Celtic totems: Animal allies

The Celts have two types of animal allies:

1. Individual
2. Clanship
What are they?
Animal allies are animals that choose you and represent/ guide you with your purpose in
life. They aid in your supernatural capabilities and serve as your protectors.

The Animal allies: Meanings

● Adder snake (Natair): Associated with wisdom, reincarnation, and cunning
● Badger (Broc): Unyielding in the face of danger, tenacity, and courage
● Bat (Ialtag): Associated with the underworld, adaptive in avoiding obstacles and
barriers
● Bear (Arth): Strength, stamina, balance, and harmony
● Bee (Beach): Connected to honey and mead; industrious, single-mindedness,
fearless, and defence
● Blackbird (Druid-dhubh, Con Dubh): Mysticism and accessibility to the
otherworlds
● Boar (Bacrie, Torc): Mythical, artistic ability, and cunning
● Bull (Tarbh): Strength and potency
● Butterfly (Dealan-De): Keepers of power, self-love, understanding, and clarity
● Cat (Caoit, Cat): Protector and insight to the otherworlds
● Cock (Caoileach): Ability to ward off and dispel negative energy
● Cow (Bo): Sacred to the goddess, Brigit; symbolizes content, defending your
inner child, daily provider
● Crane (Corr): Associated with the Cailleach and Manannan Mac Lir; symbolizes
magick ability, shamanistic travel, secret keeper, mystery, and truth
● Crow (Badb, Rocas): Conflict and death, skill, cunning, single-mindedness, and
bringer of knowledge
● Deer (Fiadh) or Stag (Sailetheach, Damh): Messenger and/or guide from the
otherworlds; keen scent, grace, swiftness, gentleness, and goal-oriented
● Dog (Abach, Madadh) or Hound (Cu`): Tracking skills, ability to scent a trail,
companionship
● Dolphin: Associated with sea deities; represent dreams, harmony, and balance
with nature
● Dragon (Piastras [Payshtha], Horm): Elemented powers, treasure of the
subconscious mind, may appear during initiations
● Eagle (Iolair, Fireun): Noted for wisdom; represents swiftness, strength, keen
sight, and magickal knowledge
● Eel (Eas-Ganu): Adaptability, wisdom, inspiration, and defense
● Fox (Madadh-Ruadh, Sionnach): Represents the ability to watch the motivations
and movements of others while remaining unobserved to one’s self
● Frog (Losgrinn): A symbol of shamanism and magick
● Griffin: A symbol of shamanism; represents and teaches the ability to combine
traits with strength while maintaining discretion and the ability to see the truth
● Hare (G`earr) or Rabbit (Coinean): Sacred to the goddess, Andraste; represents
divination, transformation, receiving hidden teachings, and intuitive messages
● Hawk (Seabhag): A messenger between other worlds and the physical world; it
represents clear-sightedness and far memory
● Hedgehog: Represents a need for less decisiveness and seriousness to enjoy
life more
● Heron (Corra-Griothach): Same meaning as the crane
● Horse (Each): Sacred to the goddesses Epona and Rhiannon; symbolizes
guidance (especially in the otherworld), stamina, endurance, and faithfulness
● Lizard (Dearc): A symbol of shamanism; it symbolizes the shadowy plane of
manifestation where change and patterns are constant
● Lynx: The keeper of secrets and knowledge; aids in divination, psychic senses,
and the need to look deeper into one’s self
● Magpie (Pioghaid): Associated with omens and prophecies
● Mouse (Luch): Represents secrets, cunning, shyness, and ability to hide
● Otter (C`u-dubh or D`obhran): A strong protector, gainer of wisdom,
inner-treasures and talents, faithfulness, and the ability to recover from any crisis
● Owl (Cailleach, O`dhche, Comachang): Associated with the crone phase of the
goddess; a guide to the underworld, keen sight in darkness, and a silent/swift
hunter
● Pig (Muc): Associated with shamanism; represents the nurturing aspect in what a
Shaman is in need of eating
● Rat (Redan): Associated with shamanism, but not favored; represents slyness,
aggression, tracking, defense, and the ability to fiercely fight
● Raven (Fitheach): Associated with battle and the goddesses Morrigu and Welsh
Morrigan; connected with Bran the Blessed; represents oracle and crisis
● Salmon (Bradan): wisdom and teaches the ability to get in contact with the
ancestral plane
● Seagull (Faoilleann): Not particularly Celtic in origin but connected to sea deities
and serves as a messenger from the otherworlds
 ● Sow (Airc, Muc): Associated with the goddess Cerridwen, the Sacred Cauldron,
inspiration, death, and rebirth
● Squirrel (Fe`orang): Represents the ability to plan ahead for the future
● Swan (Eala): Connected with music and songs; represents dream interpretation,
transition, and spiritual evolution
● Turtle: Associated with shamanism; the teacher of groundedness, earthly
intuition, wisdom flowing through the cycles of life, and gentleness with the
body’s needs
● Unicorn (Briabhall): The symbol of supreme magickal power; it teaches that
every action has a result/consequence and to make every day count
● Wolf (Madadh-alluidh): Cunning, intelligence, capability of out-thinking hunters;
teaches wisdom and understanding the signs of nature, how to pass danger with
invisibility, out-wits ill-wishers, and the ability to fight at full force when needed
● Wren (Dreathan-Donn, Dre`olan): Sacred to the Druids; used in divination with
the musical notes as the tool and serves as a messenger from the deities

Conway, D.J. (N.D.). Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Celtic animal allies
https://joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/animalallies.html