Owl - Cailleach-oidhche Detachment, Wisdom, Change The owl teaches us the widom of turning a disadvantage to an advantage. For most birds, the coming of darkness renders it impossible to feed, but the owl's exceptional hearing enables it to pick out and scoop on unsuspecting prey during the night. Twilight has been described as owl-light and going for a quiet walk in the woods at this shimmering time of twilight is an excellent way to develop a sensibility to the Otherworld and the inner soul of nature. The Bird of Wisdom: The owl is shown in this story as one of the five totem animals central to British tradition. Arthur's party encounters first the blackbird Druidh Dubh and then moves even closer to the source of wisdom - the salmon. As a fish, the salmon swims in the River of Life, the Ocean of Being - his wisdom comes from an intimate participation of life. The owl imparts a different wisdom - one of objectivity and detachment. Like the figure of the Hermit in the Tarot, the owl watches and waits - in ruined castles, in church towers, in barns, in ivy bushes. Adept at disappearing from view and favouring the night, the owl is the animal that symbolizes esoteric wisdom and secrecy. Because the owl is sacred to the Goddess in her crone-aspect, one of its many Gaelic names is Cailleach-oidche (Crone of the Night). The barn owl is Cailleach-oidhche gheal, "white old woman of the night". The Cailleach is the goddess of death, and the owl's call was often sensed as an omen that someone would die.It was seen as a bird that calls for the soul, or that catches or takes it away. Knowing of an impending death or birth suggests that the owl is able to foretell the future, and the owl is indeed the totem bird of clairvoyance and astral travel. The veils which surround the normal boundaries of space and time can be pierced, if you take the owl as your ally. In later times, all that was sacred to the Goddess and the "Secret Faith" was denigrated and labeled as evil by the Church in an attempt to convert people from their traditional ways. We see this process of denigration clearly in the folklore of the owl. Originally a sacred bird embodying wisdom and discernment, it gradually came to be seen only as a bird of ill-omen. The owl is a bird set apart. She stands on the threshold of the Otherworld, reminding us of the ever-present reality of death. But death is the great initiator and as the owl hoots to us from the trees we may come to realize in the depths of our being that death in reality marks a beginning and not an end....... -- Frog - Losgann 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 properties in its head. These objects, at one level, represent a crossing-over from the animal to the mineral realm-rendering the 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. __ Raven - Bran 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. -- But i'm still curious about Crow. He's quite diffrent from Raven, who i see more often in books and discussion. He's more.. mundane. Earthy. Concerned with everyday life and events. I see Fire in him. He's more serious, and his sense of humor is a little deeper and more twisted. He's subtle. Dosen't peck you on the head and point.. just lands near it and waits for you to figure it out. Crow seems to be my journey man. If i leave the house during the day (and sometimes even at night) he's always there, seeing me off or circling somewhere or welcoming me home (like today.) Collects things. They might have nothing to do with one another, but they're all beautiful. Crow sees the beauty in everyday objects. He dosen't create much, but he *knows* what is worth keeping and what is not. __ Otter - Dobhran The otter is known for its strong sense of family - the cubs stay longer with their parents than most other young animals, and when an ottern dies, its mate will often mourn for a long time. For these reasons, the otter has come to symbolize the strength of family ties. The otter is sacred to the Irish god of the sea, Manannan mac Lir, and there have been a number of sightings of Otter Kings or "Master Otters". In Scottish tradition, Otter Kings are brown, and are always accompanied by seven black otters as servants. When captured they would grant any wish, on the promise of release. The otter and the fish are an ideal way to symbolize the chase, for otters are excellent fishers. In the Irish tale The Voyage of Maelduin the seafarers toward the end of their journey reach the Island of Otters. There the kindly otters bring Maelduin's men salmon, just as they had been bringing fish to the island's sole inhabitant. Here the otter is portrayed as the friend of man, exemplifying the ideals of service, charity, and helpfulness. Recognizing this quality of friendliness, many Celtic names for the otter include the word for dog: water hound, brown-dog, water-dog, or sea-dog. At home with the two feminine elements of water and earth, the sleek and graceful otter represents femininity, joyfulness and play. And like the toad, fox, and snake, the otter is said to carry a secret power object - a jewel or pearl within its head. As well as offering