THE BULL, COW or CATTLE:

The bull Nandi was ridden by the Hindu god Shiva, while both Agni and Indra could take the form of a bull. White bulls were sacrificed to represent him as Kali's consort. To the Hindus, the bull represents strength, speed, and the reproductive powers of Nature.
In Hindu belief, the cow is particularly sacred and rarely sacrificed. The Rig-Veda firmly states that the cow is not to be killed. Since Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, is associated with milk, the Hindus say that such a drink should not be refused.
The goddesses Aditi and Prithivi are both connected with cows in their fertility aspects.
In ancient Egypt, early kings called themselves bulls. The Memphis Apis bull (known to the Egyptians as Hap) belonged to the god Ptah, but was sometimes connected with Osiris.
Several Egyptian goddesses were associated with cows: the Great Mother Hathor from whose udder came the Milky Way; Nut, the celestial Cow with stars on her belly; and Isis who sometimes wore a cow-head or horns. A single white hair on a cow disqualified it from sacrifice.
Astarte and Ishtar of the Middle East also were portrayed as cows with lunar horns.
The sky god Enki was known as the "savage bull of the sky," but the Moon god Sinn could take the form of a bull.
The Sumerian deity Dumuzi, consort of Inanna, was titled the "wild bull" and wore a beard of lapis lazuli.
The god El was believed to be consort to the goddess Asherah, who was called the sacred cow.
The people of Crete held the bull in high regard. The bull dances there (called the Taurokathapsia), so vividly portrayed in their temples, were to honor the bull and what it represented.The bull-leapers were probably the forerunners of the modern bull-fighters. In Crete, all the kings inherited the title Minos, wore bull-masks, and were considered to be spiritually tied to the bull during this special festival.
Perhaps the best known bull sacrifices were held by the followers of Mithras. Initiates were bathed in the blood of a sacrificed bull to symbolize death and resurrection. Both this ritual and the underground place where it was performed was known to the Romans and followers of Mithras as the "taurobolium".
In Greece, the goddess Hera could take the form of a cow; these animals were sacrificed to her and to Hercules. Homer called Hera "boopis", which means (cow-faced), while at Argos she was worshiped as the Goddess of the Yoke; sacred herbs were kept at her temple there.
In Greek legend, Io and Europa, who were both turned into cows to satisfy the lusts of Zeus, were said to have been of the three sacred goddess colors: white, black, and red.
Italy means "calf-land", a designation that ties it to Hera, the Great Mother, in her form as a cow.
The bull was an important symbol in Celtic mythology; it symbolized strength and potency. Certain divination rituals required that a red and white bull be sacrificed and the diviner wrap himself in the flesh hide for the night.
Scandanavian legend tells of Audhumla, the Great Cow, who licked the giants and gods into existence from the ice.
Nerthus, the Earth Mother, had sacred cows that drew her cart in a yearly journey across the land.
The Chinese viewed the cow as a lunar animal representing the earth principle.

Superstitions

The Irish believe that if hares and cows are in the same field on May Day, witches are stealing the milk. They guard their cattle against witches and the faeries by hanging rowan or mountain ash boughs over the stable door.
The Scots tar behind the cattle's ears and at the root of the tail to prevent witches from stealing the milk. In some sections of Scotland they still make bonfires of rowan and ash wood; the cattle are then driven through the smoke of these fires to protect them against the faeries.
Carry the tip of the calf's tongue in your pocket to protect you from danger and see that you always have money.
Cattle turn to the East and kneel at midnight on Christmas Eve.
If a cow lows in your face, it is a death omen. If one breaks into your garden, someone in the famliy will soon die.
If a cow carries her tail upright, rain is approaching. If she slaps it against a tree or fence, it is a sign of coming bad weather.
Cows eat buttercups to help them produce better butter.


Magickal Attributes

Knowing when to be aggressive.
Defending yourself and your family.
Being content where you are, but also being aware of what may be going on around you.
Being 듼Ķer￿￿fo��da��er.
Performing difficult work in a conscientious manner.
Bull: Earth Lord, fertility, strength.
Cow: Great Mother Goddess, love, abundance.


Chant

Bull--
Powerful bull of heaven and sky,
Mighty beast of wisdom ancient,
Bellow your warning to my enemies.
Trample the evil-doers under your hooves.
Frighten them with your tossing, sharp horns.
Shelter me in the shadow of your muscled might.
Protect me with your unlimited powers.
Cow--
Horned Isis, Great Goddess Mother,
Fountain of wisdom and deep powerful magick,
Open my mind to my own inner power.
Grant me the wisdom to use it wisely.
Let me be bold in spell-casting.
Give me a sense of responsibility
To protect the helpless and abused,
To bring to justice those who do evil.
Teach me to hear your voice and follow your will.



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