Jackalope: Barbed Humor

One of the symbols of the American West, the jackrabbit lives in open areas such as grasslands and deserts. With his strange ears, this hare is one of the animals of the American West that people will often remember.  The biggest, fastest, and flashiest of this Family of Hares is the antelope jackrabbit, who can outrun run everything except the antelope (i.e. pronghorn).

The antelope jackrabbit is the source of jackalope (horned rabbit) legends. One joke that Westerners play on new people is to tell them about the jackalope (a large jackrabbit with deer horns). This legendary animal is often seen by people who have had too much to drink.

One of those fabled creatures of North America, the jackalope remains elusive, always roaming the prairies during storms. The vast wilderness and the wild unknown provided the impetus for these stories of fantastic animals lurking about just beyond civilization. Even now, it is possible that a person could encounter one in a remote desolate landscape.

Legend has it that John Colter was the first white man to encounter a jackalope in what would be Wyoming. Years later, cowboys reported seeing them during lighting storms on the prairies. At night, they could hear the jackalopes echoing their singing to their cattle. Many cowboys would attest to this mythic animal having a tenor voice.

The jackalope is believed to be a cross between an extinct species of pygmy deer and a killer rabbit. The Douglas Jackalope is the most well-known, with Douglas, Wyoming proclaiming itself the “Jackalope Capital of the World.” Besides, the Douglas “species,” there is also the Alkali Area Jackalope of the western U.S. The Jack-pine Jackalope of Minnesota and Wisconsin predates the others. According to folklorist Richard Dorson said that this particular jackalope can be found along the shores of Lake Superior.

Known as “warrior rabbits,” jackalopes are vicious when attacked. They will slash at their targets with their sharp antlers. Hunters are cautioned to wear stovepipes on their legs to keep from being hooked. Even then, few hunters survive an encounter and live to talk about it.

The jackalope may look like a figure of fun, but he is dangerous. Cowboys knew better than to hunt one whenever they heard a jackalope mimicking their songs. The jackalope appears in thundering nights, fierce and ready to kill. Never assume that something which looks cute is harmless.

Like many other mythic animals of America, the jackalope has a hidden vicious side under the humorous one. The hidden barb that lurks below the surface is the jackalope. This mythical animal teaches that humor can hurt as much as being slashed by razor-sharp horns.

The Loch Ness Monster: The “Unknown Unknowables”

Stories about monsters lurking in deep lakes abound worldwide. Noted cryptozoologists (Note 1) Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe have collected these stories and analyzed them. They believe that the 1933 sighting of the Loch Ness Monster (Note 2) ignited the public’s interest in Lake Monsters. Now sightings of these beasts are reported regularly worldwide. Meanwhile, “Nessie,” as the Loch Ness Monster is now known as, has entered popular culture as an endearing character.

Loch Ness is a tectonic lake that lies on the Great Glen Fault Line. Long and narrow, it was gouged deep by receding glaciers. This area is seismically active, which makes searching for any Lake Monster difficult. Add to this difficulty is the deepness of the lake that hinders extensive searches.
The Loch Ness Monster has been long known to the area’s inhabitants. The early Picts had carvings of a strange beast with a long snout and flippers. They told the invading Romans in the First Century CE that this animal was ancient.

The first written account of the Loch Ness Monster comes from the 700CE medieval chronicle of St. Columbia’s life. The history tells of St. Columbia’s efforts to convert the Scots. This Irish monk waded into Loch Ness and changed Nessie from being a man killer to a “shy beastie.” This explains why the Loch Ness Monster is rarely seen by people.

In 1933, the Spicers were driving along the lake when they encountered a strange animal. This long-necked beast waddled from the bushes, across the road, and slid into the loch. Then in 1934, Arthur Grant nearly crashed into the Loch Ness Monster with his motorcycle. Grant said that the animal looked like a cross between a seal and a Plesiosaurus. These reports made “Nessie” famous. In fact, her name (and the assumption the Lake Monster was a female) were immediately coined by the press.

Based on witness testimony and other evidence, Coleman and Huyghe say that Nessie is real. From similar reports of a nearby Lake Monster in Scotland – Maggie of Loch Morar, Nessie is a Waterhorse. In their collection of stories about Lake Monsters in Scotland, the cryptozoologists say that the majority are Waterhorses. They describe the Waterhorse to be an animal with an elongated body and neck with two sets of flippers. At close range, people have also reported a hairy body and a mane. Moreover, the two cryptozoologists noted that the folklore of the North Sea area abounded in descriptions of the Waterhorse.