healing and protection, the otter calls us to play, to relax in the knowledge that nature will provide for our needs, and that life can be fun and joyful. By taking ourselves less seriously, we will find that we can share with the otter, the salmon of wisdom. -- Stag - Damh All deer are beautiful, graceful creatures, but stags are also majestic, by virtue of their magnificent antlers, made up of a number of spikes or tines. The antlers start to grow in the early summer and are fully developed by rutting time - the nating season in late autumn.Around the Druid festival time of Imbolc on February 1st they shed their antlers shortly before the birth of their young. According to Welsh tradition, the stag is one of the five oldest animals in the world. The Lord of the Animals was pictured as a man with antlers - the combination of human and animals characteristics signifying Otherworldly powers. Such a figure is seen in the legend of Herne the Hunter - an antlered man living in Windsor Forest, who is said to appear at times of national crisis - and in Cernunnos the Celtic god of hunting. Cernunnos is associated both with fertility (and hence sexuality), and with hunting and culling. He is seen as the Lord of the Wild Hunt, which carries the spirits of the dead to the Otherworld. As well as traveling to the Otherworld with the Wild Hunt, the stag is also seen as a messenger from that realm, and for this reason he has often been associated with the festival of Samhuinn, October 31st to November 2nd, when the veil between this world and the next is drawn aside so that we can commune with the Ancestors. He brings with him power and knowledge of this other realm, and her carries on his back not only the King of Faery, but Merlin too. DEER Graceful gentleness, and sensitivity Although there are many types of deer, they all have one thing in common - gracefulness. Deer blend very well with their environment but are very sensitive to every sound or movement. Often twins, even triplets, are born in the spring. Does and bucks live in seperate groups until the mating season. The white-tailed deer are moderately gregarious, and family members forage food together along with other familly groups, giving the appearance of a large herd. People with "Deer Medicine" are often described as being swift and alert. They are intuitive, often appearing to well developed, even extra sensory perceptions. Some times their thoughts seem to race ahead, and they appear not to be listening. Deer Medicine brings beauty and grace to any surrounding. Just as the deer bounds from one place to another, a person with Deer Medicine often moves quickly from one situation to another, often never staying long enough in one place to get a 'full meal'. -- Cat Guardianship, Detachment, 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 deceiveness. Remember the saying "A cat may look like at a king". You have a right to know and to judge important issues for yourself in your own time. The cat unites an awareness of the spirit-world with a highly developed sensuality. These two attributes are not polar opposites as dualistic spiritual teachings would have us believe, but are facts of one continuum of awareness and sensitivity. Working toward wholeness involves enhancing our appreciation of both the physical and non-physical worlds. Although the cat was used by warrios, as was the boar, raven and bear, to invoke the avenging power of the gods, it was still considered an animal associated with the Goddess, and the feminine. For this reason we find both positive and negative attributes of the cat in folklore and tradition. As an animal clearly of the Goddess and in close contact with the spirit-world makes the cat an ideal ally for any shaman or magician, and it was due to the Church's fear of such powers that many thousands of cats were tortured and put to death by burning in baskets in both Britain and France. The cat teaches us respect and caution. She is sensual and will accept our affection but only on her terms. She is proud, independent and capable of observing both this world and the next. Throughout Britain there have always been sightings of mysterious "big cats". Some believe that they have escaped from zoos, others believe that every so often the Cath Sith, the cats of Faery, allow themselves to be glimpsed, to remind us of the existence of the Otherworld. -- DOG Guidance, Protection, Loyalty Dog brings guidance and protection, acting as a loyal companion and friend on your journey in both this life and the next. In the Druid tradition the dog is seen as the Guardian of the Mysteries. As such, he can be fierce, but if our intentions are good, then Dog will lead us over the threshold through the darkness and the waters of the Uncouscious toward the shimmering realm of the Goddess. The time may come when you need to act with the spirit of the Dog - to defend your values or protect that which you hold sacred. Faithfulness, trust, and loyalty are vital ingredients of close relationships, and the time may have come for you to focus on these qualities - to develope them gradually in yourself and to