--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is a totem? It is as a rule an…" description: "\"What is a totem? It is as a rule an animal (whether edible and harmless or dangerous and feared) and more rarely a plant or a natural phenomenon (such ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/sigmund-freud-360_ancestor_what-is-a-totem-it-is-as-a-rule-an-anima_1533146.jpg" --- # What is a totem? It is as a rule an animal (whether edible… ![“What is a totem? It is as a rule an animal (whether edible and harmless or dangerous and feared) and more rarely a plant or a natural phenomenon (such as rain or water), which stands in a peculiar relation to the whole clan. In the first place, the totem is the common ancestor of the clan; at the…” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/sigmund-freud-360_ancestor_what-is-a-totem-it-is-as-a-rule-an-anima_1533146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/sigmund-freud-360_ancestor_what-is-a-totem-it-is-as-a-rule-an-anima_1533146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/sigmund-freud-360_ancestor_what-is-a-totem-it-is-as-a-rule-an-anima_1533146.jpg) > “What is a totem? It is as a rule an animal (whether edible and harmless or dangerous and feared) and more rarely a plant or a natural phenomenon (such as rain or water), which stands in a peculiar relation to the whole clan. In the first place, the totem is the common ancestor of the clan; at the same time it is their guardian spirit and helper, which sends them oracles and, if dangerous to others, recognizes and spares its own children.” [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A totem is a symbolic ancestor and protector of a clan, often an animal or natural element, linking members through shared identity and spiritual guidance. **In simple terms:** A totem is a clan’s symbolic ancestor and guardian. Key Takeaway Recognize shared symbols to strengthen group identity. Themes identity spirituality anthropology mythology Mood reflective thoughtful Type cultural anthropological When to use this quote - rituals - family gatherings - cultural education - conflict resolution Key Concepts symbolism collective unconscious totemism Questions to Reflect On - How does your community’s symbol shape behavior? - What risks arise from a single shared totem? A Different Perspective Totems can oversimplify complex social dynamics and may exclude outsiders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clans/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guardian/) [Natural phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-phenomena/) [Oracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oracles/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Totem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totem/) [Totems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totems/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Now defined as art, the totem has lost cult, taboo, and custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/now-defined-as-art-the-totem-has-lost-cult-taboo-and-custom/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“It was rather peculiar behaviour for a totem animal. Totem animals are supposed to be the spirits of actual dead animals or the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-frost/it-was-rather-peculiar-behaviour-for-a-totem-animal-totem-animals-are/) [Michelle Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-frost/) > [“Over the last year I’ve noticed that a surprising amount of Americans hate one or the other. I have a theory: solar panels and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-heaton/over-the-last-year-i-ve-noticed-that-a-surprising-amount-of-americans/) [Andrew Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-heaton/) > [You must be absolutely honest and true in the depicting of a totem for meaning is attached to every line. You must be most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/you-must-be-absolutely-honest-and-true-in-the-depicting-of-a-totem/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [Look at it this way - a totem pole is just a decorated tree. My work is a confessional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/look-at-it-this-way-a-totem-pole-is-just-a-decorated-tree-my-work-is/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [The most ancient and important taboo prohibitions are the two basic laws of totemism: not to kill the totem animal and to avoid sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-most-ancient-and-important-taboo-prohibitions-are-the-two-basic/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [In almost every place where we find totems we also find a law against persons of the same totem having sexual relations with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/in-almost-every-place-where-we-find-totems-we-also-find-a-law-against/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [When I was in London at NBC, I was the lowest man on the totem pole. I would go to diplomatic receptions to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-i-was-in-london-at-nbc-i-was-the-lowest-man-on-the-totem-pole-i/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [Atrial fibrillation has been the low man on the totem pole and so we're just trying to get more visibility about this particular disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/atrial-fibrillation-has-been-the-low-man-on-the-totem-pole-and-so-we/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [On 'Buffy' I wasn't all that high on the totem pole as far as responsibility and screen time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charisma-carpenter/on-buffy-i-wasn-t-all-that-high-on-the-totem-pole-as-far-as/) [Charisma Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charisma-carpenter/) > [I've learned a lot about what kind of actor I want or do not want to be while being on set. I sit back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-what-kind-of-actor-i-want-or-do-not-want-to/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [My jobs on campaigns were pretty low on the totem pole - I was an advance man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/my-jobs-on-campaigns-were-pretty-low-on-the-totem-pole-i-was-an/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [ “Then there's the pillar statue in the semi-subterranean temple at Tiahuanaco \[Bolivia\]. Like the Totem Pole of Göbekli Tepe, it is anthropomorphic. Like the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/then-there-s-the-pillar-statue-in-the-semi-subterranean-temple-at/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [“Like a wolf, she lived by instinct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/like-a-wolf-she-lived-by-instinct/) [Nikki rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [The 14th of 15 kids, I was the second youngest - not a coveted spot on the family totem pole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-johnson/the-14th-of-15-kids-i-was-the-second-youngest-not-a-coveted-spot-on/) [Peggy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-johnson/) ## More by Sigmund Freud > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“Woe to you, my Princess, when I come. I will kiss you quite red and feed you till you are plump. 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