Although Nessie may look like a Plesiosaurus, an ancient marine reptile, She is probably a mammal since the hair is key. Nessie could be a Zeuglodon, a genus of long, serpent-like fossil whales. The other choice is a long-necked pinniped from the Pliocene, known as the Acrophoca longirostris.

Whatever Nessie is, She has enthralled and frightened humans for more than a millennia. Nessie is an extraordinary enigma who lives just beyond human ken. She reminds humans that there will always be “unknown unknowables.”

Notes:
Note 1: Cryptozoology is the study of unknown or hidden animals.
Note 2: The “manual of style” adopted by the International Society of Cryptozoology calls for capitalized forms for “Lake Monster,” “Loch Ness Monster,” and “Waterhorse.”

Teachings of the Phoenix

Copyright: Maryann Sterling

The only one of her kind, Phoenix lives in isolation. Greeting the dawn, She spreads her shimmering wings, and sings beautiful songs in praise of the Sun. When her feathers become drab, Phoenix gathers up herbs, and flies to a wild desert place. There She builds her pyre, and waits for the Sun to ignite it. Once engulfed with flames, Phoenix dies only to be reborn, three days later.

Invocation
“Ancient Phoenix, renewed by fire,
Beloved of the Sun sing sweetly to me.
Grant to me, your gift of a New Beginning.”

To contact the Phoenix, who lives beyond, first ask the Golden Eagle to help you.

Voice of Golden Eagle:
 
“Come with me to the Sun. As we fly higher and higher, feel the fire in your body. Touch the searing flames without harm. Smell the sweet herbs – sandalwood mixed with frankincense. Hear the mystical song without words. Watch the Phoenix greeting the Sun from the tallest tree of the highest mountain in the Land of the Dawn.”

“Dear Phoenix, we are here to accompany you into the Dark Night.”

The Phoenix sings to you.
 
“Come, greet the Dawn with me. Bathe in the Spring of Life. Drink the Dew of Generosity. Eat the Dates of Sweetness. Share this glorious day with me!”

“Come Dusk, I will build my funeral pyre. As the setting sun strikes my tree, the flames will rise up to consume us both. Ashes we will be, dead, waiting to be reborn.”

Comes the Night -- the unending darkness, the infinite blackness, the unrelenting bleakness. Nothingness are we, waiting, waiting. Oh, how we long for Daybreak.”

“Look the Bright Sun comes! Behold the Glorious Light bathing all with its golden hues! Embrace the Light! Let the Cycle of the Cosmos renew itself in you. Become life, death, and rebirth.
“Be reborn! Sing songs of gratitude to the New Dawn! Embrace the Rainbow! Become the Prism of the Universe. ”

“Now reborn, it is time for you to return home. Golden Eagle will take you back to the Spiral Tree. When you are again facing the long, cold night, call upon Golden Eagle. She will bring you back to the Land of the Dawn. Back to me -- back to our cycle of renewal.”

The Dragon Quest

Going on a quest to find a dragon partner requires intense preparation. Dragons, by nature, have little tolerance for silly people. Moreover, some dragons wish to do humans serious harm. In doing the quest, a person needs to be courageous and wary. Only by intently studying dragons beforehand, can a person find those who are friendly to people.

Be patient, since dragons take their time deciding when to make first contact. Dragons choose mature well-disciplined people to work with. Respect those dragons who simply do not wish to speak to anybody. Be self-controlled, since many dragons are reluctant to mingle with people. Dragons have sensitive temperaments, and will remember any disrespect.

Formal in their conduct with others, dragons prefer only associating with persons who know their manners. If a human shows deference and civility, a dragon may acknowledge her. Most dragons prefer that a seeker take his time and not rush into things. Above all, dragons will remember promises that people make to them but cannot keep.

When dealing with dragons, always prepare for your meeting. As spiritual beings, dragons respond best to ceremony and ritual. Therefore, seek them through that discipline. Always ground beforehand, since dragon energy is quite potent. Work within a ritual because it provides a meeting place with boundaries. Do the ritual according to your tradition, and the dragons will appreciate your work. They dislike an ad hoc, messy ritual, and will show their displeasure. The best times to hold a rite for meeting dragons are at dawn and dusk, on cloudy moonlit nights, and foggy days.

Since dragons are reserved, they act in a courtly manner towards others. Remember to do the ritual as simply and as correctly as possible. Think of it as having “high tea” with the Queen. Focus on the awareness of the dragon, and wait for them to speak. Converse with them, and quietly listen to their wisdom. When the dragon is finished, thank them for their time, and ask permission to end the rite.

Remember the following when involved with dragons. Use self-control and self-discipline. Work within the set of magickal laws of your tradition. Be aware of the energies surrounding the dragon. Cultivate cooperation and companionship with the dragon within the ritual setting. Remember your manners.

