Totem of the day is Cheetah! Introduce daily stretching into your routine or possibly take up regular yoga classes. Things may seem to go much faster in the coming time, rushing by, but you will get through it gracefully. Don't let yourself get trapped in rigidity, but let your mind and body be fluid. Use your flexibility to adjust as required. Don't let upcoming opportunities slip by. The Cheetah totem is known for it's connection to decisive action, following your own path, and using flexibility. Cheetah reminds us that we must be clear in our goals as we chase them while not spreading ourselves too thin with too many goals. An African Zulu tale tells of how the Cheetah gained it's black tear stain markings. One day, a lazy hunter sat watching a herd wishing he had food. While watching, he saw a female cheetah racing through the herd and catching her own prey. She returned to her three cubs with her meal and the lazy hunter grew envious of the cubs who had a mother to hunt and bring them food. So, when the mother left, he snuck up on the three cubs thinking he could steal one to raise to hunt for him. Indecisive, he stole all three cubs. The mother cheetah returned to find her cubs gone and sat weeping tears of grief. On and on she wept, heart-broken tears streaming down her cheeks through the night and into the next day. Her cries were so loud an old man heard her and came to see what was wrong. Upon learning of the theft, the man grew angry at the injustice and, with the help of the elders, found the hunter and returned the cubs. Although grateful and reunited with her young, the cheetah's tears were so profound that they had stained into her very flesh and remained as a sign to hunters that one should only hunt in honorable ways. People who connect with Cheetah often have had hard childhoods which has led them to be protective and caring of children. These individuals are compassionate and open to others feelings with a knack for quickness and flexibility. Although they prefer solitude, they sometimes do enjoy the company of friends and family.

Cheetah, Acinonyx Jubatus, are carnivorous mammals that can live up to 12 years in the wild. Their name is thought to come from a Hindu word 'chita' meaning 'spotted one'. These limber, flexible felines are the fastest land mammals in the world reaching speeds of 70 mphs. Although they cannot maintain this speed for long amounts of time, using it in bursts for hunting. There are five subspecies of cheetah: Northwest African cheetah also called the Iranian cheetah, Asiatic cheetah, South African cheetah, Tanzanian cheetah, and Sudan cheetah. They each possess slightly different fur colors depending on their environment. Those in dester regions tend to have lighter colored spots while those in south Africa tend to have darker and bigger spots. The most unique of these animals is the King Cheetah which features a blotchy, almost striped pattern centered around their spine. Originally thought to be a subspecies of their own, King Cheetahs were found to be a rare fur pattern mutation that occured through recessive genes in African cheetahs. Cheetahs originally lived all across Asia, Africa, and Europe, however, their decreased populations have left them living in primarily sub-Saharan Africa with a small number in Iran, Eastern and southern Africa. The highest population of wild cheetahs can be found in Namibia within South-western Africa. They prefer habitats of wide, vast grasslands as well as mountainous areas, deserts, and, sometimes, dense vegetation. An adult cheetah can grow to approximately 53 inches long and weigh around 140 lbs. They are not considered a part of the big cat family due to their inability to roar, however, are one of the most powerful predators of Africa. They are most closely related to the Puma, or Cougar, and a fossil of an extinct species of Cheetah called A. Trunzani was found in the United States in the 80's. These animals are able to reach their amazing speeds with adaptations for speed. A long, slender body is ended in a tail nearly as long as their body which helps to balance them as they run. Powerful hind legs propels them and their muscular, flexible spine bends at incredible angles to allow them to stretch and bunch for greater propulsion and agility. Unlike other cats, cheetah's claws are non-retractable which aids in greater traction when running. The distinctive tear marks on their face are throught to act as sun blinders to keep them from being blinded by the bright sun. While unable to roar, cheetahs are the only larger felid that is able to purr. They communicate with a wider range of chirps, yips, meows, and high-pitched yelps that can be heard over a mile away. The diet of a cheetah consists of herd species such as wildebeest, zebra, antelope, gazelle, as well as small mammals such as hares. Fantastic eyesight allows them to stalk closely watching a herd before hunting. Due to overheating from their run, cheetahs cannot eat directly after a kill and must cool down first. Unfortunately, this is a time when many other scavenging species will steal a cheetah's prey if possible. Cheetahs will often drag their prey to a hiding spot in order to keep it while they cool down. Cheetahs are generally solitary creatures, coming together to breed. A female will give birth to around 2 - 5 cubs which are born blind. These cubs will nurse for their first few months before starting to eat meat and joining their mother on her hunts to watch and learn. Cheetah cubs will remain with their mother until they are able to hunt for themselves. This could be anywhere from 18 months old to 2 years old.