The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small

This is an awesome reference book for animals lovers who are looking for a little help with the guidance from our animal friends. I own one, and loaned it out and my friend loved it so much I got one for her too. Highly recommended!

This book works great for me just remember please next time this book was supposed to teach people on the language's each animal use's though....Hope this work's out in the end...i will be back to buy more of your products very soon perhaps so you know what I meant!!!!!!! Thank you Very Much!!!!!!

I bought this book out of interest, but I find myself not really using it. It's interesting to learn all about animal meanings, but its quite limited. Although it shows you practice, it is not very engaging, so maybe that's why I don't read it. I just use it to look up animal meanings. But it is still good meditative practice. I always think about when a new animal or insect that comes by, if it really was trying to tell me something. But I also stopped because I was afraid of tampering with unknown beings. Some spiritual books don't ever put warning tags like that, but I think it is something to consider.

This book works great for me just remember please next time this book was supposed to teach people on the language's each animal use's though....Hope this work's out in the end...i will be back to buy more of your products very soon perhaps so you know what I meant!!!!!!! Thank you Very Much!!!!!!

I bought this book out of interest, but I find myself not really using it. It's interesting to learn all about animal meanings, but its quite limited. Although it shows you practice, it is not very engaging, so maybe that's why I don't read it. I just use it to look up animal meanings. But it is still good meditative practice. I always think about when a new animal or insect that comes by, if it really was trying to tell me something. But I also stopped because I was afraid of tampering with unknown beings. Some spiritual books don't ever put warning tags like that, but I think it is something to consider.

However, I don't think this was quite what I expected. Also in a larger format..which I really do not prefer. I've always found his books, clear, easy to read & understand; and in comparison to other's books...easy to put into practice.

I like Ted Andrews books. His books are easy to read and very informative. I purchased a used book and the price was okay and as usual was recieved within a few days and was in very good condition. I usually purchase used as this kind of reading material or reference is way over priced for a new book. Used is the way to purchase. I recommend to any one.

I loved it so much i purchased three copies. When I bought the first one my friends wanted to borrow it and I had trouble getting it back so I bought them their own. This is the type of book you can re-read over and over and still gain so much from. I even use a high lighter for parts I go back to. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

I have not completed reading this book. I have always encountered animals in my dreams,but never knew what it meant
This book, "Animal-Speak", answers many of my questions. And that is why I like it. It gets four stars because I'm still reading it.

I like Ted Andrews books. His books are easy to read and very informative. I purchased a used book and the price was okay and as usual was recieved within a few days and was in very good condition. I usually purchase used as this kind of reading material or reference is way over priced for a new book. Used is the way to purchase. I recommend to any one.

I loved it so much i purchased three copies. When I bought the first one my friends wanted to borrow it and I had trouble getting it back so I bought them their own. This is the type of book you can re-read over and over and still gain so much from. I even use a high lighter for parts I go back to. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

I have not completed reading this book. I have always encountered animals in my dreams,but never knew what it meant
This book, "Animal-Speak", answers many of my questions. And that is why I like it. It gets four stars because I'm still reading it.

A great book with so much wonderful insight. My only negative is I bought the book New as it was going to be given as a gift. There were several pages that had been highlighted in yellow. Highlighted by another person.

I like this book from the standpoint of the descriptions and symbolisms of the animals, as there are many, many around me daily.

While I realize that the book is written from a relational place of the Indians, I respect that is their believe system, but do not support it or believe in it personally.

I found this book very unhelpful and lacking in substance. The bulk of the book is just repeating the same vague concepts over and over. "Harness the power of an animal totem to assist you in life." Oh yeah? Like what? How? The book is lacking in explanations, sources or any specific details. The author gives one story where his totem helped him predict a storm. But that's the only concrete example in the whole book (and of questionable credibility). Then it's back to more vague statements.. "Use your totem in your life!" OK I get it, but not really.

The killer for me was how horribly this book is written. It's packed with confusing, long-winded sentences devoid of any purpose. Entire chapters are repetitive and unnecessary. The actual information in the book could be condensed to a 10-page pamphlet. I'm not exaggerating. (The book's subtitle can give you a small taste of the author's superfluous writing style). Worst of all there were errors everywhere! Spelling, punctuation and grammar.... It's like a first draft that wasn't proofread! It was painful to read, borderline insulting, as if the author was just making a quick buck off me.

The only part that was somewhat interesting were the sections that listed each animal and its attributes (the goat signifies sure-footedness, the squirrel means preparedness, etc).... but that you might as well look up online for free. The fact this book has so many 5-star reviews really makes me question the type of readership this book attracts. If you're interested in Native American ways, try other books that actually include scholarly research and legitimate sources (like M. Kat Anderson's "Tending the Wild"). I'm not knocking the new-age, spiritual crowd, just hollow, poorly-written books like these.

To anyone who has meaningful interactions with spirit, spirit animals, totems, or whatever name you choose to give them, this book is useless. It is akin to generalizing an entire nation of people with broad strokes and generalizations. We have the Wade Tarot for that. So if you happen to meet an animal spirit just once, or you encounter one through the annals of your life. Don't look for why they have arrived or appeared in this book, but instead ask them directly, for surely there is a reason, and it is person centered.

I have had this book for many years, I still use it often. This book in my opinion is the best book written about the animal kingdom. Ted Andrews writes with such knowledge and ease it makes the information easy for me to understand. After purchasing this book I went on to purchase as many books by him as I could find. His books to me are a wealth of information you wont find anywhere else. Even if you find similar books his are written in a way that everyone can understand.

"The true shaman, the true naturalist, works to reconnect conscious human life with Nature and Spirit through totems and ritual. The images of the animals are the expressions of nature help us to transcend our normal, waking consciousness so that we can more easily attune to ethereal realms and beings." - From the book

Throughout history, animals have appeared on cave drawings, pottery, sculpture, and paintings. Every culture contains myths, stories, songs and fairy tales featuring animals. For earth-based spiritual traditions, animals serve as protectors, messengers, and guides. Because animal archetypes are so strong within the human psyche, many individuals resonate with the mannerisms, defense strategies, social structures and habits of particular animals, insects, birds, and fish.

In the book Animal Speak, author Ted Andrews provides comprehensive information on animal totems, including the process of discovering your own. He describes the function of animal totems, emphasizing that the unique characteristics of animal forms reveal much about our own innate powers and abilities. According to Andrews, the purpose of Animal Speak is five-fold:

1. It will help you to determine your Nature totems
2. It will help you in learning to honor, attune, and invoke their energies more effectively in your life
3. It will assist you in discovering the hidden powers and significance of yourself, as is reflected by your totem
4. It will help you in applying the skills and adaptive powers of your totem to your own life environment
5. It will help you to learn the language of Nature (physical, spiritual, and magical) as it speaks to you every day, to read and apply what it says (through signs and omens), and in doing so help you to develolp a greater reverence and respect for all life, and greater power and control in your own.

