The bear was only one among many animal totems. It included species of American bears from the ferocious Grizzly to the more gentle and amusing Black Bear. Every species – just as every person – will possess a balancing of both light and dark aspects of character, and the Native American took this into consideration when interpreting totems. There were no purely "negative" animals.
Interpreting Totems as Mirrors of the Psyche
In many ways, interpreting the appearance of animal guides matched the (later) theory of synchronicity presented by famous European psychologist, Carl Jung. If one regards synchronicity or totems as a reflection of the subconscious, the mind's truths may be revealed.
Characteristics of species were carefully studied by Native American Indians. The creature's positive traits were emulated, and the totem animal, once established, could not be hunted or harmed. The Native American was a naturalist who observed his world very closely. He knew the bear as being both playful and ferocious, and was aware of the polarity of all creatures.
Bear Traits
The Native Indian understood bears as predators that also enjoy sweet berries and honey. He'd observe how bears have few adversaries, perhaps because their growl scares others away. Bears hibernate all winter without eating or drinking. Females give birth during hibernation and continue to hibernate. Bears have great stamina and are very powerful creatures, although some are quite shy. The individual would accept the totem animal's medicine (lesson) that helped to balance him most.
Bear I.Q.
A fact often overlooked today is the bear’s remarkable intelligence; this hulking giant is one of the “brainiest” of all North American animals; some researchers compare its intelligence close to great apes. Bears use sticks and branches to scratch themselves, and sometimes throw objects (such as rocks) at each other, or to kill prey, which can be considered a tool-making ability. They stand on their hind legs. They are highly social creatures, sharing resources among each other while forming structured relationships. Thus intelligence and sociability are bear medicine.
Bear Totem
Immersed in nature, America’s First Nation People had a privilege to study animals very directly, making it natural to understand their forest friends. Bear totems might inspire a need to incorporate courage into one’s own character, or conversely, get rid of certain traits like aggression.
In modern society, where the subject of Native American Indian spirituality has grown considerably, discovering the bear as totem (usually through an actual encounter, sometimes through dreams) could suggest to become more sociable or, conversely, go into hiding (hibernation). Obviously, these are two completely opposite responses, yet the conscious and subconscious mind would be expected to be drawn to the most appropriate one.
Totems in the Mind
One simply may feel it’s time to go on a much needed diet (bears fast during hibernation), or realize the need to vary the normal cuisine (omnivorous bear eats many different things). There is no actual magic in totem animals, only an innate ability of the human mind to seek out symbols and metaphors that reflect her/his inner needs.
If a creative person (for example) has the bear as a personal guide there may be an illuminating moment of self-discovery. Perhaps the contemporary artist feels guilty for spending too much time in creative pursuits, isolated away from the world (hibernating), but “bear wisdom” reminds him this is a natural cycle. When the time comes, the period of hibernation is over (the artwork, or novel, complete) and, like a bear emerging from the den in springtime, the active time for publicly marketing the work draws near. This balancing will create a complete cycle of success.
Animal Guides in Psychology and Science
Such seeming intuition, of course, comes from knowledge already gathered in the mind, and — if not regarded in a supernatural sense — is perhaps a very natural way of solving subjective problems. The question becomes "what would a bear do?"
Indeed, animals can be extremely wise teachers, too. Since animals and mankind evolved together, they often mirror one another.
In fact, regarding the remarkable ability of hibernation in bears, biologist John Hectel writes, “I think there’s going to be a medical breakthrough that should be credited to bears, breakthroughs that can save lives and make some lives better. People are afraid of bears, but there is so much we can learn much from them.”
Are scientists starting to use “bear medicine?” NASA scientists and osteoporosis researchers want to learn why bears don’t suffer bone loss during hibernation in the same way an inactive person would. Ralph Nelson of the Mayo Clinic and Foundation tried to learn from hibernating bears (who do not drink water) how to help people in kidney failure.
Apparently, scientists continuously learn from animals, but they call these lessons by other names. The grotesque practice of vivisection — something the so-called "savage" would have found extremely repellent — is a cruel way mankind has benefited and learned more about himself, and his diseases, through animals. Fortunately, there are more compassionate ways of learning from humanity's many cousins, such as through personal and scientific observation of animals in the wild, which is close to what was practiced by early Native American Indians.
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