THE BEAR:Countries as far apart as Finland, Siberia, and Japan consider the bear to be a sacred animal, an animal Master who teaches shamans. Siberian tribes always call the bear the Old Man, the Grandfather, the Chief's Son, or Crooked Tail. In the Finnish "Kalevala" this animal is referred to as the honey-eater, the fur-adorned, and the Forest Apple. As the dog of God, it was thought to be ten times as powerful as a man and twelve times more intelligent. In parts of Japan, the bear represents benevolence and wisdom; In China, strength and bravery. The Arcadians of the Mediterranian area considered themselves to be descended from bears. In Cretan myth, the two bears sacred to Artemis cared for the infant Zeus and were later changed into the constellations of Ursa Major and Minor. Young girl-priestesses in the cult of Artemis were referred to as "cub bears". The continental Celtic goddess Dea Artia of Berne was called a she-bear and was portrayed with a bear near her. Even among the Norse this creature was sacred; it belonged to Thorr, god of thunder and lightning, to Odhinn, and to Norse lunar water goddesses. The famed Norse berserkers originally followed the bear cult of Freyja; Odhinn later took over the role of the bear god. The word berserker comes from the words bear-sark, or bearskin shirt. It is quite likely that these special warriors were initiated into an exclusive Mystery cult, one that taught them how to use trance or hallucinogens to produce the bearlike strength and extreme bravery they exhibited in battle. In the Celtic myths, the bear was considered to be a lunar creature. The phrase "Son of the Bear" often appears in Irish and Welsh names. Alchemists used the bear to symbolize prime matter and the dangerous aspect of the subconscious mind. In Native American lore, the bear was chief of all animals when it came to herbal knowledge. This creature was connected with healing and the underground earth energy of roots and herbs. SuperstitionsThe Bear only breeds once every seven years.Bear cubs are born formless and licked into their shape by the mother. A sick bear will eat ants or mullein to be healed. Magickal AttributesStrength and stamina; can help you to find balance and harmony in your life.Patience, defense, revenge, wisdom, dreams, intuition, listening, introspection, death and rebirth, transformation. Seek quiet places fro answers and harmony in your life. A creature of dreams, astral travel, visionaries, mystics, and shamans. To bring balance and harmony. ChantDeep in slumber, dreams unending,Wise old bear, patient, strong, Send me dreams of transformation. Grant me intuition along With introspection of my life, Inner listening, no more strife. |
