The jaguar is an immensely powerful animal that is revered in South America.

This beautiful animal symbolizes strength and intelligence, among other things, and was treated like royalty in the ancient cultures of Maya and the Aztecs.
Today, the jaguar is still a sign of mighty power and ferocity, but can also serve as a warning.
If you are interested in folding out more about the jaguar as a spirit, totem, and power animal (and much more), keep reading and find out.
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Symbolism and Meaning of the Jaguar
The jaguar is a pillar of power and knowledge. These magnificent animals may make to face your fears and confront your enemies.
In some legends, the jaguar ruled the underworld and could see into the night of the cosmos, possessing magical powers.

The Jaguar as a Spirit Animal
When the jaguar comes to you, you need to prepare yourself for news. The jaguar may be trying to welcome you to the mystical world, which will awaken your soul and show you your purpose in life.
Although the messages this animal carries may be upsetting or unclear, it is always in your best interest to listen and make sense of it.
The jaguar may appear as your spirit animal in dreams and during meditation.
They symbolize an approaching change and will teach you your strengths that you need to begin and recognize. By recognizing your strengths, you will be able to use that power and get through the problems that are holding you back from achieving your dreams.
Likewise, the jaguar acts as a guardian and guide for you if you are improving your psychic awareness.
They will help you on your journey and keep you safe against the evils of the world. Even if you are not learning more about spirituality, the jaguar will aid you in times of difficulty and darkness.
You will learn patience, as the jaguar is patient, and you will learn to pick your battles. Not every battle is worth the fight, and you must know which to approach and which to ignore.
Resourcefulness will be taught to you as you go on your journey and, when the time comes, the pounce will lead you to success.
If you are struggling with the idea of self-actualization, Jaguar Spirit Animal will come and aid you, constantly guiding you down the right path so that you are resourceful and successful in all you do.
The jaguar may also open your mind to ideas and help you understand the world and its inevitable chaos.
To summarize, the Jaguar Spirit Animal may help you with:
- Understanding the world
- Self-actualization
- Open your mind
- Aid you in the mystical world
- Resourcefulness
- Learning your strengths
- Guards you against evil
- Approaching change
- Patience
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The Jaguar as a Totem Animal
People with the jaguar totem are often sexy, strong-willed, dignified, and confident. They are sensual in everything they do, whether it is talking or walking, and others are attracted to them like a magnet.
Those with this totem are often aware of this, and so are careful around others and treat everyone mindfully. These people can typically see the full picture while others are stuck looking at a corner. This allows them to trust themselves and their intuition.
Often the jaguar totem means that you are a mysterious character, and are fond of that side of you.
Life is an adventure, and it is all about the journey, rather than the destination. The experiences you have along the way are what make life special, but also what ensure that you are on the right path and always learning.
Although still learning throughout your life, you do not question the choices that you make. You spend time thinking about each and every choice, thanks to your patience and are able to stay grounded even if everything seems to go wrong.
This characteristic means that you are a very understanding and reliable partner and friend, which many people love about you. To those around you, you are the refuge in the storm and someone they will always go to.
As someone with the jaguar totem, you probably do not like crowds of people. You would rather spend time with those who are close to you in smaller groups.
If you have to go to events, you resemble the jaguar and can stealthily mix in and blend into the background, so you do not have to talk to anyone if you do not wish to.
You most likely enjoy the night. Sitting under the stars and listening to the sounds of the evening make you happy, filling you with a primal sense of joy and content.
To summarize, if the jaguar is your totem animal, you probably:
- Confident
- Strong-willed
- Sexy
- Dignified
- Do not like large crowds
- Mindful
- Enjoy smaller groups
- Have few close friends
- Can blend into the background
- Enjoy the night
- Are mysterious
- Enjoy life as a journey
- Are self-assured
The Jaguar as a Power Animal
You may want to summon the jaguar as your power animal if you feel yourself in need of support and strength.
Calling upon the jaguar will give you the confidence to carry out your dreams and navigate the difficult paths in life.
Additionally, you might need the jaguar’s help in finding your true, unique self.
As the spots of the animal are unique, so are you. They can help you realize your potential, strengths, and character, and help you on the way to the true you.

