About Power Animals

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. Sometimes, if they want to, two power animals might work in conjunction with each other.

Power animals can assist you in the waking state as well. Perhaps you are trying to teach someone a particular theme and they are having difficulty understanding. Power animals are not limited to mammals. The reptilian and insect kingdoms can be just as helpful....

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Invocation for a Sick or Injured Pet

You can perform this ritual for animals recuperating at home, as well as for those at the veterinarian. Light a white candle, and visualize a protective dome of warm soothing light surrounding your pet.

When your emotions are calm and your thoughts are still, ask the Great Mother for her assistance...

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Wandering Pet Protection Spell

Spread out a white handkerchief. On it, place a clipping of your pet’s hair and a picture of your home or one of you and your pet together. Imagine your pet back in its favorite inside place, sleeping contentedly....

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Pet Memorial Ritual

To hold a memorial for a special pet who has passed on, place a picture of your pet (preferably taken when it was in its prime) on your altar. Light directional candles, and place them around the picture. Light a black candle, and place it next to or on top of the picture....

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Creating a "Familiar"

This rite it designed specifically for cats, but may be employed with any animal you wish to make your familiar spirit. Each night during the cycle of the waxing Moon, sit closely with the animal. Arrange it so that you are both facing toward the horizon where the Moon shall rise...

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The Witch's Familiar

The concept of the familiar has been a vital component of various cultures throughout man's history. The Romans, for example, believed that each household was protected by a familiar whose job it was to keep the family from harm, and shamans and medicine men of various tribal traditions have long honored the spirits of animals for their wisdom and assistance in magickal workings.

Yet despite these positive influences, when we think of a familiar the most common image is that of the evil witch with her fearsome-looking black cat. This archetype, straight from the fairy tales of our childhood, has its roots in the fear and superstition of the Dark Ages, and it bears no resemblance to the modern-day familiar...

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A Simple Shapeshifting Exercise

Here is an exercise in trading places (mentally) with a dog, a cat, or other animal. Once you become adept at this exercise, you will find animal communication, animal healing, and contact with power animals and guides much easier to accomplish...

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Meditation to Meet Your Power Animal

This guided imagery is about meeting your power animal. Like the ancient ones, the power animals come from deep within the consciousness of our Earth Mother. Power animals are our deepest memories. We all share DNA with all the animals alive on earth. A lion has the same DNA as we do for many systems. We can, in our memories, see out of the lion's eyes. We are them. They call to us deeply, loudly.

Power animals are easier to contact than ancient ones. Their voices are louder. They are easier to see. They will come and speak to you when you need them. The animals are helpers. Like ancient ones they are guides. They tell you what you need to know. They give you their immense energy. No shaman would ever go into sacred space without their animal helper....

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Finding Your Power Animal

Think about animals to whom you've always been attracted - and remember that "animal" includes birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects.

• Do you collect owls?
• Draw pictures of dragons?
• Live for the sight of horses?
• Swear that you would never want to live without a cat? (I believe that Cat is one of the most popular (and certainly one of the most accessible) power animals, closely followed by Dolphin and Wolf.)...

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Protective Blessing for Birds

Kuan Yin of beauty and of grace,
Protectress of the avian race,
Shield (name of pet) from all hurt and harm
And keep him/her always safe and warm...

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Protective Blessing for Dogs

Diana, Goddess of the Wild,
Keeper of dogs both fierce and mild,
Hold (name of pet) safely in Your arms
And protect this creature from all harm.
And should the day come that he/she roams...

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Seeing Bats

Bats are misunderstood because of the folklore dealing with vampires. However, bats are highly social creatures; they love to congregate with their family in huge numbers inside caves. They often hang upside down inside their cave (also called a roost), and only emerge at dusk to feed on insects (a common time for insects to stir). For this reason, the bat has come to symbolize rebirth because they go “inside” their cave which represents going within, and then they emerge at dusk, and this is seen as being reborn from the womb of mother Earth.

If this animal totem has appeared to you in your dreams or in waking life perhaps it is a sign that it is time for you to go within. It might be time to take some time off and go on a vacation and bring a journal with you, or even just try meditation as a way of becoming quiet and allowing your true self to speak....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been expanded and moved to my new website, Sigils Symbols and Signs, and can be found in its entirety here: Bat Symbols, Mythology and Lore

Bat Superstitions and Lore

• In a church during a wedding ceremony - bad omen
• In the house - either a death or a sign that the humans will soon be leaving
• Flying close to a person - that person will be betrayed
• Flying vertically upwards then dropping back to earth - 'The Witches Hour Has Come'
• Flying early in the evening - good weather

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Symbolism of the Full Wolf Moon

Native American wisdom marries every full moon in a month with a specific feature in Nature. These moon associations will vary depending upon the tribe we are honoring. This month, January is deemed the Wolf Moon or Cold Moon by various tribes indigenous to the Great Lakes region of North America.

It’s been a tough month for some of us. I thought it fitting to toss out some symbolic observations about the January Wolf Moon with a goal to offer inspiration to folks facing some challenges right now....

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Invocation for the Full Wolf Moon

Here is a great invocation for the Full Wolf Moon. It can be used anytime wild magick and/or freedom is requested, preferably on a full moon night.

Hecate,
Woman of the moon mist,
Immortal hunteress
Hear me cry...

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Spell to Find a Lost Pet

For this spell to find a lost cat or other small pet, you’ll need the assistance of a tree, rock, or other outdoor entity—preferably one in your yard or very near your home. Take one of your cat’s favorite toys and some cat food to the tree. Tell the tree about your pet and that you are concerned because of how long he or she has been missing. Ask the tree...

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Why Stroking Crocodiles Is Ok

I found this really fun article about witches, crocodiles, and fertility rituals on a travel site, and had to share it here. Billed as the world's most dangerous tourist attraction, the concept is that stroking a crocodile makes a person extremely fertile. Here's the article:

According to one version of the local legend, the story of the Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool involves a cunning — but good natured — witch.

One day the witch was apparently crying by a well when a stranger came along. Claiming that her children had fallen down, she asked the man to help. The man climbed down to find them, searched hard but saw no trace. ..

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Crocodile Superstitions and Lore

It was once thought that crocodiles could be created by new combinations of matter, instead of by natural birth. The ancient roman historian, Pliny said that the crocodile was the only land animal which lacked the use of its tongue. It was believed to conceive by the ear and bring forth by the mouth.

An old story from Madagascar is that crocodiles and lizards come from the same nest or den by the side of a river. When the eggs are laid and numerous little ones are crawling about, the crocodile comes out of the water and beats the ground with its tail so as to frighten the young ones. Some take to water, and others to land. The ones that go to land never grow any bigger and remain as lizards, but those in the water grow to be crocodiles....

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It's Mice Wedding Day

This ritual is linked to chasing away mice from the house and village and is observed on different days in different areas. In many places, this coincides with the Day of Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica, (October 27), or the day after the Day of the Archangel Michael (November 8th)....

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Celtic Cricket Lore

THE crickets are believed to be enchanted. People do not like to express an exact opinion about them, so they are spoken of with great mystery and awe, and no one would venture to kill them for the whole world. But they are by no means evil; on the contrary, the presence of the cricket is considered lucky...

.... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Powers That Be. It can be found here: Cricket Magick and Lore