Updated: Oct 19. 2026
Native American Horoscope
The Native American horoscope is based on another principle than we’re used to - it attributes animal characteristics to people. It originates from great respect for nature. It shows what visible (and also hidden) characteristics we got the day we were born and will carry for the rest of our lives. The Native American horoscope, like ours, is divided into twelve parts - twelve totems in the form of animals. According to the date of birth, you’ll find out what species you can identify with.
The Native American horoscope gives everyone an animal based on their date of birth. The year is split into twelve periods that almost line up with the signs of the zodiac, except that instead of Aries or Leo you'll find the Falcon, the Beaver, the Bear or the Wolf. This animal is your totem. It's meant to describe your character: how you act, what gives you strength and where you're vulnerable.
Where the Native American horoscope comes from
It's a modern system, not an ancient tribal calendar. In the form we know today, it was set out in 1980 by Sun Bear and Wabun in a book about the medicine wheel. They drew on the nature symbolism of the Indigenous peoples of North America. Like the Chinese horoscope, it's a character sketch that a lot of people see themselves in. The original book has different animals for some periods, a sturgeon instead of the salmon, for instance, or a cougar instead of the wolf. The version that caught on in Europe is the one we use here.
How to find your animal
All you need is your date of birth. Look up the period your birthday falls in, and that's your totem. If you were born on the cusp, read both neighboring animals and go with the one that sounds more like you. Each period matches one month of the natural year, and in the original book it's named after what's happening outdoors at that time: Falcon belongs to the Budding Trees Moon, Goose to the Earth Renewal Moon.
Clans and elements
The animals are grouped into four clans, which match the elements just as the zodiac signs do:
- Thunderbird clan (fire): Falcon, Salmon, Owl
- Turtle clan (earth): Beaver, Bear, Goose
- Butterfly clan (air): Deer, Raven, Otter
- Frog clan (water): Woodpecker, Snake, Wolf
People from the same clan share a similar pace and usually understand each other without long explanations. Fire and air fan each other's flames, while earth and water give things time and a solid shape.
Falcon (March 21 – April 19)
The falcon hunts from high above and spots prey at a distance a person would need binoculars for. In a dive, the peregrine falcon is the fastest creature on Earth. In stories it stands for power, the sky and nobility.
Falcon people are brave and quick, and they've usually acted before anyone else has finished hesitating. Many are natural leaders. Compromise doesn't come easily to them: when they want something, they want it now, and trouble starts the moment they run into someone just as determined. In love they're passionate and generous.
Beaver (April 20 – May 20)
The beaver fells trees with teeth that keep growing all its life and builds dams that turn streams into whole ponds. It stands for hard work and a builder's know-how.
Beaver people are energetic, practical and kind. They're happiest in familiar surroundings and in their own home, which they're forever improving. At work they're diligent and persistent, and they know how to put money aside. Their weak spot is tunnel vision: when a Beaver is absorbed in a project, they stop noticing the world around them, including the people waiting for them.
Deer (May 21 – June 20)
Every year the deer sheds its antlers and grows a new set by the end of summer. In legends this lord of the forest was a sacred animal, standing for vitality, wisdom and grace.
People with the Deer totem tend to be elegant and gentle, and more sensitive than they let on. They give as readily as they take, make friends easily and charm everyone with their wit and their way with words. They make good diplomats. They get bored quickly, though, and sometimes slip into vanity and shallow relationships, where admiration matters more to them than real closeness.
Woodpecker (June 21 – July 21)
The woodpecker drums on tree trunks to signal to others of its kind and to mark its territory. It stands for love, humility and devotion.
A Woodpecker is usually a loyal, devoted friend, perceptive and compassionate. They help with remarkable patience, often at their own expense. In relationships their care can become too much, and a partner may sometimes feel it as control. But a Woodpecker can't help it: they're led by their feelings first, and they need to know that someone can't do without them.
Salmon (July 22 – August 21)
The salmon swims against the current, leaps up rapids and returns to the river where it hatched. Few animals fight harder, and tradition gives the people of this totem the same spirit.
Salmon people have a personal charm that wins trust and goodwill. They're self-confident, like to take the lead and live their relationships with real intensity. Honesty matters to them more than anything. Catch them out with a lie or foul play and it's over fast, with no second chance. Their weakness is pride and the need to have the last word.
Bear (August 22 – September 21)
In late summer the bear works its way tirelessly through berries and nuts to build up reserves for the winter. Many northern peoples honored it as the guardian of the forest and a symbol of immense strength.
You probably won't recognize a Bear at first glance. They're modest and practical and would rather work than talk. But when they get into trouble, their hidden strength wakes up. Bears are patient and often make good teachers. They can also be stubborn, and far too strict with themselves and others.
Raven (September 22 – October 22)
Ravens and their cousins the crows are among the cleverest birds: they solve puzzles and remember human faces. In the stories of the peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast, Raven is the trickster who brought light to the world.
Raven people are even-tempered, with a feel for beauty and fairness. They often live fairly solitary lives, but at the right moment their social gifts come through. They prefer to think an answer over, which others sometimes hold against them as indecision. They love to travel and can't stand anything that limits their freedom.
Snake (October 23 – November 22)
A snake sheds its skin several times in its life and comes out renewed. So it came to stand for wisdom and intuition, and for the ability to start over.
Snake people are honest and direct, sometimes relentlessly so. Material things don't mean much to them, and neither do compromises or excuses. They tend to see two opposites, good and evil, with nothing in between. In pursuit of a goal they're very persistent. In relationships they're passionate but moody, and they keep their feelings hidden for a long time.
Owl (November 23 – December 21)
The owl hunts at night, flies almost silently and can turn its head far past its shoulder. On one hand it stands for wisdom; on the other, people have long linked it with misfortune.
Owl people are open to anything new, fair-minded and strong-willed. They'll make sacrifices for the people close to them, even at the cost of their own happiness. They can keep a secret, which is why others turn to them with trust. An Owl's personal life, though, tends to be messy, and love troubles are hard to avoid. Their failing is often pride.
Goose (December 22 – January 19)
Geese migrate thousands of miles in a V formation, taking turns at the front to spare the strength of the whole flock. In the Native American horoscope the Goose is a symbol of energy, diligence and ambition.
People of this totem are born with the same qualities. They surprise others with their determination and stamina, set their goals high and go after them step by step. Speed is not their thing. The unexpected catches them flat-footed, and snap decisions don't suit them. Emotionally they tend to be closed off, but win one over and you have a friend for life.
Otter (January 20 – February 18)
Otters slide down muddy banks and through the snow, and they play with pebbles. The Native American horoscope sees them as a symbol of new beginnings, change for the better and hope.
Otter people have drive and ideas of their own, and they work hard. Obstacles don't scare them; they treat them as a reason to come up with a different approach. They keep their sense of humor in any situation, which makes them ideal company in hard times too. In relationships, though, the Otter has a weak spot: they can't bear being wronged, and they're prone to a jealousy they hide behind jokes for a long time.
Wolf (February 19 – March 20)
The wolf lives in a pack with strong bonds, and the whole family looks after the pups. European fairy tales tended to cast it as the villain, but in the stories of North America's Indigenous peoples it's a respected guide and teacher.
People born under this totem seem gentle at first glance, even shy. They're emotional and give love a great deal of weight. A happy Wolf is kind, generous and passionate and will do anything for their pack. When they meet rejection, though, they suffer deeply and can sometimes even turn vengeful. When the outside world presses too hard, they retreat into fantasy, music or art.