I once had an amazing dream. The memory of it upon waking, was clear as if I were viewing it through glass, which is unlike most of my dreams which I can barely remember - if at all.

I was driving down a steep, winding mountain road. As I rounded a curve, I had to stop to let a family of 4 black bears finish crossing the road. The female adult crossed followed closely by her two cubs. Once they were safely across, the male adult followed. Right as he reached the safety of the roadside, he turned and looked at me, then he disappeared into the thick foliage.

I believe that dreams are prophetic and the next day I took the name, ‘4 Bears Walking’. It felt right.

After doing some research I discovered that Bear is a powerful totem which brings many gifts with it including; healing, teaching, strength, courage, confidence, leadership, solitude, rest, grounding, and fearlessness. All things that I desire and need in my life.

I have to admit that i wonder if those things would be quadrupled if you had 4 bears for a totem.

The thing about the bear that really wowed me was that in Siberia, the name used to designate women shaman is the same as the word “bear”. In Northern America, in the Inuit tradition, the bear spirit animal is also connected to the shamanic tradition and women.

I have been drawn to and studied all kinds of Shamanism over the years. I had no idea, until after the dream, that the bear is the perfect totem for a female Shaman. Me.

I love my name - 4 Bears Walking.