Andrews says that animal totems are also known by names such as spirit animals, power animals, totem helpers, and others. Regardless of what you call them, Andrews asserts that there are ten basics attributes of these totems including: the animal chooses the person, not the other way around, lifelong power animals are usually wild, not domesticated, and more than one person can share a totem animal.

Animal Speak delves deep into more than 100 creatures and their habitats. Andrews discusses how to awaken to your spirit totems, the mystery of predator and prey, reading signs and omens in nature, and augury and the meaning of landscapes. He provides comprehensive totem dictionaries of bird totems, animal totems, insect totems, and reptile totems. For each creature, the author provides a Keynote phrase, as well as detailed observations on animal behavior, lore, and physical characteristics like plumage, fur, and coloring. He also notes idiosyncrasies, as well as seasonal, mating, and feeding habits.

Here are but a few examples of Keynotes and Cycles of Power from the book:

FOX

Keynote: Feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility
Cycle of Power: Nocturnal, Dawn, and Dusk

EAGLES

Keynote: Illumination of Spirit, Healing, and Creation
Cycle of Power: All Seasons and during Daylight

ELEPHANT

Keynote: Ancient Power, Strength, and Royalty
Cycle of Power: Year-round

OTTER

Keynote: Joy, Playfulness, and Sharing
Cycle of Power: Spring and Summer

BUTTERFLY

Keynote: Transmutation and the Dance of Joy

CHAMELEON

Keynote: Clairvoyance and Auric Sensitivity

At 383 pages, Animal Speak provides a wealth of information for connecting with, and receiving Guidance from, animal spirits. Whether you seek to discover your animal totem, create and use magical animal rites, or call upon the protective powers of your power animal, Animal Speak provides you with the necessary tools for doing so.

My favorite use for this book, however, is animal divination. If I notice that a particular bird, animal, or insect gets my attention-perhaps by cropping up on TV, in a book, or even in a dream--I then get out Andrews' book and see what messages the creatures may have for me. There's enough information in Animal Speak to extrapolate specific animal behavior to my life and see if there are connections-let alone taking into consideration Andrews' own divinatory insight. Whether it's a dragonfly, blue jay, groundhog, or butterfly I can turn to this book to find wise counsel from the animal kingdom.

Because many the messages I receive are from the bird kingdom, I especially enjoy the Winged Enchantment section of Animal Speak, which covers bird totems, the initiation of Air, the mystery of feathers and flight, working with bird medicine, and so on.

This is a book I've referred to consistently over the years, and highly recommend to anyone wanting to understand-and connect with-the animal kingdom.

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

I have this book as well as Animal Talk. This is not the kind of book I would read from cover to cover, but I do look through it a lot. It is a spirituality- oriented book, but I've actually learned a lot of things about specific animals- their habits, habitats, etc more than anything else. I never knew that hawks and owls are complementary to each other until I read this book. It has a lot of information about the physical aspects of animals, and from that he writes about what meaning they could have if they are a totem for a person. When coming across foxes, skunks and other animals in real life, I would go home and look them up in this book, as well as any animal that held my curiousity. So it helped me learn and have even more appreciation.

It also has some guidelines for how to determine a totem. He says a person doesn't "choose" a totem, because then they would choose a more glamorous animal. True, a lot of people have "sexy" totems like wolves and panthers, but actually I know several people with totems like squirrels, skunks, raccoons, turkey vultures and even cicadas! He also writes about what is the purpose of a totem. One thing he writes is that if at all possible you should find a way to help animals, either your totem or just any animals in general. I love this the most, and I have advised others "ask not what your totem can do for you, but what you can do for your totem."

The author works in a nature center, so I don't think he is a poser and at least he is trying to help them. I understand that cultures don't like to get ripped off, but with how many animals are endangered, it's better if people are interested in things like this. It seems small, but if people have a consciousness where they appreciate the animals and environment, it can affect their actions in small and large ways. We don't have people going around killing buffalo "just because" anymore.

This was one of my earlier "special" books. My girlfriend, a Reiki Master, looked up spider for me. I think I had a dream about spider. One of those "insightfull" dreams. You know, the dreams that you just know are more than an ordinary dream. The info she gave me from the book really made me appreciate the spider and what it was trying to tell me. I got hooked, on both Ted Andrews' books and understanding about animals. I always liked animals, but I was a little picky on WHICH animals, and creatures, I liked.

Ted Andrews writes really great metaphysical books. He clearly knows what he's talking about and does his darnest to explain it all to you, with all the details, and in an easy to understand fashion. Besides the fact that it's easy to look up an animal in the book, he explains lots of other related stuff.

I use this book whenever an animal or creature seems out of the norm. Examples would be seeing a single crow over and over again, seeing an animal in some really unusual circumstances, dreaming about an animal, especially if the dream is different. You know a "different" dream when you have one. Maybe you are half asleep/half awake and see a wolf looking directly at you and his eyes are glowing and you sense he is telling you something.

Nov 2010--Of all the stuff I have read, this is STILL my favorite book and favorite author on this subject matter (animals as guides and what they are trying to tell us)

For those of you that are interested in the zodiac or horoscopes, or for those that have an interest in native American culture, this book will be of interest to you. The indigenous population was able to work with nature and their culture had a deep respect for the animals in their surroundings. They believed that animals were able to give us wisdom and that each animal has a different wisdom to share based on it's own traits. By knowing what traits a particular animal has, we learn how to adapt to our surroundings in a mental, physical or spiritual sense. The amount of information is this book is amazing and it is THE most complete book on the interesting and mind expanding topic of animal totems.

If this subject interests you, I would also recommend:
Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals - David Carson
ISBN-13: 978-0312204914

I bought this book at a bookstore but just had to write a review because its such a great addition to anyone's library who wants to better understand nature and the signs all around. It not only has an outstanding list of mammals, birds, and insect totems but breaks down how to interpret the signs that nature gives us everything from the actual animals to colors, flowers, numbers everything!

In the last few months, I have discovered my animal totems in meditations I do. I first came across this book in a local book store and would rush over there to look up an animal I saw and its meaning every time I saw a new totems. I finally broke down and bought the book and consider it money well spent. It's nice to have it to refer to when a new totem appears before me. But besides being a very comprehensive dictionary of totems, there's also the philosophy behind them and how man needs to work more with nature to truly understand its power in our lives.
I've come to be aware of and am thankful for the totems in my life that are helping me through my life's journeys. I feel this book would be very helpful to those (who don't already have it) that are interested in learning more about how animals speak to us, both symbolically and in nature, as well as shamanism and Native American culture. One recent morning I dreamt about a racoon that rushed by me and then that night saw one running through my back yard. His expression seemed to indicate he had something to tell me. Without having read this book, I might have shrugged it off but it to me is a perfect example of what animals can teach us. The message? Most likely to be a little more guarded in my dealings with others.
I liked too how the author compared the "country" with the city, pointing out that even in a city environment you can still find parts of nature around us. It truly is everywhere, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Loved this book. It covers so many animals, you'll be hard pressed not to find your familiar, guide, etc. described in these pages. The book gives you the quick reference in it's "keynote" which is in bold at the top of each animal description. For example, the bear says "Keynote: Awakening the power of the unconscious", and then proceeds to give a page or so description of each of the animals symbolism and power points as well as what the animal may be trying to tell you about yourself.
There is of course a section on finding your familiar (animal guide) as well. I have performed this "ritual" slightly tweeked to my own style, and it worked incredibly well for me. My familiar at that time was a Blue Jay and believe me, when I say this is to find your familiar, there is no mistaking it when this mystery animal comes to call. That Blue Jay, on several occasions flew right down in front of me and chirped it's head off a mere five feet away - maybe that far - to get my attention. FYI, my use of the word "ritual" is for lack of a better word. This is not a complicated endevor. Andrews style is straight forward and easy to use "magick".
I strongly recommend this book for anyone wanting to connect with animal guides or is curious about some animal who seems to be showing up in their lives in an unusual manner - maybe they are trying to tell you something!

