Any takes on spirit animals/spiritual protectors?

[Shadowraix]

This has been an ancient tradition in many cultures that range to symbolism to explain parts of you to some literal entity that guides you.

I started thinking about this because in high school I got the nickname of "The Deer" which has stuck ever since and I made a joke it was my spirit animal.

The universe can use many tactics to guide you through life and perhaps manifestation of animal-like entities could be one.

Its history in many cultures makes it an interesting one to research.