that description!) I do believe that everyone is born with clairvoyant or psychic ability, but to hone the skills takes commitment, passion and a deep respect for Spirit's ways.

About ten years ago my life changed and I saw it as a sign to deepen my existence and to search for my own 'personal holy grail'. Obviously it had something to do with the animals. It takes time and a change in one's complete attitude toward life to 'become' what Spirit intended us to be. Spirituality cannot be a weekend thing or a hobby. It MUST become a way of life and must be allowed to grow at its own pace. It takes time. It takes patience. It must become a lifestyle; not just a belief or a cool way to break away from traditional religion. It is more than taking a weekend workshop in something or reading a book. These are excellent ways to initiate one's path, but they are not the destination. One must take time to discover one's 'medicine' or one's gift to the People. We must take the bits that make sense from all spiritual paths, our life experience and the wisdom of our ancestors, and reshuffle it (in an honourable way) all so that it becomes ours: our personal truth.

Spirituality is not about being afraid to ask questions or to regurgitate other people's wisdom. It is about reclaiming that which is innately ours. We must be prepared to put everything else aside, to take responsibility for our life, our actions and ourselves on a personal level (our impeccability) and to hunt for our purpose and to reclaim our personal power. One must dedicate time to develop a relationship with Spirit and to learn the symbols with which Spirit intends to communicate. For me, the symbols Spirit has chosen come in the form of animals.

Each animal has a 'key word' or a phrase that best describes its Dreaming - an inherent wisdom; a medicine that becomes evident through the way that it moves, hunts and interacts with the environment. I have learned, through observation and my deep love (a love that borders on obsession or addiction!) of animals, to interpret this 'secret language' and to integrate it into my life, along with my deep respect for Spirit and my strong connection to the Earth Mother and her wisdom.

Your writing displays familiarity with both Native American and Australian Aboriginal spirituality. Are these your main cultural influences or do you have others too?

Although I have no blood-ties with the Aboriginal People or their culture, their philosophy, relationship to the land and their stories of Creation inspire me to look deeper within myself and my connection to Spirit. My understanding of the Native American culture was what my original teachings were rooted in, but even then, I have no personal connection to their ways. I tend to look generically to the Earth ways of the ancient cultures; the ways of the People that relied on the land for sustenance and the relationship to the animals for spiritual insight and confirmation. The teachings of the 'ancients' make my heart sing and my connection to the Earth Mother that much more meaningful. Their philosophy speaks to me. It confirms what I feel on an intuitive level. It confirms what I know to be true.

If you look at all the ancient cultures, an eerie, familiar strand runs between them all. It is as if they were all instructed from the same handbook. Their spirituality is so linked that it begins to prickle the hairs on the back of my neck. The Earth obviously spoke to these People. It must have shared with their Elders (on a collective level) the truths of Creation and their innate relationship to all things. Many of the ancient teachings share the opinion that all things of nature are birthed from the One Source and that Spirit lives in each of them. The rocks, trees, animals and birds are all considered equals: brothers and sisters, teachers and guides. So, although I look to the ancient teachings as a whole, I feel a bond to all cultures that honoured this ancient wisdom.

How would you describe your spiritual path? Does it have a name?

I was trained in 'Earth Medicine', a path that explores the fundamental aspects of shamanism while taking the concept to a deeper, more personal level. I call my path 'Earth Dreaming', however, because, while it remembers and honours my 'teachings' (which originated with the tribal People of the Northern Hemisphere) and my interest in shamanic lore, it also allows my personal, ancestral relationship to the Earth Mother here in Australia to evolve independent of any one tradition, legend or cultural viewpoint (instead, giving me the space to honour them all simultaneously).

In your book "Animal Dreaming", you have an interesting section on feral animals. Can you tell us a bit more about your opinions on the feral animals in Australia and what they signify in the Australian landscape? Would you consider people, (us white settlers) a kind of "feral" animal as well?

I have said in my book that although some of the animals here in Australia are considered 'feral', they are all indigenous to Mother Earth. I find it very narrow minded of people who label certain animals as 'vermin' while indicating that they should be wiped out. Hitler thought the same way about the Jews: a viewpoint that continues to disgust the world today. That sort of attitude is considered abhorrent by most people, and rightly so, but only when it seems to relate to the human race. No one feels this repulsion when this attitude is aimed at the animal kingdom.

Most people still view animals as being 'dumb' or devoid of a soul, which saddens me greatly. The animals are our brothers and sisters and should be treated as such. They give of themselves without question. Some share their meat, skin and fleece because they know that this is their medicine and their purpose. Others act as companions, workers and team members. They not only live the relationship they share with us - they feel it. They feel it from a very deep place. They actually remember it. In traditional stories of Creation, many legends speak of a time when the animals and the People were one and the same. People could become animals at will and animals could become People. It was not until they decided what they were meant to be did they begin to take on the one form that would see them through until the end of time. The animals still (genetically) remember this time, and they feel it as their role to help us remember it too.

The animals considered vermin: foxes, goats, rabbits, cats and in some places, wild dogs, pigs and deer are all here by no fault of their own. Although animals like rats and mice made their own way here by way of the ships that brought the first settlers to the country, they would never have made the voyage had it not been for White Man. This land rightfully belongs to the Indigenous People that occupied it before the arrival of White Man, just as it belongs to the native animals that initially inhabited it before the introduction of the European animals that are now considered pests.

If we insist on singling out the animals as invaders while ignoring the intrusive history of our relatives past, then yes, we should view ourselves as 'ferals', too. I think that it is amazing how we are able to explain away obvious biases that put Man on a pedestal and label animals almost as 'throw away' objects. 'Feral' animals have 'invaded' the bush, killing the wildlife and destroying habitats and so, obviously, they should not be there. White Man 'colonised' the land. He moved in and brought 'civilization' to an otherwise perfect People. White Man forgets the countless Indigenous People that were wiped out in the process, not to mention the decimation of an established and powerful spiritual belief system that had supported the People for thousands of years. He says that he is sorry and attempts to put things right by attempting to 'shut the barn door after the horse has bolted'.

