Keynote: Longevity and creation through focus.

Cycle of power: Year round daytime

The crane was a bird that was almost made extinct by over hunting. In many places the crane has made a come back due to this rebounding if you get crane as a totem it could symbolize that which was lost will come back to you.

When crane raises their young they do so in extreme secrecy. This is why people usually only see the adults. Cranes are very protective of their vulnerable young. If crane comes as a totem it means you will develop a new sense of protectiveness towards your children or projects. You may need to keep your projects or anything you recently gave birth to or about to give birth to a secret until mature and ready to be seen.

The crane was a powerful symbol to the ancient Chinese. To the Chinese the crane was a positive symbol. To the Chinese crane stood for justice and longevity. It is also a solar symbol. Any animal that is directly conotated with the sun is a very powerful symbol. Due to the gracefulness of the crane and its more meditative look while it hunts its prey it is conotated with creation through focus. Crane has mastered " Your Focus determines your reality." Here crane is like Qui-Gon and Yoda. In China it is called patriarch of the feathered tribe. In Japan crane is called Lord crane. Cranes in oriental art is usually pictured with pine trees and the sun.

The Celtics saw crane very differently than the Chinese. To the Celts crane symbolized war and death. Crane is sacred to the king of the underworld. Crane was seen and feared by the Celts, no doubt due to the haunting whooping sound it makes. If you see crane from the Celtic view than crane would be Emperor Palpatine announcing that your number is up. It is time to die. Here is where your intuition is needed and communication with the Force. Only you will know if crane is coming to you as Qui-Gon, Yoda with focus and meditation as its lesson or Palpatine delivering Order 66.

As with all totems the spiritual lessons are only known by you the one receiving the totem. Hannigan so aptly shows crane as a fighting style in Kung-Fu. If you wish to meditate on the fighting style of crane go to Hannigan's lecture of the 5 Chinese power animals. The animals as totems predates them being used as a fighting lesson. Spirit totems is the ancient predecessor to animal fighting forms. Learning the spirit totems goes hand and hand with learning the fighting technique. The totems side helps you learn how to use the Force like the Jedi or Sith in Star Wars. Also totems teach other survival techniques; like to be secretive at the right time to achieve your goals. or should you shape shift with your environment to get best success. Totems you can use in work or at home when you are not in combat. Should I take job "A" or job "B"? A totem could appear to let you know the answer.

If you wish to get the most out of your animals and the lessons that they teach, it is good to look at both the totems sections and the martial arts sections made by Hannigan.

Like all guides and advice, Hannigan and I are providing the tools. It is the individual who chooses the tools and how to use them. You choose whether said tool is for knowledge and defense or for aggressive attack. It is up to you to choose your path be it Jedi or Sith. No one else can choose for you. There are many verieties of Crane. Knowing which Crane came to you will help you know it's message and lesson for you. Here are pictures of Cranes. First is the Whooping Crane.

The next picture is of Sandhill Crane to give a sample of two different kinds of Cranes. The head of the Sandhill Crane is distinct.