Totem Shield Making

Respecting Our Animal Spirits

With Honour and Respect in the Shamanic traditions, we gather together the spirit medicine of each of our totem animals.

In this tradition, we put their spiritual energy in the form of furs, leathers, feathers, bones, shells, etc., on a hoop-shaped frame. It is called Totem Shield Making. Some who are gifted in the muses paint and draw them on the leather. Adding other “medicines” on and around the hoop provides a secondary source of energy. It ties them together and beautifies the shield!

The ancient art of totem shield making was initially used by indigenous cultures worldwide to be placed outside dwellings (teepee, wigwam) to identify the spiritual energy of the person living there to passing tribes. The shields help others understand the individuals within – even before approaching them. So they could speak and behave accordingly.

Honouring the totem animal allies in the form of a shield shows great respect to them. In return, the animal energy offers their protection, guidance, magic and spirited medicine gifts.

In our day-to-day journeys, we often find gifts from our allies. Sometimes it is a feather on the ground, a tuft of fur, a skull and bones. Sometimes, we are gifted pieces of feathers, pelts of fur or the skills to paint or carve images.

You are welcome to bring those gifts from the Earth to the session to incorporate them into your medicine shield and/or allow Tamare to provide some or all of your Animal Medicine needs!

August 18th 10-2pm Class fees are $177 to $277, depending on what supplies you require!

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