Several researchers of reincarnation have pointed out that the great majority of people who claim past lives choose illustrious persons rather than the dregs of the earth which certainly outnumbered them during all times in history. It rather makes the whole thing sound ridiculous when you read how many people, including Shirley McLaine, say they were Mary Magdalen in a previous life.
But as for totums, you do not pick them. They choose you. To do anything else would be like the Shore Patrol guy who accompanies Jame Caan in Cinderella Liberty, babbling about how - being a Scorpio - all kinds of impressive traits can be attributed to him while the audience laughs at the boring reality. Deciding that your totum is the majestic national bird when you are more Mr. Peepers than Chuck Norris does not exactly increase your status. If you really have a totum, people will tell YOU what it is, not the other way around. Too many people have been reading comic books or seeing movies based on them, and they think a totum is some supernatural spirit that comes to your aid, filled with impressive special effects. Nothing could be farther from the truth
