~Clan Totems~ 

As with traditional exoteric astrology, where each of the twelve zodiac signs fall within a key element, each of the Birth Totems also belong to an Elemental Clan, as governed by one of the four Elemental Chiefs of Fire (Hawk), Earth (Turtle), Air (Butterfly) and Water (Frog). Fire: In Earth Medicine, the Fire Chief is a powerful Force that blazes in heat and illumination.  He is a Power that governs the day, inspires the hearts of Humans, and is the Source behind the life-giving rays of the Sun.  His energy can either annihilate in reckless abandon and/or vengeance, or can warm a hardened heart by inspiring love and illuminating the way for one who has become lost on their Pathway. Earth: This Chief is the Nurturing Force that provides sustenance and stability.  She is soil that provides the nutrition all life on this planet needs in order to live . . . she is one with the Earth Mother.  She is the Power that beckons us to provide security for ourselves and Others and is the Source behind the planting of life itself.  This Chief can be sustaining and productive, she can also be restrictive, indomitable and unyielding. Air: Earth Medicine teaches us that the Air Chief is the Force that brings to Humanity new ideas.  He is the Power behind innovations and inventions and is the Source of intellectual stimulation and conveyance.  He is the jovial breeze that elicits laughter, thoughts and communication, yet he is also the element that loves to argue for arguments sake and can be restless and detached. Water: She is the Chief Force that teaches us the beauty and necessity of emotion and feeling, the Power of the emotional, psychic and spiritual healer that washes the soul in insight and contemplation.  Water is the Source of the Soul, an effervescent wellspring that gives of herself free of thought for what will be received in return, yet she  can also turn tumultuous with emotions hurtling and crashing like the ocean’s waves.         Hawk Clan (Fire Chief)    Birth Totem Falcon, Salmon, Owl Keywords ::    Independent ,   Trailblazing ,   Courageous ,   Impetuous . Hawk Clan individuals are born with the drive to Initiate.  They are the trailblazers of the Clans with the Group Consciousness to Discover All that is New.  As a result, their function within the greater tribe of Humanity, is to be the Clan that broadens boundaries which might otherwise limit the progression of Humanity within the ~physical~ plane.  They are not on the ~Good Red Road~ to build or to harvest, they are the Clan that forges the way ahead in preparation of the planting and harvesting that is to be done by the other Clans.  And here-in lies the challenge of this Clan . . . to learn the gift of Patience, for to utilize our gifts to their fullest potential, we need also to have true understanding of that which would appear to be our polar opposite. Think of the Hawk soaring high, held aloft on the invisible hands of the Four Winds.  His eyes scan all below and before him with a perception that is without equal, and yet his true desire is not to know what lies below, his true yearning is to rejoin with ~Grandfather Sky.~ As such, Hawk Clan souls are always looking for Higher Union of Spirit, and will be restless and anxious until they learn that true union comes first in the form of the union between Personality, Emotion, Mind and Soul, or that which is referred to in esoteric astrology as ~integration.~  When the union has become complete, when the Hawk Clan member has lown in each of the Four Winds and learned the lessons unique to each, then the union with Grandfather Sky will be attained.    Turtle Clan (Earth Chief)        Birth Totem Beaver, Bear, Goose Keywords ::    Cautious ,   Industrious ,   Dependable    Stubborn . Turtle Clan  individuals are the Clan which prepares the soil for planting.  You will remember form the Hawk Clan that they are the trailblazers, the scouts of the clans that envision the land.  Now the Turtle Clan follows and tills the earth to prepare it for the planting of all that is Good. As such, these souls focus on the tasks at hand with the determination and perseverance of one with a true Mission.  They have been instilled with a desire to connect to Earth Mother and to assist Her in the process of creating Life. In Earth Medicine, the Earth Mother is represented by the Turtle, as the provider of all Life.  Think of Sister Turtle as she walks along at a slow, yet steady pace.  She has no worry of shelter, for she carriers her home upon her back.  She has no concern of how fast she is traversing the Path, as she knows that she will arrive where she is going exactly when she is meant to.  She doesn't fear attack from predators as she knows that the armor       like covering of her shell will protect her from all threats.  This is the Blessing of being born of the Turtle. The challenge for one who is a member of the Turtle Clan, is to come to understand the Wisdom to be had in going Within in order to absorb the lessons they are faced with.  Yet, these lessons may instead be seen by a Turtle, as an irritating obstacle to be ploughed through, instead of as a lesson to be resolved.  Yet every obstacle, in point of fact, is merely another step along the Soul's Path to be acknowledged and absorbed, rather than       ignored in the stubborn resolution to complete the Journey.  When       Turtle Soul raise her head into the warm light of awareness and       operates from quiet perseverance, tempered with reflection, then She/He has attained the true gift of having been born of the Turtle Clan.   