A Adder - (snake, see also under Snakes) Druids were referred to as Adders, and it's possible that the story of St. Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes is actually about Druids. The Adder represents transformation, for obvious reasons. A snake's ability to shed its skin is very symbolic of transformation and rebirth. Its ability to tunnel through cracks and crevices is symbolic of traveling to the otherworld in shamanic journeying. The Adder also represents healing, which may seem odd because it is a poisonous snake, but it warns us to use our powers wisely because of this. Rage into outrage. Poison into medicine. The Adder is also a symbol of sexuality, because of its phallic shape and because of its ability to bear many young at once. Ancient Druid alters in phallic shapes have been found in Cumbria and Gloucestershire depicting adders. In wales there was a tradition that every farmhouse had two snakes, male and female, to ensure the productive well-being of the household. The image of the Caduceus of Mercury (the ! symbol used to represent the healing profession) is two snakes wound about each other. Ants - Industriousness, order, and discipline, wisdom and intellect Antelope - Speed and adaptability of the mind Armadillo - Personal protection, discrimination, and empathy Ass - Wisdom and humility, patience -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B Buffalo - Prayer, Abundance Bee - Fertility and the honey of life, love, hidden wisdom Beetle - Resurrection, symbol of solar dieties and new life Butterfly - Transmutation and the dance of joy, shapeshifting Blackbird - Omens and mysticism, color of fear and promise In Celtic lore the Blackbird (Druid-dhubh) is yet another animal that can freely pass into the Otherworld. It is associated with the Druids and the Goddess Rhiannon. This bird has mystical arts and can sing one into a trancelike state. It can give one access to the Magick of the Otherworld and is an excellent familiar. The Blackbird is a songbird, not to be mistaken for a crow. This distinction seems to be a problem for many Americans for some reason. Bluebird - Happiness and fulfillment, color of north or east Blue Jay - The proper use of power, higher knowledge that can be used Badger - Bold self-expression and reliance, keeper os stories, aggressiveness. Bat - Transition and initiation, rebirth, nighttime. The bat is also the glyph of the pathway of the Hanged Man, and the totem of the Voodoo worshipers. In popular thinking it is the soul of the unenlightened, because it dwells in darkness and feeds indiscriminately on all life. In China, however, where many things are reversed the word fu means either a bat or a blessing. Since the bat sleeps upside-down he affords an important avenue to reversion of consciousness. The bad has been associated with vampires. Bear - Awakening the power of the unconscious. Healing, Inner knowing, introspection. Beaver - The builder of dreams, the home, industrious energy to work and accomplish things Bison - Manifesting abundance through right action and right prayer Bobcat - Silence and secrets, solitary Bull - Fertility, insight into past lives, masculinity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C Canary - Healing power of sound, heightened sensitivity Cardinal - Renewed vitality through recognizing self-importance Catbird - Communication potential, new lessons or opportunities Chickadee - Sacred number is seven, seeker of truth and knowledge Chicken - fertility and sacrifice Cobra - power over life & death, eternity. Used by the Ancient Egyptians to designate royalty because of its power over life and death. Since, when coiled, its tail disappears, it is also a fitting symbol for eternity. The Greeks called the serpent oura, or "tail", whence the "Uraeus", which is the Greek word for the cobra-shaped crown worn by kings and gods alike. To demonstrate its "eternal" aspect, the Greeks depicted the serpent devouring its own tail (Ouroboros "tail-devouring"). The Egyptians believed that the cobra was so deadly that it merely had to "breathe" on someone to inflict its venom. Now, since we already know that the "king" cobra was associated with royalty, its not surprising that the Greeks should call it, in their language, "the little king" or basilisk, bringing along with the word the Egyptian version of its natural history. By the time we reach the Middle Ages in Europe, the basilisk (since cobras don't exist in Europe) had turned into a fabulous beast with wings and a fiery breath fatal to every living thing. Cock - Sexuality, watchfullness and resurrection Cowbird - Parent and child relationships, grounding and responsibilities Crane - Longevity and creation through focus, justice, feminine energies Crow - Intelligence, watchfulness, magical, past-life connections, law. Cuckoo - Heralding of new fate, spring, hone your listening skills Cat - Mystery, magic, independence, night time, guardianship, detachment, and sensuality. Cat brings us the ability to observe situations quietly without judgement, before making decisions. Apparently asleep, but really listening, a cat can sit for hours until it acts with decisiveness. Remember the saying 'A cat may look at a king.' The Cat unites an awareness of the spirit-world with a highly developed sensuality. These two attirbutes are not polar opposites as dualistic spiritual teachings would have us believe, but are facets of one continuum of awareness and sensitivity. Working towards wholeness involves enhancing both the physical and non-physical worlds. A black cat is foten