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Animals and Witchcraft

(The Witches Familiar)

The Phoenix

O sacred Fire Bird, to the Sun take flight,

Bringing purity, hope, and renewal of Light.

I look to thee, O mystical glorious bird,

For renewal and rebirth, I've been told and heard

That of these and more, you will take my hand

And teach me well the secrets of this land.

So let me fly with you in eternal splendored grace,

With fiery courage I take my rightful place,

And rise from the ashes to reveal my true face.

 

Original Art and Poem © Patricia J. Martin

The Phoenix, known as Benu (or Bennu) to the ancient Egyptians, as the Feng-Huang to the Chinese, Zhar-Ptitsa to the Russians, and at times as the Thunderbird by Native Americans, is an ancient mythical bird known for its ability to be reborn from it's own ashes; thus becoming a symbol for resurrection.

When Phoenix comes to you as a Totem, it is likely that you, too, are ready for a significant change - be it a renewal, a fresh perspective, or even a life-changing transformation. Symbolizing immortality, reincarnation and eternal light, the Phoenix brings with it a desire for change - a desire to reach for the stars. And since it is believed that there is only one of its kind in the world, you can expect that whatever you find yourself reaching for will also be quite unique. In working with this Totem, you may find yourself suddenly switching gears, trying on the wrappings of a new lifestyle or relationship, or totally changing a current mindset or pathway. Unparalleled and exceptional prospects will unfold and fortuitous events will begin to manifest, as Phoenix assists you with these changes. 

Over the centuries, the image of the Phoenix has been widely used in art. Its legend began in Arabia where it is known as the King of Birds, and it is usually depicted as an enormous but graceful bird with a head resembling that of an eagle, a body resembling that of a pheasant, and tail plumage resembling that of a peacock. The word "Phoenix" derives from the Greek word "phoinix" meaning "purple-red" and refers to the bird's brilliant feather coloring of iridescent purple, crimson, gold and a touch of blue. This magnificent totem will also color one's life in vibrant hues. Things will seem crisper, clearer, and fresher in the new dawning light. You will also become more keenly aware of the cycles of life. The moon's phases will hold added meaning, the rising of the sun will bring more vivid inspirations, and the changing of the seasons will offer brilliant insights.

In legend, the Phoenix was known to sing each morning only for the Sun God. In return, the Sun God took a shine to this glorious bird and blessed it with eternal life. The Phoenix is said to live for 500 years (some say 1,000 or more), where after it flies westward gathering various aromatic woods and spices - usually myrrh, cinnamon, cassia and spikenard. Upon returning home, it builds a new nest with these pungent and fragrant plants in the tallest of palm trees. Here the bird sits and sings its most beautiful song. So beautiful is the sound, that it makes the Sun stop in its track and its rays shine with such brilliance and heat that the spices are ignited, setting the nest aflame, wherein the Phoenix dies within its own funeral pyre. Nine days later, a young Phoenix rises from the ashes, reborn, and once again begins singing its praises to the Sun. The Egyptians tell of the fledgling then flying the ashes, which have been embalmed in an egg made of myrrh, to Heliopolis where he places them on the altar in the Sun Temple. 

Phoenix Totem may prompt you to go on your own quest. And though it may be one that promotes some sort of personal sacrifice, it invariably will lead to fortunate and beneficent change...for just as the bird is said to subsist merely on dew (some say air), so may you have to temporarily forego your usual fare in order to gain what treasure awaits you. The Phoenix is the ultimate totem for bestowing the wisdom of life, death and rebirth, but what it most strongly portends is hope and freedom from depression and despair. Phoenix people are always optimistic. Because of its beauty and tales of its relationship with the Sun, the Phoenix is associated with Apollo (a.k.a. Phoebus Apollo) and many other versions of the Sun God. It has been called "the soul of Ra" and "the heart of the renewed Sun." Through the teachings of this most exquisite bird come the gifts of cleansing Fire and uplifting Air.

So sing for the return of the Sun! And as His smile once again shines down upon you in gratitude for your song, know that you are as eternal as the Phoenix.

The bird proudly willing to burn,
So that he may live again,
Chooses the flames of fires
That burn the aged Phoenix
The nature stands still
Till a new young bird starts again,
and begins the legend of the Phoenix.

Claudian (Claudius Claudianus, Roman author), c.370-c.404

 

 Sources:

Magickal, Mystical Creatures, D. J. Conway

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/8952/phclassic.html

http://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~animals~FirebirdPhoenix.html

Phoenix, himself

 

© Patricia J. Martin, November 22, 2008

Pari lives on the East Coast of America and is a Shamanic Witch.

http://www.peacefulpaths.com

 

Best wishes and Blessed Be

 

Site Contents - Links to all Pages

 

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A Universal Message:

 

Let there be peace in the world  -   Where have all the flowers gone?

