THE SWAN:To the Greeks, the swan was the bird of Apollo. According to a Greek legend, the swan sings a melody of haunting beauty just before its death, thus connecting it with Apollo, god of music. The swan was also an emblem of the Muses and Aphrodite. They were said to pull the chariot of Venus through the air. Zeus took swan-form to satisfy his lust with Leto and Helen. The Greek love goddess Aphrodite had three bird familiars: the dove, swan, and goose. Hindu deities often interchangeed the goose and the swan, which represented breath and spirit. The swan was a mount for the goddess Sarasvati and sometimes Brahma. The heavenly nymphs, called the apsaras, were often portrayed as swans. The goddess Devi rides a swan that wears a necklace. Several Celtic folk legends tell of the mystical sacred swan. Its feathers were used in ritual cloaks by the Bards since swans are connected with music and song. Norse legend speaks of a shape-shifting people as one form which the Valkyries could take; they were called swan maidens. As an alchemical symbol, the swan stood for mercury. SuperstitionsSome cultures still believe that the swan sings at its death.It is said the swan can't hatch its eggs except in a thuderstorm. In Scotland, if three swans fly together, it means a national disaster. Magickal AttributesAid with the interpretation of dream symbols; transitions; spiritual evolution.Developing intuitive abilities; seeing into the future. If a swan is seen in meditation, pay close attention to hunches and omens. Divination on a spiritual level. ChantWhite bird of graceful beauty,Lift my thoughts to spiritual things. Let me not be confined by physical matters, But aware that spiritual outcomes guide me. I seek higher knowledge. Show me the way. |