THE CRANE:

The crane was held to be sacred in many cultures. It was called a meesenger of the gods, but also a weather prophet, as it will alight on the ground before a storm arrives. The crane symbolized the spiritual ability to enter a higher state of consciousness.
The bird was sacred to the Greeks as a creature of Apollo and an emblem of spring and light.
The sacred Crane Dance, said to have first been performed by Theseus and his fellow bull-dancers, was a symbol of the beginning of a new year.
In China, the crane had great importance. It was called the intermediary between earth and heaven, a messenger of the gods to humans, and was said to carry souls to the Western Paradise at death. It represented long life, immortality, good fortune, happiness, and vigilance.
In Japan, the crane had much the same importance and meaning.
At one time the crane was a common bird in Britain and Ireland. It was associated with the Scottish goddess Cailleach and the Irish god Manannan mac Lir; Manannan made his magick crane bag from its skin.
With its colors of red, black, and white, the crane was a lunar bird, sacred to the Triple Goddess.
To the Celts, the crane symbolized both the Sun and the Underworld. It was connected with solar, healing deities, but was also a messenger of death for Pwyll, king of the Underworld. They engraved pictures of the crane riding on the back of human-headed horses and around magick cauldrons.

Superstitions
Cranes eat sand and small stones to give them ballast to fly in winds.
You can tell a crane's age by its color.

Magickal Attributes
Intelligence, discipline, vigilance; magick; astral travel; learning and keeping secrets; reaching deeper mysteries and truths.
Learning new types of magick.
Astral traveling, especially in search of spiritual wisdom.

Chant
Like the crane, my spirit body stretches on its toes,
Reaching for spiritual wisdom in higher realms.
I dance a dance of joy and devotion to the gods.
My astral body flies to meet them.
I leap and dance with joy.
Secrets to the deeper Mysteries open before me.

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