portrayed as a creature of Witchcraft. In old churches in the British Isles, the cat is depicted in carvings as a sinister and evil entity, becoming a feline demon. The fear of having a Black Cat cross one's path comes from the belief that Witches could turn themselves into cats, which would be considered "bad luck." Ireland's namesake, Eire, had a cat. Eire gave her cat the gift of knowledge and confided all the secrets of the cauldron to her prized companion. When the time came to name the land we now know as Ireland came about, this brilliant animal helped convince the powers that be to name Ireland after her beloved owner. Cats have been sacred to more than one religion, and at different times and places have been considered both good and bad luck-bringers. The Egyptian goddess Bast was both lion-headed and cat-headed and attended by cats and therefore cats were sacred and revered in Egypt; killing one was a heinous crime, and when a household cat died mourning rites were performed for it. Cats were often found in temples and were ritually fed; stray cats were treated with honour and fed, and the household cat was allowed to share the family's food. Cat amulets were produced and elaborate cat-sized sarcophagi crafted for cats who had died, who were often embalmed as humans were. Ra, the Egyptian Sun God, supposedly changed himself into a cat to do battle with the serpent-like darkness. Followers of the goddess Diana also considered the cat sacred because she once assumed the form of a cat, and cats were under her special protection. In Norse mythology, two gray cats drew the chariot of Freya. ! Tsun-Kyanske, the Burmese Goddess of the Transmutation of Souls, was attended by priests and their cats, animals supposedly able to communicate directly with the goddess. Siamese Kings, believed godlike, required a cat for their souls to pass into upon death, so that the soul could rest for the cat's natural life span before entering Paradise. Malaysians venerated the cat as a godlike creature who eased their afterlife journey from Hell to Paradise. Anyone who killed a cat was required to carry and stack as many coconut tree trunks as the cat had hairs. The Celtic goddess Ceridwen was also attended by white cats, who carried out her orders on earth. Cats are traditionally associated with witches, and it is generally assumed today that witches' familiars were (and are) always cats. However, during the Burning Times any small animal that was kept in the house was suspect, and records show that accused witches were forced to confess having familiar spirits in the form of cats, rats, mice, dogs, weasels and toads. It was also firmly believed that witches could take the shape of cats, and accusers sometimes claimed that they were followed or tormented by witches in the shape of cats. In 1718 William Montgomery of Caithness alleged that hordes of cats gathered outside his house nightly and talked in human language; he claimed to have killed two of them and wounded another one night and awoken the next morning to hear that two old women had been found dead in their beds and another badly injured. In Britain and Australia black cats are considered lucky, and in some places white cats are correspondingly unlucky. In many parts of Europe and in the United States, however, it is the black cat who is ill-omened. In Britain tortoiseshell cats will bring their owners luck, and blue cats bring luck in Russia. An old saying about black cats is that 'Whenever the cat of the house is black, the lasses of lovers shall have no lack'. It was said that if the household cat sneezed near a bride on her wedding day, she would have a happy married life. To meet a black cat is usually fortunate, especially if it crosses one's path. In some districts the luck is only considered released if the cat is politely greeted, or stroked three times. Sometimes it is considered unlucky if the cat runs away from the person, or turns back on its own tracks. To meet a white cat is bad luck, except in those countries where white cats are the luck-bringers. If a black cat comes into a house or onto a ship, it is considered a very lucky sign, and the cat should never be chased away in case it takes the luck of the house with it. Seamen avoid the word 'cat' while at sea, but to have a cat on board is lucky, especially if it is a completely black cat with no white hairs. To throw the cat overboard raises an immediate violent storm; no sailor would do such a thing to the ship's cat, and in fact cats are rarely left on an abandoned ship but are generally rescued with the sailors. In Yorkshire, if a sailor's wife kept a black cat, her husband wou! ld always return safely from the sea; this sometimes led to black cats being stolen. Cat hair and bones were often ingredients of charms and spells, and even now a few hairs from a cat are supposed to increase the power of a spell, although this now appears more common in England than in America where the hair of a wolf appears to have taken over. In previous centuries the tail of a black cat was believed to cure a stye if stroked over the afflicted eye, and a tortoiseshell cat's tail was considered to remove warts. Three drops of a cat's blood smeared on a wart was also considered to cure it. If a person in the house was very ill, it was thought that throwing the water in which the patient had been washed over a cat, and then driving the poor creature away, would transfer the illness to the cat and drive it out of the household. It was said that every cat should be given two names; a country rhyme states 'One for