animal directory

8/12/2019 Animal Directory

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ANIMAL DIRECTORY

Below is listed a few common animals (with corresponding Gaelic names). Ihave chosen a more dominant Celtic view, but the animals listed are common inmany cultures with many of the same associations. In general, insects and

amphibians are associated with transitions, alterations and transformations. .Birds, are seen as messengers between this world and the Otherworlds or evenas guides to the Otherworlds.If a certain animal appears in a dream and seems important then tae note of itand write it down in your dream !ournal or boo of some sort you use. "hisanimal is trying to symboli#e something important. One important dream I hadof an animal was with a s$uirrel. In my dream I was the s$uirrel and when Iwoe up I was actually upset to find out it was only a dream because in mydream as a s$uirrel I e%perienced such feelings of freedom, of total open andcomplete space with nothing attached. It became my familiar after that andwors with me to help me mae decisions and choices now in my life that will

grant me in the future the freedom in life I crave. &aybe this will be freedomlater in this life or maybe more freedom in my ne%t life. But, whatever it means itis the symbol of my 'reedom."he list below is a brief list, it is not to be taen literally. ust as we cannotdecipher our dreams using a boo, we cannot decipher the meanings ofanimals when they appear to us in dreams or when we are drawn to them forsome reason. "he only one who nows the correct meaning of the animalsymbols is you. "his is only a list of basic cultural, mythological and maybebasic ancestral archetypes.

**+ ,-/+, -+0+" (adredd)ssociated with reincarnation,shedding the old sin for a new one. lsoassociated with wisdom and cunning. "he snae, as a familiar with help youprepare for something new coming into your life, usually something better thenthe way it is now. common symbol for !ewelry.-hape shifting $uality1 "he snae can hide in the grass when danger is nearand strie $uicly.

B*G+ (Breach)ssociated with having the courage to face danger and fight regardless of si#eand strength of the other. "he badger as a familiar will help you to fight for your

rights.-hape shifting $uality1 the badger is small, but can still defend itself againstlarger animals by bacing itself into a hole or corner so the bac of its body isprotected.

B" (ialtag)ssociated with danness,the underworld and death. "he bat as a familiar willhelp you to avoid what you can2t see and to help you avoid obstacles.-hape shifting $uality1 "he bat only comes out at night when it nows it will besafer.

B+ (rth, 3the root name of /ing rthur)Once native, but now e%tinct in the Isles. ssociated with strength. "he bear will


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help you to 4bear4 hardships in life and to find the strength to do what you needto do.-hape shifting $uality1 It is attuned to the seasons and nows when to preparefor a winter. 5hen it is attaced it stands on its hind legs for height to intimidateit2s attacer.

B++ (Beach)ssociated with wor, especially in a group environment, and focusing on atas. "he bee as a familiar will help you focus on a tas to get the !ob done.-hape shifting $uality1 when it attacs it is for the good of all.

B6C/BI* (*ruid7dhubh, 6on *ubh)ssociated with the Otherworld, mysteries and secrets. "he blacbird as afamiliar will reveal secrets and mysteries.-hape shifting $uality1 "o sing for the pure !oy of it8 0ersonal satisfaction.

BO (Bacrie)ssociated with its mean and ferocious nature. "he Boar will help you for warand defense.-hape shifting $uality1 boar uses slyness for setting up an ambush and onceattacing will not stop until its enemy is down or gone for good.

B966 ("arbh)ssociated with strength, virility and potency. "he bull will help you when youneed strength that does not waiver.-hape shifting $uality1 bull is a protector of the herd. 5hen it feels threatenedit will sound the alarm and charge. lso, eep in mind the term, :bullheaded:when you need to remain fast and firm to a belief or an idea.

B9""+'6; (*earbadan


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familiar will help you find peace within.-hape shifting $uality1 6oving, tolerant $ualities.

C+ssociated with the moon, magic and secrets. gain, as with the blacbird, the

crane as a familiar will help you find secrets and reveal mysteries.-hape shifting $uality1 *ignity

CO5 (Badb)ssociated with death, war and destruction. s a familiar the crow will help youto learn from the past to give you nowledge for today. It will also help you whenyou need a bit of cunning and tricery.-hape shifting $uality1 Cunning, watchful of others and noisy when there isdanger to its territory.

*++ (bhach)

ssociated with swiftness and gentleness. It was seen as being a messenger orguiding humans into contact with Otherworld beings. Celtic shamans used theantlers as part of their headdress. "he deer will help you solve your problemswith a non threatening manner or force.-hape shifting $uality1 Because they are shy and 4flighty: deer are alert todanger and ready and swift.

*OG (&adadh)ssociated with devotion,companionship and silled tracing. "he dog as afamiliar will be your constant guide and help you trac or scent your way out ofa problem or find a solution to one.-hape shifting $uality1 dog or hound has een senses.

*O60=I (n leumadair)ssociated with the sea,the emotions and dreams. "he dolphin will help youbecome balanced with nature and in tune with your emotions. Can be used fordream magic.-hape shifting $uality1 Intelligence and communication. -ocially conceived 4ewge4 $ualities of dolphins may be used here.