If the animals that we originally introduced and allowed to revert back to the wild (animals that we now target as vermin simply because they have successfully colonised and taken over parts of a land far from their own to ensure their survival and that of their kind), continue to be labelled as 'feral', then in my opinion, we, as descendants of those white settlers, should also be viewed from the same viewpoint. What they are 'guilty' of is no different, in my opinion, to what we as 'settlers' did to the land and the traditional ways of Australia's Aboriginal People.

Obviously, the situation cannot be reversed. We cannot fix the mistakes of our ancestors, but we should not be trying to 'band-aid' the situation by trying to wipe out the 'feral animals' in an attempt to cover up our own inadequacies, either. We should be learning to live side by side with one another in harmony with the environment. Sure, we should be taking responsibility for animals that technically should not have been introduced in the first place, but we can never expect to wipe them out completely. It is interesting to note that what we perceive is actually reflective of what we are projecting at the time. What I mean to say is the fact that we perceive these animals as being feral and destructive to the environment actually says a lot about how we view ourselves and our place in this country as a (white) people. We view these animals as being vermin because, perhaps, subconsciously, we acknowledge the fact that we have a lot to answer for. Perhaps we actually see ourselves as being the problem and not the animals at all. Just a thought.

When someone asks you about the meaning of a specific animal, such as in your Witchcraft Magazine column "Animal Totems", what is your method for finding an answer? Personal inspiration, books, inner knowing..?

As a child I spent a lot of time with animals. As I grew, the range of animals grew as well. I have had a plethora of animals during my life, and I would sit and observe them for hours. I was also a member of FOTZ (the 'friends of the zoo' program that many zoos offer) as a young adult. I would visit the Melbourne Zoo every couple of weeks, choose an animal and sit in front of its enclosure for hours. I would sit, draw, listen and chat. Observation creates a relationship. I saw this as being similar to going to school and sitting in front of a teacher. It was like attending a 'spiritual tutorial'. To fully understand anything, one must study it and become familiar with what it offers. This is a fact that covers every aspect of life, so why not the spiritual realms too? Much of the cultural interpretations offered by books and other sources rely heavily on the movements of the animals - how they hunt, prepare for winter, mate, and run and interact with their environment. Observation affords much insight into the 'medicine' ways of the animals. After all, how an animal interacts with the world ensures its survival. By observing, we can learn much about their ways, and if this wisdom is integrated into our own lives in a sacred way, imagine where it could take us?

People come into my shop specifically to ask me what certain animals mean all the time. It can be difficult, because the animals have so many possible interpretations that it is almost impossible to offer meaningful explanations off the top of my head every time. One must consider the context in which the animal presented itself, the issues going down on a personal level for the person and the setting in which the animal appeared. It makes it a lot easier when they can confirm for me these other factors, or at least if they are able to relay other animals were also present, even if only on a peripheral level.

Each animal has a message to share. There is an animal with a message for every single aspect of our life, no matter how insignificant. Generic 'dog', for example, generally indicates trust, loyalty and unconditional love. If you look deeper, however, and look to the specific breed of dog, or the native land from which the breed originated, the message deepens. We are able to then look at why the trust is needed, who the loyalty is to be focused on or from where the unconditional love is to be received. If another animal should appear, the message may then evolve, integrating the message of the other animal into the equation. For example, the appearance of generic 'horse' may suggest a move or travel to ensure the meeting of the person from whom the unconditional love is to be received, and so on. This understanding comes from a very deep place within me. I cannot say from where exactly, but when I am in session with a client, and I am describing the animals I 'see' around them, a shift takes place. I can physically feel the sensations and the 'knowing' is just there. I love it.

In regards to the column, the 'knowing' affords me a great deal of understanding, but sometimes research becomes necessary. Research is essential in order to fully understand the feelings I get when certain questions are asked. It supports my 'knowing', or creates a foundation on which the 'knowing' can evolve. For example, a while back a lady wrote me asking about wolves that she had seen in a dream. She said that they had begun eating themselves and then she noticed that she had also become a wolf eating herself. Throughout the dream, she also noticed hieroglyphs and pyramids. Obviously, there was an Egyptian connection, but I was unsure of the wolf. I remember feeling the presence of an African hunting dog as I read her letter, and being confused. After doing some research, however, I eventually found a relationship that was forged thousands of years ago between an archaic wolf-god and Anubis, the jackal. Up-Uat, the wolf-god, was a giver of new life, hence the wolves eating themselves in the dream. They were offering rebirth that could only be realised after a time of personal shake-up or turmoil (a symbolic 'death' of sorts). So, as you can see, research is vital. It supports my 'knowing', while simultaneously strengthening and widening the inherent relationship I share with the animals.

What does it mean for a person to have an animal totem, and do we all have them? Can they change or are they permanent?

The word 'totem' means different things to different people. Some people look to the animal energies represented by the many astrological resources now available on the market: Chinese horoscopes, Native American zodiacs, Australian animal birth signs, and so on. Some look to favourite animals, some look to animals physically present in their lives, while others refer to the animals that represent the most potent energies at the time.

I personally work with 14 individual totem animals, each governing independent aspects of my life, all of which were signed by Spirit and presented to me in dreams, physical encounters and visions. I have some totems that I 'advertise', like the Owl, which has become symbolic of who and what I am to my friends and family. Others I keep private, because they represent sacred aspects of me that are no one else's business but mine.