a secret, one for a riddle, name puss twice and befuddle the devil'. This saying was based on the belief that one person could gain power and ascendancy over another simply by knowing his or her real name; by giving the household cat two names, once for common use and one secret and never revealed to outsiders, the pet which had the run of the household could be protected from becoming a tool of evil or of outside infiltration. Cat Weather Lore A sneezing cat means rain on the way, and three sneezes in a row portends a cold for the cat's owner. A cat running wildly about (known in our house as 'spacky cat') darting here and there and clawing everything in sight means wind or a storm on the way; when the cat quietens down, the storm will soon blow itself out. Cats washing over their ears has long beed held to foretell rain; the old rhyme goes 'When Kitty washes behind her ears, we'll soon be tasting heaven's tears'. A cat which rolls over and over in the grass, claws the ground and behaves in a skittish manner, is indicating that a brief rain-shower is on the way. When the cat is restless and moves from place to place without settling, it is foretelling hard winds. A cat who sits with its back to the fire is said to be a portent of frost. When a cat spends the night outdoors and caterwauls loudly, it may be foretelling a period of several days' bad weather. Cat Dream Interpretations To dream of a black cat is lucky. To dream of a tortoiseshell cat means luck in love. To dream of a ginger cat means luck in money and business. To dream of a white cat means luck in creativity, spiritual matters, divination and spellcraft. To dream of a black-and-white cat means luck with children; may also mean the birth of a child. To dream of a tabby cat means luck for the home and all who live there. To dream of a grey cat means to be guided by your dreams. To dream of a calico or multi-coloured cat means luck with new friends and old ones. To dream of two cats fighting means illness or a quarrel. Cat Spells and Charms If a black cat crosses your path, greet the animal politely and stroke it three times if possible, while reciting this charm: 'Black cat, cross my path, Good fortune bring to home and hearth, When I am away from home Bring me luck wherever I roam'. Then leave the cat and go on your way. If you abuse, insult or ignore the cat, no good luck will follow. Cougar - Coming into your own power, taking charge, strength, elusiveness The cougar's power is from the North, and is centered around Earth energy. Cougar is one of the fastest and most powerful creatures, but it tires quickly. Always attempt to reserve strength - don't completely drain yourself. This animal also has the ability to learn what others have not. Meaning you are open to learning and easily educated, but usually only to things that you feel that you "need" to learn. Also, this education is usually done alone, and through trial and error. Cougars are very decisive and do not hesitate. They are also excellent "hunters", have great self-confidence when facing crowds, are very cunning, and tend to seek freedom. You may desire to be alone a lot - but you have tremendous belief in yourself, and can more than hold your own in "mainstream life". Cougar also has awsome physical strength and beautiful physical grace, making it an excellent totem for an athelete. The Cougar is a natural born leader, but not as a permanent position. People will tend to shy-away from a person with so much "in-born" power. This tends to develop into people trying to hold you back. If this becomes the case, you must use your Cougar power and choose quickly and strongly. How do you want your life to be? choose quickly before the bindings are tied. One thing the Cougar people must learn is gentleness. Most lack this aspect. This does not mean giving up, or even reducing power, just add some gentleness. There are times for both. Power can also exist in gentleness. Learn this, so that others may not feel so threatened by you. If Cougar has simply appeared in your lfe ( a brief appearence, not seeming to carry much message) then it has come time for you to learn about power. Learn about your power and universe power. Learn to use your power. For you, this will usually best be done through trial and error. If Cougar has shown-up as a "totem" (carrying a message, or reaccuring appearences - possibly in dreams) then it has come time for you to assert your power. This is a sign that you have learned what you needed to about your power, and now you should use what you learned. Go out and "win some battles". Coyote - Wisdom and folly, tarot Fool card Coyote is also known as the Trickster, who loved playing tricks on the other spirits and humanity, but he also love humans, and many of his tricks were actually lessons hidden in pranks to teach man about the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D Deer - Gentleness and innocence, gentle luring to new adventure, physical pacing, body awareness In Celtic lore the Deer and Stag (Abhach, Sailetheach) hold a stong place in legend. The deer was said to be a fairy creature that could pass between the world's. This was especially true for a white deer. Fionn's wife Sabha became a deer when she went to the Otherworld. Beautiful women frequently became deer in many tales while fleeing from hunters. The Druid Tuan mac Carill is the sole survivor of a group of early Partholanian Irish settlers. He lives at first as a wildman of the woods eventually becoming a stag, an eagle, a salmon and eventually is reincarnated as himself at a much later