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The animal I relate to most on a spiritual level is definitely a house cat. I can be pretty independent and curious, but also adore getting cozy and taking naps. I am also definitely more of an outdoor cat because I take every opportunity I have to explore and find out how things work. They're also a bit more standoffish, but when they love they can be really loyal and affectionate and that resonates with me too. They also never seem to get bored and I like the fun and creativity in that goes into that quality.
- Katie Miller

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A dolphin represents me best because of their social behavior. Dolphins almost always travel in groups or pods and look after each other. I am almost always being social and interacting with friends or people in my community and pride myself on looking after those important to me like dolphins do. However, for dolphins membership in pods is not rigid and they can often change groups. This is similar to my social behaviors because I try to associate with and become friends with many different groups of people. Dolphins also travel which is something I love to do and do often. Overall dolphins are viewed as fun, social, energetic and caring creatures all of which are qualities I believe I possess as well.

-Hannah Duffy

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A bear represents me best in habits, temperament and character. Like a bear, I sleep and eat a lot. I have seasonal affective disorder, so winter hibernation is definitely a thing in my life. Like a bear though, I'm also very calm and protective of my loved ones, meaning that I'll live and let live until pushed to defend myself and mine. I don't know how scary I look, but I definitely have a softer interior than usually thought. I am an older soul with lots of (inner) strength, and those are two things characteristic of those with a bear as their spirit animal.
-miriam

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Going by the classical descriptions of spirit animals and their meanings, the hawk sees the whole picture - something that I'd like to think applies. I always liked to play devils advocate, to think through arguments. Besides this, hawks (with the exception of Harris Hawks, which don't count) are solitary creatures that rarely enjoy or even tolerate the company of their own kind.
- Matúš

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To be honest, I had a really difficult time answering this question. After posing it to my friend group and having a heated debate, we settled on a Lioness. Just like a lioness, I am the mom of my friend group, constantly checking in with everyone, making sure they're okay, and I always have their backs. If anyone tries to mess with them, they know that I'll always stand by their side. My friends always like to say that I'm the one in charge of the group, just like a lioness is always in charge of her pride. Just like a lioness, when I set a goal for myself, I work tirelessly to achieve it, and don't stop for anyone. My perseverance and determination are what make me identify with a lioness.
-Ciara Loughnane

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"The horse spirit animal symbolizes personal drive, passion and appetite for freedom" Interesting because one of my professors: Prof. Feng who had taught in my mandarin class and had given me the name "马 -克里" last year， which can translate to
"hard work - inside" or the will to work hard. Coincidentally,
(马 = horse) the online quiz also matched me with the horse; this spirit animal walks between worlds, and symbolizes passion, creativity, and relates to the ability to express oneself freely. I resonate with those descriptions because working hard is one my better qualities; sometimes I just wish I was a genius however! I am a creative person, design is my passion, and I love to dancing.
-Chris Mercurio

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I grew up snorkeling in the Florida springs and body surfing in the Gulf of Mexico. When I was 6, I got to see several manatees in the wild at Homosassa State Park, and I just thought they were so cute and unique. The idea of the mermaid actually came from sailors seeing manatees. My totem animal is a manatee because I love to swim, in both salt and fresh water, and I'm relaxed all around. I just like to graze along through life like manatees grave on seagrass. Manatees usually don't go any deeper than 6 meters, which is fitting since I feel most at home in the water but I am still in a close relationship with life out of water.
-Claire

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I identify as a sloth based on the totem readings I found online. Sloths have a reputation for taking plenty of time to chill and relax which is something I enjoy doing as well. I never realized how similar I am to a sloth. I love staying inside, snuggle up with a good book, and have a glass of red wine. My friends ask me everyday, "How are you so calm?". The only answer I can come up with now is, "My spirit animal is a Sloth. It's just natural."
-max thorne

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I had a very hard time figuring out the answer to this question.. Fast forward 30 minutes and 5 spirit animal quizzes later, 3/5 stated me as a wolf. I often think of myself as very loyal, kind, a team player and a natural leader- all characteristics of a wolf. Growing up in rural Montana, I often saw wolves right off my property line and I have strong opinions on the reintroduction and protection of the Wolves in YNP (mainly that it is necessary we protect them from hunters as they are invaluable to the ecosystem), and so over all, in ways that I haven't thought, I am more connected to wolves than I previously figured. Wolves are beautiful creatures and their knowledge of social interactions combined with their natural intelligence makes them a totem animal anyone would be luck to have.
-Isis

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The wolf is the totem animal that I believe best describes me. Some of the characteristics listed online, such as loyalty, perseverance, and commitment to family, are ones that immediately caught my eye. Loyalty to my family, friends, and others is very important to me. Cultivated by the strong bonds that exist in my family, I strive to maintain personal relationships that are just as rich and fulfilling. Perseverance is also a key aspect to my mentality when it comes to doing my best in all facets of my life. On top of that, I enjoy being social and meeting people, but I occasionally find myself deviating from the group and doing my own thing, as described by the “lone wolf.”
-Jonathan