Ted Andrews brings us an outstanding resource on our relationships with animals as reflections of our participation in the collective consciousness. He explains how animals present us with signs and omens that alert us to what is going on in our inner consciousness and how our awareness and intentions manifest into the outer world. Going further into spiritual dimensions, as we waken to our interconnections with all that is, we become more conscious of our co-creation with the ALL.

Andrews points out that many people view such suggestions as no more than superstitions. Superstitions, he points out, are "not based upon knowledge or reason. Superstitions often involve irrational fears and behaviours. Superstitions often involve actions that are taken to avoid bad luck. Relationships and correspondences between natural elements and one's own life are not formed from a base of knowledge." (p. 44)

In contrast with superstitious beliefs, which interpret any occurrence of a particular event as representing a given meaning, Andrews explains how nature offers us signs and omens that invite us to understand our relationships with nature, the worlds within us, and spiritual worlds beyond. He has extensive dictionaries for bird and animal totems and what they may convey.

Andrews also suggests ways in which we can open to deeper awarenesses of these realms.

It is not surprising that this book has sold over 300,000 copies.

Now, I'll try to make this as easy as possible for those of you who don't know what Totems are. Totems are Spirit Guides (spirits who help you along on your journeys through life) that come to you in the form of animals. A Totem can be any animal that you have a strange connection to. This book is very good when it comes to the topic of Totems. Trust me, I've done a lot of studying and have seen a lot of information, but this has the most extensive collection of knowledge.
The best part of the book that is original that you can find few other places is it's huge dictionary of animal Totems. You can look up your Totem animal in the dictionary and it will give you the animal's history and folklore. It will also give you suggestions for someone who has that Totem. But that isn't the only good thing about the book. This book teaches you to find Totems if you don't yet knoww how. It tells you how to meditate to find your Totems, or, for the less patient, it gives other ways, too. Animal Speak also teaches you to read Totems in your life. Other topics include things that you won't find in other books like the Preadator and Prey Theory, magic with bird feathers, honoring your animal Totems in many ways, and working with TOtem medicine. All of these are extremely useful and you can learn about the topic greatly. This good and all, but the book is not reccomended for beginners on Totem study and preferable for advanced people serious about the subject. The book is okay for starters, but some things are not explained as well as they should be for those who know nothing about Totems. Totems are a very interesting topic and this book is very good for the adventerous one that you know.

Ted Andrew's book is a rather popular book on totemism for those new to the topic. His work, while good for a general overview on the subject, is certainly not the be-all and end-all of any kind of totemism. A lot of the books pages are taken up by an animal dictionary, which while an informative read, is somewhat counterintuitive to personal symbolism at times. One thing I do like about this book is that it doesn't directly bolster itself as being "Native American" or working off of "genuine Native American totemism" which it certainly is not of which you sometimes see in other books. However, the cover of the book and some of the drawings within the book itself may unfortunately give off that imprecision. Regardless, it is a rather good beginners book to totemism and working with animals.

_Animal-Speak_ contains a variety of useful resources for anyone interested in totem/spirit animals, and how to get more in touch with the various animal energies within oneself. There are chapters on "awakening to your spirit totems," "the mystery and magic of predator & prey" relations, "reading signs and omens in nature," and numerous other subjects, seventeen in all.
I find the most useful part of the book to be the "dictionaries" of the various totems - Andrews has separate sections for reptiles, birds, and mammals, and each animal has from several paragraphs to several pages of information about what that spirit animals various meanings are. Generally, I find his descriptions interesting, though at times, he seems to think he's being terribly insightful when it seems more like he's grasping at straws, or pointing out the obvious.
This book will likely help anyone interested in learning more about animal totems. I recommend it, though advise readers to take some of it with a grain of salt - when working with these kinds of books, I believe it's very important to use several resources. This helps prevent carrying one author's biases into one's own belief system.

Animals, plants, landscape, and spirits are powerful energies.

A representation of those are power items - Totems. This book tells much about various types of animals - birds, land dwelling species, aquatic species, insects, and reptiles, Each provides emotional support, and each is associated with some part of the psyche.

Anyone looking for animal meditation, animal guides, shamanism or just wanting to read about animals this is a great book.

Particularly after a particular animal, bird or insect crosses my path in a way which causes me to really take notice, I consult this book, and always find it extremely helpful. It's engagingly written, with a complete index so you can easily look up whatever you wish. In the first part of the book, Ted Andrews also presents an initiatory magical system in animal totemism. This is written in both an in-depth and practical way, so people could incorporate these insights into their lives. Also, I haven't read any Ted Andrews' other books. But, based on the depth of spiritual and psychological insight I see here, I would certainly check out his other books concerning related topics in spirituality, and practical magic.

"The most common belief in many societies is that spiritual guides often use animals or animal imagery to communicate their purpose and roles to humans." -From the book.

I was drawn to this book several years ago when I had a recurring dream about an animal and felt sure that there was an important message in it for me. I have used it several times since to look up the meaning associated with certain animals that came across my path. We may think that these encounters are random or coincidental, but they're not. Often we don't see signs that are right in front of us. Does it take a billboard to get you to take notice? For me, sometimes it does, but I have tried to slow down and pay attention to these subtle natural nudges because a lot of times, they contain a powerful message or just good advice! Just as symbols, seeing/encountering certain animals may, on the surface have no meaning to us, but our subconcious knows what it means.

There is a HUGE amount of information in this book. It is very interesting to read. In addition to finding out the meanings/messages of animals, it also tells you how to find out what your nature totems are and how to work with that energy.

In chapter 4 'Reading signs and omens in nature' there are charts for the meanings or symbolism of certain trees and flowers and the positive/negative qualities of colors.

Highly interesting book and great to have for reference.

This is one of those books that I always keep close at hand. As an animal communicator, this book is invaluable to me. I wish that I owned two copies, so that I could have one at home next to my computer and one for the road. I love the way the book is organized, first by the basics of animal totems, and then by animals and different landscapes. I know that when an animal comes to me, I can open up "Animal-Speak" and find exactly what I am looking for. When I do my annual animal of the month forecast for my website, Talk2theAnimals, I always use this book to find the symbolism in each animal. That animal is a guide for me for an entire month, and "Animal-Speak" is likewise a guide for me.