date to give the ancient history of Ireland to the more recent settlers. Dogs - Faithfulness and protection, strong spirit In Celtic from the Hound or the Dog (Abach) is an animal of the hunt, frequently associated with humanlike intelligence. The hounds of Fionn mac Cumhail, Bran and Sgeolainn, are actually transformed humans, The Cwn Annwn, are the Gabriel hounds that accompany Gwynn ap Nudd during the Wild Hunt as well as guarding the gates to the Underworld or Annwn the kingdom of the God of the Dead, Arawn. Cuchulain the Champion of Ulster gets his name from replacing the Hound of Cuchul that he kills. He is called the "Hound of Ulster" from this event. The hound is also his totem animal. Guardian hounds occur widely in shamanic Otherworldly lore. The Altaic shaman encounters a dog that guards the underworld realm of Erlik Khan. When the Yukaghir shaman follows the road to the kingdom of shadows, he finds an old woman's house guarded by a barking dog. In Koryak shamanism the entrance to the land of the dead is guarded by dogs. A dog with bared teeth guards the entrance to the undersea land of Takakapsaluk, Mother of the Sea Beasts, in Innuit shamanism. The custom of burying a dog and the skin of a favourite reindeer with a dead man was still current among Ugrian people of Siberia earlier this century. Dolphin - The power of breath and sound, psychic abilities, initiators, life force. Dragonfly - The power of light, water and air magic. In Japan, dragonflies represent new light and joy. Dragonflies remind us that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. Dragon - A mighty magickal animal that appears in many British and Welsh stories. In celtic mythology it is a creature of fire but is also related to the Power of the Land. Another word for Ley Lines is Dragon Lines. Another name for raising Power is to invoke the "Eye of the Dragon." The whole Earth was viewed by the Druids as the body of the Dragon. Menhirs and stone Circles were located at great Power nodes. The Celts called Dragons "Fire Drakes." Dragons are often portrayed as being lazy, powerful, intelligent, and potentially deadly if they don't like you. Doves - Feminine energies of peace, maternity and prophecy, dawn and dusk. An animal of great significance in many cultures. In Christian mythology a dove brings an olive twig in the tale of Noah's ark,, symbolising new beginnings and an end to hardship. Doves have been regarded as powerful sacrificial creatures. Duck - Maternal, graceful and comforting, protective E Eagle - High ideals, spiritual philosophy, capable of reaching zenith, great perception, bridging worlds Elephant - Ancient power, strength, and royalty, memory Elk - Strength, stamina, and nobility, fall season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F Fox - Feminine magic of comouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility, elusiveness, agility, cleverness, cunning Frog - Sensitivity, Medicine, Hidden Beauty and Power. A cold-blooded creature living half in the water and half on the land, the frog possesses an extremely sensitive skin, considered magical by shamans. A companion of the rain spirits, the frog can help you develop your sensitivity to others, to healing and to sound through your skin and your whole body and aura. Water was considered sacred by the Druids, and every river, spring and well had its guardian spirit or deity. Both frogs and their close relatives toads are found at water sources. As animals that are seeded in pools, and which frequent them when grown, they were sometimes considered as representatives of the water-spirits. In Acton Barnett in Shropshire, by an ancient healing spring, it was said that the spirits of the well would appear as three frogs. The largest of the three was always to be addressed as the Dark God. His darkness is related to the fact that both frog and toad were seen as creatures in contact with the Underworld. For this reason, in the popular imagination they became associated with witchcraft and potion-brewing - the toad or frog was often the witch's familiar who would croak warnings of danger to its mistress. As a familiar of the witch, the frog is an ally who brings the blessings of the water-spirits - the healing blessings of rain and purification.! The frog also brings its own medicine and was seen as a healing messenger of the Mother Goddess. Their connection with the Mother Goddess can also be traced to the tradition which states that it is lucky to have a frog living in a dairy - it guards the milk churn - and milk is naturally associated with the Goddess. A further connection with milk is found in an image of Celtic goddess Luxuria depicted with a fox between her legs and a toad hanging from each breast (Lux Soap!!) The frog or toad carrying a secret within is the possessor of a power object - a dark grey or light brown stone said to be found in the heads of very old specimens. This mythological object has been known by many names, including Crepandia, Borax, Stelon, and Bufonite. The frog or toad, adder, otter and fox are all carriers of these secret, invisible power objects. The otter and fox carry magical pearls, the adder leaves a serpent's stone, and the toad or frog when old carries the stone of magical prop! erties in its head. These objects, at one level, represent a crossing- transient life of the animal eternally cast within a stone. By carrying such a stone, and using it magically, the Druid or Shaman would be able to contact his ally, the animal spirit. Finch - New experiences and encounters, wide range summer solstice Flicker - New rhythm of growth and healing love, summer solstice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G Goldfinch - Awakening to the natural spirits, summer solstice and season Goose - Story telling, fertility and fidelity, symbol of eight and infinity Grackle - Overcoming excess and emotional life congestion, early spring Grosbeak - Heals old wounds, family values, past lives significance Grouse - Sacred dancing and drumming, spring, inner spirit Gulls - Responsible behavior and communication Giraffe - Farsightedness, expression, and communication Goat - Surefootedness and seeking new heights Groundhog - Mystery of death without dying, trance, dreams Grouse - sacred spiral Grasshopper - Uncanny leaps forward, good cheer-luck, abundance, virtue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H Hawks - Primal life force, fulfillment, spring and fall equinoxes, perception, focus, protection. The Hawk (Seg or Aracos) is another creature of great singificance in Celtic lore. The most famous Hawk is the Hawk of Achill that can riddle and discuss with the Druidic poet Fintan. This animal is also as old as time and another storehouse of great knowledge. In many parts of the world the hawk has been said to be a messenger of the gods. (Horus, Circe, and Apollo in particular). The hawk is seen as the observer of all. Aside from the owl, the hawk has some of the keenest eyes in the animal kingdom. Virtually nothing passes by the hawk unnoticed. This can fill one with great resposibility, as hawk may enable you to the overall picture when no one else can. Hawk is a teacher of higher expression in psychism and asteral travel. He is powerful, strong, and can strike swiftly. With his keen eyes the hawk is often the first to observe a situation and then with his swiftness he can be the first to take advantage of it. Hawks tend to mate for life, and usually live in only one or two places during their lifetime. Hawks have great life force, and an equally great ability to defend themselves themselves with talons and sharp hooked beak. Hawk will regularly attack poisonous snakes, and defeat them. Hawks are sometimes attacked by smaller birds. If hawk exists in your totem, expect to be harassed by other people that do not understand you or you creative ideas. They may be trying to hold you back from soaring high. If the cry of hawk fills your ears, you must open yourself up to an upcoming message. You may need to "rise above your life" and take a wide overview of your life. Look at the whole by examining the parts - changes may need to be made. A cry of the hawk may also mean to beware of something coming in the very near future - or it may mean to just pay attention and absorb current and future happenings. In general, hawk carries the following magickal attributes: Large Overview of situation, Great Memory, Spirit / God/ Goddess messages, Courage, Defense, Wisdom, Illumination, Truth, Experience. The hawk is aligned with Mercury and the Sun, and is most powerful during the spring and fall equinoxes and during the new moon. In most shamanic systems the hawks power comes from the East, and is centered around the air. Heron - Aggressive self-deturmination and self-reliance, intuition, organization. Hummingbird - Tireless joy and the nectar of life, healing Horse - Travel, power and freedom, burial rites and birth, stability, courage The horse (Cab-all) was one of the most important animals to the Celts. A mare is ritually symbolically mated by the King in the Rite of Sovereignty. White horses are also mystical beings. It is a pale horse that is ridden by Gwynn ap Nudd the Master of the Wild Hunt in Wales while gathering souls. A huge horse shape is sculpted into the hills of Wiltshire called White Horse Hill. This animal is another guide to the Otherworld. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J Jaguar - shamanic wisdom, focused power -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K Kestrel - Mental speed, agility and grace, explore past-life connections Kingfisher - Halcyon days, peace and prosperity, linked to north, blue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- L Loon - Realizing dreams, haunting and eery song, imagination Leopard - Swiftness, cunning, strength, perserverence, boldness, beauty. Gaining confidence for astral travel and Otherworld journeys. It is said that in terms of pure malice and savagery, the leopard outdoes all it's feline relatives. It is extremely fierce, treacherous and although it is wary, has little fear of humans. Intelligent, and quick to learn anything that is to its advantage, it can climb trees and leap ten feet or more. Leopards are most active in darkness. Species of leopards can be found from the Black Sea in Europe east to Burma and the Malay Peninsula, including all of India and Sri Lanka and as far north as Siberia. In Egypt, Osiris and his priests were sometimes pictured wearing leopard skins. In Africa, it was a sacred animal to the Ibo and at times was considered to in inhabited by the souls of the dead. To the Chinese it represented bravery and intense ferocity. The Arabs called it Nimi, which means courage, boldness and grace, while in Greece, the leopard was the traditional mount of the god Dionysus, who's priests often wore leopard skins. In the Greek language, the panther's name meant 'all beast'. The word panther and all-beast connected it to the god Pan. They also equated this animal with Argos of the Thousand Eyes. A Chant: Leopard gliding, through shadows sliding, Intent on its plans int he dark of the night, Like the leopard I