I believe that totems do not just flippantly appear, they do not change and they do not go away. Totems are archetypes; they are spiritual or emotional ambassadors that best support or govern our physical existence. Totems step forward the moment we are born, if not at the moment of our conception. In some cultures they are identified by an Elder or Wise One. Although we have a primary totem that has helped navigate our progress up til now, we also have a totem for each and every facet of who we were, what we have become and what we are yet to be. I believe that our totems surface as these facets emerge. They present themselves as representations of our potential, our weaknesses and our gifts to the people. As we step into each phase of our life, or witness each rite of passage that life presents, the totem that best supports the process emerges. Subsequently, as the lessons that are presented with each event or stage of development are addressed, the totem energy supporting that stage will subside and step aside to make way for the totem(s) needed for the next cycle. I believe that these animals, although maybe not as apparent as time goes on, never actually go away. Just as a memory of bygone times may be revisited or prompted by a current event, for example, our totems may re-emerge when needed to support issues reminiscent of challenges past that triggered their initial appearance or value in the first place.

Totems embody our innate strengths, gifts, purpose and where our personal power might lay. The power of the animal is shared, affording us greater understanding of the world around us. We are able to perceive life through the eyes of the animal. We are able to interact with the Earth on a deeper level. Our senses are heightened; our relationships enhanced and spiritual awareness is more easily integrated into our physical lives. Totems offer integrity to our knowing while representing the qualities that govern and determine all manifestations in our lives. They guide us through the pathways of life and help us to choose wisely. Their wisdom, secret knowledge, gifts and messages (their medicine) are reflected through our attitudes and behaviour.

My children each have several totems that have presented themselves over the years (and they have actually found some of them by themselves). Totem animals are essentially spiritual allies. We do not choose our totems, but rather, they choose us. They offer confirmation when needed, support when invoked and choice when obstacles appear. A totem is anything of Nature with which we feel a strong bond. Not everyone notices their animal totem, but they may feel a pull toward the mineral kingdom or the world of plants instead. Over the years I have discovered a vibrational strand that runs between all things of Nature; a 'sameness' or relationship that links us all energetically. An individual may not feel compelled to investigate the animal kingdom, for example, but they may recognise a strong link to the rose quartz. By feeling the bond with the rose quartz, the individual has subconsciously acknowledged and welcomed the energies of the stone's 'animal cousin', the dog, into their life (be it only on a vibrational level). Everything is linked. With every animal, there is a corresponding plant, stone, tree, deity, colour, and the list goes on. Even Angels have corresponding animal energies, or 'ambassadorial counterparts' that radiate their inspirational wisdom. So, yes, everyone has at least one animal totem, even if they are not aware of them, are not 'animal people' or are people who 'dislike' animals.

When you mention in your writings that each animal "has its own medicine" what do you mean by that?

To the western mindset, the word 'medicine' automatically prompts images of pharmaceuticals, hospitals or the local doctor's surgery. We all link the word 'medicine' to something prescribed to make ill people well again. It symbolises dis-ease being dispelled to make way for clarity, balance and wellness. 'Medicine', in a spiritual sense, represents the same ideal. When we look to the animals for their wisdom, strength or power, we are asking them to share with us their secrets, life strategy and the design that offers them the edge that elevates them to a place of security and certainty. We are seeking the unique trait gifted by Spirit that ensures the survival of their kind. This trait is what separates them from the other animals; it is what affords them a leg up, a way of identifying weakness in their prey and a way of strengthening their clan. It is what allows them to become the leader, the alpha of the pack and the one who makes the laws. We look to this inherent power when we seek the wisdom of the animals. When we look to the animals we are acknowledging the fact that we require assistance; that our experience is limited and lacking the acumen needed to resolve the issues at hand by ourselves. We are addressing the fact that our lives are lacking, our spiritual body is waning or that we are ready for enhancement. We subconsciously know where the work or healing is needed, so we intuitively seek out the appropriate source for that healing. We look to the animal most blessed by Spirit with the wisdom, unique trait or 'medicine' to support us through the healing process. The moment we identify the problem and acknowledge it within ourselves, Spirit will send an animal best suited to herald a shift or change. This animal may appear as a painting on the side of a truck, in text on a t-shirt, in a dream or as an actual encounter. The appearance will occur almost immediately, and should repeat until the sign is consciously realised. Therefore, the word 'medicine' describes the symbolic wisdom radiated by an animal that, when identified and harnessed by those who seek its counsel, may promise learning, healing and manifestation.

What was the very first time you saw an animal spirit? Can you describe what did it look like, and how you felt about the experience?

My earliest conscious memory of seeing 'animal spirits' was an amazing and totally unexpected experience: I was about eight or nine years of age, chatting with my (three years junior) sister in the kitchen of our home. Mid-conversation, we both stopped talking and looked toward the archaic 'Vulcan' wall heater that hung on our kitchen wall. We were standing there, aghast, unable to speak with eyes wide open and mouths gaping. We must have looked so funny. I finally whispered, 'do you see that' and she replied in a quaky voice, ';yes'. We did not speak of it for a long time, but we both agreed, when we finally did, that what we had seen looked suspiciously like little white rabbits falling from the ceiling. Seriously. That only happened once and, although my sister is still very intuitive today, she has never admitted to seeing animals again. I, on the other hand, was followed everywhere I went by a large, black (domestic) cat from that day on. It went everywhere I went. I saw it on the bathroom vanity, on the coffee table and in the garden. It 'slept' on my bed in a typical cat-like curl. It peered (and smiled) at me around corners and sat on my desk as I did my homework. It went everywhere I went. Although I was never able to touch it, when I told my family that, 'the cat's here again', their flippant, 'oh, is it' response, led me to believe that they could see it too and that it was no big deal.

Were you at all alarmed by the experience - it sounds as though you took it in your stride...?