 

About me:

 

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Wicca & Witchcraft

 

Wicca/Witchcraft /  What is WiccaWhat is Magick

 

 

Traditional Writings:

 

 Wiccan RedeCharge of the GoddessCharge of the God  /  The Three-Fold Law (includes The Law of Power and The Four Powers of the Magus) /  The Witches ChantThe Witches CreedDescent of the GoddessDrawing Down the MoonThe Great Rite InvocationInvocation of the Horned GodThe 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief /  The Witches Rede of ChivalryA Pledge to Pagan Spirituality

 

Correspondence Tables:

 

IncenseCandlesColoursMagickal DaysStones and GemsElements and Elementals

 

Traditions:

 

Traditions Part 1  -  Alexandrian Wicca /  Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) /  Ár Ndraíocht Féin (ADF) /  Blue Star Wicca /  British Traditional (Druidic Witchcraft) /  Celtic Wicca /  Ceremonial Magic /  Chaos Magic /  Church and School of Wicca /  Circle Sanctuary /  Covenant of the Goddess (COG) /  Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) /  Cyber Wicca /  Dianic Wicca /  Eclectic Wicca /  Feri Wicca /

 

Traditions Part 2 Gardnerian Wicca /  Georgian Tradition /  Henge of Keltria /  Hereditary Witchcraft /  Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) /  Kitchen Witch (Hedge Witch) /  Minoan Brotherhood and Minoan Sisterhood Tradition /  Nordic Paganism /  Pagan Federation /  Pectic-Wita /  Seax-Wica /  Shamanism /  Solitary /  Strega /  Sylvan Tradition /  Vodoun or Voodoo /  Witches League of Public Awareness (WLPA) /

 

Other things of interest:

 

Gods and Goddesses (Greek Mythology)Esbats & Full MoonsLinks to Personal Friends & ResourcesWicca/Witchcraft ResourcesWhat's a spell?Circle Casting and Sacred Space /  Pentagram - PentacleMarks of a WitchThe Witches PowerThe Witches HatAn esoteric guide to visiting LondonSatanismPow-wowThe Unitarian Universalist Association /  Numerology:  Part 1  /  Part 2 Part 3A history of the Malleus Maleficarum:  includes:  Pope Innocent VIII  /  The papal Bull  /   The Malleus Maleficarum  /  An extract from the Malleus Maleficarum  /  The letter of approbation  /  Johann Nider’s Formicarius  /  Jacob Sprenger  /  Heinrich Kramer  /  Stefano Infessura  /  Montague Summers  /  The Waldenses  /  The Albigenses  /  The Hussites /  The Sun DanceShielding (Occult and Psychic Protection) /  The History of ThanksgivingI have a Dream, the 1963 speach by civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King /  Auras by Graham Furnell - Part 1 and Part 2 /

 

Sabbats and Rituals:

 

Sabbats in History and Mythology /  Samhain (October 31st)  /  Yule (December 21st)  /  Imbolc (February 2nd)  /  Ostara (March 21st)  /  Beltane (April 30th)  /  Litha (June 21st)  /  Lughnasadh (August 1st)  /  Mabon (September 21st)

 

Rituals contributed by Crone:  Samhain / YuleImbolcOstara /  BeltaneLithaLammasMabon

 

Tools:

 

Tools of a Witch  /  The Besom (Broom) /  Poppets and DollsPendulums / Cauldron MagickMirror Gazing

 

Animals:

 

Animals in Witchcraft (The Witches Familiar) /  AntelopeBatsCrowFoxFrog and ToadsGoat / HoneybeeKangarooLionOwlPhoenixRabbits and HaresRavenRobin RedbreastSheep SpiderSquirrelSwansWild Boar /  Wolf /  Serpent /  Pig /  Stag /  Horse /  Mouse /  Cat

 

Trees:

 

In Worship of Trees - Myths, Lore and the Celtic Tree Calendar.  For descriptions and correspondences of the thirteen sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft see the following:  Birch /  Rowan / Ash /  Alder /  Willow /  Hawthorn /  Oak /  Holly /  Hazel /  Vine /  Ivy /  Reed /  ElderAlso see:  The Willow Tree (Folk Music)

 

Sacred Sites:

 

Mystical Sacred Sites  -  Stonehenge /  Glastonbury Tor /  Malta - The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni /  Avebury /  Cerne Abbas - The Chalk Giant /  Ireland - Newgrange /

 

Rocks and Stones:

 

Stones - History, Myths and Lore

 