Ted Andrews' book "Animal-Speak" is a marvelous reference tool to keep on hand when you are studying animals or working with animals. This book and Ted Andrews' other books (like "Animal-Wise Tarot") have been extremely beneficial to me in learning more about animals and how they help me in my everyday life. If you're interested in animals and want to learn more about they mean and symbolize, then this is a great book for you. A fascinating read all around, and a book I'll cherish forever!

Harmony,
Janet Roper

I lived in santa fe for 5 years, not that that really qualifies me for anything, but it sure was a huge factor in the transformation that took place in me. So I went from manic, road rage, type A city dweller to being able to know and communicate with my spirit guides, journey with my totem animal, stuff like that.

I looked at two things: anemone's other reviews and a few bios on ted andrews (I bought his aura book 15 years ago and didn't even realize it was this guy until I looked at his other books). Anyway, she's done three other reviews, all very critical of either the book/author or one of the other reviewers.

As for Ted Williams, his record is credible enough for me. If her negative review gives you pause for thought, Google him and then decide for yourself.

When I first encountered this book, I thought that it looked like a bible, it was so big!

I spent one and a half years reading it thoroughly and taking notes in order to help myself integrate its information better (this I always do with all my spiritual and metaphysical books).
Writing notes, underlining sentences and paragraphs, using colors, making annotations on the margins of my books ... goes against what I was told at school: "you must not write on your books".

But since I study and not read my spiritual literature, I must admit that my books become unfit to be borrowed (basically, they look disgusting inside! Well, maybe I am exaggerating) but they become working documents. Normally I embed my life with the information that appears in these books and so they become part of the tapestry of what I am experiencing at the time. I wouldn't do it any other way.

And yes, it does take much longer to read a book in this way, but I find that not only I slow down my ever thirsty-for-knowledge brain but also, I own the book, its information, its message, its spirit. The book becomes part of my life and my life becomes part of the universal mind as I feel that my vibrations become powerful and clear.

More than anything else, my reading becomes a meditation. I disappear in the book. I live it and I am in the book.

When I started to go through its pages and I came across the notion of bird energy: birds are so light and they breathe about 500 times per second when they fly. Ted says that rather than breathing the air they seem to fly into the air.

And then he says that in the same fashion, we don't need to be everywhere doing all the work: we can send our energy to do our work for us in advance.

I was so excited about this concept that I remember writing a massive letter to my today's husband, at the time a boyfriend of just one month! (How didn't he realize that I was totally mad at the time and stuck with me is beyond my grasp).

This concept resonated with me so much that it actually shifted me on the spot and allowed me to abandon the path of struggle and start in the path of effortlessness. I was able to start surrendering to the energetic currents of my life and of the wider universe and I was able to start visualizing my future, clearly and powerfully. I started to back off (or was my ego the one which started to back off?) and started to become a conscious co-creator of my life.
I became a bird. I became light.

And this was only a tiny-winy learning that I got from this book. Many more lessons came afterwards... And then I realized that indeed, this book was a bible! A bible of the natural world and its living creatures interacting with us in order to help us grow in balance and harmony with mother earth.

And it was at that time, at the beginning of my spiritual work, when I remember vividly having a very short conversation with the Earth.
Just like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind stood up on the top of the hill and, with her fist raised to the wind, she made a solemn promise: I promise that from this moment forwards, nor me or anyone of my family will ever be hungry again, I told the Earth Spirit, with all the passion and emotion I could gather: I know that many of us are stripping and killing you but I make you a promise today: as per today, whenever you talk to me, I will listen.

And that has been a promise that I have never broken, and neither do I ever intend to.

Ever wonder why 4 deer walked in front of you this morning? or why you keep seeing the same little rabbit every evening for a week and then never again? Well, this book can tell you why AND MORE! Not only does Ted give descriptions of animals, birds and insects and their spiritual messages to us, but he also gives info on colors, trees, direction, etc.
This book is filled with all kinds of useful information to help you understand the messages given to us by the plant and animal kingdoms. He gives tips on how to find your Power Animals, how to attune yourself to animal energies, backgrounds on different spiritual practices involving communicating with animal spirits, and SO MUCH MORE! Granted, this is just his opinion, but who better to give an opinion than someone who is so intuned with the spiritual! I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a must for anyone exploring their spirituality, their connection to earth and animal kingdoms, and those looking to decipher possible messages that they bring to us. If you find that the animal/bird/insect you are looking for is not covered in this book, then I recommend his other book as well: Animal-Wise.
I own both books and use them on almost a daily basis.

This is such an informative book. Great to take on trips. It goes thru much of the animal kingdom, telling us more and more about each creature, in both thier actions in the world and the metaphysical medicine, or energies, each of these creatures brings to us. My meditation groups uses the Animal-Speak book all the time to look up the meanings of the different animals that come to them in altered states. The more we use the book, the more the animals appear. What a great way for the unconscious to communicate to us, through these wonderful animal totoms and thier powers. Easy to read book. Very useful. We keep a copy in the car to look up the messages of the different animals that choose to appear to us on our path. thanks :-)

My copy of Animal Speak has come loose at the binder and has separated into 4 different sections now from so much use! As a shamanic practitioner and teacher, Animal Speak gets opened and perused and read and reread at least 20 times per week. This resource is a must to own as you will want to look things up over and over again along your spiritual journey. As an author of several books on shamanism and healing, Seeing in the Dark: Claim Your Own Shamanic Power Now and in the Coming Age,Energy for Life: Connect with the Source (Next Step), and Inner Power: Six Techniques for Increased Energy & Self-HealingI have a deep appreciation for Ted's work.

Animal Speak is *the* best book you can buy about animal spirits/energies. I have another book that I refer to sometimes, but 'Animal Speak' is the first one I reach for when researching animal totems.

He gives lots of very detailed information on just about any common animal/bird/etc that you would want info on. I've had a few that I was doing that was not in the book, but the majority of those I've looked for was found in 'Animal Speak'.

It is the one I recommend to anyone interested in animal spirits and totems. If you search the web for a particular totem, you will most always find something copied from this book.

Part of understanding the Self is about connecting with other beings. Learn about how animals represent aspects of ourselves in powerful ways that will give you more intuitive guidance into who you are and the symbolic meaning of events in your life. Animal-Speak is a wonderful reference book and very fun and easy to read. As an artist I often use animals as symbols in my paintings and over the years, Animal-Speak have been a constant source of wisdom about the archetypal symbolism represented by a large variety of animals.

Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Spiritual Guidebook & 22 Wisdom Cards for Contemplation & Prayer (based on the 22 major arcana of the tarot)

I am especially fond of this book because my introduction to Wicca was a hodgepodge of online research and help from a friend who considers herself a shaman, but not a Wiccan. My spiritual relationship was built with my animal totem before I really understood the God and Goddess. I use Animal Speak to look up animals when I see them in the wild, or when they appear in dreams. Animal spirit guides are great helpers to Wiccans, they are easier relate to than deities.