The rabbit experience was a bit scary, as any first-time mystical experience is, but as I was a child who loved animals, the initial shock soon gave way to excitement. I literally began to seek them out. I looked for them everywhere, and that was when I first realised that the energy I had always felt with people held form. The form it began to take, when I really concentrated, was animalistic. That was a real surprise, because, although the ability to translate the messages the animals held did not come until much later in life, I was able to determine whether people were trustworthy or not by simply 'feeling' their animals, or by asking myself, 'do I feel comfortable with that animal?' I tried to tell my family, but they sort of ignored me when I did. I guess our traditional Church-oriented family history prevented them from asking questions. They simply did not understand, and so to avoid being asked tricky questions, they just ignored me in the hope it would go away. But it didn't, and so I grew up believing it was natural - like breathing, and because no one sat around discussing our amazing ability to breathe, I figured it was the same deal with seeing people's animals. So as a kid, no, I did not go around telling people. What was the point? I thought everyone could do it.

In your writing you often refer to spirit. What does this term mean to you?

Spirit is the Creator; the One, the Source, the keeper of Great Mystery and the Void. It is both the God in His many forms and the Goddess in Hers. Spirit is all that is known to be unknowable, to be explored but never fully understood. Spirit is Magic. It is Breath. Spirit represents balance: the fine line that exists between all that is 'light' and all that is 'dark'. Spirit demands that we trust, remember and know. Spirit is both tangible and non-tangible. It is found within all things feminine and all things masculine. It is both physical and non-physical. It is the tilling of the fields, the birthing of the children, the nurturing of the people and the changing of the seasons. It is the power found within one's dreams, intuition and the sacred darkness of the womb. It is war, lightning, sexual energy, passion and sunshine. It is rampant during the hunt and savoured in the kill. Spirit is our link to Creation. Spirit inspired Creation, because the two are separate but the same. It allows the cycles of life to flow in a sacred way, with the inevitable progression of life, death and rebirth to maintain equilibrium. With every death, Spirit ensures there is a birth. Spirit resides within all things of nature. It is life-force. Spirit is neither feminine nor masculine. It is both. It is all encompassing. It is the essence of all life. Spirit is not something that can be fully explained. It cannot be described or categorised. It represents many things; things sacred to different people in personal ways. It is inherently found in all cultures, but bears different names wherever you go. It is ancient, but ready and waiting to be acknowledged today. Spirit is like the wind: you cannot see it. You can feel it, but you cannot contain it. Spirit must be explored directly, on a personal level. It cannot be taught or bought. It must be remembered and, once found, it must be approached with a deep and genuine respect, but treated with the same calm expectation one would normally reserve for family, best friends and soul mates.

For me, Spirit is the joy I feel when my kids call me Daddy. It is the unquestionable love I feel for my wife and the love she feels for me. It is the miracle of watching a baby duck hatch from an egg or to see flowers blooming in my garden. It is the cry of a peacock, the purr of a cat or the sound of rain on my roof. For me, Spirit is found in the knowing that I have friends who would do anything for me. It is the surprise seen on a friend's face when you do something unexpected for them, for no other reason but to see that look. Spirit is these things. It is the beauty that surrounds me, and when I think of it, I am humbled beyond compare. I am literally brought to tears. That is what Spirit means to me.

Have you ever journeyed with the animals, in a way that felt tangible? For example, have you ever hunted with them?

I have, actually. I have journeyed with the White Stag. I stalked the Stag for many years after reading about him, as a kid, in stories of King Arthur and Camelot. I wanted to be one of the brave Knights of the Round Table. I wanted to corner the elusive Stag and to bring him down; to prove myself to the King and to the other Knights. I knew that to do so would represent some sort of step up, progression, growth or initiation. As a kid with low self-esteem, I felt slaying the Stag could only result in great things happening for me on all levels. Slaying the Stag represented power, freedom, acceptance and clarity. I did not consciously know why, but I would stalk the Stag whenever I had the chance. I would seek him out while eating lunch, 'concentrating' on my school work, travelling in the car or going about my chores. A kid who spent a great deal of time in silence, minding my own business, it was not hard for me to slip into the realms of the non-ordinary and go in search of the Stag. I often found it waiting for me in a grove of birch trees, standing by a stream, shaking its antlers. It would spy me for a bit, and then take flight. We would run and run and run. Branches would whip my face. Tears would stream down my cheeks and mix with the sweat and dirt that built up from the chase. I never wanted the hunt to end. I thought I was chasing the Stag. I thought this for years. As it turns out, however, the Stag was always in control. It was leading me, taking me deeper and deeper into the darkness. It was fun. We loved each other. I had never intended on killing the Stag. I couldn't. It was my best friend. I love chasing that Stag. I love the places it took me. It took me on many adventures and, without my knowing, led me deep into the forests of my soul and gave me time to find peace with what I found there. It led me to a place of sacred healing and personal acceptance. The Stag, as my soul-essence and my power-aspect, helped me to find a place of trust within myself, to know my inner landscape and to systematically banish it of 'evil' forever. I loved my Stag. I still do.

Is your ability to 'see' the animals strictly a visual experience, or is it multi-sensory?

