Salmander Totem Animal

The appearance of a Salamander totem heralds transformation, but offers assistance with this change from somewhere outside of ourselves, either through an unexpected person or unique resource. This assistance is temporary and will stay only as long as needed. Harmony with the environment is very important to people with a Salamander totem. It is key to a successful transformation – answers and solutions will be found in the environment around us.

Salamanders are amphibians, which in Latin means "double life." Salamanders are born in water, and in their "second life" live on land. In many ways the life cycle of the salamander relates to inspiration. The visions of that which we want to achieve are first ideas, often seeming as hard to grasp as water. To fulfill them, we must bring them into physical reality, for which the earth element is a symbol.

So often it seems the magic of our first vision gets lost when we transform it to the practical reality of accomplishment, but this may be because we haven't been flexible enough in terms of adapting to this new environment. We can learn how to adjust to a new element with the help of Salamander Medicine.

Part of flexibility involves being aware of all of one's senses and understanding the information they give us. Here again, Salamander is a helpful totem. This animal is highly sensitive. Most absorb water through their skin, and some even breathe through their skin. Thus, they are highly aware of their environment, and know instantly when it has changed. A similar awareness can benefit us, and it is equally important to view our dreams and visions in the context of the environment in which they will exist.

Salamander is also important for those who are emotionally sensitive, picking up the energies of others. Working with Salamander can turn this trait into a strength, instead of a source of disharmony.

Finally, though Salamander is primarily a creature of water, in magical traditions it relates to the element of fire, an agent of transformation. Thus, this power animal can help those who feel stuck in a mode to become re-energized and renew their dream with the fire of passion. (Rainbow Crystal)