THE RAM or SHEEP:Sheep as a whole are considered to represent placid stupidity, unthinking conformity, and timidness. The Ram, however, represented virility, fertility, and sexual prowess. The Moon was often called a shepherd, his flocks the constellations. Sheep in general have been sacrificed to many deities; rams were particularly sacrificed to phallic deities. The Greeks and Romans sacrificed them to Zeus, Hera, Mars, Silvanus, Terminus, and Cyprian Aphrodite. They are evil to the Hindus but sacred to the Muslims. Shepherds in China have a god of sheep, Huang Ch'u-Ping, who can give them large flocks. The ram on the other hand, has been a symbol of virility and procreative force. The Phoenician god Ba'al-Hammon wore rams' horns. In Egypt the sacred ram of Mendes was believedto embody the essences of Ra, Osiris, Khepera, and Shu. Amen-Ra was called a ram, and Khnemu was ram-headed. In Greece, the ram was sacred to Zeus/Sabazius, the fertility god, and Dionysus, the generator of life force. In ancient Crete, Anatolia, and the Aegean, rams having wings or three horns were often portrayed on seals and wall engravings. It is the main sacrificial animal in the Islam culture, and in India it represents the sacred fire of Agni. To the Celts, the ram was of chthonic power and connected with the Otherworlds. The Norse god Heimdall's name meant "ram"; he was in charge of a special horn that he would blow at the end of the world. SuperstitionsThe term "black sheep of the family" has come to mean a person who is different or troublesome and goes their own way.To many shepherds, a black sheep or lamb in the flock is a good luck sign. In many areas in England, it is believed that of you take a certain small bone from the head of a sheep and carry it you will have good luck. In Scotland, sheep are driven under rowan hoops at Halloween and Beltane to keep away the faeries. Sheep bow three times to the East on Christmas morning. Some shepherds are still buried with a tuft of wool in their coffins. This is so they can be excused from attending Judgement Day and not have to leave their flocks. Magickal AttributesBeing able to keep your balance in precarious or dangerous situations.Being confident of your abilities. Ram: fertility, courage to remain in balance in an unstable situation. Ewe: abundance, pregnancy, new beginnings. ChantRam--Great horned ram, filled with life force, Teach me to be a "black sheep," Going my own way, following my inner path, Not walkingin a rut made by the narrow-minded. Help me to balance harmoniously in unstable places, Keeping my freedom to be me. Ewe-- Little lambs are new beginnings. Let my life be full of new beginnings. Little lambs leap for joy of life. Let my life be rich with spontaneous joy. Little lambs believe wholly in the love and protection of their mother anf father. Teach me to believe in the love and protection of the Great Mother and Father. |