The Panther Spirit (or Water Spirit) is basic in the Ho-Chunk belief system and therefore understanding of the world. The Ho-Chunk world is balanced between what is sometimes referred to as the “Upper World” and the “Under World.”  The Water Spirit is of the Under World and it can be represented by long tailed figures consisting of what today are sometimes identified as: panthers, lizards, turtles, snakes, horned serpents and other such beings.  This is a very powerful spirit and it can protect man while on the life giving waters or it can harm him.  This spirit resides in the waters of the world but it does come from the waters to sometimes aid man or to destroy him and as such this spirit must be recognized and cared for if man is to be safe on the earth. -Chloris Lowe 2005