Bird Totem necklaces and mirrors

Animal rights activism goes up a notch, during the week leading upto Diwali. You can see a number of posts asking people to avoid bursting crackers as it difficult on animals. While I stopped buying and bursting crackers years ago due to my asthma, I still do enjoy watching fireworks light up the sky every Diwali. But at the same time, I am against extremely noisy crackers. They trouble human and non-human alike. I know people who gave up bursting crackers for their pets. In fact, their lives revolve around their pets who are esteemed members of their family. This got me thinking about the kinship relationships the man has with pets, spirit animals, power animals and totems. Thus this post on Totemism, bird Totem necklaces and Spirit Animals.

Totemism

We live in a more than human world. This world is built upon a series of delicate ecosystems, of which human is just one entity. Human system is based on kinship relations – with friends sometimes being thought of as family. However, man has always depended on the service and benelvolence of plants, animals, insects and birds to not just survive but also thrive. Hence a kinship or a mystical relationship with a spirit-being, such as an animal or plan becomes important. This is the basis of Totemism. The  totem or an emblem or symbol, is thought to interact with a given kin group or an individual and to serve as their guide, benefactor or protector.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the term totem is derived from the Ojibwa word ototeman, meaning “one’s brother-sister kin.” According to Peter Jones, an Ojibwa Methodist missionary, the Great Spirit had given toodaims (“totems”) to the Ojibwa clans, and because of this act, it should never be forgotten that members of the group are related to one another and on this account may not marry among themselves. Since incest prohibition is one of the major rules of most civilisations, totemism is followed in various ways across the world.

Spirit Animals, Power animals

A spirit animal or a spirit guide is different from a totem. A Spirit animal (or bird or even a reptile) is the one that comes to you in order to help you understand and navigate through life – coming and going at will. You may see it in your dreams, in visuals all around you when you are awake, and might keeping coming up in discussions. It can be personal to an individual, which makes it different from a totem which is for the entire family or clan. Some believe that they can summon the advice or support of a spirit guide or a totem. There are rituals and practices to invoke them as well. 

Totems and Totem poles

A totem, on the other hand, may show you, how to deal with your emotional and spiritual journey. A Totem Pole is an arrangement of symbols representing animal totems from the tribe’s ancestral past. The pole’s symbols may often tell a very personal story of the carver himself, as well as that of his own family, clan or tribe. A power animal, through its own unique nature and skills may may help you focus on traits required for your success (or power). You might share some traits of the power animals or your friends might think that you act like that animal. 

Bird Totem necklaces with mirrors

In Fall/Winter Banjaran dreams collection, I have worked on several necklaces that are based on the idea of birds as spirit guides and totems. These Totem necklaces are not direct depictions but rather a quiet nod to the beliefs from various cultures. the vertical patches are a salute to the totem poles with their varied colours and patterns. The embroidery stitches represent the marks left o nthe poles by members of hte family or the clan, adding their own experiences to the myth.

I have also combined beliefs regarding the usage of mirror rituals surrounding spirit guides while making these designs. Birds represent beauty, freedom, and the ability to see the bigger pictures as power animals. Mirrors represent life and death (based on the side on which they are used). They can be used to repel evil or reflect goodwill and prosperity.

Kili (Parrot) Necklace

This is a bright green soft knotted cord lightweight necklace. The focal patch is hand embroidered with mirrors by people of the Banjaran tribes. It is accentuated by 3 inch parrot. The Parrot neon green necklace is available for sale.

Symbolism & meaning

Parrot signifying gregariousness and the ability to get the best out of any situation. This makes them a great power animal for those needing artistic vision and communication skills. Parakeets represent desire for love and life. They offer positvity, love, lust and desire as spirit animals. Peahens and peacocks totems signify grace and beauty. They offers lessons about self-love, reflection, honour, integrity and the importance of facing life’s challenges with courage and confidence.

Totems are powerful due to their symbolic meaning. They embody the energy and the spirit of the forms that they posses. It is believed that by wearing forms of your totem, spirit animal or power animal, you can channel their power.