appreciate them in others. -- HAWK Nobility, Recollection, Cleansing Hawk brings the ability to see your life in perspective, to free you of unnecessary "baggage" and to connect you to your ancestral roots. The Hawk can help you to recollect the missing pieces of the jigsaw you will be trying to assemble and she will help, too, to spot the details which are significant. When you have a sense of your roots and of the breadth of your life, you will start to feel pride and a growing sense of nobility and stature. Once you know where you have come from and where you are going, your life will be filled with inspiration and enthusiasm, you will sense a new day dawning, and you will be able to make decisions with confidence. In the Druid tradition an inspired bard was said to posses "bird's knowledge". Druid shamans would dress in cloaks of bird feathers to perform certain ceremonies, and divination would be practiced by observing the flight of birds. In trance, the Druid would enlist the aid of his brid spirit-ally to fly to other realms, or would transform himself into a bird on the inner planes to accomplish a certain task. Each type of bird represents different qualities, evokes different experiences, and has different gifts for the Druid: the eagle brings renewal, the wren humility, the swan grace, the raven initiation. The hawk, whether kite, harrier, merlin, goshawk, or sparrowhawk, can give nobility and stature, dignity and pride. -- RAM - Sacrifice, Breakthrough, Achievement Ram brings the ability to achieve a breakthrough. Particularly attached to the place of its birth, the ram represents the power to penetrate, overcome and achieve. Working with the ram as your ally will help you to find the inner strength you need to succeed. At the same time you will not fear "losing your head" on the dizzy heights of success, because the ram will help to keep you grounded, and will remind you of the practical necessities of life. By persevering, by being patient and attending to the needs of your daily life as well as your future goals, you will find the day comes when you achieve a breakthrough - accomplishing what you have set out to achieve and discovering that you have also "come home". -- AIR-DRAGON, Inspiration, Insight, Vitality Coming into contact with the air dragoncan be as a bolt of lightening to the psyche and intellect - and as such must be treated with care and considerable respect. Sometimes manifesting as sudden flashes of illumination, Air Dragon brings insight and clarity to your thoughts and imagination. As conveyor of numinous power, the air dragon can be seen as a symbol of visitation - for he is a messenger of the Sky God. Within the Druid tradition, the flying dragon is a creature of the Sky God - coming perhaps from the constellation Draco, which turns about the Pole Star. He represents the descent of the spirit, a visitation from another world, an invitation to soar to higher levels of consciousness. Like lightening and thunder he can be terrible, bringing destruction in his wake. But treated with respect and gained as an ally, he can help us to travel in the spirit world - to journey even further in the quest for enlightenment. -- FIRE DRAGON - Transmutation, Mastery, Energy Fire Dragon brings vitality, enthusiasm, and courage, and an increased ability to overcome obstacles and to find the energy needed to cope with life's problems. Having the powerful Fire Dragon as an ally will align you with the qualities of leadership and mastery. With care, he will fuel your inner fire which can be directed and channelled with laser-like precision to help you accomplish tasks and achieve objectives. The Tradition of the Fire Dragon King Arthur's father, Uther, at one time had a vision of a flaming dragon. This vision was so striking that he immediately asked his Druids to explain its meaning to him. They told him that seeing such a blazing dragon meant that he would become king. So he took the name :Pendragon", which means "Head of the Dragon". The dragon thereby became the heraldic emblem and totemic beast of the greatest line of British kings - the Pendragons. This incident, which lies at the very beginning of the story of Arthur, provides us with the clue that we need to understand the meaning of the Fire Dragon. Each of the four dragons of water, earth, air, and fire represents energy and power - but each mediates these in a different way, and eventually we will be called to integrate and weave together these four different types of "dragon energy" within our being. Fire Dragon energy is concerned with kingship, leadership and mastery. And it is because of this that the Druids were able to interpret Uther's vision so accurately. It is said that his son, Arthur, wore a golden dragon on his helmet to symbolize his rank, and the fire dragon has continued to be a symbol of authority and power ever since. -- BEE - Community, Celebration, Organization Bee invites us to celebrate. The bee tells us that we can come together in harmony, however impossible this may sometimes seem. By being at one with the natural world, by paying homage to the sun, be centering