| Hekate or Artemis with dog and torches |
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| Archaic |
Animal of the Month:
Dog
The symbol of the Dog dates back to the paleolithic
and continues on throughout every culture. Dog in dreams can be exremely perplexing considering most households own
or desire a dog or have had to watch a loved one pass. Others have been attacked or fear dogs. For more understanding
about the possible symbolism of a dog dream click here.
| Karakachan Dog |
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| BBPS Semperviva |
Animal of the Month:
Dog
This page is dedicated to an animal of
the month. I try to list and give excerpts from literature dealing with the particular symbol.
With that said, I've chosen Dog this month.
This symbol is tricky and multi-layered. The dog plays an intregal part in our society. Some animals, clearly
wild, do not cohabitate with humans; dogs do. I've encountered many dreamers who've had their deceased dog visit
them in dreams. Others are chased by the hounds of hell. I will try and give as much information on this animal
as possible but finding that particular trait of the dreamed dog would be the first step.
"Dog has been considered the servant of humanity throughout history. If a person carries Dog medicine,
he or she is usually serving others or humanity in some way. Here you will find the charity worker, the philanthropist,
the nurse, the counselor, the minister, and the soldier.
"Dog was the servant-soldier that guarded the tribe's lodges from surprise attack.
Dog is a medicine that embodies the loving gentleness of best friend and the half-wild protector energy of territorial imperative.
Like Anubis, the jackal protector of Egypt, Dog is a guardian. Throughout history, Dog has been the guaridan
of hell, as well as of ancient secrets, hidden treasures, and babies-while mothers were cooking or in the fields.
Dog honors its gifts and is loyal to the trust placed in its care."
Sams and Carson
Medicine Cards
Dog Symbology
Guardian
Unconditional Love
Friend
Being hounded
Middle Eastern goddesses: Belit-ili, Astarte, Ashtoreth
Egypt: Amenti, the Great Mother and Anubis the jackel
Greek goddesses: Cybele, Artemis, and Diana (believed dogs to be psychic and carried away departing
souls, hence guardians of the afterlife); Hecate; Enodia/Artemis the divine huntress.
Celtic mother goddess Epona who rode with a dog in her lap
Minoan goddess the Mistress of Animals, forerunner to Artemis Eileithyia who was flanked by winged
dogs.
Three-headed dog Cerberus
Indian goddess: Sarama who ruled the moon with her two dogs
Also Indian Yama, god of the dead had 2 four eyed dogs
Indra had a faithful hunting dog
China: T'ien Kou the red Celestial Dog with two aspects of both yin and yang (destruction and
protection)
Quetzalcoatl, apparently entered the Land of the Dead in the form of a dog.
Associated with the Moon and Moon goddesses all over the world, to include the Mongols, Chiquitos
and Balkan peoples.
Semitic and Islamic cutlures see dog as unclean, evil, and demonic (possibly due to the association
to the goddess in almost every culture).
"Among Scythian tribes, Artemis was called the Divine Huntress and the Great Bitch. Her
priestesses were known as the Alani (hunting dogs) and sacred bitches; they hunted and sacrified the stag-gods. Son
of a bitch orinally meant a follower of the Goddess.
"In Irish mythology, the dog Dormarth was said to guard the gate of
death; mourning too loudly could make the dog attack the approaching soul. In Celtic myths, devoted hounds are often
mentioned. An example of these are Bran and Sceolan, the hounds of Finn mac Cumhail. In Wales, the Cwn Annwn (Underworld
Hounds) of Arawn, Lord of the Underworld, were always white with red ears. They ran down and punished those who broke
the laws of men and the gods. Nodens, the god of springs and healing, was able to shape-shift into a dog.
"The Moon dogs of the Norse people are very similar to the Cwn Annwn
of Wales, these dogs were connected with the goddess Hel and were said to run with Odhinn during the Wild Hunt. The
Wild Hunt, or the Ride of Death, appears in many stories all over Europe. Norse and Teutonic literature tell of Odhinn,
or the Erl King, riding with a pack of phantom hounds (great black beasts with eyes as big as saucers) during storms.
This ride was supposed to happen on New Year's Eve, storm or not. Folklore says that to hear the sounds of this hunt
was an omen of death and disaster."
Conway
Animal Magick