There are two ways in which I work with the animals: physically and non-physically. Obviously, the animals we share our planet with can be seen as messengers of Spirit, or the Earth Mother (which, as any mother would, yearns to see her children heal and reach their potential as quickly as possible). With every question we ask ourselves or Spirit, there is an animal with the wisdom to help clarify the answer. By simply looking at the questions we ask, the intent behind them and our desired outcome, we only need wait for Mother Earth and Spirit to send the appropriate animal-messenger in the physical sense. Awakening the people to the understanding that we, as the children of Mother Earth, can look to the wisdom of the animals as a way of navigating our way through life was the inspiration for my book, Animal Dreaming. It is essentially a spiritual field guide for those who wish to look to the ways of animals for confirmation and direction. So, when looking to the animals from this perspective, we can say that my ability is obviously, and literally, multi-sensory. My ability to intuitively sense the animal 'spirits' that walk with people is also multi-sensory, however, because when I say I see the animals, I often mean feel. Both see and feel work in the same way for me, as it is the essence of the animal that I rely on, not a clear image. I don't need to see the animal to know what it is. I only need to know it is there, and it is often easier to feel a presence than to see one. I do see them, however, and oftentimes it is so strong, it is as if the animal is physically there. I will smell and hear a presence before I see or feel what is emitting it only when I am unable to concentrate or when there is a lot of other peripheral stuff going on, like when I am shopping with my family or at the football, for example. The sense of smell is almost tangible, as is sound. They are real. They grab your attention when your attention is focused on other things. It leaves little room for assumption or mistake. If I smell or hear a fox in a setting where foxes would not normally be, for example, like on a plane, I simply have to look for it, in the non-physical sense, and I will find it.

What was the catalyst for actually taking the steps to train, to educate and inform your self more about this spiritual path? There's often a crisis of some sort that heralds a spiritual mastery journey - is this what happened to you?

Sometimes our self-perceptions, beliefs and the world in which we choose to live are built on foundations that offer a false sense of security. Although I was living my life the best way I knew at the time, I had unwittingly pulled the Tower Card. I did not know it, but my foundations were proving unstable and, as they started to crumble around me, I was forced to address my assumed foundations and rebuild my life. There was an accident that resulted in the death of two individuals that were more like brothers to me than simply friends. The accident happened when they were in my care. I was not directly involved, nor was I held responsible, but the affects of that accident rippled through my whole being and my life like a pebble being dropped into a pond. It was a devastating time, during which the world that I had come to rely on fell away and revealed itself to be nothing more than an impious illusion. The accident proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back for me. It was the trigger that set off an explosion of suppressed anger and frustration that had grown and festered for the first 26 years of my life. I made a decision right there at the accident scene, after hours of waiting for them to return from the milk-bar, that I either choose to join the boys or work with them and find the reason; the lesson that lay hidden under the mountain of despair, the reason why Spirit would call these boys home and why it needed to happen on my watch. It was a time of powerful clearing and healing. I chose to work with them and to explore Spirit. That was nearly 10 years ago. I now know my purpose and have a strong personal relationship with Spirit and the Universe. I know my place within the scheme of things. I know my medicine and my sacred spirit-gift that I need to develop and take to The People. I know why I am here and why the boys died. Although I still miss them on a level I cannot even begin to describe, I no longer grieve. I understand the reason for their death. I learnt the lesson hidden within the accident. I am here and I know why. It is to help people remember their inherent relationship to the Earth Mother, the animals and Spirit; to trust their ability to walk as one (in a place of beauty within themselves), to heal and to once again find the strength to reclaim responsibility for their lives - just as I have done.

What difference to our lives can the animals make, in ways that we can work with each day? For example, our relationships, money issues and sex-lives?

Whether we choose to invoke them on the spiritual plane and integrate their 'medicine' into our lives on an energetic level, or acknowledge the animals in the physical sense, the animals will help. Every animal has a message, a medicine and a gift of wisdom to share. They demonstrate what their medicine is by simply living it. How they interact with each other and their environment speaks volumes. If we learn to listen to their ways and observe their subtle wisdom, we can live whole and abundant lives like the animals do. By asking Spirit for assistance and then waiting for the animals to provide the answer by simply appearing or manifesting in a tangible way (either as a live, breathing animal, or as a representation on a t-shirt, billboard or delivery van), the animals can help us plot a course through life in a manner that will see our path become free of obstacles forever. Spirit does not make mistakes. Mother Earth does not make mistakes. Nature is perfect in every way. If we look to the ways of the animals, we can no longer 'make mistakes' either. Choosing to ask the animals for assistance is an ancient concept. Our ancestors did it all the time. They would call to the buffalo for abundance, the koala for inner guidance and the jaguar for the strength to embrace the unknown. They would call to the animals and journey with them in non-ordinary reality, and then they would wait for confirmation, realised by perhaps the appearance of the animal in the tangible world or the manifestation of their intended outcome. We can do the same today. It is very easy. It is easy because it is natural. It is the way things were meant to be done. We can call in the energy of the Squirrel or the Bee to help with our finances, for example. Mouse is good for contracts and agreements. Cat and Snake are powerful aids in all matters sexual, while Eel and Wasp can help break addictions. Horse is useful when we are trying to find direction in our life and Dog is the master of relationship issues. The list goes on. There is an animal with the wisdom to help us find clarity in all arenas of life. That is why we have so many animals sharing this planet with us, and in some cases, so many species or breeds of particular animals. With each animal there is a message, a message that can be tweaked by looking at the specialised species, different breeds or even fur-colour of the animal in a way that affects our personal life. It is easy to determine what aspects of life we, as a people, are choosing to shun or dump responsibility for with each species that falls into the 'endangered' or 'extinct' category. On a personal level, we can do the same by identifying the animals we are afraid of, or the animals that represent those aspects of our life we are not ready or afraid to address. It is not the animal we fear, but rather the trigger that originally linked the negative emotion with the medicine of the animal.

How can the animals help children?