*GO (0iastras or =orm)

ssociated with wealth, the elements of the inner earth and treasure. "hedragon as a familiar will help you find the 4treasure4 within you subconsciousmind. t times you must slay your 4inner dragons4 and fight your fear to find thetruth, the power the wealth hidden away within the caves of your inner mind.-hape shifting $uality1 creature that lies to be alone. It values $uality andtherefore gathers riches both spiritually and materially and hordes them awaysafely in its cave.

+G6+ (Iolair)In Celtic stories the eagle is represented as a bird of wisdom. n eagle iscommonly used in orth merican shamanism for this same reason.

ssociated with hidden spiritual nowledge. "he eagle as a familiar will helpgive you een insight in your search for spiritual nowledge.


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-hape shifting $uality1 n eagle has een sight and when it sees what it wantswill attac $uicly.

++6 (s


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stamina for long !ourneys.

6I?* (rc (Cat@)ssociated with divination and hidden nowledge. 9se a lyn% when you want toloo deeper within yourself or need help with divination.-hape shifting $uality1 =as the same $ualities as a cat

&G0I+ (0ioghaid)ssociated with death. &agpies are useful for help with prophecies and omens.

-hape shifting $uality1 =as a sharp eye for shiny ob!ects.

&O9-+ (6uch)ssociated with shyness,cunning,hiding and secrets. 9seful when you needhelp with small details that you may not be aware of, maybe in businessdealings or people you are not sure of.-hape shifting $uality1 -ilence, slyness and swiftness. +%cellent for Invisibility.

O""+ (Balgair)ssociated with protection and recovering from a crisis. 9seful when you needto learn how to en!oy life, instead of !ust living day by day.-hape shifting $uality1 Curiosity, playfulness and friendliness.

O56 (Cailleach)ssociated with the Crone aspect of triple Goddess. It is seen as a guidethrough the 9nderworld. 9seful as a familiar when we need help seeing in the4dar4, when we need een sight for seeing those who may deceive us.-hape shifting $uality1 n owl is always alert and aware of its surroundingsgiving the appearance of wisdom.

0IG (&uc)

ssociated with gifts and gift giving. 0igs were often given as gifts duringancient Celtic times because it was seen as a source of magical food of the"uatha *e *anann. &erlin in many writings of him was said to have conversedwith a pig while seeing visions.-hape shifting $uality1 Concerned only with eating and sleeping, selfgratification.

" ('rancach)ats are not favorable in many cultures, but they are useful when at times youneed to be cunning, sly and aggressive about a situation.-hape shifting $uality1 9sed for invisibility. It sly,silent and $uic.

A+ (Bran)


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n important bird to the Celts. Often associated and accompanied by manyGods and Goddesses. ssociated with life and death and lifes2 crisis. "his birdis to be used with caution because it2s reputation is dubious. It is useful forprophecies and oracles.-hape shifting $uality1 Intelligent. *ar, *eath,-ilent. *oes not lie to be

disturbed, but when it is , it will be noisy.

-6&O (Brionnfhionn)ssociated with nowledge. 9se the salmon when you need to gain ancestralnowledge for practical use.-hape shifting $uality1 ever gives up. It nows where it has to go and wontgive up until it gets there.

-+G966 ('aoilean)ssociated with Gods and Goddesses. "hese birds lie most birds are used asmessengers between worlds.

-hape shifting $uality1 bird that threatens and can be a nuisance.

-O5 (irc)ssociated with the Goddess Cerridwen and her sacred Cauldron. It is apowerful creature, associated with death and rebirth. 9seful when you needinspiration for changes in life.-hape shifting $uality1 9npredictable. sow can attac without warning or evenill its own piglets.

-9I+6-ymbolic of future preparations. 9seful when you need to plan ahead andprepare for what is coming up.-hape shifting $uality1 6ie the bear it is in tune with the seasons. It evadescapture by living high in a tree.

-"G (-ailetheach)-ame as the description for *eer.

-5 (+ala)ssociated with music,songs,dreams,spiritual evolution. Often used in fairytalesand mythological stories. "he feathers of a swan were often used for a Celtic

shamans cloa. -wans are useful when you need help with artistic inspirationand dream interpretation.-hape shifting $uality1 -tately,dignified and mystical

"9"6+ (Calman)-ymbolic with protection and slowness. It is useful when you need to remain intouch with the earth energies, grounding and taing care of the body, for oncetaing things slowly and getting bac in touch with yourself. 9seful when healingfrom physical hurts or mental e%haustion.-hape shifting $uality1 lways has protection. 5hen threatened it will 4withdraw4

9ICO (on


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legs and a lions tale and of course one magical horn. unicorn is helpful torecogni#e the relationship between the physical and the spiritual realities. It isviewed as creation itself. "he horn is often symbolic as a phallic symbol and theunicorn was often portrayed with virginal paintings and maidens and the se%ualact itself. "he horn itself became a ey ingredient in the art of alchemy during

the middle ages.-hape shifting $uality1 9se a 9nicorn as a lin between the spiritual realms.

5O6'(&adadh

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