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My friends have always referred to me as a tortoise because of how physically slow I am. I don't think I'm necessarily lazier than the average person, I just naturally take my sweet time when I do things, even when it comes to simple tasks like walking and reading. I also don't really consider myself to have a lot of natural talent or intelligence, both are something I've felt I've had to achieve through hard work and persistence. This is something that I think the tortoise in the classic fable The Tortoise and the Hare exemplifies, and another reason the animal resonates with me personally.
- Viviana

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When I was little I was obsessed with turtles, I couldn't get enough of them. I would say turtles are my totem animal because of the deep connection I felt to them when I was little. I have not felt a connection as strong with another animal since my connection to turtles. Although I would not say that I resonate with their characteristics, it is something else that pulls me to them, something I cannot explain. Maybe I associate them with wisdom and freedom, whatever it may be, there is something that draws me to them. They are inexplicably unique.

-Justine

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The monkey is an animal that is characterized as full of energy and intense. I feel like I associate with monkeys because I am usually hyperactive and full of energy, a kind of "bouncing off the walls" and always active mindset. I relate monkeys to animals who can't sit still and must always be moving from point to point, similarly to how I usually have to be tapping something or moving my feet in some way. I am also similar to monkeys in that they often play practical jokes and are playful with others, trying to be funny, something that I often do wether i succeed or not. In my research I also found that monkeys show a deep sense of compassion and care for others.

-Santi

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The animal I think I identify with the most is a sea otter. According to a few totem animal articles online, a sea otter correctly highlights certain parts of my personality that I find pretty significant. A couple of these personality traits that are represented through a sea otter totem is my playful and fun attitude as well as having a curious mind. Not to mention, sea otters have tiny legs. Similarly, I am five feet tall and have a short leg span as well. However, beyond the physical aspects, I do believe my totem animal would definitely be a sea otter.

-Genevieve

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I also wasn't sure where to begin when figuring out what my totem animal is, so I decided to look online for totem animals and their meanings. While on the search for one that bests describes me, I came across an elephant. When I think of myself I think of a strong, loyal, and affectionate person. An elephant encompasses all three of these characteristics. We all go through different challenges in life and face adversity, which is where I've found my strength. Along with that, I've also found my loyalty to those who have stuck with me through the hardest times. Just in general, I will always be loyal and reliable to those I care about. Overall, I am an affectionate person.

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I think my totem animal is a racoon. They are usually characterized as mischievous, curious creatures. They are also known to steal food from anywhere they can get their paws on. Racoons are also intelligent and capable of solving many different types of intelligence tests, partly due to their opposable thumbs. I may or may not have had a klepto phase. Another reason why I think the racoon to be my totem animal is because of the mask that racoons have.  I am kind of a shy person and can hide behind my own masks of sorts. - Thomas

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I've heard that cultures across the world see foxes as trickster spirits, creatures whose motivations are hard to catch but aren't evil. I'm always playing jokes on my friends or making fun of them in this benevolent way, so I feel an attachment to this spirit. I've heard in some Japanese myths, they see the spirit of the fox not just as a trickster, but also a teacher (I'm not sure of the veracity of the claim, but it intrigues nonetheless). I'm like this a lot too, because whenever I trick a friend, I'm doing it to underscore something.

-Paolo

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I wasn't sure where to begin when figuring out my totem animal so I took a few "What's your totem/spirit animal" quizzes online and then cross-referenced the traits/meanings the quizzes listed for my animals against more professional totem symbolism indexes.

Through this process I settled on the wolf because it's meaning included: "loyalty", "kindness", "perseverance", "strong sense of family", and (of course) "appetite for freedom". These are all values I cherish and one description included "can be a loner" which is definitely a problem for me.

I then chose "Sea Wolf" (or "coastal wolf") as the subspecies because they are unique to the west coast, a place I have a deep connection to, and because they swim, which I love to do.

- Olivia

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I love being on or in the water, so I felt that any water animal could have been my totem animal. But I chose the Koi fish because they symbolize good luck, prosperity, transformation or change, staying calm in the face of adversity, serenity, and harmony. I believe that I have a lot to experience and learn in life, and I look to the Koi fish as a symbol to help me get to a place where I feel the most harmonious and balanced in my life. I once saw a big group of Koi swimming near a Buddhist temple and they looked absolutely peaceful and in sync with one another.

- Rosel

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I feel the spirit of adventure calling my name as I wish to travel many places in my life. I move through life with a swiftness that is unmatched and always stay proud of what I have accomplished, but keep my eyes towards the future. The eagle is strong, bold, and confident, as am I.  Also I'm an eagle scout, so that kinda fits.

-Jeremy