Spirit animals have become increasingly popular over the last few years, even though the practice of seeing animals as teachers dates back to the traditions of Native American tribes, as well as other indigenous societies around the world, which sought to live in harmony with nature and recognized the value of learning from all creatures.

If you’re like me, you probably find some animals more endearing or interesting than others, and for many people, their “spirit animal” is whatever animal they’ve been inexplicably drawn to from a young age, the one they feel a special fondness for, the animal that always seems to pop up on birthday cards or make a sudden appearance after funerals or other significant life changes. By identifying with this animal, people are able to use it as a source of inspiration when facing challenges or making difficult decisions, mimicking particular traits such as industriousness, patience, or teamwork.

While there is undoubtedly great wisdom to be gained from following one single spirit animal your entire life, there’s no cosmic law that says you can’t have more than one spiritual guide. In fact, the more I open myself up to the world around me, the more I’m realizing just how many wonderful furry, sleek, feathered, and scaly teachers there are, each patiently waiting for me to invite them to share their unique insight and experiences. Regardless of whether or not you identify with having a lifelong spirit animal, I invite you to consider the benefits of situational spirit animals, those that come into your life for a certain period of time to provide assistance during a specific situation (click here for an excellent article from BTO contributor Misako Matsuoka on why the banana slug might be your perfect spirit animal).

I can honestly say I never imagined myself one day becoming an avid bird watcher, hanging bird feeders throughout the yard with wanton abandon and cooking up vats of sugar water to tempt nectar-loving hummingbirds.  As seasons change, I transition from indoor workouts to spending more time exercising out of doors, however, I’ve come to pay more attention to the birds that call Silicon Valley home, and I look forward to my encounters with them. My partner and I are fortunate to live within walking distance of the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and we’ve come to appreciate the variety of birds we encounter there – hawks, falcons, chickadees, night herons, sparrows, swallows, ducks, geese, and species I still have yet to learn. Yet even with such feathered diversity, there’s one bird I’m always a little more eager to see than the others: the blue heron.

Here are three lessons I’m currently learning from my situational spirit animal.

1. It’s fine to be exactly where you are.

Herons stand so still, they often appear to be frozen in place, when really, they’re simply waiting for the opportune moment to catch their next meal. They don’t chase what they need… they wait for it to come to them. This is incredibly hard for me to wrap my mind around, as I carry years of familial and societal indoctrination telling me that my value is determined solely by my productivity, and I have to go after what I want and make it happen. But according to this situational spirit animal, good things come to those who wait, things that aren’t immediately visible and might take a while to show themselves.

• Questions to consider: What are you chasing? What would happen if you stopped? Are there any areas in your life where you might benefit from being still?

2. You don’t always have to be “doing.”

According to World Birds, herons often appear to those seeking “…healing, calmness, and stillness in their life. The heron is the guide to finding your serenity.” My life for much of the past few months has been anything but serene, so now is the perfect time to focus on cultivating tranquility within the one thing I seem to have any control over these days: myself. Things that bring me peace include spending time in nature, being with loved ones, practicing yoga and meditation, reading, and taking a bath, but the sky really is the limit when it comes to finding things that promote calmness.

• Questions to consider: What would having peace in your life look like? What are some things you can do to promote your own inner calmness? Are there parts of you that need healing? How can you show love to those parts and offer them what they need? 

3. You decide when you show up.

No matter how many times I walk the trail, I never know if I’m going to see the blue heron or not, which is part of what makes spotting it so exciting. The heron decides what it can handle, and if the pond is too crowded, too noisy, or not providing the right conditions for fishing, it simply flies away and tries again elsewhere. Unlike humans, blue herons don’t appear to feel pressured to stay in uncomfortable situations. They practice unapologetic self-care, doing what is best for them, and not getting caught up in things that don’t contribute to their overall goals (which I imagine mostly include being safe and finding food).

• Questions to consider: Is there any area in your life where you’re pushing yourself to show up? Where can you take a step back in order to reassess? Going forward, how can you make decisions that support your goals, rather than detracting from them? 

Have fun finding other situational spirit animals to guide you during challenging times. Let us know what they are and when they show up in the comments below!