Medicine Wheel · 12 Birth Totems
Your birth animal is written in the date.
The Medicine Wheel divides the year into twelve periods, each carried by an animal. Enter your birthday to find the one that carries yours.
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When were you born?
Want your Western and Chinese zodiac animals from the same date? Use the birth animal finder →
The wheel of twelve
Each period belongs to one of four elemental clans, repeating Air → Water → Fire → Earth three times around the year. Tap a totem to read it.
Otter
Jan 20 – Feb 18Unconventional and quietly brilliant, Otters see the world from an angle no one else does. Free-spirited and kind, you thrive when given room to follow your own ideas.
Wolf
Feb 19 – Mar 20Deeply feeling and generous, Wolves lead with the heart. You need both close bonds and personal freedom, and your intuition is rarely wrong.
Falcon
Mar 21 – Apr 19First out of the gate, Falcons act with clarity and nerve. You're a natural leader who trusts your judgement and rarely hesitates once your mind is made up.
Beaver
Apr 20 – May 20Practical and determined, Beavers build things that last. You get things done your own way and value security, loyalty and a job well finished.
Deer
May 21 – Jun 20Lively and expressive, Deer light up a room. Curious and adaptable, you win people over with wit and warmth wherever you go.
Woodpecker
Jun 21 – Jul 21Caring and intensely loyal, Woodpeckers are the natural nurturers of the wheel. You listen deeply and protect the people and home you love.
Salmon
Jul 22 – Aug 21Magnetic and driven, Salmon move upstream with purpose. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and you give your all to the goals and people you believe in.
Bear
Aug 22 – Sep 21Level-headed and dependable, Bears are the ones others lean on. Patient and generous, you bring calm strength and good sense to any situation.
Crow (Raven)
Sep 22 – Oct 22Sociable and even-handed, Crows seek balance and beauty. You're a natural diplomat who reads people well and values fairness above almost everything.
Snake
Oct 23 – Nov 22Deep and transformative, Snakes are drawn to life's mysteries. Intense and perceptive, you move through change with a shaman's quiet power.
Owl
Nov 23 – Dec 21Curious and free-roaming, Owls chase experience and meaning. Warm and versatile, you adapt to almost anything and love an open horizon.
Goose
Dec 22 – Jan 19Focused and persevering, Geese set high goals and reach them. Dependable and disciplined, you turn dreams into plans and plans into results.
Twelve animals, four elemental clans, one year. Choose a slice — or find yours by date with the calculator above.
- Butterfly (Air) clan
- Frog (Water) clan
- Thunderbird (Fire) clan
- Turtle (Earth) clan
The twelve birth animals
12 of 12
About the Native American Birth Zodiac
Long before printed horoscopes, many Native American traditions read the year through the Medicine Wheel — a circle divided into the seasons and directions, each governed by an animal spirit. The animal presiding over the time of your birth is your birth totem, and it is said to shape your temperament, your gifts and the lessons you came to learn.
Each of the twelve animals also belongs to one of four elemental clans — the Thunderbird (Fire), Frog (Water), Butterfly (Air) and Turtle (Earth) — which colours how its energy expresses. Use the calculator above to find yours, then read the full animal guide to explore its symbolism in depth.
Prefer to browse rather than enter a date? See the full birth-totem chart month by month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Native American zodiac?
The Native American zodiac, drawn from the Medicine Wheel, divides the year into twelve periods, each linked to a birth animal totem and an elemental clan. Your birth animal is thought to reflect your natural personality, strengths and path.
How do I find my Native American birth animal?
Enter your month and day of birth in the calculator above. It matches your birthday to one of the twelve birth animals and shows its traits and meaning.
Is the Native American zodiac the same as the Chinese zodiac?
No. The Chinese zodiac assigns one animal per lunar year, while the Native American birth-animal system assigns an animal based on the time of year you were born, similar to Western sun signs.