go with the energgy flow On the pathway to Otherworld Light I journey for growth, for creating true worth For the learning of wisdom and might With wisdom I'll burn, while I confidently turn All darkness about me to conquering light Lion - Assertion of the feminine and the power of the feminine sun. Lizard - For many Native American tribes the lizard is the gatekeeper to the dream wold. In the south Pacific, lizards are considered to be messengers of the gods or even deities themselves. Like the snake, the lizard sheds its skin, and thus has come to represent regeneration. Lynx - secrets and vision of the hidden and unseen, winter season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- M Moose - Primal feminine energies and the magic of life and death, self esteem. Mouse - Attention to detail, attain big things by working on little; innocence, faith, trust, scritiny. Magpie - Occult knowledge, doorway to new realms, wily and willful Martin - Good luck and community peace, integration Meadowlark - Cheerfulness, sublimation, inner journey, linked to moon Mockingbird - Finding your sacred song and recognition of your innate abilities Mountain Lion - see Cougar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- N Nuthatch - Applying wisdom to natural world, groundedness, ethereal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O Oriole - Positive energy, reconnecting with inner sunshine, nature spirits Ostrich - Becoming grounded, ethereal realms Owl - Silent wisdom and nocturnal vision, healing powers, magic, shadow work, deception. Athena, Lilith, and Blodeuwedd are all associated with owls, Blodeuwed being transformed into an owl, Lilith having the claws of an owl, and Athena having an owl as her companion. Apprearing in the many versions of Priestess of Swords card in the tarot, the owl links the Priestess of Swords to Athena. The owl is said by some to be associated with occultists and students of the unknown, and with those who are living enigmas - paradoxes loving both logic and the illogical. In Germany and other parts of Europe, the call of an owl is a portent of coming death. An owl is pictured on card XIII of the Old Path Tarot flying before the shape of death, associating it with death and transformation. This death-call legend may link it to the myth of the banshee, and Lilith is associated with the death children is some legends. The owl as a spirit helper ecourages exploration of the unkown, and the spending of time in illuminating meditation. Opossum - The use of appearances, spring season, diversion. Otter - Joy, playfulness, and sharing, spring and summer. Women's magick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P Parrot - Sunshine and colour healing, associated with salt. Callimachus (300-240 BCE) saw the bird as a symbol of babbling humans. Aesop saw it as the rival of the weasel. Early Christianity related the parrot to St. Basil's dictum that good Christians imitate the Apostles and the just. The beak of the bird was an amulet against fever and demons. Conrad of Wurzburg saw the bird (since he believed its feathers did not get wet in the rain) as an emblem of the Virgin Mary. In China the bird was a symbol for the engagingly prattling prostitute, but with a pearl in its mouth a symbol for Kwan-Yin, while in Persia the bird may possibly have been known as a messenger symbol, like the crow, according to Cirlot, and may be related to the Egyptian ba (a pictograph for the soul of a winged creature with a human head). Peacock - Wisdom and vision, ostentatious, protective and powerful Pelican - Self-sacrificing, non-competitive, buoyant, rising above trials. The pelican is the alchemical symbol for the stage known as mortificatio, the breaking open of the outer shell to reveal the inner man. As the mother pelican was believed to feed her young from blood pecked from her own breast, she is also sometimes used as a general symbol of self-sacrifice. Penguin - Lucid dreaming and astral projection, feminine, birth giving energy Pheasent - Family fertility and sexuality Pigeon - Love and security of home, fertility, archetypal energies Praying Mantis - Power of stillness, sleep and dreaming, prophet Panther - Reclaiming one's true power, new moon, winter season Porcupine - Renewed sense of wonder, autumn season Prairie Dog - Community, networking, dig deeply -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q Quail - Group nourishment and protection, teaches mindfullness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R Rabbit - Fertility and new life, recognize the signs around you. Faith, nurturing. Fear. Raccoon - Dexterity and disquise, nocturnal Rams - Seeking new beginnings, new heights and adventures Rat - Success, restlessness and shrewdness Rhinoceros - Ancient wisdom, know thyself Raven - Shapeshifting, messenger or omen, blending human and animal. Inner journeys, dreams, energy to study or learn. Curiosity, hyperactivity. Healing, Initiation, Protection By being able to travel from this world to the next, the raven symbolizes also the power of healing - but the type of healing that comes about through a radical confrontation with the unconscious, with the hidden, with the Shadow, and with the darker, potentially destructive aspects of the psyche. The raven's association with death becomes an association with depth and thus with depth psychology and the transformative powers of initation - for such a moment marks to a greater or lesser extent the death of the old self, and the rebirth of a new self. The raven's connection with healing is reinforced when we