What do you think about Spirit Animals? I heard them or at least the term is specific for a belief? religion? and it is supposedly really inappropriate to use it if your not born into that specific belief? But I would love to know if the Spirit Guide (is that more correct?) I found for myself, is actually something I'm allowed to name and be proud of an follow without being rude towards anyone?

The better term (unless you are Native American) is animal guide. Everything else is cultural appropriation. I made this mistake earlier in my blogging career with this post [x]. It currently says animal guide but I used the term totem animal first. This was wrong of me to try and take another cultures sacred image and make it my own. Here’s a couple more good links to check out when it comes to cultural appropriation.

• What is Cultural Appropriation and How to Avoid It
• A Much Needed Primer on Cultural Appropriation
• How to Determine Cultural Appropriation (VERY basic)
• Defining and Identifying Cultyral Appropriation
• Cultural Appropriation Beginner’s Guide
• The do’s, don’ts, maybes, and I-don’t-knows of cultural appropriation
• Cultural Appreciation, or Cultural Appropriation?
• On the Inherent Privilege of White Culture: an examination of cultural appropriation
• Mimicry or Mockery?
• Cultural Appreciation of Cultural Appropriation>: A Zine on Culture. Respect, Allyship, and Racism
• Reverse Appropriation
• Medicine Bags
• Why You Can’t Wear a Headdress
• Smoke Cleansing vs Smudging

-Alerisa