our lives around Spirit or the Goddess, we can work together in community. The bee's honey was only one of her gifts: she also brought wax for polishing and sealing. We cannot be sure that the Celts knew of the health giving qualities of pollen and propolis, but we know of these nos, even if science cannot enumerate the components of the antiseptic propolis, which bees smear on their hives to prevent infection, and which has been found to have remarkable healing properties. The bee, with its highly defined social structure and extraordinarily productive and efficient community, all centered around the Queen Bee, was seen as symbolic of the ideal society - centered on the Goddess, paying homage in sacred dance to the sun, and producing an amber substance from the flowers of the fields and woods that could both feed and divinely intoxicate. -- FOX - Diplomacy, cunning, wildness The fox is a fine graceful creature who typifies the beauty and harmony of the natural world. Working with the power of the fox, you will know when it is time to come out into the open and be counted, but you will also know when it is time to be silent, to keep your own counsel. With others you will be diplomatic, and one of the attributes of the fox is being "strong in council". One of the hardest things, if you are a person working "fox-power", is to ensure that your skill and diplomacy do not become dishonesty or slyness. Remaining silent, or becoming invisible so as to watch the unfolding drama, is an asset that can bring with it its own special culpability, if it is not tempered with wisdom. In common with the otter, the fox is said to carry a magical pearl, which brings good fortune to whoever finds it. -- GOAT (mountain) KEYNOTE - Surefootedness and seeking new heights CYCLE OF POWER - Late Fall, Early Winter Everything about the mountain goat enables it to survive in the higher altitudes of mountain regions. Its thick wol insulates, its even greater skeletal flexibility aids in its climbing, and even its feet are adaptive to their environment. Anyone with a mountain goat as a totem would do well to examine the significance of its living environment - the high mountainous regions. Their highly flexible skeletal system is very significant. Comprised of bones and cartilage, it is the support system for the frameowrk of the body and assists in its movement. If mountain goat has shown up as a totem, ask yourself some important questions. Are you getting the support you need as you move into new areas? Are you giving the proper to support to others as the move? Are you being too inflexible in exploring new possibilities? Are you feeling a lack of support or a need for support? Is something wrong with the basic structure of your lfe? The mountain goat holds the knowledge of how to stretch and reach for new heights and goals. It can teach how to have trust in your own ability to land on your feet. The mountain goat has links astrologically to the sign of Capricorn. You may want to look toward this time of year as being a significant one for culminating new moves or initiating them. The goat may have shown up to get your prepared. Anyone with a mountain goat totem should study the qualities and characteristics associated with the sign of Capricorn. Because of its connection to Capricorn energy, ask yourself important questions. Are you being too serious? Not serious enough? Are you not preparing dilligently enough for the new moves in your life? It can reflect a time of studiousness and undustry, but it can also hep when ambition and opportunistic behaviors get out of hand. Mountain goat can help you keep focused and move step by precarious step to new heights, all the while protecting you form any severe life conditions. It is not unusual to have a mountain goat totem show up as a temporary totem when conditions become difficult and we fear slipping back. Its energies help us to regain balance, perspective and continue the climb. The goat may also help you to connect with past lives associated in Greece. It is a symbol that shows up often in Greek mythology. It has ties to the nature god Pan, and to Amalthea and the Horn of Plenty. A study of the lore around them will provide insight into the role of the goat in your life. If mountain goat has climbed into your life, this is a time to begin new climbs, and new endeavors. You will not need to rush into them. With proper foresight, you will see what is ahead and will be able to move forward with greater surety. -- BOAR - The Warrior, Spirit, Leadership, Direction The Boar can open you to the warrior spirit, helping you to find your direction in life. A wild and powerful animal, he calls you into the forest to discover a secret about yourself and about the world. The ritual boar-paths that exist in Wales, Cornwall, Ireland and Scotland exist in the Inner World too, and if you follow them you will come fact to face with an animal embodying the wild and untamed power that lives within each of us. Stare closely at him and you will discover he is a representative of the Goddess - his skin can heal you, he can inspire you to write music and poetry, his