consider it as a bird of prophecy and divination, integral facets of the healer's arts. The raven could travel to the darkest regions of the Underworld to bring back visions and oracular instructions for the seeker and healer. The raven has been seen as an oracle for thousands of years. The early Irish Druids divined according to their flight and cries, and as late as 1694 it was reported that a Hertfordshire raven uttered a prophecy three times. Throughout time, Raven has carried the medicine of magic. This has been true in many cultures across the planet. It is sacred, in the Native American medicine ways, to honor Raven as the bringer of magic. If the magic is bad medicine, the carrier may be honored out of fear rather than out of respect. Those who fear Raven may do so because they have been dabbling in areas in which they had no knowledge, and a spell may have backfired on them. Raven magic is a powerful medicine that can give you the courage to enter the darkness of the void, which is the home of all that is not yet in form. The void is called the Great Mystery. Great Mystery existed before all other things came into being. Great Spirit lives inside the void and emerged from the Great Mystery. Raven is the messenger of the void. In Native teachings the color black means many things, but it does not mean evil. Black can mean the seeking of answers, the void, or the road of the spiritual or nonphysical. The blue-black Raven contains an iridescence that speaks of the magic of darkness, and a changeability of form and shape that brings an awakening in the process. Raven is the guardian of ceremonial magic and in absentia healing. In any healing circle, Raven is present. Raven guides the magic of healing and the change in consciousness that will bring about a new reality and dispel "dis-ease" or illness. Raven bring in new state of wellness from the Void of Great Mystery and the field of plenty. Raven is the messenger that carries all energy flows of ceremonial magic between the ceremony itself and the intended destination. For instance, if a ceremony is being performed to send energy to a disaster area where people need courage and strength, Raven would be the courier for that energy flow. The intention could be to allow the people of the devasted area to feel the concern and support of the participants in the cermony. The norse god Odin has two ravens, Hugin and Munin ("Thought and Memory") which fly out over the world every day and report to him the news every evening: "I fear for Thought, that he come not back, But I fear yet more for Memory." They are the sides of the mind of the magician as it is propelled into "astral" experience. Roadrunner - Mental speed and agility Robin - New growth, territorial, color link to throat center -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S Salmon - (Brionnfhionn in Celtic lore) This is the Celtic fish of All Wisdom. It lives in the depths of the Sea from which all life springs. It is said to acquire it's great knowledge from eating the Nine Hazels of Wisdom that fall from the Tree of Knowledge. This fish was said to be among the oldest of living creatures. The great Hero and Druid Fionn mac Cumhail gained his wisdom by touching his thumb to a salmon that he was cooking for the Druid Fintan. Sparrow - Awakening and triumph of common nobility Starling - Sociable, communicating diversity, forceful Stork - Related to humanity, connected to emotions, water, birth process Swallow - Protection and warmth of the home and proper perspective Swan - Sensitive, emotional, dreamer and mystic, longevity, grace Swift - Feminine and psychic energies, speed and agility Swisher - Awakening of the feary realm, accomplishment for its own sake Spider - Creativity and the weaving of fate, illusion, threads of life, a totme of weavers. Deities and legendary characters represented as spiders include Ts'its'tsi'nako the Old Spider Woman and Anansi the trickster of Africa. In India the spider is the weaver of the web of Maya, illusion. As the destroyer of insect life, it is a guardian against invasion of the lower forces. It is the maternal, feminine force par excellence, inasmuch as the female destroys the male upon completion of mating. In her web she stands as the center of the world. In her spinning of the web and devouring her prey she parallels the waxing and waning of the Moon, involution and evolution, the alternation of birth and death. The spider, as the Moon, then weaves the destiny of everything in the world. The spider has also recently become something of a representative totem for the world wide web. A Tale Of Anansi Anansi once tried to steal all of the Wisdom plants, the source of all wisdom. He took all the plants, put them in his calabash, tied it around his neck and started climbing up the Tree of Life, where he lived. The calabash got in his way and he could not climb up the tree. A young girl saw his dilemma and tied the calabash to his back for him. He then raced to the top of the tree. Soon he realized that even with all the wisdom he stole, the girl had been wiser that he, so he decided that he couldn't use the wisdom, so he threw the wisdom plants off the tree. Then the wind caught them and spread the wisdom all over the world for everyone to enjoy. Sea Lions - Active imagination, creativity and lucid dreaming Skunk - Sensuality, respect, self-esteem, reputation. Snakes - under snakes I am including all general meanings for unspecifiesd snakes, and specific snakes legends that are not related to a single species of snake in particular. Correspondances and