Once you know your own totems, you need learn how they fit into your life. First of all -- you do not have to physically meet any of your totems. Just because you own a dog and love him very much, it doesn't mean that Dog is your totem.
Before your birth, you were given the totems that would be needed during this lifetime. Sometimes you don't feel connected to all your totems. There might be one or two that you just don't relate to at all. That is because they are not needed at this time in your life. Perhaps they were needed in your childhood or will be needed in the future. But they are there waiting for you when the time is right.
So look not at the physical animal, but the meaning of the totem. At this time, many people have bird totems. That is because birds live in the air and Air is intellect. People are working with their minds more than their physical bodies so there more bird totems are needed. A couple of hundred years ago, people had the more physical totems like Bear, Cougar, Lion, etc. because they worked hard physically. Now many of us work in offices -- with our minds -- with Air.
The best way to connect to your own totems is through meditation.. Find a quiet place, put on some soft music, and spend a few minutes clearing your mind. Then think about one of your totems.Think about the animal and its traits. Think about what it offers as a totem. And then try to be that animal. I recommend doing only one totem at a time.
You will connect to some totems easier than others. For example, Grouse will come to you in dance and drumming. Others you have to work at. Remember, these totems are the essences of the animals -- so you don't need to meet or see the real, live animal. Although, if you do, take it as sign that this totem has a message for you and think about it the next time you meditate.