I think the research here is well done, and I like Ted Andrew's writing style, which is informative and interesting without being *gasp, shudder* "fluffy". I think you will find this book especially useful if you worship outdoors more than inside at your altar. This book is a useful field guide to the signs and pathways the natural world and our animal friends can show us.

There are lots of books on this subject these days, all advertising that they have information on how you can contact your spirit guides and interpret their presence in your life, but Andrews' is the only book I've used that REALLY achieves what its advertising promises. He approaches his subject -- and the reader -- with reverence and respect, and stays away from the "mystical mumbo jumbo" too many other books seem to lean so heavily on these days. I've found his insights to be right on the money every time. I use his book not only in researching and understanding spirit guides, but as a tool for dream interpretation as well. It's an excellent book.

I paid for this and several other items and can no longer access them. I have unistalled and reinstalled both the book(s) and the app, and tried to contact customer service. The problem still has not been fixed. I will not purchase anymore e-books through the store.

This book has been very helpful to me to see and realize the subtle animal energies and how the affect and manifest in my life. The book is set up like a dictionary, with the animals in alphabetical order if you just wish to thumb through it. After the animal name, it states its medicine cycle and it's keynote, before going in-depth. It also contains meditations, and different ways to recognize an animals medicine in your life.
I have seen this book quoted, and outright copied on the net (sometimes, sadly without credit to the author), but it is indeed well worth having a copy for yourself.

The Alchemical Woman A Handbook for Everyday Soulwork

For the past 25 years, the Skunk has been my animal totem - serving me as a guide to self-respect in all I do. Just this morning in my meditation I realized I no longer needed the personal protection of my totem the Skunk and gratefully released it from responsibility to me. I then invited the Grizzly Bear to walk with me on my journey. As soon as I finished my meditation, I immediately turned to my copy of Animal Speak and read through the pages on the Bear. It was amazing to me how perfectly it fit into the new work I'm embarking on - it even mentions alchemy, which as you can see from the book I'm promoting above - The Alchemical Woman - is amazingly connected to this Bear energy.

I often refer to this book when particular creatures show up and catch my attention. It's very helpful to raising my awareness of things I'm too busy to pay attention to and have great significance in my life. It's a stop and smell the roses guide.

Thank you, Ted Andrews, for your diligent study and the beautiful book you brought into my life.

This book was a gift two friends of mine made to me. I really thank them. It is a spirituality oriented book, and it contains much material of general interest on animal habits and human folklore that rotates around them, from tha "auguri" of ancient Rome, where fortune telling was told by the flight of the birds, to more recent simbology and interpretations, the author really loves animals. More of all the main aspect of the book is to "remind us" that we have always shared the earth with nature and Nature still keeps teaching us lessons every day, if we just observe it. It is very interesting even for people that are outside of neopagan totemism. 5 Stars^^

Every since my friend showed me her book I've been wanting to get my hands on it. This book is great. Not only does it tell you the medicine of over 100 animals it also gives you several ways to connect with nature and everything around you, including your own power totem. Ted Andrews is a wonderful author who not only wants you to be aware of the power that is within you, but the power that is all around you all the time. I highly recommended this book to any one who has a love for nature and animals or anyone who wants to reconnect with what they have lost!

I have owned Animal Speak for several years and have found it fascinating in reference to my own life also to family and friends. It has been helpful and enlightening to read Ted Andrews interpretation of the natural world,and in particular the animals. These often indicate helpful paths for progress and understanding. It is not a book which I personally would read from 'cover to cover',rather dip into as a reference. It is a strong but gentle book for those who wish to learn more about themselves or others. Of value to anyone's bookshelf.

I am a non-denominational Christian...and I LOVE animals. After picking up this book years ago, at a good friend's house...my view on how to communicate with God was forever changed. I have shared this philosophy with many people, since that time. I firmly believe that we can draw encouragement and strength from wildlife and all forms of life around us...if we look at them in the light of the Creator. If we can realize nature as God's creation...which so many of us believe it is....then we can also begin to see God communicate with us through nature. As simple as seeing a hawk everyday...that tells me that God is watching over me. My guardian...God is in the hawk....and there is ALWAYS a hawk watching over me. We often wonder how God can be "everywhere at the same time". Now we know. This book won't make you a believer in the Lord...at least not directly. It won't directly feed your faith, either. For those with a faith based belief, or those who already worship the Lord...this book will open your mind to unfathomable communication with God. For those of you who may not so readily accept the Lord as our Creator....I firmly believe you will soon realize how very much of God is in every little creature. You should hopefully begin to hear the things that your Lord is trying to tell you. He loves us and wants us to love others. We are all equal to one another, sinners all alike. Nature is for everyone...all of us. And if we actually listen and watch...we will see the messages before us>.

Andrews is obviously very knowledgeable about his subject, and the book is well laid-out. It is important to remember that when dealing with animal totems, symbols, or dream interpretation for that matter, what that thing means to you personally is what's important. That said, this is a good basic guide to the traditional meanings of animal totems, and their value in everyday life.
- Nicole Wilde, author Energy Healing for Dogs: Using Hands-On Healing to Improve Canine Health and Behavior

This book was recommended to me several years ago, and since reading it I regularly refer to it as an informational resource. On many occasions I have been amazed at how relevant the information about a particular creature was to what I was experiencing at the time it happened to cross my path. I found Animal Speak to be of such value to me that I chose to include an excerpt from it within my own book. As such, I highly recommend it to any person who has interest in the spiritual path.

One of the two books that I haven't found too tainted by the New Age to include in my bookshelf. Although, as always, I dislike the "anyone can do this" feel of this book, the information within on the totems is wonderful, and I commend him for stressing that just because Wolf happens to be a popualar animal right now does not mean that He is your guide. I've met too many who claim to be of Wolf who make the claim for their ego. But overall, a better find than most of the bull I find in the "occult" sections of the bookstores.

Whether you see animals in real life or just in your dreams, they are communicating with you. Ted Andrews' enchanting book, ANIMAL-SPEAK, is the best reference book to such animal messages that I've seen. While not all animals are included in the book (that would require a HUGE book!), this book certainly does contain very relevant information about a large number of creatures. The author's love of animals is clear from the start, and he provides fascinating tid-bits of little-known information as well as numerous personal anecdotes.
Whether you've been wishing you could understand those perplexing dreams with animals, if you want to choose an animal totem, or if you're ready to start practicing shape-shifting into animal form -- this book is just what you've been waiting for!

I began learning about animals and there symbolisms through this book. If I wouldn't have found this book, I would not have learned in detail what every person should know about animals and the different cultures that used them as symbols for their ceremonies and lives. I highly suggest to anyone to pick this up and to learn as much as they can about god's creatures. Ted Andrews will always be an inspiration to young writers like myself. thank you for letting me speak my mind.