legends for individual species of snakes will be generally found under the species name. Snakes are represented by the element of fire, and symbolise transmutation and immortality. Almost every religion has a strong mythos about snakes, for good or evil. In many religions, the snake, or serpent, is a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment and no matter what the religion, snakes are almost always considered to be beings/symbols of great power. In some beliefs the serpent is a symbol of procreation, health, longevity, immortality and wisdom, while others believe it to represented death, disease, sin, lechery, duplicity and temptation. Both the Greek and the Norse mythologies had the world encircled by a snake, being held together inside of the snake biting its tail. if the serpent were to let go, that would be the beginning of the end of the world, and in Quabbla the serpent is often interpreted as the bringer of wisdom, or at least information. The Hindu mythos holds that the cobra uncoiling and flaring its hood symbolises the asenscion of consciousness into union with the universal power, while in Buddhist lore, A giant cobra sheltered Buddha from the elements during his years of meditation and spiritual study, spreading its flanks and created a make shift tent. In the Philippines, owning a snake is considered good luck especially among the Chinese populace. Some keep snake molt in their cash registers as a magnet for money. In some totemic beliefs, the snake is associated with the strange, the mysterious, the study of magick and metsphysics, and of ancient cultures and legends. It is also associated with personal transformation, and the discorvery of useful wisdom and knowledge. The Rainbow Snake - Australian Aborigine legend. In some areas regarded as female, in others males. Represents rain, water and the products of rain, without which life would cease to exist. He/she causes rivers to flow to the sea; plays an important part in the training and magic of medicine men; in Arnhem Land sends floods to drown offenders against the sacred lore; and in the Kimberleys is associated with childbirth, including that of spirit children. In the Arnhem Land rites of the Fertility Mother just before the wet season, the Rainbow Snake is heard coming by the whistling sound of the storm blowing through its horns; as the ritual dancing and singing begins, it arches its body upwards into the sky. The Rainbow Snake appears frequently in aborigine art. Snow Leopard - Overcoming demons and haunts, renewed vision & vitality Squirrel - Activity and preparedness, better to do than to study, gathering. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T Turkey - Spiritual connection to Earth Mother, shared blessings, self-Sacrifice. Turtle/Tortoise - As some americans seem to have trouble differentiating between the two creatures, so more specific information for each woldl be welcome. The tortoise is a symbol of the earth (I would presume that the turtle is a symbol the the water). Turtle/tortoise is associated with navigation, patience, boundaries, inspiration, psychic protection, grounding, self-reliance, tenacity, and nonviolent defense. The turtle is said to personify the female creative energy of an all-embracing earth mother, who holds the cycle of life and death in her hands. Tiger - Passion, power, devotion and sensuality, full and new moons -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V Vulture - Purification, never-ending vigilance, guardian of mysteries The ancient Egyptians thought that all vultures were female and hence they represented the notion of supreme motherhood. Mut was an Egyptian Goddess who took the form of a vulture. Her name means "mother." She was generally depicted as a woman wearing a long, brightly colored dress (often in a feather pattern) and a vulture headdress. The headdress was surmounted by the white or the double crown of Egypt. She essentially played the role of divine mother to the reigning king and as such many amulets representing Mut depict her as a seated woman suckling a child (a motive common for Isis and Hathor). Royal women who held the title of "God's Wife of Amun" were all shown with iconographic features which linked them to Mut. Mut also has a more aggressive nature, that of Sekhmet the feline goddess. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- W Waxwing - Gentleness and courtesy, maskmaking Woodpecker - Weather prophet, drumbeats into other dimensions Weasel - Sly and secret circumvention and-or pursuit, nocturnal Whale - Creation, power of song, awakening inner depths Wren - In Irish folk lore the Wren, the King of birds, was also known as the betrayer in Ireland, it was said that the wren flapped it's wings above the place where St Stephen was hiding and this led to his martyrdom, and also betrayed armies to the enemy, and this was why the wren was hunted. I have also read that the hunt symbolised the destruction of pagan beliefs by Christianity. I think that in Ireland at least, this could be the origins of the hunt, as so much of our lore, festivals and so forth have been used against us, to uphold the idea that Christianity is the only true path. Whale - Remembrance. Symbolizes the world; its huge, unconscious "better" side or "healthy" nature. A whale washed ashore dead is an omen of uncontrollable disaster. Weasel - Stealth Wolf - Guardianship, ritual, loyalty, and spirit, full moon & twilights. Earth wisdom, protection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Y -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Z