totemic
Like clan emblems
Totemic describes something relating to or resembling a totem—a natural object, usually an animal, serving as a spiritual emblem for a group or clan.
More broadly, totemic means having symbolic or sacred significance for a community: The band's debut album became totemic for a generation of punk fans.
A totemic figure represents something larger than itself.
Profound admiring respect
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
- shrineSacred devotional place
relic · spiritual · reverence · ritual · ceremony · sacred animal · protective spirit · guardian
Predecessor in lineage
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
bloodline · genealogy · descent · dynasty · roots · patriarch · matriarch · kinship
Representational sign or device
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
- representationDepiction or likeness
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
crest · motif · badge · heraldic · figurative · allegorical · metaphorical · signifier
State of fitting in
- affiliationFormal organizational connection
- membershipState of belonging
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
kinship · solidarity · bond · collective · group · unity · cohesion · community
Indigenous to a place
- First NationsCanada's non-Inuit indigenous peoples
- Native AmericanOriginal inhabitants of America
- MaoriNew Zealand's indigenous people
- InuitArctic indigenous people
shamanic · animist · dreamtime · spirit guide · tribal mark · ceremonial · traditional · cultural
veneration
Profound admiring respect
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- consecratedDeclared sacred through ritual
shrine · relic · spiritual · reverence · ritual · ceremony · sacred animal · protective spirit · guardian · blessing
ancestor
Predecessor in lineage
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- progenitorAncestor or originator
clan · bloodline · genealogy · descent · dynasty · roots · patriarch · matriarch · kinship · forebear
emblem
Representational sign or device
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
- representationDepiction or likeness
insignia · crest · motif · badge · heraldic · figurative · allegorical · metaphorical · signifier · token
belonging
State of fitting in
- affiliationFormal organizational connection
- membershipState of belonging
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
tribe · kinship · solidarity · bond · collective · group · unity · cohesion · community · fellowship
aboriginal
Indigenous to a place
- First NationsCanada's non-Inuit indigenous peoples
- Native AmericanOriginal inhabitants of America
- MaoriNew Zealand's indigenous people
Inuit · shamanic · animist · dreamtime · spirit guide · tribal mark · ceremonial · traditional · cultural · ethnic
- reveredworshipped, venerated, revered, adored, idolized
- Aboriginal AustraliansAboriginal, Aboriginals, Indigenous Australians, Dreaming, songlines
totemicmeaningless
Lacking significance or purpose
insignificant · unremarkable · mundane · ordinary · unimportant
totemicincidental
Minor and unplanned
peripheral · marginal · inconsequential · tangential · nonessential
totemicprofane
Irreverent toward the sacred
secular · unholy · desacralized · irreverent · unconsecrated
- totem poleCarved pillar with clan symbols
- low on the totem poleLowest in hierarchy
- high on the totem poleHaving high status
- totem animalsSymbolic ancestral creatures
- animal totemsSymbolic guardian beings