Since the first publishing of Animal-Speak in 1993, this book has increased in popularity. Many of Ted Andrew's writings have been featured on various websites discussing "animal totems". A shamanistic practitioner, Mr. Andrews speaks to people's desire to understand animals.

Although the author intersperses animal lore and practical means of knowing animals, the majority of the book describes shamanistic rituals on contacting your "power animals". Mr. Andrews writes for the audience familiar with various New Age concepts. Readers unfamiliar with New Age beliefs can skip over those parts of the book. The animal lessons are clearly understandable for everybody.

"Animal-Speak" covers a wide variety of Warm-looded Ones and Winged Ones but few Crawling Ones. The book's coverage of Cold-Blooded Ones is restricted to "Alligators and Crocodiles", "Frogs", "Lizards", "Snake" and "Turtle". Chameleon is covered in a separate entry. (In his later books, Ted Andrews expands his coverage of Cold-Blooded Ones.) Before introducing various animal groups, the author explains, in detail, about that group's particular characteristics.

One animal lesson Ted Andrews writes about considers what Beetle has to teach. Beetle's Keynote Word is "Resurrection". Unlike Warm-Blooded Ones and Winged Ones, Crawling Ones such as Beetle do not have a "Cycle of Power," when Beetle is more influential on a person's life. An excerpt of Beetle's teaching is, "As with many insects, the beetle goes through a tremendous metamorphosis from the grub stage to the winged. Because of this, it is associated with resurrection and change. If the beetle has shown up in your life, examine the need for metamorphosis."

Although Ted Andrew's language is sometimes obtuse and difficult to penetrate, many people have found this book worthwhile. What the reader will discover in their readings on "animal wisdom" that many "animal totem" systems are based on ideas presented in this book. Add this book to your library to discern more original work on Animal Teachers.

A marvelous reference book, I've had this book for years and first found it while I was writing a page on nature for The Denver Post in the mid-90s. This book has taught me much about animals and their cultural roles. The book deepened my respect for animals and my ability to understand their teachings. For any animal-lover in your life, this book offers insights. I rush to it whenever I sense an animal totem in my life.

This is a wonderful book that teaches about each animal and the power each species gives to us. I have worn out my copy. It is a classic. I hope that more books will be forthcoming with more insights about other creatures. It is a shame that negative reviewers dwell on differences in skin color among readers. The message the animals are giving us is that they are here to help us all, no matter where our ancestors came from on this wonderful planet that we all share. Nobody owns exclusive rights to knowledge of truth. Truth is meant to be shared freely. The people, the animals, the rocks, the plants, the ocean, the sky, the earth, the fire are all one.

This is another one of those books that I bought on a whim. I was standing in the bookstore and I picked it up out of sheer desperation. I was going on a very long trip by bus with nothing to read and I couldn't find anything that interested me in the bookstore. What I got from this impulse buy was one of the most rewarding books that I have ever read. I have always held a deep love and respect for the animal kingdom and this book helped me recognize that on some level that respect was mutual and that animals can help and guide us through our everyday life.

Fantastic rescource book...If you have an encounter with an animal and you wish to know more about what the animal is about on a spiritual level, LOOK IT UP. The more you read and re-read, the more you learn. But for goodness sake don't throw your brain in the bin while you do!! Relying on text alone is never a good idea, and it's not as if any book written was written just for you! FEEL while you read, you'll know when you have found the information you were seeking....And be HONEST enough with yourself to make the meassage worth the effort the spirits went through to bring it to you..though it may be exactly what you didn't want to see or hear or know at all.
Blessed Be!!

In this book, you will discover how much the "animal world" and the "human world" intersect. Much more than making us feel good about being surrounded by nature, animals have much to tell us about ourselves and our relationship to the earth and to other living things. Andrews has divided the book into 4 parts - 'Symbols in the Natural World' (including chapters on the roles of nature, spirit totems, predators and prey, omens in nature, and the meaning of landscapes); 'Winged Enchantment' (bird totems and bird medicine); 'Understanding Animal Medicine' (animal rites and totems); and 'The Exotic Language of Insects and Reptiles' (totems). Each animal or bird or insect or reptile included in this vast inventory is described thoroughly - it's behavioral patterns and natural habitat, its mythological characteristics, AND its symbolic importance to humans. I have used this book repeatedly to help me interpret dreams in which animals were central, and to investigate why a certain animal or insect, etc. showed up in my life on a particular day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is open to non-traditional but very ancient beliefs about animals and their magical and mysterious powers.

I found this book gives me an open mind to how we can communicate with our "feathered friends". It is amazing, just keep your eyes open around you {work, driving, outside of your home, etc...) We all have something looking out for us, but you must realize it for your faith to grow in Mother Earth and Father Sky. This is a wonderful way to get in touch with our animal friends, and them to keep themselves dedicated to you. It all makes sense once you find your "feathery friend"...we all have some. I have 7, they give peace of mind and shed beauty over any area I'm at. This book will bring good things to you!

If you are into animals and nature, or want to learn more about them on a spiritual level, this is the book for you. I couldn't put it down from the moment I began reading it. And it's not a small book by any means!
You really begin to look for the animals around you more closely and attentively. Especially when going hiking or camping, you become aware and note down what animals you saw and under what circumstances, and then look it up later in the book. It is surprisingly accurate, and fun on top of it!

Being an avid book collector, I own many of Ted Andrews' books. This is one of the most informative books on the spiritual attributes or "powers" of many different animals. Complete with some great exercises for exploring animal energies and inviting these energies into one's life, this book makes a great addition to anyone interested in the subject of "power animals."

---Rev. Jeff

[...]

This book is extremely long and at times very boring because Ted likes to write in a very 'matter-of-fact' way. Also he likes repeating himself over and over again, going into cycles to make a point. I can not sit and read this book for more than 45 minutes before going to sleep. But this is not what the book is for. It would be silly and very awkward to read the whole book. This book is more for reference. You need info about a totem, you flip to the page. Most likely you will be able to find this animal (or at least an animal close to it) considering this book teaches the language and wisdom of hundreds of them. This book is reasonably priced and it is evident that Ted had taken a lot of time researching and writing this book. At first I was fooled thinking that "Animal Speak" would teach you how to communicate with animals.

If you ever wonder about the message held in the appearance of animals in your daily life or in your dreams, this book provides clear, magical and useful observations to deepen your experience. We are all connected, creatures of a Wholeness that manifests in surprising ways. And if you are open to it, you can hear a whisper of meaning and transformation, your self reflected, in the animals that surround you. I highly recommend this book as a way to open your self to this kind of spiritual change and real life adventure.

I have been reading about/practicing with Animal Communication, and other holistic modalities (such as Reiki and Flower Essences) for awhile, and trying to find a path which puts it all together. Andrew's book has given me a tremendous set of insights into the basis for my beliefs and spiritual path, an intuitive foundation. Such ideas as communication starts with listening, respect and trust. And, as Andrew's mentions in his book, "They (Shamans) helped people remember that all trees are divine and that all animals speak to those who listen". (Page 1). One more quote, from page X, "When we learn to speak with the animals.....the animals are no longer our subordinates. They become our teachers, our friends, and our companions". He presents many such insights in the book, which give words to many of the thoughts and beliefs I hold.
Great reading for anyone who is pursuing a spiritual path which includes reverence for nature in any form. Thanks to Ted Andrews, from the animals.

