spirit animal

Noun

spirit animal (plural spirit animals)

1. An animal spirit that guides, helps, or protects a person or group of people.
   • For most of these topics you'll have more than one choice of spirit animal, so whenever that's true, intuitively choose which animal spirit resonates with you for that particular condition or quality.2006, Steven Farmer, Animal Spirit Guides, →ISBN, page 411
   • Shamans are trained to keep the memory of their spirit animal intact so that they can discover the many ways in which they can use its medicine.2009, Lucy Harmer, Discovering Your Spirit Animal: The Wisdom of the Shamans, →ISBN, page 6

   Synonyms:

   power animal

2. (humorous, informal) A person or thing with which one has a deep connection due to shared beliefs etc.
   • The picture means everything to me, it's my spirit animal. Evel Knievel jumping at Caesar's Palace, signed by the great man. I'd look at the photo every day, trying to channel what it meant to me.2021, Christian O'Connell, No One Listens to Your Dad's Show