There's much more to a bear than a bear....

When I was really young I think I had bears,

untill I had to throw all my stuffed animal away because I became asthmatic.

I remember my sister once got a bear from my cousin. She really adored that one but then again she adored all stuffed animals. My sister had stuffed animals all over the place.

My own symbolic bear.

I got one when I was 16 from my boyfriend back then and my dog bit his nose off. Not so nice.

And there was this guy once, who gave me presents all the time, he liked me I guess and I was 17 or something I think and didn't really know how to handle it. So he went on a cruise and he came back with a teddybear. 'Ahhhww, for me? How sweet! Thank you' 

Sweet but...aawwwkwaaaard!

I went to Berlin two weeks ago and in Berlin  I saw bears everywhere... and I fell in love with a bear and took him home.

Be careful for bears!

We all know what a bear is. It's that fluffy, big animal that walks around in the forest and might attack you. Do we all know when what to do when we get attacked by a bear? Yes you should lie on the floor and stay down until help comes, at least that's what they say. I never got attacked by a bear. 

But bears aren't just those fluffy scary things they also have a symbolic meaning...

'The spirit of the bear is a strong source of support in times of difficulty. It provides courage and a stable foundation to face challenges. When the bear shows up as a spirit guide in your life, it’s perhaps time to stand for your beliefs or your truth. This power animal will provide for support and strength.'

'For the Inuit people, the polar bear is considered as the “Wise Teacher” as it shows how to survive in harsh conditions.'

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'The bear is also a guide to take leadership in your life or in other people’s lives.

'The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength and confidence. Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership'

'This animal is feared and admired for its strength. Its presence inspires respect. Its strength and powerful stature will inspire you to step into a leadership role in 

your life and take action without fear.'

  'Since the bear is often associated with shamans in many traditions, this spirit animal can symbolize healing abilities and stepping into the role of the healer. If the bear shows up in your life, it may also be time to take care of your own needs for healing, whether it’s at the physical, emotional or spiritual level.'

'The spirit of the the bear indicates it’s time for healing or using healing abilities to help self or others.'

Native american bear meaning

• Power
• Courage
• Freedom
• Protection
• Motherhood
• Discernment
• Childbearing
• Resourcefulness
• Unpredictability

Native Wisdom the Bear Imparts to Us

'Because the bear is cautious, it encourages discernment to humankind.'

'Because of a fierce spirit, the bear signals bravery to those who require it.'

'Because of its mass and physical power, the bear stands for confidence and victory.'· 

' Because it prefers peace and tranquility (in spite of its size), Bear calls for harmony and balance.'

'The bear medicine emphasizes the importance of solitude, quiet time and rest.'

      Confidence and Authority
'By its physical presence, the bear reminds us we can be larger than life if we raise ourselves up to our inherent status. Moreover, no one questions the bear. This kind of authoritative presence will be a lesson the bear can impart.'

·    Nurturing and Protection
We intuit these attributes by the commitment bear mothers make to their offspring. Whether your offspring is in children or ideals, the bear will lend you the determination required for rearing up strong results. The bear is a consummate mother, caring for her young with observable devotion. Indeed, the bear is a symbol of motherhood and child protection, as I discuss on my page about Native American bear meaning here.

'However, there is a unfathomable power surging just beneath the surface of the bear is potentially explosive. Bear has imminent domain, and when it deems that space altered, it is fully prepared to defend. Woe be to the one who provokes the wrath of the bear. In this powerfully impressive display of defense and aggression we pick up bear meanings of sovereignty, courage and themes of the warrior.'

(The information above is literally quoted from different sources on the internet).

So I was curious to know if there's any connection between the symbolic meaning of a bear, from a real bear and the teddybear, the toy. Le't's start with the history of the teddybear, shall we.

History of the teddy bear

The Teddy Bear is actually named after the former president of the United States Theodore Roosevelt who they used to name Teddy. Supposingly the name originated from an incident with a bear on a hunting trip. Roosevelt was hunting with a few others and everyone had already killed an animal but he didn't . A few of his attendants has cornered, clubbed and tied up an American black bear on to a willow tree after he was chased for a long time by their hounds. They called Roosevelt and asked him to shoot the animal. He refused to shoot the bear itself but instructed them to kill the bear to put the animal out of its misery. 

This incident became the topic of a political cartoon in the Washington Post on November 16, 1902 (More than a century ago).  While the initial cartoon of an adult black bear lassoed by a handler and a disgusted Roosevelt had symbolic overtones, later issues of that and other Berryman cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter.