An essential part of any of the collection for those interested in animal guide and totemic work, or with connecting more closely with the forces of earth, nature and spirit.

Ted Andrews describes in very practical ways the methods of connecting, helping readers on a broad range of levels to understand and utilise the content to its fullest possibilities. This book has stood the test of time, as useful and practical today as when it was written, which is why it still holds its value. I recommend buying Animal Wise as a follow up to Animal Speak.

It is one of those kind of books that you always keep handy and take on trips. I know that with time it will have curled pages, yellow highlights, and frayed edges from all of the frequent use as a resource of information. The more you study the meaning of the animal, the more it will come to visit you! I have hummingbirds visiting me often!

I bought this book to give as a gift. I also own one for many years. It was my first book regarding animals in the spiritual sense. I have other books by Ted Andrews and his knowledge is amazing. If you want to understand in your life what an animal means when it appears, whether in your home, place of business, while walking in your neighborhood or at a nearby park, this is the book. If you want to work with animal energy, this is a wonderful way to be guided and perhaps connect with nature. It opened a new way for me because I had visions of animals while doing spiritual healings and I did not understand what it meant until I read this book. It is sort of a bible for me. I enjoy referring to this book always.

And I do, so this is a Superb Reference Book! Andrews thows everything at the wall about every insect, animal, etc.--from Native American symbolism to Greek symbolism to pagan beliefs and on and on. Sometimes it seems a little too comprehensive and not discriminating enough--as if EVERYTHING is a symbol for water and therefore maybe time to take a look at your feminine energies, therefore create, therefore. . . . But we're grown-ups, we can do our own distinguishing.
He also covers everything from numerology to symbolic qualities of trees and flowers and everything distantly related to the topic. It's truly comprehensive and eminently readable. If you have any belief in this stuff, buy the book!

Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small

Great book, I had seen Ted Andrews in person, what an incredible man. I already had so many books at the time, I did not buy it then and have him sign it. But recently it is the time of skunks and well, I have just seen/smell for several weeks. My friend has the book, and she read me the section about skunks, and it was amazing. how much of what it had to say about skunks, from strength, relationships, boundaries, sensuality, were the things I was looking at in my life. So I decided to buy the book after all, and it is a great thing.

The beauty of this book is, I think, not only its practicality - it also has a great sensitivity for the animals it covers. The book has a 'truth' to it which transcends what might otherwise be a fun but transitory publication. It is a long-term bestseller and deservedly so. It fits between other more 'soft-focus' books on animal wisdom based on, perhaps, less research, and the 'deeper' books which engage the reader with the timeless traditions of animal powers. Best-known among the latter are those of the Native Americans, but people of European descent have shamanic and spiritual closeness with animals as described, for example, in books like The Way of Wyrd and The Wisdom of the Wyrd. African traditions feature in the books of Malidoma Some. I highly recommend Ted Andrews' book as a practical tool, and as an introduction to a wonderful and profound topic.

This book, when I first read it a couple of years it ago, it solidified the belief I had about my strong connection with the fauna of the world. I think that this is a must read for any who want a strong foundation with Animal Totems. I have since been in intense study with Animal Totems, and it is due to this book that I have been able to continue my journey. So buy this book, read it, and continue your own personal journey!

When I walked past this book it almost jumped of the shelf at me. I knew I had to buy it and since then it has been a very important part of my life. It has helped me understand many things about my self and the Animal realm. If you've never read it, reed it and if you've read it, reed it again, it gets better every time.

This is an incredible book. I would like to highly recommend Ted's book to anybody interested in learning how to talk to and understand and even help animals. If you have any interest in understanding animals, whether it is as a Horse Whisperer or any other kind of animal communicator, then this book is a must buy.

A great resource for anyone, but in particular, for those who are descendants of Native Americans who are experiencing Animal Medicine and want to understand what's going on, like Mexican Americans. Lots of information was obtained through Native American shaman from tribes still intact, unlike the Aztec tribal elders who were lost in the Aztec Holocaust.

Finally a book that assists in the completion of the understanding of animal metaphors. This book is a must for all readers seeking to understand the Native American Mythological systems. This book lets the reader easily look up and understand the animals that show up in our life and what the message is that they might be bringing.

This is what I tell my shaman clients about Animal Speak. Ted Andrews has brought the modern world, what every indigenous culture held as the most valuable information to learn early on in life. Ted, more than anyone I know, embodied this information, and shares it with great clarity and insight. This, and other of Ted's books, is the quintescential reference for having the best human experience you can. Everyone should own this book.

Dreaming Your World Into Being: The Shaman's Secrets To Having The Life You Desire Now

This is the most complete yet easiest book to use when seeking to learn about animal helpers, the gift of each, its meaning and its use. The book is alphabetized, making it easy and fast to find the information you need. With each animal listing is its gift, cycle of power, the animal's traits, and its medicine. The beginning of the book has some basic information about the power of nature and several prayers and rituals. This book is full of the wisdom that we all need to help us learn about the power of animal medicine and how we can use it to walk our paths in harmony and wisdom.

Great book to determine your animal familiar/totem animal. Highly recommend it if you are interested in these sort of topics. Has a large list at the back of the book of animals, what they symbolize, and how you can incorporate their power in your life; plus another very large list specifically for different kinds of birds. I definitely enjoyed the book.

I received this book as a gift after a red tailed hawk made a visit to me every day for a week. In this book, according to Native American traditions, animals relate to us because everything in the earth is connected. There are messages being sent to us by these sightings. A fox runs out across the road (and hopefully, you miss it) not once, but three times? Red tailed hawk sitting on a street light along the highway every day for a week? All of a sudden, a squirrel comes to your yard and does something that catches your attention that you never noticed before? All of that has a message to you and you alone. I recently purchased two of these books as gifts for my sisters. And, they have shared it with their friends who have had similar sightings. Sounds kookie, I know, but it actually will make sense to you when the message is meant for you.

One of the greatest resources for understanding of the animals that we share this world with. There are many resources but this book gives some of the very best snapshots of the qualities these animals carrry.

This book is extremely long and at times very boring because Ted likes to write in a very 'matter-of-fact' way. Also he likes repeating himself over and over again, going into cycles to make a point. I can not sit and read this book for more than 45 minutes before going to sleep. But this is not what the book is for. It would be silly and very awkward to read the whole book. This book is more for reference. You need info about a totem, you flip to the page. Most likely you will be able to find this animal (or at least an animal close to it) considering this book teaches the language and wisdom of hundreds of them. This book is reasonably priced and it is evident that Ted had taken a lot of time researching and writing this book. At first I was fooled thinking that "Animal Speak" would teach you how to communicate with animals.