 Articles contributed by Patricia Jean Martin:   / Apophyllite  / Amber AmethystAquamarineAragoniteAventurineBlack TourmalineBloodstoneCalciteCarnelianCelestiteCitrineChrysanthemum StoneDiamond  /  Emerald / FluoriteGarnet /  Hematite Herkimer DiamondLabradoriteLapis LazuliMalachiteMoonstoneObsidianOpalPyriteQuartz (Rock Crystal)Rose QuartzRubySeleniteSeraphinite  /  Silver and GoldSmoky QuartzSodaliteSunstoneThundereggTree AgateZebra Marble

 

Wisdom:

 

Knowledge vs Wisdom by Ardriana Cahill I Talk to the TreesAwakeningThe Witch in YouA Tale of the Woods

 

Articles and Stories about Witchcraft:

 

Murder by WitchcraftThe Fairy Witch of ClonmelA Battleship, U-boat, and a WitchThe Troll-Tear (A story for Children)Goody Hawkins - The Wise Goodwife /  The Story of Jack-O-LanternThe Murder of the Hammersmith Ghost Josephine Gray (The Infamous Black Widow) /  The Two Brothers - Light and Dark

 

Old Masters of Academia:

 

Pliny the ElderHesiodPythagoras

 

Biographies

 

Witches, Pagans and other associated People

(Ancient, Past and Present)

 

Remembered at Samhain

(Departed Pagan Pioneers, Founders, Elders and Others)

 

Abramelin the MageAgrippaAidan A. KellyAlbertus Magnus “Albert the Great”Aleister Crowley “The Great Beast” Alex Sanders "the King of the Witches” Alison HarlowAmber KAnna Franklin /  Anodea JudithAnton Szandor LaVey  / Arnold CrowtherArthur Edward Waite Austin Osman SpareBiddy EarlyBridget ClearyCarl Llewellyn WeschckeCecil Hugh WilliamsonCharles Godfrey LelandCharles Walton /  Christina Oakley Harrington /  Damh the Bard (Dave Smith) /   Dion FortuneDolores Aschroft-NowickiDorothy MorrisonDoreen ValienteEdward FitchEleanor Ray Bone “Matriarch of British Witchcraft” /  Dr. John Dee and Edward KellyDr. Leo Louis Martello /  Eliphas LeviErnest Thompson Seton /  Ernest Westlake and the Order of Woodcraft Chivalry /  Fiona Horne /  Friedrich von SpeeFrancis Barrett /  Gerald B. GardnerGavin and Yvonne Frost and the School and Church of Wicca /  Gwydion PendderwenHans Holzer /  Helen DuncanHerman Slater "Horrible Herman" /  Israel RegardieJames "Cunning" MurrellJanet Farrar & Gavin BoneJessie Wicker Bell “Lady Sheba” / John Belham-Payne John George Hohman /  John GerardJohn Gordon Hargrave (the White Fox) /  John Michael Greer /  John ScoreJohannes Junius the Burgomaster of Bamberg /  Joseph John Campbell /  Karl von EckartshausenLaurie Cabot "the Official Witch of Salem" /  Lewis Spence /  Margaret Alice MurrayMargot AdlerMarie Laveau the " Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" /  Marion WeinsteinMatthew Hopkins “The Witch-Finder General”Max Ehrmann and the Desiderata /  Monique Wilson the “Queen of the WitchesMontague SummersNicholas CulpeperNicholas RemyM. R. SellersMrs. Grieve "A Modern Herbal" /  Oberon and Morning Glory Zell-RavenheartOld Dorothy ClutterbuckOld George Pickingill /   Paddy SladePamela Colman-SmithParacelsusPatricia CrowtherPatricia Monaghan /  Patricia “Trish” TelescoPhilip Emmons Isaac Bonewits Philip HeseltonRaymond BucklandReginald ScotRobert CochraneRobert ‘von Ranke’ Graves and "The White Goddess" /  Rudolf Steiner /  Rosaleen Norton “The Witch of Kings Cross” /  Ross Nichols and The Order of Bards, Ovates & DruidsSabrina - The Ink WitchScott CunninghamSelena FoxSilver Ravenwolf /  Sir Francis DashwoodSir James George FrazerS.L. MacGregor Mathers and the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” /  StarhawkStewart FarrarSybil LeekTed AndrewsThe Mather Family - includes: Richard Mather, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather /  Thomas AdyVera Chapman /  Victor Henry AndersonVivianne CrowleyWalter Brown GibsonWilliam Butler YeatsZsuzsanna Budapest

 

 

Many of the above biographies are brief and far from complete.  If you know about any of these individuals and can help with aditional information, please cantact me privately at my email address below.  Many thanks for reading  :-)

 

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