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The ancient Celts believed that it was possible to shapeshift back and forth between the human and animal realms of existence. To them the ethers and dimensions were fluidic and malleable. If one could cognize the underlying matrix and reason for being of the hare, then one could become the hare at least for as long as one could hold the focus of "hareness". Even if one did not want to experience being a particular animal, acquiring some of the attributes of the animal might be desirable such as the swiftness of the hare. The magical transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly attested to both the possibility and probability of the globally linked human being morphing into a cosmically resonant harmonic Being. All kinds of objects including household items, jewelry, religious statues and weapons were decorated with harmoniously balanced and exceedingly complex Natural World, alchemical shamanic symbolic patterns. Celtic shamanic allegory was also portrayed in artistic symbolism like the front panel of the silver gilt, Gundestrup Cauldron which depicted deity heads along with shamanic allegory animals; while, another panel showed a horned male, Nature God surrounded by totemic animals. Bear as an Animal Totem connotated being vigilant in protecting family belongings, conserving the beneficial communal kinfolk resources, and ensuing that the rights of others were upheld. Possessing great strength coupled with great endurance, Bears hibernated for months during the wintertime, making them a Power Totem for safe and productive Dreaming. Both the Cow was sacred to the Celtic mother goddess Brighid. The Cow was a source of nurturing prosperity. For the Druidic Celt, the Cow was symbolic of compassionate hospitality, generosity of spirit, receptive giving, rightful ownership, and fair entitlement.
The Hound signified devoted companionship and kind thoughtfulness, especially in regard to the deepest longings and needful wishes of the human spirit. Often linked with the restorative and regenerative aspects of the Otherworld, as a consistently faithful and supportive companion, Hound conveyed healing through loving attentiveness, trustworthy intimacy and reassuring vigilant consistency. Celtic warriors honored the fearless fierceness and powerful might of the wild Boar by decorating their armor and weapons with its visage. By using the Druidic magic of associative linkage, they hoped to courageously survive the terrors of warfare and the furies of battle with the help of ferocious focus and decisive action. One of the most complex of Animal Totems, denoting death and rebirth, depictions of the Ravens speaking to humans have been found on the walls of ancient caves. The most common characteristic of Ravens, as Power Animals over the ages, has been as prophetic, truth speaking, Otherworld messengers. Often portrayed in this guise on coins and statuary, they acted as benefactors bringing beneficial and fruitful gifts, like insightful discrimination and truthful prophecy. The pure inspirational wisdoms and the joyful magnificence of the Natural World were embodied in the Salmon Animal Totem, who acquired knowledge about everything by feeding on Rowan Berries. By partaking of the essential magic of the Salmon, the Druidic Celt gained mystical learning, magical understanding and sublime expressive abilities in the creative arts of drama, poetry, prose and song.
Animal Totems were honored
and revered because they were believed to have both magical and curative powers.
Many of the Druidic Celtic tales involved stories semi-divine humans goddesses and
gods shapeshifting into the likeness of animals and birds, including that of
Seagulls and Swans.
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