Animal Association

Q&A
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Hello lovelies :blush:

I’m still trying to learn so much as I’m still new to everything. I still don’t know much about animal associations yet, but I think I’m either getting a message from one or all my deities or from a new one. My deities are Hekate, Lilith, Persephone, Medusa and Selene. Now, last week i saw a fox just randomly running down the street right alongside my left headlight of my car. It didn’t run away from my car at all for several minutes. I drove so slowly to make sure I wouldn’t hit it in case it ran in front of the car. After those several minutes, it ran in front of my car, looked at me and ran the other way. I didn’t think much of it, but I did look up if my deities are associated with foxes and unfortunately they’re not. Could they still have sent me a message?

Then today I was driving home from my dads place and thinking about all the plane crashes that have been happening as I myself have a plane trip in May and I’ve been freaking out about it. So I was planning on jumping on here once I got home to ask about protection spells or any type of protection I could take with me that would be allowed on a plane and I was thinking about my deities as well. When I turned onto my street, there was a fox! Again it slowly ran next to the front of my car and looked at me as it stood in front of my car. After several minutes, it ran down the street and I didn’t see it again.

So, is this a message from my deities? Could this possibly be yet ANOTHER deity getting my attention that is associated with foxes? I feel as though I have quite a few deities working with me, would adding another one be too much? Is there even a limit to how many deities to work with? There’s so much to learn! Haha

Edit: I was told foxes are associated with Loki, but is there anything I can do to really know for sure other than a tarot reading? And is it safe to mix pantheons with deities to worship? I don’t want to make any of them upset if they don’t work well together.

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Hello @Lunar_Witch,

Foxes are lovely creatures and, in some traditions such as Shinto, believed to be messengers of the gods. It’s exciting for them to keep crossing your path! :fox_face: :sparkles:

I’d personally say that an animal doesn’t have to be traditionally associated with a particular deity in order for them to carry a message or be symbolic of something. Our bonds with the divine are very personal, and deities exist beyond the limitations of the physical world - folklore and legends show us that deities can manifest or send messages in various ways. I personally believe divine forces will send messages in whatever ways They feel will best get the message across to its intended recipient.

That being said, there are reasons why certain deities are associated with certain forms, animals, symbols, etc - and using those associations would make it easier for the recipient to get a message. As such, I think you’re right for considering other possibilities, too!

Possibly! You’re right about the Loki association - foxes have a reputation for being “Trickster Spirits” in some cultures, so Loki or any of the trickster deities could be worth looking into.

Personally, I think foxes and my mind immediately goes to Inari - a Shinto deity of agriculture and business who is sometimes depicted as a fox, and who utilizes foxes as Their divine messengers :fox_face: :shinto_shrine:

This is a great question and, from similar discussions in the forum, it seems like the overarching answer is usually. It will depend on the deities and Their relations with one another, your own priorities (such has having a patron/matron or fulltrui), and potentially creating different altars and/or practices with each deity.

I’d recommend taking a peek at other discussions on the topic, such as these:

The “Who Is It” deity spread is fantastic for getting answers about a deity’s identity, but you could use other methods of divination or a deep meditation.

Wishing you all the best - if it is another deity, I hope you can discover Their identity. And if it’s a message from a current deity, I hope the deeper meaning becomes clear for you too! Good luck and blessed be :sparkles:

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First, let me say I consider you so fortunate! I’ve been wanting to meet a real live fox for many decades without success.

Second may or may not be applicable. When I was in high school, I had a chance to go to France with a school group. Mom worried about my safety with hijackings and overseas kidnappings. As she was driving down a back street to the grocery store one day, a white dove flew by her mirror along with her. She swore it meant everything would be OK. The trip went off with barely a hitch, but was the last trip taken by the school system because of the overseas dangers.

Story told because of the placement of the fox and the concern over travel. I personally think that the message may be one of comfort. You are not alone. Take things slow and easy and everything will be fine.

I have recently had the experience of my driver noticing a bird flying beside my window while driving down the street. This individual has noticed that when I talk to wild birds, they pay attention to me… Except when I ask them not to poo on her truck! :rofl: My concern has been the economy and personal survival, so I take comfort that I, also, am not alone, and that things will work out for the best. The ones by my side used birds because birds are my animals, whether they resonate with birds or not. I do.

As for a different deity and/or mixing pantheons? Well, some of that depends on your comfort levels. Do you feel someone new? Are you attracted to a new-to-you story?

I let whomever work with me. Thus I have been visited by the Grim Reaper (Universal?), Cernunnos (various cultures around France and the UK), Gwynn Ap Nudd (Welsh), Tiamat (Babylonian), and Baba Yaga (Slavic). They seem to reveal a mix of ancestors in my blood.

Some deities are here for a purpose and vanish when that purpose is done. It’s OK if they simply have a message of comfort for you.

@tracyS has had experience with deities who don’t work well together. She made separate but equal altars for them. Maybe she can offer some advice? My tag will bring her in when she has a free moment.

