Animal magick
is the use of an animal for its symbolism and energies. Animals can
also be animal spirit guides. Similar to spirit guides, they are used
for thier properties (of strength or skill) and guidance. Symbols of
these animals can bring thier properties to spells.
Zuni Bear-good health
Hopi Hand-life, creative, healing
Cactus-nature's reservior
Steer Skull-silent testimony
Kokopelli-fertility, joy, music
Thunderbird-caller of rain
Scorpion-defense, self-protection
Buffalo Skull-sacredness, reverence for life
Thistle-Scottish symbol
Shamrock-Irish symbol
Star of David-union, heart, love
Heart-love, fondness
Cross-redemption, salvation
LuIgI says:
Angels-guardians of hope and wonder
Yin & Yang-balance, harmony
Celtic Knot-long life, eternity
Unicorn-redemption, salvation
Dragon-wisdom, nobility
Pegasus-carrier of lightning
Smiley Face
Peace Sign
Dove-love, peace, gentleness
4 Leaf Clover-good luck
Raptor-speedy theif
Parasaurolophus-parallel crested lizard
Stegosaurus-the covered lizard
T Rex-lizard king
Mastodon-lumbering giant
Triceritops-horrible 3 horned face
Brontosaurus-harmless giant
Pterodactyl-wing finger
Bull-strength, warning
Cow-patience, stoicism
Pig-intelligence, hunger
Goat-stubborn, omnivorous
Dog-loyalty, protection
Cat-independence, grace, healing
Rhino-durability, strength
Elephant-long life, self-preservation
LuIgI says:
Zebra-family-oriebted, alert
Polar Bear-fearlessness, power
Giraffe-watchfulness, mobility
Gorilla-brute strength, adaptibility
Hippo-linking water and earth, survival
Lion-power, strength, respect
Monkey-playfulness, agility
Bobcat-fierce, loner intensity
Penguin-playful, loving
Panda-playful, kindness
Orca-focus, power
Manatee-peaceable, unassuming
Water Buffalo-enormus strength, hard working
Camel-weary, enduring
Kangaroo-feisty, funloving
Ostrich-fickle, fast moving
Pelican-ever watchful, grace
Alligator-aggression, survival, adaptability
Ant-team player, worker
Armadillo-active, nocturnal, protection
Bat-guardian of the night, cleaner
Bear-power, adaptability
Bear Paw-strength, mobility
Beaver-builder, gather
LuIgI says:
Buffalo-sacredness, life builder
Butterfly-metamorphisis, carefree, transformer
Cougar-leadership, courage
Coyote-prankster, insight, playful
Crane-solitude, independence
Deer-love, gentleness, kindness
Dolphin-kindness, play, bridge man to ocean
Dragonfly-flighty, carefree
Eagle-divine spirit, connection to creator
Elk-strength, agility, freedom
Fox-cunning, provider, intelligence
Frog-connection with water element
Goose-faithful, communicative, traveler
Grizzly Bear-hunter, nature's pharmacist
Hawk-messenger, stopper of time
Horse-stamina, mobility, strength
Hummingbird-messenger, stopper of time
Lizard-conservation, agility
Loon-solitude, song, romance
Moose-headstrong, unstoppable, longevity
Mouse-timid, secretive, sneaky
Otter-laughter, curiosity, truth, patience
Owl-wi
LuIgI says:
Owl-wisdom, perseverance
Pheasant-confidence, attrsction, perseverance
Quail-sacred spiral, ceremonial, Holy
Rabbit-alertness, resourceful
Raccoon-bandit, shy, determination
Ram-new beginning, teacher, hoarder
Raven-trickster, mischievous
Road Runner-speed, agility, cleverness
Salmon-instinct, persistence, determination
Seahorse-confidence, grace
Shark-hunter, survival
Skunk-wary, conspicious, intense
Snake-shrewdness, transformation
Spider-creative, pattern of life
Squirrel-trusting, innocence
Swan-grace, balance, festive
Turkey-smart, elusive
Turtle-self-contained creative source
Whale-wisdom, power, cleanser
Wolf-loyalty, success, perseverance
Wolf Paw-freedom, success, guidance
Power animals
are & are not a part of the Wiccan or Witchcraft Traditions. They
are used by Native Americans, Shamans & other tribal organizations
& traditions. Covens usually have a totem animal that is only known
to those within the group.
In the Astral,
you can merge with your totem & become the animal with your own
intelligence intact. This is called Shapeshifting.
There are two
ways you can meet your power animal in the astral plane & discover
which animal medicine is right for you. First, you could write &
perform a ritual to call the essence of the animal that would suit you
best & assist you in your present magickal workings. If you are not
comfortable with the ritual format you can go into the familiar
meditative state, walk through the astral forest & meet the animal.
When the first
technique is used, that of the ritual, you will most likely see the
animal in its natural form. There may be a synchronistic conversation
where the topic is of the animal, or you find a book about the animal,
etc. When you catch that first glimpse of that particular medicine, you
will know it in your heart.
If you meet
the animal in the meditative state, converse with it. Anything is
possible in the astral, right? So ask questions & get to know your
new partner.
If you have
seen the animal after a ritual, plan sometime to go into the meditative
state to cement your relationship & get to know the animal &
the essence it represents.
Now that
you've got the animal, what do you do with it? Power animals are great
advice givers, often representing our higher selves that we haven't
been paying attention to lately. In a meditative state you can ask for
their assistance on problems that have been nagging at you. At times,
two power animals can work in conjunction with each other, as long as
they want to. Silver has had some truly interesting & fruitful
conversations with hers.
