THE DOVE or PIGEON:The ancient Romans and Greeks used the pigeon for food. Long before the Christians adopted the dove as an emblem of spirit, ancient people considered this bird a symbol of the transition from on estate of conciousness to another and the bringing of spirit down to earth. Seacred to the Great Mother, the dove represented peace, innocence, gentleness, and chastity. At the Phoenician temple at Eryx, the dove was honored and protected as a companion of the goddess Astarte. Sacred doves were raised in her temples, their image carved on coins, jewels, and stelae. The Syrian goddess Atargatis held a scepter topped with a golden dove. The ancient Egyptians used the black dove or pigeon to symbolize widowhood. In the Minoan culture, the dove belonged to the Great Mother and was often shown along with snakes. In Greek mythology, doves fed the baby Zeus when Rhea, his mother, hid him from Cronus. A dove holding an olive branch was one of the emblems of Athene in her aspect as renewer of life. Homer said that both Aphrodite and Hera could transform themselves into doves. The oldest oracle of Zeus was the Oracle at Dodona; there, a dove lived in a special oracular oak tree and was said to speak with a human voice. The seven major priestesses of Dodona were called Doves. These seven priestesses may have been physical representations of the legendary Seven Pleiades, or "doves". To the Chinese, the dove represented long life, faithfulness, and orderliness. Ancient Japanese stories say that the dove is a messenger of war and belongs to the god of war, Hachiman. However, a dove carrying a sword announces the end of a war. In the Hindu culture, Yama, the god of the dead, sometimes sent a pigeon or an owl to carry his messages instead of his two ferocious four-eyed dogs. SuperstitionsIf a dove calls repeatedly from a certain direction, you will move someplace in that direction.If a dove calls near a mine shaft, miners won't go down as they believe there will be a disaster. In Britain they say that a pillow made of pigeon feathers will prolong the life of a dying person. The dove can recover its sight if it becomes blind. Magickal AttributesCommunicating with friends and loved ones who are in spirit.Spiritual messenger between worlds. Peace,듼Ķenen��s,��ove. ChantI send you, dove, with a messgae to those in spirit.Return to me with their words in your heart. O spiritual messenger, open a door of communication That our thoughts might flow as a river of love between worlds. |