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NeoCeltic Animal Totems
I
have listed the name of the animal, then the name in Gaelic (if it is
known to me), and it's qualities.
Badger(Breach) or Bear(Arth) - Animals of strength and stamina; and due to
hibernation, guides in sleep and dreaming. It is said that Arthur was
so-named because of these qualities.
Blackbird(Druid-dhubh) - Bird of magical and otherworldly passage. Able to
impart secrets with its song, singing people into a magical sleep that would
carry them to the Otherworld. Associated with the druids, hence the
name(druid and black (if my translations are correct.)) Powerful in Welsh
systems.
Bull - Wealth,strength,stamina, power, vision. Linked symbolically to the
oak(both have the same attributes) and Mistletoe (the white berries as the
sperm or seed of the bull.)
Cat (Caoit) - Strong guardian, protector of inner powers, fierce in
confrontations. A sudden striker often with fiery attributes.
Crow (Bahb) or Raven (Bran) - Bird of omen (often ill omen), skillful, cunning,
single-minded, oracular. Associated with war-gods (who are often followed by
these birds) or most often war-goddesses
Deer (Abhach) or Stag (Sailetheach) - Guide to the sidhe realms, often leading
a hunter into them. A shape-shifter, The Fith-Fath (pronounced fee-faw) or
"deer-aspect" is a charm said to bestow the image of animals onto
people.
Compassionate, graceful, and swift.
Dog (Cu), Hound (Abach), or Wolf (Crimthann) - Pack animal, protective of its
group. Animal of the hunt and of battle, due to it's tracking, near human
instinct, and protective nature; associated with Gwyn ap Nudd, Kernunnos,
and
Cuchulain. Also St. columbia's original name was Crimthan, he changed it
because of the connotations (columba means dove.)
Eagle (Iolair) - Swiftness, keen sight, magic, renewed wisdom, explorers'
companion.
Eel (as-chu) - Wisdom and inspiration, because of the phallic shape and for
consuming salmon. Defensive and protective, also a warrior totem (the
Morrigan took the form of an eel while fighting Cuchulain.)
Hawk (Aracos) - Far reaching memory (in one story the oldest living
creature) And ancient knowledge. Strong ancestral ties. The hawk is also a
solar totem; Lugh is said to have assumed this guise.
Horse (cab-all) - Speed, stamina, power, nobility. Faithful and loyal. This
totem is linked to Rhiannon, who was forced to act as "horse" because
of
false witness to a crime she did not commit. The horse is also a royal
animal.
Otter (Balgair) - Faithful, single minded a protector, healing animal totem.
Salmon (Brionnfhionn) - THE totem of wisdom and acquiring Knowledge. The
consumer of the sacred hazelnuts of wisdom. This totem is commonplace in
Celtic myth; it is often eaten to convey its wisdom.
Swan - Symbols of love and hardships, as evident in the story of the
children of Lir.
Sow (Aire) and the boar (culloch / Bacrie), also young boar (orcc) - The sow is
said to be wise and providing, fertile and motherly. The Boar is fierce and
strong, Powerful and inspirational. To see a boar in the fields before a
harvest is a bad omen. Also healing as sidhe pigs were eaten, only to be
found whole and restored in the morning. Also, Lugh had a magical pigskin
that possessed curative and healing powers.
Crane - Guardian of watery gateways to the otherworld
by Donald Leitch