According to the Andean Cosmovision the Condor

represents the world of above (Hanaq Pacha) or the realm

of the gods and is associated with wealth, power and
physical health, and symbolizes justice, wisdom, strength,
and most importantly, liberation.

The puma is a symbol of strength, wisdom and

intelligenceand within the Andean thought it represents
the physical world or the world of the living (Kay Pacha)
and is characterized by patience and strength, being a
symbol of power and transcendental presence.

The serpent represented the infinite for the Incas and

within the vision of the cosmos it represents the world of
below or the world of the dead (Ukhu Pacha) and is a
symbol of the awakening of consciousness, ascension and
sacred and powerful wisdom.
 The eagle represents the upward direction, it is a powerful
leader, a messenger between the earth and the heavens,
and even a sacred healer, at the same time that it represents
protection for being the only bird that can fly above the
condor.

Hawks are the guardians of the East and represent honesty

and clear vision, and are bearers of messages from deities,
deceased ancestors and benevolent guides.

Although its delicacy shows a fragile bird in most regions

it is seen as a symbol of strength, in addition, it reflects
love, beauty, harmony and balance. It has a symbolic
meaning in the Andean worldview, since it is associated
with sweetness, harmony, good luck and sacrifice. There
are other names in the Quechua language for this being,
being the Siwar Q'ente (possibly the comet hummingbird)
and the Qori Q'ente (perhaps the patagonias gigas or giant
hummingbird).
In most cultures owls are connected with death. Some
traditions believe that owls are messengers of the dead,
while other legends describe them as shapeshifters. But
within Andean thought they represent the connection
between the world of spirits and the physical plane.

The symbolism of the Andean goose is related to light,

grace, beauty, love and purity; as well as, symbol of eternal
love, because as few birds once they loose their partner
they don't look for another one. The Andean geese have a
beautiful how to look for partners that's why in some
communities in the highlands they replicated this ritual in
a beautiful colorful dance.

For other traditions, it was believed that doves were the

liberation of the Great Spirit and the symbol of forgiveness,
but for Andean thought they are a symbol of regeneration
and fertile powers of the Great Mother Goddess, as well as
representing sweetness since in the Quechua language the
demonization “Urpi” to refer to a loved one, especially the
couple.
 According the legends the lamas are the descendants of
the “Napas”, ancient spirits in the shape of these beings.
Lamas symbolize unconditional service of love, because
they offered their entire existence in service. In the past
they were used for transporting things and after being
sacrifice people used almost everything from them, like the
meat to eat, the wool to weave, the bones to make musical
and weaving and ornamental carved tools, etc.

According to the oral tradition, alpacas are the ancestors of

the first Andean healers or priests, and they can live in high
elevations being in perfect communion to the Apus and
they always pasture without doing almost any kind of
noise, qualities that an Andean priest has to have, that's
why the word in Quechua for priest is “Paqo”

It is a symbol of continuity, prosperity, longevity and

abundance; besides representing tenderness and delicacy.
Monkeys are common characters in Central and South
American mythology. In these stories, the monkey's
mischievous personality plays a prominent role. In many
cases, the monkey is a playful or cunning prankster, thus
symbolizing joy and enthusiasm.

A fox is a true representation of enthusiasm, cunning, and

scrutiny. Some of its stories even depict the fox as a God
who has the power to create. Within the Andean tradition,
it is being curious and due to this characteristic, in the
stories it always gets into trouble, but as a result of this a
teaching is always born.

Also known as “Ukuku”, the Andean bear is an important

part of the Andean and Amazonian worldviews. They are
considered as mediators between the world of the living
and the dead; hence, their name derives from “Ukhuman
Riq” which means: “Ukhu” (realm of souls) suffix “man”
(towards) and “Riq” (the one who goes), being translated
into the being who goes to the realm of the souls. The
Matsiguenga aboriginal consider him the creator of life.
 The general symbolism of the wildcat, and therefore, of
common cat, is about the mysterious and esoteric, and
represents independency and the protection of energy. Its
characteristic is the power to be present in the spiritual and
physical realms.

Dogs are associated to protection, unconditional love and

loyalty. Here in the Andes we have the hairless dog or
Peruvian dog, which was used to treat osteoarthritis
diseases in humans due to the heat emitted by its body,
thus symbolizing the healer who heals with his hands, in
this case with the skin. According to the Andean tradition
once, we transcend into the other live, in that journey it
exists a blood river that our souls can't cross so the dogs
are the ones in charge of doing that.

Considered an animal with great healing powers. Skunks

symbolize hard work, housework, and creativity. It is
believed that the blood of the skunk is capable
of curing epilepsy, which is why in some communities they
are often hunted.
They symbolize the connection to mother earth and
represent sacrifice (sacred office), and it is for this reason
that they were and they are used to perform healing rituals
(change of luck) by smashing the whole body of the sick
person, and thus, transfer any physical or energetic
discomfort to the guinea pig.

It is a symbol of the sense of community and continuity;

represents clarity and putting doubts aside. Within
mythology, it is associated with the “Qoa”, a
mythical being with the appearance of a winged feline that
was capable of moving the clouds using its tail. According
to other legends, it is in charge of producing rain and hail.

Bats represent the interconnection between life, water,

fertility and death. They are considered as the heralds of the
rains. It is a symbol of the shaman who teaches people to
enter the night of inner darkness.
 The frog spirit animal has healing powers and can call rain.
This animal is seen as a symbol of transformations, spring
growth and renewal; as well as wealth, fertility and a
happy life after death, for this reason within the Andean
worldview, it represents Pachamama, since its iconography
can be appreciated in all manifestations of the Andean
people since immemorial times.

Lizards and other reptiles often use stealth to catch

their prey; because of this they are related to patience.

Symbolizes change, cycles, duality and mystery; also,

sensitivity, psychic abilities, intuition and speed but its
main symbolism is self-realization. According to the
legends, this being is associated to the “Amaru” (the
serpent in the Andean trilogy), which was a mythological
being that originally would’ve had a puma head, a condor
wings and a serpent tail; the same one that would have a
similarity to a dragon and for having the 3 beings of the
Andean trilogy in one was considered a transcendental
being, but this denomination has been given to the
serpent. By extension, the alligator symbology extends to
all reptiles.
In the traditions of many Native American tribes, the
butterfly symbolizes the esurrection. This being is a positive
guiding force. Within the Andean tradition, the butterfly is
asymbol of dreams and prophecies, but most importantly, it
symbolizes transformation.

People would depict dragonflies to ensure good rain and to

symbolize more water in dry areas. It represents
unconditional love and is a carrier of messages. According
to oral tradition, when one sees the presence of this being,
it is because some news has to reach our ears, usually it is
good news and for this reason in Spanish, it is called “carta
carta” meaning “letter letter”.

The spider and its web carry the message of the continuous
weaving of patterns, the infinite possibility of creation, and
the importance of recording the complexities of our lives.
Its symbology is associated with self-sufficiency and
internal medicine.