6 Spirit Animals To Call On When You Need To Break Free From Toxic People

It was over a decade ago that I first learned about the concept of spirit animals. I was attending a conference, and the speaker was a clairvoyant—someone who can see images and spirits beyond what we normally see.

As she was giving her speech, she was distracted and kept looking over at me. Finally, she stopped mid-sentence and walked over to me. "My darling, did you know that you have a deer with you, and it has a message?" She continued, "The deer wants you to pay attention to your natural abilities and trust your intuition more—stop second-guessing yourself!"

I had just left my soul-suffocating corporate career working as a designer and art director in advertising. I had recently been diagnosed with clinical depression and was recovering from drug addiction and eating disorders. Every day it seemed like a chore to get out of bed.

I was living through rock bottom, but this animal messenger came to me at the most opportune time to invite me to listen to my inner guide and open myself to new possibilities.

At the time, not only was I feeling depressed because I was in a career transition and uncertain about my future, but I also lived with my boyfriend, who was emotionally and financially abusive and exploitive. I didn't know it was abuse while I was experiencing it; I just knew I felt unsafe, controlled, isolated, invalidated, and disrespected daily.

Today, my life looks very different from the girl struggling through a dark night of the soul. By listening to my intuition and attuning to my spirit animal helpers, I have transformed many aspects of my life.

I am free of toxic boyfriends and friends, have stronger boundaries, and trust myself and my intuition fully. By working with the healing energy of Gaia, I overhauled my life by removing myself from all limitations—especially toxic relationships and unhealthy patterns and people.

I started to live for myself and reclaim my inner power.

The Camel spirit guide represents strength in uncertainty and endurance in times of struggle. In the same way a camel goes a long time without water, its survival instincts kick in, and it is resourceful, resilient, and never gives up.

Camel is here to help dissolve illusions and mirages. Breaking free from toxicity requires an honest acceptance of what is real versus living in hope that things will change. Instead of staying in an uncomfortable situation, the Camel moves toward safety, one step at a time.

The Deer guide comes to us in times of self-doubt, self-criticism, and self-blame. Don't let your current situation cloud your judgment of self. It is important to become more aware of your self-deprecating thoughts and how they are limiting your actions. 

The Skunk has no fear and uses its resourcefulness to assess all situations clearly. Let the Skunk guide you, and use your strength to protect yourself and warn of danger.

Master of death and awakening, the Scorpion lives in a state of transformation. Call upon this spirit animal to guide you to transition past fear through self-awareness.

When the Snake comes slithering into your life, it's an invitation to let go of what no longer serves you, not from resentment, anger, or fear but with compassion, acceptance, and love.

Animal guides have messages for us, somehow right when we need to see or hear them. Whether it's seeing these animals in real life to happening upon images or reminders of them, they're always there.