Power animals
can assist you in the waking state as well. Perhaps you are trying to
teach someone a particular theme & they are having difficulty
understanding. Ask wolf for assistance; she is the great teacher.
Remember the
old adages: clever as a fox, strong as an ox, etc.? Perhaps you need
camouflage - then ask Brother Fox for assistance. If you seek wisdom,
ask the Eagle. the Lynx knows the art of keeping secrets & the Swan
guides one into dreamtime. The Panther is a good protective animal,
though she does have a sarcastic, laid back nature.
Power animals
are not limited to mammals. The reptilian & insect kingdoms can be
just as helpful. Children can also be taught to work with animals &
have a great ideal of success with them.
Dragonfly
tells us how to break through illusions & how to gain power through
our dreams & goals. She teaches higher aspiration.
The act of
honoring an animal is not an act of worship, but is the acknowledgment
of their power & their being as brothers & sisters of the
entire universe. The energy of the animals, birds & other creatures
that assist us should be honored. For too long, we have subjugated
these creatures who are our equals in the system of the Universe. The
Native Americans leave tobacco as a gift, scattered on the ground. You
could also burn incense in honor of the animal. When honoring - leave a
gift of some sort. A crystal or gem on your altar is also a lovely
gift.
Many modern
Witches have animal familiars, usually cats, which are their magical
helpers. Some also have dogs, birds, snakes or toads. Witches do not
believe the familiars are "demons" or spirits in animal form but simply
animals whose psychic attunement makes them ideal partners in magical
workings. Some Witches say that it is possible to endow pets with
magical powers and turn them into familiars, though others don't
believe it should be done. Still others believe familiars are never
"pets" (and should never be treated as such) but are animals who
volunteer to work as familiars and are Karmically attracted to Witches.
Witches who do not have familiars send out psychic "calls" to draw the
right animal.
Familiars
reputedly are sensitive to psychic vibrations and power and are
welcomed partners inside the magic circle and other magical work. They
also serve as psychic radar, reacting visibly to the presence of any
negative or evil energy, whether it be an unseen force or a person who
dabbles in the wrong kind of magic. Familiars are also given psychic
protection by their Witches. Some Witches it seems also use the term
familiar to describe thought-forms created magically and empowered to
carry out a certain task on the astral plane.
Sorcerers and
shamans in cultures around the world also have helpers in the form of
spirits. Dispatching them on errands to heal, harm or kill - called
sending. The physical shape of a familiar varies. New Guinea sorcerers
rely on snakes and crocodiles, while in Malaya, the familiar is usually
an owl or badger passed down from generation to generation.
Throughout
Africa, the wild creatures of the bush are said to be Witches'
familiars: for the Lugbara, they are said to be the toad, snake,
lizard, water frog, bat, owl, leopard, jackal and a type of monkey that
screeches in the night; for the Dinka, they are black cobras and
hyenas. The Zulus' familiars are said to be corpses dug up and
re-animated with magic; they are sent out at on night errands to scare
travelers with their shrieking and pranks. In Shamanism, a novice
shaman acquires his familiar spirits, usually manifesting in animal,
reptile or bird shapes, when he completes his initiation. He or she may
send them out to do battle in his or her place, but if they die, so
does the shaman. Familiars usually stay with their shaman until death,
then disappear. Among certain Eskimos, the familiar is embodied in an
artificial seal, not a live animal.
In closing,
what I usually instruct in this area is that the student of magic who
feels that they have found a familiar is that they should practice an
exercise called "Trading Places" by Keith Harry. This exercise is
simple enough to memorize and to practice, and though it was not
written specifically for bonding with an animal familiar it was
designed for becoming familiar with an animal, and inducing a mystical
experience. I think you will readily discern its value in the acquiring
of a familiar.
Trading Places Exercise
Objective:
To trade places (mentally) with a dog or cat, or other animal.
Setting:
Home, Zoo, Wilderness, etc.
Instructions:
1. Relax your
body as completely as you can. Calm your mind, eliminating all thoughts
which do not relate to your intent and purpose. Sit so that you are
comfortable, and as nearly as possible on the same level with the
animal you will be working with. Lie down if you like. The important
thing is that you are able to comfortably make eye contact with your
animal partner in this exercise. It is also important to satisfy
yourself that the animal is likewise comfortable and secure with you.
2. Take a deep
breath. As you slowly exhale, look into the animal's eyes, and imagine
that a part of your awareness is being transmitted through your breath
into the animal's mind. Watch the animal breathe, and imagine that a
part of its awareness is being transmitted into your mind.
3. Continue looking directly into the animal's eyes until you fell your consciousness merge with the animal's consciousness.
Benefits:
As the
boundaries between you and the animal dissolve, you may feel as if
you've really traded places with a member of another species, as though
a part of you has become the animal - this is the height of subjective
merging. You may begin to feel compassion for another species. You'll
also probably recognize some of the artificial differences between the
human and animal worlds. You may be able to feel or sense the actual
flow of the animals emotions and mental imagery. Should you accomplish
this then it should be no trouble for you to contract with the animal
to serve as your magical partner. Asking another to become such a
partner also places upon you the responsibility of becoming its
partner. I would not recommend contracting an animal to become your
familiar and then treating the animal as a pet. A pet is something you
possess, own. A Familiar, to my way of thinking, is an individual who
has entered into a mutually beneficial relationship (partnership) with
you, and therefore should be afforded the respect and consideration due
a partner.
