Ruled by lucky, gregarious Jupiter, Sagittarius is the 9th sign in the zodiac, with the modality of mutable fire. Sagittarius represents the time of life when we’ve gained a little wisdom and are no longer interested in putting other people before ourselves through that wisdom.
It also represents the last gasp of hard partying, risk-taking, and general adventurousness before we settle down to being mature, responsible adults in Capricorn.
What is a Spirit Animal?
In astrology, spirit animals are those whose attributes and symbolism align with the energies of the zodiac sign in question. Rather than being the lifelong guide given in ceremony by Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island, Zodiac spirit animals cover the full spectrum and experience of that particular sign.
They can be looked to for information about how the sign behaves as well as holding valuable lessons and guidance for those with strong placements in that sign. You can also look to a sign’s spirit animals when you’re wanting to embody the best parts of a particular sign.
What are the Sagittarius Spirit Animals?
Technically, the animal that represents Sagittarius is a mythical creature one: the centaur. Sagittarius means the Archer, and the archer himself is thought to be the centaur Chiron.
In Greek mythology, centaurs were wild creatures that also were known to possess great wisdom. Chiron himself was a playful, yet wise teacher who mentored heroes like Jason and Hercules.
Though he himself did not travel the world like his students, he imparted great knowledge about it to them so that they could go off and complete their tasks.
The spirit animals of Sagittarius all possess the qualities that Chiron imparts to his students, as well as those of Chiron himself.
The chief qualities of Sagittarius are their fun-loving nature, luckiness, adventurous spirit, and innate wisdom. Let’s take a look at the animals that embody the spirit of Sagittarius.
1. The Wild Horse
No animal embodies the adventurous, free-spirited nature of Sagittarius quite so well as the wild horse. Of course, horses make up the bottom half of Sagittarius’ representative, the centaur, so it makes sense that they would be the first spirit animal for Sagittarius.
To many Sagittarians, the life of a wild horse is the ideal blueprint for how life should be lived: physically strong, free, adventurous, and untameable.
They spend all their time in nature, running together free and wild and beautiful. Any attempts to break them and stuff them into the confines of society’s expectations are met with sharp hooves and teeth, and furious bucking.
Even if they eventually are able to be broken, they retain a certain wildness and wiliness that domestic horses may never possess.
Wild Horses couldn’t drag me away
If Sagittarius had their way, they would be feeding their wanderlust by traveling far and wide, whether it be in nature or the wild tangle of urban life in cities across the world.
They’re ready to take on any adventure, whether it be skydiving or long distance backpacking. Even those with Sagittarius placements who prefer to stay close to home are often students of world cultures, with tastes in cuisine and design that tend to lean towards the exotic and international.
For Sagittarians who are feeling stuck in a rut, the wild horse urges them to spend some time in nature, or at least get out there for a run. In medical astrology, Sagittarius rules the glutes and upper legs, and those with strong Sagittarius placements often love to run as a way to get their boundless energy out.
With the help of the wild horse, Sagittarius learns that even if they are confined to one space, they possess a strong, wild heart, and fiercely guard the parts of it that can never be tamed.
2. The Owl
Chiron was known as the Wounded Healer and was a scholar and philosopher who taught adventurers like Jason, leader of the famed Argonauts, and Hercules, the demigod known for his incredible feats of strength.
While he imparted wisdom to his students, he also practiced martial skills like archery with them as well and is depicted in the sky as an archer, taking aim into the heart of the constellation Scorpius.
The owl has long been known as a symbol of wisdom, even back to the days of Greek Mythology when it was the sacred animal to Athena, goddess of wisdom. So it follows that the owl is a perfect spirit animal for Sagittarius, which for all its wildness also holds deep wells of wisdom and knowledge.
Owls are known for their absolutely silent and deadly precision in catching their prey. Like an archer aiming for its target, the owl aims itself at the unsuspecting prey, carefully adjusting their feathers to the minutest degree in order to land perfectly, and like a ghost, disappears into the sky with their prize.
Wise old owl
Though owls aren’t the smartest birds in real life – that distinction goes to the corvid family – they nevertheless stand through time as the symbol of wisdom and intelligence.
And they do have the best sight and hearing sense of the bird community. Perhaps their large eyes and sharp sight lent itself to the idea that they see and know all.
Sagittarius is also a sign known for wisdom that perhaps refers to innate, natural wisdom rather than the kind learned from books.
They can be rather canny and streetwise, always managing to end up in situations that work out in their favor, or with the ability to make even the worst situations work in their favor.
If their opposite sign Gemini’s great strength is learning things, Sagittarius’ is knowing. Like the owl, they know what they want and how to get it, and wherever they aim their proverbial arrow, it will almost always find its mark.