The animals can help the children with their lives in the same way that they can help us, their parents, teachers and guardians. Children naturally look to the animals, as I did as a child. They remember the old ways. They feel the ancient connection to the Earth Mother and the animals in much the same way as our ancestors did. It is our responsibility, as their parents, teachers and guardians, to encourage this relationship and to never dampen the inherent instinct to look to the wisdom of the animals for guidance and confirmation. Incidentally, as a retired primary school teacher, I found it useful to ask the children in my class to do some honest soul-searching and then simply draw a picture of the animal they feared the most and the animal they regarded as their 'favourite'. By doing this, I had the beginnings of a true and honest profile on which to base my program for the year. I knew how and why each child acted as they did and how to prevent any problems that may have presented themselves during the term. Children classified today as 'Indigo', I saw back then as carrying 'spider-monkey medicine'. I immediately identified the children carrying reputations from past behaviour by looking to the monkey-spirit I saw with them. I knew that their anger and irrational behaviour was rooted in frustration or confusion, or birthed from things they had seen or heard but could never hope to understand alone, and nurtured them accordingly. Kids labelled as difficult or uncontrollable never posed a problem for me. As proof that the animals can help the kids, many years later, these so called 'problem' kids (most now aged in their early 20's) have all grown to do amazing things with their lives, driven by the affirmations I used with them: "You are all worth it. I believe in you. You can achieve anything. If life gets hard; stop, rethink and move on".

What if I don't even like animals very much?

I don't believe that there is a person alive who 'doesn't like animals'. I do believe, however, that there are many people who have never noticed the animals or who have never thought to include them in their lives. If you are not raised in an environment or family setting that embraces animals, you will not form a bond with them. It is like anything. If you are not raised in a home that follows football, for example, choosing a favourite footy team will not be a priority until someone presents it as an option by asking, 'what team do you support?' But, if animals frighten you, then try to ascertain if it is all animals, only a handful of them, or one particular type that makes your skin crawl. Start with the animal that you fear the most and look to the reasons why. The fear will be automatically explained in a superficial way, put down to a physical characteristic like a creepy tail, hairy legs or skin texture, or a trait, like its manoeuvrability, smell or choice of diet and habitat. These are all excuses. The real reason lies hidden in the animal's medicine; the lesson it has to share; the aspect of yourself that you are trying to ignore and suppress. Deal with the lesson, and the fear of the particular animal will be made redundant and the animal will become an ally. As far as our technological world goes, if Spirit has a plan for you, and if the Earth Mother senses that you are in need of some guidance or healing, then, quite frankly, it makes no difference where you work, who you love or how you choose to live your life: they will get to you some way or another. It doesn't matter how technological our lives may become, we all need confirmation and encouragement every now and then and, with this in mind, Mother Earth is constantly reaching out to us offering her support. Even in the heart of the city, nature abounds. You don't have to take a trip to the country to commune with the Earth Mother or to find Spirit. Look to the seagulls quarrelling over that piece of bun discarded by the city-square hotdog vendor, the sparrows snapping up crumbs under the café table, the ants scurrying along edge of the gutter or the weeds squeezing through the cracks in the pavement. Nature is all around us. All we have to do is take the time to look for it, acknowledge its wisdom and consciously integrate it into our lives.

Okay, tell me a story of how the animals have saved or helped people.

Well, there is this lady I know, 'Margaret', whose house was completely infested with mice. There were mice everywhere. She tried poison. She tried traps. Nothing made the slightest difference to the amount of mice in her house. And they were gutsy mice, too. They would sit on the kitchen floor as if snubbing their nose at her and then scurry off at the last minute. Then she came to me. I explained to her that mice represent contracts and agreements. They encourage us to look at the bigger picture (through the eyes of the hawk) instead of looking at the world through the eyes of the small, insignificant mouse, where everything is big, scary and overwhelming. The moment Margaret took notice of why the mice were bothering her, her life changed. Margaret was selling her house. She had divorced and just wanted it all to be over. An offer had been made and Margaret was contemplating its acceptance. Then the mice came. Instead of agreeing to the offer, which was thousands of dollars below her desired price, she said "no". The sale fell through. Then, again, she said "no" to a second and similar offer. And so it went on for about two weeks. Finally, two promising offers were submitted from two different parties. One was keener than the other to purchase, and after some negotiation, Margaret sold her house for thousands above the original set price. The clients were rapt because they got the house, and Margaret was ecstatic, and with that, the mice left. Everything seemed perfect, until after a week or two had passed. Margaret was walking down her front step when a mouse ran across her path. Dumbfounded, she rang me and I said, "Check the contract. There will be something you have overlooked". Margaret had her solicitor check the contractual agreement and discovered, to her horror, a loophole that was to benefit the real-estate agent above and beyond their verbal agreement. She was going to be ripped-off. But, at the persistence of the mice, Margaret legally addressed the issue immediately and came out more affluent again. Months later, it is now time for settlement to be passed on the house and for Margaret to vacate her family home, but since the day she witnessed the mouse on the front step, Margaret has remained 'mouse-free'.

What are the connections with Aboriginal systems / Dreamings / traditions?

Australia's indigenous people looked to the animals in much the same way as the other ancient cultures of the world. They saw them as being linked to the Creator Spirit in a similar way as they believed they were. They believe all things of nature are inherently linked, joined by ancestry and imbued with Spirit. During the Dreamtime, which, according to legend, was the time before time when the world was being created, it was believed that the animals could become people and the people could become animals. It is believed that the 'beings' of this time were able to experiment with their shape and form so that they could find the one true form that best suited them and the needs of their people. In many Dreamtime stories, it is often difficult to determine whether the 'characters' are human or animal in form, as it doesn't seem to matter in the telling. The Aboriginal People of Australia have either clan Totems. Individuals are born under the influence of their family's Totem and are taught to honour this animal as an Ancestor of their People. Totems are determined by the spiritual history of the land and the People's 'territory'. During the Dreamtime, it is said that the Ancestor Spirits helped shape the land, and with every event that took place, a memory of the happening was stored within the land to be accessed by the People and shared as a teaching or law. Some of the Ancestor Spirits returned to the Creator Spirit, while others remained on the Earth and took solid form. It is believed that these Ancestor Spirits remain here today, watching our progress and continuing to inspire and guide us as a People. It is these Ancestor Spirits that the People look to as clan, tribal and family Totems. When a baby was born, it was the responsibility of the tribal elder to consult with the baby's soul-essence and to determine its individual Totem. When the baby's Totem was identified, it was said that the baby carried the Dreaming of that animal. For example, a person could carry Kangaroo Dreaming or Platypus Dreaming. As a result, it was believed that each person inherently knew the ways of their animal. He shared the animal's wisdom and its genetic memory. Armed with this sacred knowledge, when it came time to hunt a particular animal, it was believed that the individual who carried its Dreaming was best suited to hunt that animal because they understood how they moved, where they preferred to rest and what they ate. The Spirit of the animal was invoked in ceremony, and the hunt would proceed. After the hunt, the animal would be blessed, eaten and honoured via cave art or through story. Only by honouring the animal's Spirit was it believed that the cycle of life, death and rebirth could be acknowledged in a sacred way, with the soul of the animal being reborn to once again feed the People in due course.