If you feel you are struggling with awareness, the jaguar can help you. With the jaguar’s guidance, you can learn all you can about the world.
The jaguar is the best teacher you can hope for in every aspect of your life.
To summarize, the jaguar can help you:
- Feel powerful
- Navigate life
- Learn
- Find your true self
- Become more aware
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What do Jaguar Mean in Dreams?
The jaguar is a powerful and beautiful animal. If this creature appears to you in your dreams, it may be your subconscious trying to warn you to wake up and take note of what is happening around you.
There may be an issue that you are ignoring, whether on purpose or accidentally, or that you are lacking integrity in some part of your life.
There is little room for messing around with the jaguar – it is direct and wants you to find your issue and fix it before any more damage is done.
You need to stop and listen to what it is trying to tell you, or you may just regret it.
The sleeping jaguar is a warning to you. There may be a dangerous situation that will begin to unravel in your life or near you.
You need to take note of the opportunities happening in your life, as well as the people who are near you.
Dreaming of a jaguar could also mean that you have to be more honest with others or yourself.
There might be something that you are lying to yourself or others about, willingly or not, and it is having a negative effect on you.
If this is the case, you need to act immediately and remedy the situation before it gets out of hand.
The spiritual world may be trying to open for you if you find yourself dreaming about a jaguar staring at you deeply. This creature is seen to be a Being of Magic and is calling you into the realm of the unknown to learn and ignite a flame in you.
A jaguar running behind you could be symbolic of taking action. This could apply to you if you are in a situation where you and others are competing in some way.
The jaguar serves as a warning that if you do not act quickly, you will miss out on a prize that could be yours.
If the jaguar in your dreams stays in the treeline and does not venture out, you may be getting a message to wait. The action you are thinking about taking should not be done now as the timing is off.
You may want to take action because of fear, desire, or any other fleeting emotion, but if you do, you will likely be disappointed in the outcome and regret it.
The Jaguar in Tattoos, Astrology, and Spiritual Meanings
The jaguar can have many meanings, and all must be heeded. To find out more about the meanings of jaguars in tattoos, astrology, and spirituality, keep reading.
Tattoos
There are a number of symbolic meanings on the jaguar in tattoos.
Some may get a tattoo of a jaguar to symbolize strength, while others may get it to show their humility. Black and gray jaguar tattoos are incredibly popular, but so are the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan designs.
A jaguar tattoo is a show of strength and power, and that meaning will never be lost.
Those with tattoos of this animal may have lofty aspirations and use them to keep them on the right path to get what they want in this world.
We all have fears, but the jaguar is brave even in the face of their fear. It is not fearless, but overcoming the fear holds more stock. Nothing can stand in the way of a jaguar, and it will never stay in one place, frozen in fear.

Getting a jaguar tattoo can serve as a reminder that you do not need to be afraid, and that you cannot live your life in fear because you will miss out on a lot.
They can also symbolize patience and the animal is a master of its craft. These animals will sit still and watch, waiting for the perfect time to pounce on their prey.
Having a tattoo of a jaguar may help remind you that you need to be patient in life, as rushing to your goals will likely not end well. Not every opportunity is worth taking and having the patience to wait for the right one can change your life for the better.
Aggression is another common attribute of the jaguar. While they are patient and willing to wait for their opportunity, they are also not afraid to be aggressive when they need to be.
This aggression can be channeled to achievements and tasks at hand and can remind you that even though patience is needed to achieve your goals, you also need to be willing and ready to fight for them.
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Astrology
The jaguar in astrology is a powerful and mighty sign. They are depicted primarily in South American horoscopes, such as the Aztec, Incan, or Mayan astrology.
Here, we will be looking at the jaguar in Primal Astrology as well as the Mayan Zodiac.
Primal Astrology
In Primal Astrology, the jaguar is a solitary, regal, and powerful sign. People born under the jaguar sign often have the ability to draw people to them, even if they do not mean to.
Other people cannot help but notice you and the things that you do. These people are more often than not eccentric in some way, and very proud of who they are ad individuals.
As long as you, like this mighty animal, can stay in control of your actions, if you are born under the jaguar sign you are capable of achieving amazing things.
You must be careful not to be too full of yourself if you are born under this powerful sign.
Being born under this sign means that, people will have the influence, strength, and vision to see through anything they want, but do not let that go to your head.
You will be both your own best friend and your worst enemy, throughout your life. You may get this inflated sense of importance from the history of the jaguar.
In South America, the jaguar was revered and treated like royalty. Like the lions of Africa and the dragons of Asia, South American’s viewed the jaguar as the king of all other animals.
As a sign of respect, the people who were in positions of power, like royals, were compared to the likeness of the jaguar.
This pride must be kept in check, as it can cause your downfall.
Those born under this sign may feel entitled and expect only the best in their lives. They want to win and are not afraid to be rid of anyone who will not help them on their journey or believe in them.
Because of this, it is not uncommon for those with the jaguar sign to have few close friends. Instead of wasting their time with people who are of no use to them, they will focus their energy on their goals and what they want to achieve in life.
This could mean that they live solitary lives for the most part, much like their namesake, but they often do not mind.
They enjoy their solidarity and use their time to achieve their goals rather than socializing and making friends.
Winning is the main goal for this sign, no matter what. The energy they can summon can be used to complete amazing feats, but can also turn toxic and dangerous if left to build up in them.
This energy can manifest in emotions, which overcome them at times. Their energy and mentions frequently get misdirected, leading to more problems than solutions.
If someone born under the jaguar sign is not being respected or treated in a way they feel they deserve, the negative energy may be misdirected to someone or something.
Since the jaguar sign is all about winning, their worst fear is the fear of failing.
Self-sabotage is not uncommon, driven by their negative emotional state. This often stems from the way they see themselves. Too often, they focus on their outward appearance, rather than focusing on who they are.
Unfortunately, since these people frequently do not value relationships with others, they are left to deal with their issues on their own.
Career-wise, the jaguar’s natural leading skills mean that they will do well in most job roles. They are skilled and will go above and beyond in their roles as long as they are able to do things their own way and not follow the crowd.
People born under this sign do not like being told what to do or how to do it. If you want to get the rest results and know that you work with a jaguar, take a step back and let them do their thing. For even better results, the jaguar should be the boss.
There is no one career that fits people with a jaguar sign. They can, and will, excel wherever they end up, whether that is a movie star or a cleaner.
As long as they are passionate about what they do, they will find it important in their job and do it to the best of their abilities. A lot of people with this sign will know what they want from a young age and will stick with it.

