If the term ‘spirit animal’ makes you wince and think of wonky New Age seminars run by women who wear too much gauze, think again!

We all share the world with a variety of amazing animals, and building an awareness of them and how they live is an important first step in reconnecting to the natural environment. Even in the city, animals thrive and can teach anyone willing to listen quite a lot about living in harmony with the Earth.

Almost all native cultures attach meanings and intentions to animals beyond simple facts about how they live and think. Establishing an emotional connection to the common creatures in your part of the world is one of the best ways to cultivate a gentler, more ecologically sound existence.

In short, when you care about an animal, your caring naturally extends outward—to the animal's habitat, diet, special beauty, and means of communication. Seeing an animal as a sentient creature in a living world heals and expands human awareness with minimal effort.