Butterfly Clan (Air Chief)   Birth Totem Deer, Crow, Otter   Keywords :: ,Intelligent ,  Curious ,  Idealistic ,  Impersonal . The Butterfly Clan is infused with the motivation of planting thoughts and ideas.  In the Hawk Clan, we saw the Initiators, those who blaze the trail ahead and see from above that which needs to be done.  Then, the Turtle Clan arrives and Prepares the Earth to receive the seed which is planted by the Butterfly Clan. As such, these souls are the harbingers of messages from the Ancestors and focus their attention on conveying the express wishes of the Elders so that ~Great Mystery`s~ plan can unfold itself upon all that is Living. They are not concerned with the actual process of the work that is required in order to fulfill that Plan, their primary function is to make certain that their voices are heard, their concerns in all things are expressed, their ideas shared with the other Clans so that their motive has been achieved. Think here of Brother Butterfly, as he flits from a rose to a morning glory to wild lavender . . . he doesn't rest for long in any one spot, yet as he dips his tongue into the sweet nectar of the flower, he is also picking up pollen which he will then carry with him to the next flower where it will be deposited so that the survival of that particular species of flower is then       ensured. In much the same way, a member of the Butterfly Clan will travel wide within his own circle, sharing his thoughts on topics of both personal and global concern.  She will be the one who suggests new ways of thinking of things, the one who comes up with new and original perspectives that will lead to the resolution of encountered problems. The challenge for Butterfly, is to know when the time has come to still his restless body, to quiet his active mind in order that he may hear the gentle whisperings of his soul.  Only until he can learn that there are times when ~Great Mystery~ asks us to stop and enjoy the Moment, revel in the sweet nectar of the ~now~ can he achieve his true desire, to witness the unfolding of Universal Love as it flows across all nations, creeds and religions, knowing he has played an integral part in the brilliant unfolding of the Plan.   Frog Clan (Water Chief)      Birth Totem Woodpecker, Snake, Wolf   Keywords ::  Psychic,   Intuitive ,   Sensitive,   Hyper-emotional. With this final Elemental Chief, we witness the final stage of the process of Creation - the nurturing and harvesting of the Spirit. Hawk Clan is the Pathfinder that enables us to aim high and envision a world to be had.  Turtle Clan Prepares the Way of the Spirit by clearing away "dead space."  Butterfly Clan plants the thoughts and hopes so that Frog Clan can nourish the dreams of the mind, and bear the fruit of the Mind/Body/Personality integration. As such, the Frog Clan breaths fire into the spark of soul awareness, whispers to our Inner Self that more exists than can be seen by the ~physical~ eyes, and encourages us to reach for the fruit of the ~Great Spirit~ which is the Union and Merging of all parts into the One. Then, think on brother Frog as he dwells in Two Worlds at once.  He is a creature that can swim underwater for extended periods of time, actually begins his life underwater, yet must surface for air, and later comes to dwell atop his lily pad, or on a tree near to a water source. In Earth Medicine, much as in traditional astrology, Water is    representative of our feelings and emotions, while Air represents our mind and ability to detach.  When there exists a Totem, be it Birth, Clan, Power Totem, etc, that is born of dual worlds (i.e. the dolphin or frog) who must exist in both worlds to live, then there is a special message for us as we observe these Animal brothers and sisters. For Frog Clan, those born under this Elemental Chief are blessed with an abundance of emotion, the ability to perceive the innermost feelings of others, to Understand the sacredness of Love in all of its brilliant hues and textures and to plunge the incredible depths of the Soul,  so that a greater understanding can be had of both themselves, and their fellow Earth Dwellers. And yet, without surfacing for air, the frog will perish.  So like sister Dolphin, frog must learn to co-exist in two worlds simultaneously.  He must find the needed level of detachment (air) lest the emotions (water) and pain of himself or Others pull him under where he will surely drown. If one who is a member of Frog Clan chooses to operate from the lower octave of this element, he/she can become so encased in emotion that they are unable to extricate themselves and will drown in their own sorrow, venom or desire. Because the Frog evolves from the state of a tadpole to the adult form it later inhabits, a keyword for the Frog Clan is Transformation.  Those of Clan of the Frog that choose to operate from the higher octave of their element, will spend their life in constant transformation and growth, ever seeking knowledge and wisdom that will lead to the unfolding and evolution of the Soul, coming to understand the depth of their feelings and emotions while learning how to channel those high level energies into ways of assisting Others along their path as they retain the necessary level of detachment.  In this way, this clan completes the Cycle of Creation and the Fruit of the Spirit is borne.    <<  >> Mind you I am not an expert in the studies of Native American astrology nor Traditional Earth Medicine, <<  >>