If you ever wonder about the message held in the appearance of animals in your daily life or in your dreams, this book provides clear, magical and useful observations to deepen your experience. We are all connected, creatures of a Wholeness that manifests in surprising ways. And if you are open to it, you can hear a whisper of meaning and transformation, your self reflected, in the animals that surround you. I highly recommend this book as a way to open your self to this kind of spiritual change and real life adventure.

I have been reading about/practicing with Animal Communication, and other holistic modalities (such as Reiki and Flower Essences) for awhile, and trying to find a path which puts it all together. Andrew's book has given me a tremendous set of insights into the basis for my beliefs and spiritual path, an intuitive foundation. Such ideas as communication starts with listening, respect and trust. And, as Andrew's mentions in his book, "They (Shamans) helped people remember that all trees are divine and that all animals speak to those who listen". (Page 1). One more quote, from page X, "When we learn to speak with the animals.....the animals are no longer our subordinates. They become our teachers, our friends, and our companions". He presents many such insights in the book, which give words to many of the thoughts and beliefs I hold.
Great reading for anyone who is pursuing a spiritual path which includes reverence for nature in any form. Thanks to Ted Andrews, from the animals.

An essential part of any of the collection for those interested in animal guide and totemic work, or with connecting more closely with the forces of earth, nature and spirit.

Ted Andrews describes in very practical ways the methods of connecting, helping readers on a broad range of levels to understand and utilise the content to its fullest possibilities. This book has stood the test of time, as useful and practical today as when it was written, which is why it still holds its value. I recommend buying Animal Wise as a follow up to Animal Speak.

It is one of those kind of books that you always keep handy and take on trips. I know that with time it will have curled pages, yellow highlights, and frayed edges from all of the frequent use as a resource of information. The more you study the meaning of the animal, the more it will come to visit you! I have hummingbirds visiting me often!

I bought this book to give as a gift. I also own one for many years. It was my first book regarding animals in the spiritual sense. I have other books by Ted Andrews and his knowledge is amazing. If you want to understand in your life what an animal means when it appears, whether in your home, place of business, while walking in your neighborhood or at a nearby park, this is the book. If you want to work with animal energy, this is a wonderful way to be guided and perhaps connect with nature. It opened a new way for me because I had visions of animals while doing spiritual healings and I did not understand what it meant until I read this book. It is sort of a bible for me. I enjoy referring to this book always.

And I do, so this is a Superb Reference Book! Andrews thows everything at the wall about every insect, animal, etc.--from Native American symbolism to Greek symbolism to pagan beliefs and on and on. Sometimes it seems a little too comprehensive and not discriminating enough--as if EVERYTHING is a symbol for water and therefore maybe time to take a look at your feminine energies, therefore create, therefore. . . . But we're grown-ups, we can do our own distinguishing.
He also covers everything from numerology to symbolic qualities of trees and flowers and everything distantly related to the topic. It's truly comprehensive and eminently readable. If you have any belief in this stuff, buy the book!

Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small

Great book, I had seen Ted Andrews in person, what an incredible man. I already had so many books at the time, I did not buy it then and have him sign it. But recently it is the time of skunks and well, I have just seen/smell for several weeks. My friend has the book, and she read me the section about skunks, and it was amazing. how much of what it had to say about skunks, from strength, relationships, boundaries, sensuality, were the things I was looking at in my life. So I decided to buy the book after all, and it is a great thing.

The beauty of this book is, I think, not only its practicality - it also has a great sensitivity for the animals it covers. The book has a 'truth' to it which transcends what might otherwise be a fun but transitory publication. It is a long-term bestseller and deservedly so. It fits between other more 'soft-focus' books on animal wisdom based on, perhaps, less research, and the 'deeper' books which engage the reader with the timeless traditions of animal powers. Best-known among the latter are those of the Native Americans, but people of European descent have shamanic and spiritual closeness with animals as described, for example, in books like The Way of Wyrd and The Wisdom of the Wyrd. African traditions feature in the books of Malidoma Some. I highly recommend Ted Andrews' book as a practical tool, and as an introduction to a wonderful and profound topic.

This book, when I first read it a couple of years it ago, it solidified the belief I had about my strong connection with the fauna of the world. I think that this is a must read for any who want a strong foundation with Animal Totems. I have since been in intense study with Animal Totems, and it is due to this book that I have been able to continue my journey. So buy this book, read it, and continue your own personal journey!

When I walked past this book it almost jumped of the shelf at me. I knew I had to buy it and since then it has been a very important part of my life. It has helped me understand many things about my self and the Animal realm. If you've never read it, reed it and if you've read it, reed it again, it gets better every time.

This is an incredible book. I would like to highly recommend Ted's book to anybody interested in learning how to talk to and understand and even help animals. If you have any interest in understanding animals, whether it is as a Horse Whisperer or any other kind of animal communicator, then this book is a must buy.

A great resource for anyone, but in particular, for those who are descendants of Native Americans who are experiencing Animal Medicine and want to understand what's going on, like Mexican Americans. Lots of information was obtained through Native American shaman from tribes still intact, unlike the Aztec tribal elders who were lost in the Aztec Holocaust.

Finally a book that assists in the completion of the understanding of animal metaphors. This book is a must for all readers seeking to understand the Native American Mythological systems. This book lets the reader easily look up and understand the animals that show up in our life and what the message is that they might be bringing.

This is what I tell my shaman clients about Animal Speak. Ted Andrews has brought the modern world, what every indigenous culture held as the most valuable information to learn early on in life. Ted, more than anyone I know, embodied this information, and shares it with great clarity and insight. This, and other of Ted's books, is the quintescential reference for having the best human experience you can. Everyone should own this book.

Dreaming Your World Into Being: The Shaman's Secrets To Having The Life You Desire Now

This is the most complete yet easiest book to use when seeking to learn about animal helpers, the gift of each, its meaning and its use. The book is alphabetized, making it easy and fast to find the information you need. With each animal listing is its gift, cycle of power, the animal's traits, and its medicine. The beginning of the book has some basic information about the power of nature and several prayers and rituals. This book is full of the wisdom that we all need to help us learn about the power of animal medicine and how we can use it to walk our paths in harmony and wisdom.

Great book to determine your animal familiar/totem animal. Highly recommend it if you are interested in these sort of topics. Has a large list at the back of the book of animals, what they symbolize, and how you can incorporate their power in your life; plus another very large list specifically for different kinds of birds. I definitely enjoyed the book.

I received this book as a gift after a red tailed hawk made a visit to me every day for a week. In this book, according to Native American traditions, animals relate to us because everything in the earth is connected. There are messages being sent to us by these sightings. A fox runs out across the road (and hopefully, you miss it) not once, but three times? Red tailed hawk sitting on a street light along the highway every day for a week? All of a sudden, a squirrel comes to your yard and does something that catches your attention that you never noticed before? All of that has a message to you and you alone. I recently purchased two of these books as gifts for my sisters. And, they have shared it with their friends who have had similar sightings. Sounds kookie, I know, but it actually will make sense to you when the message is meant for you.