3. The Capybara
Though Sagittarians have the reputation for being freewheeling party animals, they can also be very chilled out. While the other signs might bicker and poke at each other, Sagittarius can find common ground with anyone, just like its third spirit animal, the capybara.
The largest members of the rodent family, capybaras are cool with just about everyone in the animal kingdom. They’ve been seen coexisting peacefully with every animal that shares their natural habitat, including the famously unfriendly crocodiles.
It takes a village
Though Sagittarius likes to think they are independent world travelers, they’re at heart very gregarious and sociable creatures, just like capybaras, with a network that includes people from all walks of life and different scenes.
Though they are a fire sign, they don’t necessarily have a short temper or are quick to anger. Being a mutable sign, Sagittarius is able to adapt to any situation and see things from others’ perspectives.
That doesn’t mean they are easy to take advantage of; they just won’t lash out blindly at the smallest offense, like fellow fire sign Aries can.
Similarly mutable, capybaras are just as comfortable and agile in the water as they are on land. Like the capybara, Sagittarius is able to effortlessly fit in to many different groups and roles naturally.
4. The Cat
Cats might seem like a strange fit for the often golden retriever-like happy energy of Sagittarius, but they are actually more similar than you’d think.
Cats are extremely canny creatures that are able to turn most situations to their advantage by careful observation over time. They can adapt easily to most situations simply by reading the room and fitting themselves into the picture.
Like the cat, Sagittarians can be extremely pragmatic and resourceful and, as mentioned earlier, have an uncanny ability to end up in situations that turn out in their favor.
Cats are extremely intelligent creatures who have over time adapted ways to ensure their longevity by teaching humans to take care of them.
They’ve started evolving their cries to mimic the sound of a human baby so that hearing them provokes a deep response from within us and a natural urge to cater to their every whim.
Curiosity and the cat
Cats are, famously, very curious, and so it is with Sagittarians. They want to know about everything in their environment, but in their own time and independently, thank you very much.
Cats have no problem enforcing their personal boundaries when they feel like someone has gotten a little too familiar. While Sagittarius might not bite, they do tend to hold the deepest parts of themselves close to their chests, letting only the most trusted into their true selves.
Cats are also very independent animals that most think of as completely solitary, but they are actually quite social creatures. Sagittarius can learn from cats when they feel like they want to be part of the group while remaining free-spirited and independent. While keeping strong boundaries yet remaining curious, Sagittarius can live as their best selves, fleet and surefooted as the cat.
The Moth
Our final entry into the Sagittarius spirit animal list is the moth. These night-dwelling creatures might seem strange given Sagittarius’ sunny personality, until you think about the nature of the moth.
It isn’t exactly known why moths are attracted to light. They are positively phototaxic, which means that their bodies naturally respond to light by moving toward it, as opposed to insects like cockroaches that automatically run away from the light.
It is thought that they use the light of the moon and stars to navigate migration routes and to tell how far away they are from the ground. When a moth actually reaches the light they were moving toward, they appear disoriented; possibly because they weren’t really expecting to reach “the moon” and now don’t know where they are in space.
What does this have to do with Sagittarius, you may ask? Sagittarius too is an overwhelmingly positive and optimistic sign. They love to have fun and seek pleasure, and they never like to take things too seriously.
Like fellow fire sign Leo, they are known for having a sunny disposition and always looking on the bright side of life. With lucky, jovial Jupiter as their ruling planet, it’s no wonder that they are always looking to have fun and make life a party.
Like a moth to a flame
Unfortunately, there are parts of life that do need to be approached with a serious nature. Moths’ instinct is to move to the light no matter what, even if that light will eventually be fatal to them, such as fire or electricity.
The optimism of the Sagittarius can prove to be just as dangerous. They can be taken advantage of, or fail to prepare for hardship in the future and end up needing to scramble in order to get by.
The moth teaches the Sagittarius to be practical. Though they do have a knack for ending up in situations that work out in their favor, this can’t be the case all of the time.
Luckily for Sagittarius, pragmatism is a trait they can embody easily once they figure it out. But if a Sagittarian can learn to balance work and play, and bring their sunny nature and luck to every part of their lives, they can be a force to be reckoned with.
Which Sagittarius Spirit Animal are you?
So, we’ve looked at all of the Sagittarius spirit animals and found out what makes them so uniquely bound to the energy of Sagittarius.
The wild horse, of course, represents the wild, strong, adventure-seeking, free spirit of the Sagittarius. The owl represents the wisdom and guidance that Sagittarius is known for, while the capybara shows how gregarious and sociable Sagittarius can be. The cat embodies Sagittarius’ curious, canny nature, and the moth indicates Sagittarius’ tendency to move toward the light.
All of these animals embody the different facets of Sagittarius’ personality. Which Sagittarian spirit animal do you resonate with the most? And which do you think you can learn the most from? Are there any other animals that you feel embody the energy of the Sagittarius so well?