primal power can make you leader or chief. See if you can use your wildness and your energy for genuine acts of heroism in a world that longs for insight and healing. The Tradition of the Boar In the Celtic tradition, the boar symbolizes raw power, which is often destructive but which can be used and channeled by the hero - the warrior. Many terrifying and magical boars are depicted in the old tales. In the Irish Book of Invasions there is the Orc Triath, a huge and destructive boar. In the Fionn Cycle of stories there is Formael- massive and vicious, he kills fifty soldiers and fifty hounds in a single day. In the Welsh tale of Culhwch and Olwen, two boars play a central role. Ysgithyrwyn, Chief Boar, and Twrch Trwyth must both be defeated by the hero Culhwch. From the Chief Boar the tusk will be used as a razor to shave a giant, and from Twrch Trwyth the comb and scissors between his ears will be used to cut the giant's hair. The comb is a symbol that has been associated with the boar for thousands of years. The ancient rock-carvings in Scotland depict both comb and mirrors beside boars, and these symbols provide the clue that the boar is in fact sacred to the Goddess - despite the fact that it can also symbolize aspects of male aggression and sexuality. The boar's wildness and destructiveness were used by the Celts to arouse their fierceness and to terrify their enemies. The boar was used as an emblem on helmets, and as a mouthpiece on battlehorns. The snarling open mouth of the boar's-head trumpet found in Grampian held an articulated wooden tongue which would vibrate when blown. The boar was also depicted on swords and bronze shields, and here these images are used to invoke the power of the boar to protect the warrior and to install its supernatural vigor and fierceness. -- BLACKBIRD - Enchantment, The Gateway, The Inner Call The Blackbird call to us from the gateway between two worlds, urging us to follow a spiritual path or to become more self-aware. He calls to us in the twilight, showing us to Otherwordly secrets, pointing out the ways in which we can discover more about our hidden motivations and potential. There are times in life when it is important to concentrate on the outer world and your responsibilities in that world, but there are also times when you must attend to the haunting song of your soul which calls you to a study of spiritual truths, and to an exploration of the inner world through dreams and myths. In heeding the Blackbird's song, you will discover healing and new depths in your soul. -- ADDER - Transformation, Healing, Life Energy The Adder offers healing and transformation. Its ability to glide into the darkness through crevices and rocks connects it to the Underworld or Otherworld, and the realm of Death. It is the totem animal of the Earth Goddess, and also the Sky Father Sun God, and represents our ability to die and be reborn. The energy that enables us to be born on earth is sexual energy, but this also necessitates our death. Befriending adder or snake power will enable you to journey through life gracefully and magically, shedding your old life easily when the time comes - whether that old life be of the physical body or of a stage in this present incarnation. Adder as a symbol of fertility The snake was a symbol of fertility - its shape and the fact that it has a double penis made it an obvious associate of fertility gods such as Cernunnos, who is often depicted holding snakes, or even with his legs formed by snakes. But the female snake represents fertility too, giving birth to a prodigious number of young, her sinuous movements schoed in the path of meandering rivers. The Cuckmere in Sussex, for example, was known as snake river, and the river-goddess Verbeia of the Wharfe in Yorkshire was depicted holding a snake in each hand. -- CRANE - Secret Knowledge, Patience, Longevity The Crane brings the qualitites of patience and perserverance. The Crane will stand for hours peering into the water until the time is right for it to dart at its prey. Combined with the ability to be patient, the crane conveys the capacity to be focused and to be able to concentrate without distraction. It brings an ability to guide others into the Underworld, to help them with their transition at the time of dying, or with their journeying in the inner realms. As well as an ability to work in the "Underworld". the crane symbolizes arcane science, or Secret Knowledge, which in the Druid tradition is represented by the Ogham script - the tree-language of Druidry. In its widest sense, learning this language involves learning to read the "Book of Nature". The "shadow" side of the Crane is manifested as harshness, meanness and a nagging, complaining disposition. If you find these qualities showing sometimes in your behaviour, see if you can experience the deeper aspects of the crane, in which it becomes an animal of the Goddess-as-crone or wise-woman. Ask yourself to what extent you are denying the wise-woman who has a knowledge of death and the Underworld in yourself, and to what extend your negative behaviour may be a reflection of this denial. --