The Shaman

Artist's Comments

My Shaman portrait is more of the embodiment of all Shaman traditions. All of his body tattoos are of his animal and plant guides.

I went through a LONG description on my DA site about the differences between totems and guides, and the short version is this= people falsely call their animal guides their totems. STOP. Totems are the "family" or "clan" animal that represents the entire bloodline of your tribe.

Guides are the creatures we mistakenly call our totems. They are more than just a favorite animal. That's not enough. They have to be in your dreams,  show up in day to day symbols, you inherit their traits in your psycology without knowing it. Although, likeing an animal is often the beginnings of your guide introducing itself as a possible life guide.

The diffenrece?

I Love:

Tropical Fish, Elephants, Dogs, Wolves, Chickens/Roosters, Seals, Gorillas, Minks, Butterflies, and Songbirds BUT I have no formal traits nor do I feel a blood/spirit connection to them.

However:

I love Foxes, Peacocks, Spiders, Bears, Rays/Sharks, Stags/Deer, Horses, House cats, Rabbits, and Cobras and they are very close to my connections.

Sometimes:

We do NOT like our guides, but they chose us regardless. I'm not that big on Tigers, Beetles, Cows/Oxen, Minks/Weasles, or Eagles/Hawks....but somehow they are very effective in guiding me.

100% hand drawn, Prisma markers and colored pencils and something else I can't remember...
(c) Lia Tomco 2009