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Thankyou @georgia :green_heart:

Here’s the link to my disaster mixed altar :rofl:

https://forum.spells8.com/t/the-archangel-lucifer/45120/6?u=tracys

I work with Loki as my number one! (I have to say that as he reads all my posts :wink:), but really he is. Foxes are associated with him, however he isn’t subtle, nope, not at all, if he has a message he’ll give you tons of signs, spiders are a key one, tarot and runes, flickering flames, chaos - loads of chaos :crazy_face:

As far as mixing altars, disaster! I have one beautiful Archangel in my life, Lucifer, and Loki and Lucifer don’t share altars! So Loki has his, and Lucifer has his, both in separate corners, both have different offerings. Loki likes sweets, chocolate, drink etc, pretty much anything :laughing:, Lucifer likes prayers :pray:.

As for working with many deities, yes of course you can mix pantheons. If a deity reaches out to you, who are we humans to tell you no. You though can refuse if you don’t want to work with them. It’s worth noting that deities have demands too, and the more you have, the more time consuming, researching about them, understanding them and their background it will be - it can be alot with just one, but that’s up to you. Let your intuition guide you. Loki is a wonderful deity, but he doesn’t share altars, doesn’t share offerings, he’s a trickster so read between the lines with him, and he’s a god of chaos, so he teaches through this energy. I absolutely love working with him, but his lessons are blunt and he’s not gentle. He is loyal though and very protective, and has a wicked sense of humour :laughing:. He is one of the darker gods so he will transform you’re life, I feel for the better, but that’s just me. Any questions just ask lovely :green_heart:. Here’s the Norse post if you fancy looking him up.

Norse Deities Master Post

Skal :beers:

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Perhaps it is a sign that the Fox is your spirit animal rather than a sign from a specific deity. A spirit animal isn’t chosen, it chooses you. So perhaps you have been chosen by the fox.

I’ve linked you to this post which gives info about sporot animals, incliding a fox.

Alan

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@BryWisteria Thank you so much for giving me such wonderful links and insights on this! I have always loved foxes and have been drawn to them my whole life, but haven’t seen any in person since I was a little kid. I will keep digging and researching to find out and I’ll take a look at those links you gave me. :blush:

@georgia Oh goodness! Thank you so much for all your kindness and wonderful words. We live next to a canal and my grandparents lived on the other side of it about 5 minutes away from us. When i was a kiddo, my papa (grandpa) would drive us down the neighborhood to a certain culdesac where fox families lived and we’d see them walking around with their babies. It was amazing to see! Ever since then i have always been drawn to foxes in some way. But we don’t see them very often anymore, so when i saw the fox those two times it shocked me! Especially when they both were after thinking about being protected or thinking of my goddesses. That is such an amazing story about your mom and the dove! And then to have birds turn out to be your animals as well! I haven’t quite found my animal(s) yet, but I want to experiment and find out. It’s amazing how many deities you’ve worked with. I’m glad they’ve helped you :blush: Thank you so much for your wonderful help!

@tracyS I figured he wasn’t very subtle with things! Lol And I also don’t think he was trying to get a hold of me. I did a tarot reading and it didn’t scream as Loki. I have a feeling my goddesses are trying to test me because I am so insecure about my intuition and if I’m doing things right or doing good enough for my practice. So I think the fox was a sign from them saying, “we’re here. Stop doubting and trust yourself.” I really appreciate you letting me know all about making sure not to mix altars unless they are okay with it! I’m glad you’re enjoying working with Loki and Lucifer! :smile:

@Cosmic_Curiosity I never even thought about that! I’ve been drawn to foxes but never knew why exactly. Thank you for helping me realize this. I will definitely take a look at that post! :slight_smile:

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Aha! Here’s a big clue!

Your experiences have given you a different meaning for foxes than the typical chicken farmer would see. Chicken farmers see the foxes’ intelligence at best and their trickster nature at worst. Seeing them with their babies is a family thing, a protective thing. It’s like the way I see foxes: parental care.

I agree with @Cosmic_Curiosity. The foxes may be your Spirit Animal, perhaps trying to catch your attention for another message to be delivered later. Please do not discount the fox as a guide and friend in an of themselves. They do not have to be related to deities, unless you consider Native American style animism as deity worship (which is another option). There is a richness, here, a depth of meaning which I encourage you to delve into simply because it goes beyond expectations, whether social or personal.

The more open you are to things, the more chances you have to learn and grow. Just don’t be so open your brains fall out. Use your intelligence to test what you find.

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For some reason, I was thinking of the 9 tailed fox of Chinese and Korean myth. It is also a trickster and has a dark side. The Koreans are quite struck with the myth and many references to the fox are available (look up 9 tailed fox).

Whether that maps to this situation is murky but I see foxes a lot. I always get good vibes from their presence just like I do from other animals.

@Lunar_Witch if you weren’t upset from seeing the fox, then I would enjoy the encounters and use them to temper any foreboding worries.

added: Oh! Having a fox as a spirit animal would be awesome.

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