Native American Astrology: Finding Your Clan

The Concept of Animal Medicine

This spiritual approach of finding power animals and spirit animals and animal allies all begins with the belief that they have "medicine" to share with us. But this medicine is not the traditional kind that most of us think of when we hear the word.

For Native Americans, "medicine" is anything that connects us more deeply to the divine (or "Great Mystery") and to life, in general. Healing of our bodymind and our spirit is part of that and so is personal power.

"This medicine is also anything that brings personal power, strength, and understanding. It is the constant living of life in a way that brings healing to the Earth Mother and to all of our associates, family, friends and fellow creatures. Native American medicine is an all-encompassing 'way of life,' for it involves walking on the Earth Mother in perfect harmony with the Universe." --Jamie Sams and David Carson, Medicine Cards

Native American Astrology or Medicine Wheel Astrology
"Every culture on earth has a link to the invention of some form of astrology and various forms of calendar. Native Americans have always been people of the land rather than city dwellers, so it is not surprising that the animals related to the seasons and areas in which they lived have become part of their astrology."-Deborah Durbin, Simply Native American Astrology

Seasons

"Native American astrology uses the images of creatures to depict the seasons. These creatures exist in addition to the twelve 'zodiac' signs of the medicine wheel. They mark the turning point of each season and also the turning points during each day (dawn, noon, dusk, mid-night).

The four 'seasonal' creatures are the white buffalo, the golden eagle, the coyote, and the grizzly bear." -- Deborah Durbin, Simply Native American Astrology

They also connect different animals, seasons and elements to the four directions on the medicine wheel: North, South, East and West. Using medicine wheel astrology, you can discover your major power animal and your minor ones.

Twelve-Month Calendar

Though there are some Native Americans still using the Aztec agricultural calendar, most now use a 12-month lunar calendar and have aligned it and the medicine wheel with dates used in Western astrology.

"The twelve Moons [they use] correspond to the weather or activities that one would expect to occur during each season. Each astrological sign also corresponds to a tree, a stone and a color."-- Deborah Durbin, Simply Native American Astrology

The Four Clans

In addition to those other associations, Native American astrology matches each month with a clan animal whose spirit helps you develop an intuitive inner knowing and a deeper connection with your true self. There are four clans: turtle, butterfly, frog and thunderbird.