Animal Lore      It has long been believed by many cultures that mankind is meant to live in fellowship with the many species that reside within the realms of both physical and mystical. It has long been believed that many of us can and do resonant with an affinity to a specific animal, fish, or bird....most often there is a reason for this. The following is a brief discription of common and not so common creatures that can share or lend their traits and abilities. Perhaps you will find your hidden strength and alli within the following ranks. Badger (breach) Courage and perseverance. Call for it when you need to defend your ideas and protect yourself.   Bear (arth) Strenght, leadership, patience, rebirth, wisdom, transformation and the spiritual warrior. The she-bear is a lunar crature and is connected to dreams, meditation, introspection, intuition. Balance and the strenght to do necessary actions.   Bee (beach) The celts believed that bees were the messengers of the gods. Symbol of industriosity, concentration, prosperity. Call for it when you need to perform a task.   Boar (bacrie) Together with the sow and the hog, it is a very sacred animal, connected to the earth energies but also to the underworld. Symbol of wisdom, poetry, introspection. The celts believed tha its skin could heal wounds. Guide into the underworld.   Bull (tarbh) Regality,wealth and fertility. Strenght and courage.   Cat (caiot) Connected to the moon and the otherworld. Symbol of prophecy and defense. Call for it when you need to confront something/someone.   Cow (bo) Symbol of the goddess in the aspect of fertility and abundance. Resources to carry out projects.   Crane Moon bird sacred to the triple goddess and connected to the underworld. Symbol of shamanic travel, learning mysteries and secrets. Guide into the underworld.   Crow (badb)/raven (druid dhubh) Guardian of the theshold. Symbol of ill-omen, war and death but also of prophecy, supreme knowledge and inner call. Learn from the past.   Dog (abach)/hound (cu) Tracking skills, loyalty and companionship. The cwn annwn are the guardians of the underworld and of its mysteries. Call for it when you need to find the right way.   Dragon Wealth, power of the elements (earth especially). You can also find dragons as guardians of the otherworld tresholds: they won't let you in until you are ready. It is possible to meet them at itnitiations. There are many kinds of dragons. Here are those of the elements:   Air dragon (draig-athar) Inspiration, inner vision, vitality and clearness of thought. It often shows itself with sudden flashes of illumination. Call for it when you need to journey into the world of spirit.   Earth dragon (drigh-talamh) Power, wealth and inner potential. Guardian of the treshold. Call for it when you need to discover your inner treasures.   Fire dragon (draig-teine) Energy, courage and transformation. Guardian of our inner fire. A bad use of its power can cause severe consequencies. Be careful when you meet it.   Water dragon (draig-uisge) Passion, depth and the emerging of conscience. Underworld creature. Call for it when you need a change in order to heal yourself.   Eagle (iolair) Solar symbol (like the oak) of reality, power, wisdom, keen sight and magick. Call for it when you need to see hidden spiritual truths.   Eel (as-chu) Wisdom and inspiration. Inspiring vision and defence.   Fox (mada rua) Cunning. Call for it when you need to watch while being unobserved.   Griffin Lion body and tail and eagle head and wings. Symbol of magick and combining strenght and keen sight.   Hare (coinin) Connected to the moon. Symbol of receiving intuitive messages and teachings. Intuition.   Hawk (aracos) Traveler between the otherworlds and our world. Symbol of clear vision. Knowledge.   Horse (cab-all) Power, endurance and faithfullness. Sacred to the goddess Rhiannon, It is a guide to the otherworlds. Call for it when you need to enter the mysteries of the otherworlds.   Mouse (Luch) Connected to the underworld. Symbol of ability to hide when necessary, cunning and secrets. Pay attention to small details.   Otter (balgair) Magick, wisdom, faithfullness. Call for it when you need to face crisis or find inner talents.   Owl (cailleach) Sacred and magical bird. Guide to the underworld. Symbol of keen sight in darkness and wisdom. Psychopompos: it leads the souls of the dead to the itherworld. Call for it when you need to unmask false people or during a transformation period.   Salmon (brionnfhionn) Wisdom, knowledge and the spiritual warrior (who has to fight to find his inner wisdom). Ancestral knowledge and realization of projects.   Snake (nadredd) Linked to underground energy, water, fire and sky (as a rainbow). Connected to all the elements. Symbol of life, abundance, rebirth, wisdom, transformation and death. Call for it when you need a strong change in your life. If you meet it during a shamanic journey, maybe you have to get rid of something/someone.   Sparrow (aracos) Remembrance and memory. Knowledge from ancestors.   Stag (sailetheach) Otherworlds messenger and guide. Symbol of death, rebirth, gentleness, independence and shapeshifting. Guide into the otherworlds. If you meet it during a shamanic travel, be ready to come into contact with supernatural beings.   Swan (eala) Innocence, purity, courage, and all the elements. It is the like among the worlds. Call for it when you feel a transition or a spiritual evolution.   Unicorn Magical power. Call for it when you need to create a relationship between physical and spiritual realities.   Wren (dryw) Symbol of prophecy. It is a messenger from the otherworlds. Call for it when you need to know something.           This information has been graciously donated to Betwixt by Athame @ Between Mirrors