A guy named Morris Michtom was the drawer and this inspired him to create a new toy He created a little stuffed bear cup and first named it 'Teddy's bear' after Roosevelt gave him the permission to use his name. The toy was an immediate succes. And until this day... (Wikipedia, 2014).

Symbolic meaning of the teddy bear

So what is the symbolic meaning of the teddy bear then? Children seem to be pretty attached to their teddy bears.

The teddy bear ( by Priscilla V. Marotta )

'Teddy bears are a wonderful tool for psychological health. Look around your home and the home of your friends. Almost every home has a collectable teddy bear or a teddy bear figurine. What is so powerful about a teddy bear? Why does even the thought of a teddy bear bring a smile to your face? Teddy bears are cherished, many are collectable, and there are so many types of cuddly collectable teddy bears. This is understandable when you realize that there are four powerful psychological effects of teddy bears.'

'First, teddy bears are the symbol of child-like innocence. They remind of us of being nurtured and cared for by others. Teddy bears are a symbol of the care free moments of childhood when are greatest concerns were the next play time. We all hold on to our “inner child” that still remains with us. 







No matter what adult responsibilities that we may have, we all need to have moments of escape. Also, there are children in our lives that are still receiving their quota of teddy bear gifts.'

'Second, teddy bears remind us of a special person who loved us and brought us a teddy bear. Teddy bears remind us of the joy of being loved. Teddy bears are not a sex symbol….they are a love symbol! They remind us that someone loves us and treasures us. Psychological assessment tests have proven teddy bears have a positive effect on people’s emotions. The psychological necessities for love and caring are central to human lives. 



Teddy bears are used by police officers and fire fighters to bring comfort to families who are experiencing difficulties. They are a universal symbol of caring.''

''The teddy bear’s purpose is to provide us comfort even in times when the duality of existence is kicking our arse.  In times of trouble the teddy bear offers comfort.  And here is the occult aspect…life is a state of mind.  Both pain and suffering or joy and happiness are a state of mind.  Things are never as bad as they seem, nor a good as they appear.  In times of trouble we can sit on our pity pot and feel sorry for your self, or we can brush aside worry and march ahead.  When times are tough hugging your teddy bear releases stress, even if only for a minute.  That is the mysterious talismanic nature of the teddy bear.  The teddy bear reminds us to look at the best side of life’s duality, and how we think tends to be how things will turn out.  The teddy bear is an unwitting advocate of the law of attraction.' (occult view).

'Third, Teddy bears are also used as gift to remember special occasions. Therefore, teddy bears are treasured for the memory that they represent. It may be a special boyfriend or girlfriend, or a teddy bear from our youth, or a teddy bear purchased for Mother’s Day. I have a special teddy bear on my bed, given to me by my son on Mother’s Day. Each time I look at the bear, holding a heart, I think of my son and a warm feeling floods my heart. The psychological value of treasured memories is great. 



Pleasant memories color our world with happy thoughts and bring comfort in difficult times.'

'The fourth powerful psychological impact is the power of the soft touch. A huggable, warm teddy bear brings the comfort of touch. Touch is a powerful need among human beings. Holding something soft gives us immense psychological comfort.The ability to hug a soft object provides a seductive combination. Holding a teddy bear is a simple pleasure that provides relief from stress. A few moments with a teddy bear are a simple tool to bring your blood pressure down, put positive endorphins in your body, and provide a moment of peace.

It is amazing to realize that a teddy bear is a unique personalized gifts and special stuffed animals, could impart such comfort. Teddy bears are special. In today’s hectic world, a teddy bear is a proven comfort item with multiple psychological benefits. Hug a teddy bear today!'

Did you know that there is this foundation called 'Friends of Bobbi bear' who have been raped? They use the bears to help the children communicate and point out where they have been hurt. I've been to a lecture about it a while ago and heard Jackie Branfield in person talk about their organisation in South Africa.

Watch the video down here for more information about Bobbi bear...

All I wanted to show by this post, that mostly consists of pieces of text that I quoted, that there's much more to a bear than a bear. Bears are awesome!

Sources

• http://www.spiritanimal.info/bear-spirit-animal
• http://occultview.com/2012/10/21/the-teddy-bear-as-an-occult-talisman-2/
• http://www.whats-your-sign.com/native-american-bear-meaning.html
• http://www.whats-your-sign.com/bear-meaning.html
• http://www.shamanicjourney.com/article/6002/bear-power-animal-symbol-of-strength-introspection-knowledge-dreamtime-and-transformation
• http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/bear-symbol.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_bear
• http://www.bearpawsibilities.com/article_psych.html