Below are the descriptions for each of the Animals from the Unleash the Dragon Within by Steven Macramalla. Learn more about your inner Animals and how to make them stronger using the Seven Steps at the end of each chapter.

Boa: The Depths of the Unconscious (pages 37-72) For Boa, there is power in gentleness and deep gentleness can be profoundly powerful. Boa empathizes easily with the feelings of others and, on a good day, can let it go and let it flow. The Boa feels deeply, which allows it to provide others with support and a calm center. Peace. Stillness. Reflection. These are things the Boa values. In physical fitness, Boa prefers practices like yoga or tai chi or qi qong, working with the breath and energy, tapping into the body's natural graceful movement and its deeper powers for healing. In food, Boa eats anything, but values most the life energy and vitality of the food.

Python: The Bridge Between (pages 73-108) Python observes patterns, and like a scientist, articulates the underlying principle, then manipulates what it has observed to put its understanding to the test. This Animal is Python methodical, patient, cunning and strategic. The Python will wait and study in order to turn an opponent’s strength against them. Python loves a good game of chess or crosswords, enjoys Jazz or other music with complex intercutting rhythms, reads mystery novels avidly. Python eats according to a food combination diet. In martial arts, Python prefers techniques which manipulate the joints and emphasize subtle shifts of balance to disrupt the structure, to use their opponent’s strength against them, like in Judo, Systema or Jujitsu. In fitness, Python likes practices which focus on alignment and natural movement mechanics, like Feldenkrais or GMB.

Panther: Survival in the Shadows (pages 109-144) Panther is instinctive, reactive and impulsive. The Panther has smart instincts with lightning fast reflexes to back them up, and lives for what feels good. Panther possesses magical thinking which lends it a vivid imagination, allowing it to play childlike, and also imbue the symbolism of ritual and ceremony with power. Panther remembers and cares about its dreams. Panther loves foods which are heavy and rich, like red, red meat and chocolate cheesecake, preferably at the same time. Panther prefers are science-fiction and fantasy in books and high-risk or extreme sports in physical activity, like high speed downhill snowboarding, bungee-jumping, motorcycle or car racing. In martial arts, Panther likes street fighting arts like Krav Maga or knife fighting, and Panther wants to drill tons, until the technique is a reflex.

Tiger: The Blazing Heart (pages 145-178) This Animal seeks, even thrives, on challenges and competition which sharpen its and add to its power and reputation. Tiger’s approach is simple and direct, going to the heart of the matter right away. Preferences: in physical fitness, you prefer jogging and weightlifting, and in martial arts Tiger prefers Karate, boxing or wrestling, direct, simple and powerful. Tiger likes food rich in protein. Movies or books Tiger’s like are action adventures, clear villains and heroes who overcome insurmountable odds.

Leopard: Cosmic Creativity (pages 179-216) Leopard lives for ideas, and channel new insights, whether it’s in art or sciences. Leopard sees the big picture, and how today’s trends are tomorrow’s future. Leopard knows how to use logic and imagination together, but requires solitude and distance to preserve its clarity and objectivity. Leopard prefers to eat foods that leave a feeling of being clean and light, like fruits. In music, Leopard prefers classical music; Leopard enjoys science-related hobbies like astronomy or recreational math. In terms of athletics, Leopard seeks a sense of flight, whether that is flying kicks in a martial art like Tae Kwon Do, doing paragliding, or practicing archery where you send arrows sailing across to their target. Leopard likes to feel light and elevated, and is drawn to practices which involve mind and energy like qi qong or yoga.

Cobra: Perception of Energy and Karma (pages 217-260) For Cobra, the paranormal is normal. Cobra seeks the mysteries, the transcendent, and the spiritual. Cobra is psychic, and perceives the energy of others, seeing people’s feelings and intentions as colors or lines of light, or hearing them as unspoken words or sounds. Cobra enjoys occult topics like astrology, tarot, numerology or palm reading, and occasionally glimpses the future or has moments of connecting directly mind-to-mind with another. In terms of food, Cobra prefer seeds, nuts and ‘flowering foods’ like cruciferous or edible flowers, foods that are concentrated in energy or medicinal. Cobra martial arts involve pressure point control where pressing a specific point yields precise results. For exercise, Cobra is drawn to spiritual and energetic practices like yoga or qi qong.