Do you notice patterns with animal spirits that are linked to the wheel of the year, or the spiritual work people are doing?

Every animal in Creation has a specific role, message or 'medicine gift' to share with the people. There is an animal, for example, imbued with the acumen to assist us with the more tangible facets of life: relationships, career, finance and so on. There is also an animal with the wisdom to support us internally in any area of spiritual work we might choose to explore. I have discovered that no arena of life is left untouched by the animals, either in the physical sense or symbolically. The Wheel of the Year is an interesting aspect, because it clearly illustrates our journey through life and the world as a whole. Elementally, there are animals innately charged with the guardianship of the four directions, the four stages of life, the phases of the moon, the ever-changing seasons and the bond we share with the Earth Mother herself. The Eagle, Hawk and Owl, for example, govern the East Gate, the element Air, all new beginnings, clarity, insight and growing awareness. They protect us at dawn as new-born babies and are depicted with Gods and Goddesses of wisdom, foresight and initiation. The Red Horse, Snake and Dingo are responsible for the North Gate (in the Southern Hemisphere), the element Fire and the realisation of personal power, passion, and sexual energy and potential. They walk with us at noon as teenagers and are usually linked with deity charged with equally as potent destructive and creative capabilities. The Dolphin, Bear and Koala protect the West Gate and the element Water, journeying with us as we meditate, contemplate and seek answers introspectively. They guide us at dusk as parents or when we begin to experience the phase known as 'mid-life', personifying Gods and Goddesses usually associated with change, growth, rebirth and appreciation. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Red Kangaroo, Buffalo and Bull keep watch over the South Gate, the element Earth and the accumulation of wealth, abundance and prosperity. Able to manifest with ease, the animals of the South help us to look in the mirror at midnight as white-haired elders so that we may be pleased with what we see looking back at us. They speak of maturity, wisdom and the realisation that comes with experience: when we find peace in the knowing that we did the best we could with what we had. The animals of the South generally accompany deity associated with grounding, practical achievement and physical love.

How can we communicate with our animal spirits? Is there a meditation or ritual that you would recommend?

I am a very practical person. I look to Spirit as I do a friend or family member. I believe that we all come from the One Source: Spirit. I believe that Spirit not only runs through our veins, but through every aspect of our lives. Spirit is in all things of Nature. My life is dedicated to walking a path of Spirit, but I am a physical person, too. I believe that is why the animals and I have such a close bond. The animals live their physical lives in harmony with the world around them, as do I. They kill when they are hungry and they honour the territories of their brothers and sisters. They do not treat each other with contempt, nor do they worship or idolise one another. Instead, they show deep respect and they understand the ways of Nature. They live in the present and in doing so they maintain equilibrium between all things. I believe we should treat them with the same sensitivity. So long as the approach is made with humility, I do not believe we need any specific ritual or to slip into any particular meditatively induced state to communicate with the animals. We don't do this when we approach a friend, or when we call Tiddles the Cat or Shaggy the Dog to our side, do we? We simply think of them, feel their love, know that to call upon them is okay, and then we do. Full stop. I feel the same way about my totems, animal spirit allies and the animals on the physical plane. It is important to find the inner silence, to sit within that space while the contact is made, and then all that is left to do is to call upon them, making the reason perfectly clear within our hearts. Our intent must be pure and our approach, unassuming. That is all, in my opinion. The animals are our brothers and sisters. Treat them as such, and they will return the respect by being there the moment we call upon them. Promise.

Are there any safeguards we should take in working with the animals?

No more than when you work with any other messenger of Spirit. I hear the expression 'Love and Light' all the time, referring to the expectation that if you constantly surround yourself in either of these positive energies, no harm can come to you. I agree with the principle, but I am also aware that it is never as simple as that. Life is not as clean cut as we would like to believe. I walk a path of balance. I follow my path with the animals with the understanding that even in the most well lit room you are going to find shadows. True beings of 'Love and Light' are just that. Beings of Love and Light. They have no need to deceive, and in fact, they would not know how. Dark-side entities, however, are designed to deceive. That is their role. So when a being of Love and Light appears, I always ask it, for example: 'Are you an Angel', and if they say 'yes' then all is well. But, if they answer 'Do you want me to be an Angel? Because if you want me to be an Angel, then I am an Angel', I ask them politely to go away. Dark-side entities can appear as Light-side entities and will act out the role perfectly, but instead of inspiring positive change, no matter what the individual does, their life remains stagnant. This is the only safeguard required: to ask questions and to trust your intuition. Universal law enforces a rule that denies Dark-side entities the ability to blatantly lie, but it does not stop them from speaking in riddles. Remember: things are not always what they seem; even, unfortunately, when it comes to Spirit.

Are there particular animals associated with energies, Goddesses and other etheric beings?