Mayan Zodiac
In Mayan astrology, the jaguar symbolizes feminine energy.
They are the connection of earthly spirituality and the universe and are associated with magical powers. The jaguar is thought to be able to create positive energy from negative energy.
People with the Maya Jaguar zodiac sign are often passionate individuals who are natural-born artists. These people are highly intelligent and have the potential to work in the fields of science, philosophy, and, of course, art.
The myths of jaguars having supernatural abilities are now translated into these people who have a number of gifts and skills.
These people are successful in everything they do in life and are also popular with the public, and also have the ability to learn ancient wisdom. This wisdom is part of the reason they frequently get so far in life and are so successful.
The dreams of those with the Maya Jaguar zodiac may be vivid and will offer guidance and knowledge to themselves or those around them.
Their intuition is a powerful aspect of their life, and although they may know a lot about others, it is rare for others to know a lot about them, making them mysterious and alluring.
Those with the Maya Ix horoscope sign often prefer to live in nature, either in the plains or mountains. Living in remote areas of the world allows them to be close to nature and the energy keeps them happy and in good health.
These people may even enjoy living among the animals if they are able to, as their connection is deep and sacred.
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Spiritual
Jaguars are a symbol of leadership, power, exotic beauty, and fertility.
Not only that but they are strongly associated with powers of telepathy and transformation, as well as abundance and stealth. These big cats also represent the sun and moon in the Mayan culture.
The jaguar may serve as a reminder that you have the strength and intellect to get through the difficulties in life.
The Jaguar in Mythology and Folklore
The jaguar is incredibly important in South American symbolism and culture. These powerful animals represent power, among many other things.
To find out more about the jaguar’s importance in South American tradition, keep reading.
Aztec and Mayan Tradition
Since the jaguar is a symbol of power and leadership, these animals were often trusted by the shamans to be the Guardian against evil.
This animal has the perfect mix of characteristics – maternal love, wisdom, leadership, and intelligence.
Those living in South America respected the Jaguar Spirit and believed it to be the connection to the elements. This spirit is everywhere and gives balance and fertility to the world.
Jaguar was the ruler of the Underworld in Mayan myths. The shamans claimed that the spot patterns on the skin of the jaguar represented the starry night sky, which is fitting as their legends state that the jaguar will end the world when it devours the Sun and Moon.
The word for Jaguar in Mayan is ‘Balam’. This word also translates to ‘priest’ or ‘sorcerer’ – this shows that the jaguar was known for its magical prowess and abilities.
The shamans of Maya would seek out the Jaguar Spirit in their vision quests and transformations they went through, again showing their respect for this creature.
It was common for rulers and those in places of power to use images of jaguars on their headdresses or robes as a sign of respect and adoration
Final Thoughts
You never know when you may need to call upon Jaguar’s help in the difficult times of your life.
- Agility
- Knowledge
- Beauty
- Magic
- Bravery and courage
- Shadow self
- Honor
- Speed
- Independence
- Shelf confidence and reliance
- Individuality
- Regal
- Solitary
- Powerful
- Influence
- Eccentric
- Proud
- Charming
- Restless
- Irritable
- Competitive
- Manipulative
The jaguar can help and guide you in every aspect of life, no matter what it is. They will guide and protect you, like a mother does her child, while still being ferocious.
If the jaguar is your spirit animal, or you relate to any of these topics, learn all you can about the jaguar.
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