A Long Overdue Tribute to Ted Andrews

Noted writer and teacher Ted Andrews passed away last October. I did not learn about it until some time later.

Ted's famous book, Animal Speak, inspired me to choose Skunk Totem as the name of this blog. It made apparent that the skunk is one of my major animal totems. I think if I were an animal, I probably would have ended up being a skunk. This often misunderstood (like me) animal teaches how to give and demand respect, and live peacefully among others. (Despite its reputation, skunks are pacifist animals and only spray in self-defense, usually as a last resort. They typically reciprocate how we treat them--good or bad).

Ted's legacy will live on.

OWLTHENA'S ROOST: Ted Andrews dies

Why "Skunk Totem?"

In Native American traditions, animals were seen has having mystic powers and/or symbolism. Skunk teaches us how to give respect and demand it in return. I can relate to the skunk, a gentle animal that raises a stink only when threatened or pissed off. They are often disliked by people who don't understand them, but cherished by people who know them well, especially people who tend to accept others as they are, appreciating them rather than trying to change them.

For more on animal totems, read Animal Speak and other books by Ted Andrews.

To learn what skunks are really like, especially as pets, visit http://www.skunkhaven.net/