Yes, and this is a realisation that broadens the field and makes the animals that much more accessible to other people. I am constantly hearing the statement, 'But I don't resonate well with animals'. The fact that EVERYTHING has an animal totem or 'cousin' offers these people permission to break out of their comfort zones and to explore the animals as an alternative or as a way of enhancing their current path. For example, those who work primarily with crystals may find it interesting to know that each of the stones have an animal that corresponds energetically with their vibrational properties. For example, the aquamarine and the Frog share medicine, as do the lapiz lazuli and the Cat, the rose quartz and the Dog, the citrine and the Buffalo and the clear quartz and the Eagle. Plants and trees also have 'animal cousins'. The most famous relationships being those held between the yew tree and the Black Pig, the myrtle and the Thrush, the Dragon and the elder and the apple tree and the Unicorn. Animal consorts and 'totems' associated with Gods and Goddesses are countless and found in every culture, too. Legend recounts, for example, the tale of the God and Goddess Apollo and Athena who once sat in a beech tree as a pair of vultures, casually watching the battle between the Trojans and the Greeks. Athena is most famous for her strong bond with the Owl; Aphrodite is often depicted upon a Swan, while Hathor has obvious connotations to the Cow. The most interesting link I have discovered, though, is that between the animals and the Angelic realms. It is said that both the Flamingo and the Spoonbill filter Angelic information, ultimately relaying it to humanity as inspiration and healing. I have had several Angelic experiences where the Angels have appeared as animals during meditation and dreams. I know they are Angels because their physical appearance is altered in a way personal to me, and in this way Archangel Michael sometimes appears as a 'special' Black Panther and Raphael as an 'enhanced' Green Tree Snake. I think the web of life is amazing. It humbles me how everything of Nature instinctively remembers the sacred network that was forged at the beginning of time.

Give me one simple exercise I can work with today to help me connect with the animals...

Okay ... Find your inner silence, and think of an issue that you especially need help with today. Visualise the issue and relay your circumstances directly to Spirit and the Earth Mother. Now that you have handed the situation over, ask that either Spirit or the Earth Mother send to you an emissary of enlightenment, change or healing in the form of an animal messenger. Understand that the process only need be executed once, for Spirit hears all our prayers in what ever form they are offered. Now wait. The messenger will appear almost immediately, and depending on you, it may appear in one of many ways. For example, an animal may present itself physically: you may see a bird flying past, hear a dog barking in the distance; you might smell the scent of horses or feel the sting of a mosquito. The animal messenger may present itself in the words of a song, a shape in the clouds, an advert on the television, a billboard or a print on a t-shirt. It may appear to you in your dream state, or during a meditation. It may come home with your child as a sculpture or a painting created during their art-class at school. The animals have always been there. We have just forgotten to look for them and how to listen to them. They will (and do) appear to us constantly in any way they can. They are, after all, the voice of Mother Earth. All you have to do is 'listen with your third eye' and trust what they are telling you so that the message they wish to impart may be interpreted and fully integrated into your life in a sacred way.

These are just some of the questions that are often asked of Scott at his readings, reatreats and workshops.
 
How do you describe yourself... ?
How do you work with animal spirits?
What is the purpose of learning about animal spirits?
How do you communicate with animal spirits?
Can other people learn to communicate with the animals spirits?
How do the animals come to us (in dreams etc)?
Can you outline the difference between Native American totem animals, which are often based on when you were born (like sun signs), and the way you work with them?
Are there any animals that are more common as teacher/totem animals? Is it a cultural thing, or completely personal to the individual?
If someone was to really love a certain kind of animal, could that mean it was their totem? Is there something you can learn from the animal that you love?
Do animals we fear have anything to teach us?
Can you tell me a bit about the workshops and reatreats you do? Where are they? Do you need to know anything specific to come along?
Do you do readings for people? If they cannot get to you personally, are you able to offer 'over the phone' readings? Or, if they can't meet with you, are they able to work it out for themselves from your book?
You are passionate about teaching kids - do you have a message for the parents?
How did you come to be an animal oracle?
Your writing displays familiarity with both Native American and Australian Aboriginal spirituality. Are these your main cultural influences or do you have others too?
How would you describe your spiritual path? Does it have a name?
In your book "Animal Dreaming", you have an interesting section on feral animals. Can you tell us a bit more about your opinions on the feral animals in Australia and what they signify in the Australian landscape? Would you consider people, (us white settlers) a kind of 'feral' animal as well?
When someone asks you about the meaning of a specific animal, such as in your Witchcraft Magazine column "Animal Totems", what is your method for finding an answer? Personal inspiration, books, inner knowing..?
What does it mean for a person to have an animal totem, and do we all have them? Can they change or are they permanent?
When you mention in your writings that each animal 'has its own medicine', what do you mean by that?
What was the very first time you saw an animal spirit? Can you describe what did it look like, and how you felt about the experience?
Were you at all alarmed by the experience - it sounds as though you took it in your stride...
In your writing you often refer to spirit. What does this term mean to you?
Have you ever journeyed with the animals, in a way that felt tangible? For example, have you ever hunted with them?
Is your ability to 'see' the animals strictly a visual experience, or is it multi-sensory?
What was the catalyst for actually taking the steps to train, to educate and inform your self more about this spiritual path? There's often a crisis of some sort that heralds a spiritual mastery journey - is this what happened to you?
What difference to our lives can the animals make, in ways that we can work with each day? For example, our relationships, money issues and sex-lives?
How can the animals help children?
What if I don't even like animals very much?
Okay, tell me a story of how the animals have saved or helped people
What are the connections with Aboriginal systems / Dreamings / traditions?
Do you notice patterns with animal spirits that are linked to the wheel of the year, or the spiritual work people are doing?
How can we communicate with our animal spirits? Is there a meditation or ritual that you would recommend?
Are there any safeguards we should take in working with the animals?
Are there particular animals associated with energies, Goddesses and other etheric beings?
Give me one simple exercise I can work with today to help me connect with the animals...