Only after formal introductions, can a human ask if the dragon will protect her. If the dragon accepts, the person will feel the dragon touching her. Afterwards, the two will move in harmony with each other. The dragon’s energy and essence will come alive in in the person. To align with the dragon’s energy takes restraint and composure. Only after the human and dragon form a long lasting friendship, can she be one with the Dragon.

Do not go on a dragon quest, if you are not serious. This takes intense work and energy. Moreover if your reasons for the quest are less than honorable, the dragon will know. An angry dragon is something that no human wants to deal with.

Dragons of the Fields: Guardians of the Dancing Light

I first became aware of Field Dragons from reading about “fire-lizards” in Anne McCaffrey’s books about Pern. They enjoyed being around humans and were rather noisy. After reading about “guardian dragons” in D.J. Conway’s books, I realized that McCaffrey’s “fire-lizards” were Conway’s dragons. And They were the same dragons who liked to play hide-n-seek among the wildflowers.

As I wrote in my blog post about dragon families, I encountered the Dragons of the Fields while on my wildflower walks. (These dragons can also be found frolicking in gardens and orchards.) Sometimes, an odd butterfly will suddenly flit by you. At other times, you glimpse something colorful out of your eye. And on waning summer afternoons, you may hear singing in the waving grass. These are the Dragons of the Fields at play.

Field Dragons are usually brightly colored like the flowers They play in. The ones who are colored golden brown enjoy bouncing on squirrel tail grass. Dancing in the sunlight, Field Dragons like to sing along with the cicadas. They enjoy having a good time.

Because Field Dragons are friendly to humans, They will adopt a kind family. Field Dragons do enjoy gamboling about with children and pets. However if any family member acts uncivilly towards anyone, these dragons will leave. Field Dragons only stay where everyone is welcomed and appreciated.

To entice Field Dragons to adopt your family, make your home and garden, a welcoming place. Since I do not have a garden, I put out pretty stones for Them to play with on my window sills. (Field Dragons especially like moss agate) Also, you can place pictures and little statues of dragons around your house. But remember the family needs to be considerate of each other for these dragons to come.

People who have gardens in North America could plant daises, tulips or squirrel tail grass. For other areas, these Dragons like brightly colored flowers that wave in the breeze. Fruit trees and berry bushes entice Field Dragons to come and feast on the fruit. If you leave out food for the birds, they will tell the Dragons to come by for a visit.

As with all Dragons, Field Dragons expect courtesy from humans. Do not speak or stare at Them. Let the Field Dragons decide how They wish to interact with you. The ones who I meet on my walks simply like to play hide n’ seek.

The Dragons of the Fields are the Guardians of the Dancing Light. Their wisdom is to delight in small things and live in wonder. These Dragons encourage people to embrace the rainbow and know joy.

Dragons of the Cosmos: Timeless Chaos

Dragons of the Cosmos are a part of the fabric of the Universe. According to many myths, these Dragons have either created the world or plotted to destroy it. They have an intense unbounded energy to accomplish their aims. Because of the danger They pose, these dragons are best to be avoided. Moreover, Cosmos Dragons only have relations with the Gods, and usually ignore humans.

The Great Mother Dragon, Tiamat of Babylon (pictured above) is one of the best known of the Cosmos Dragons. As the Creator, She formed the first Heaven and Earth with Her Body. Tiamat is also called the Lady of the Primeval Chaos, who avenges her spouse’s murder. According to Babylonian myth, She tried to rid the Earth of both Gods and humans, and nearly succeeded.

Mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Leviathan is another world destroyer. According to the prophet Isaiah, the Leviathan will run amok during the Final Days. Middle Eastern lore says that the God of the Old Testament created two Leviathans. Because He realized that the Two together would destroy the Earth, God had to kill the Mate. When upset, the surviving Leviathan will cause devastating tidal waves. To console Em (Leviathan is multi-gendered), God plays with Em at sunset every day.

According to Norse lore, Jormungand, the World Serpent is the offspring of Loki, the Trickster God and Angrboda, the Giantess. (His siblings are Hel, the Queen of the Underworld and Fenrir, the Wolf.) To prevent Jormungand from destroying the earth, Odin, the All Father, threw this dragon into the sea to contain Him. Encircling the world, Jormungand lays on the bottom of the sea and plots his revenge. Every time that He considers the injustices done to Him, Jormungand writhes thereby causing tidal waves and earthquakes. At Ragnarok, Jormungand will flood the land in seeking his vengeance on the Gods.

The sworn enemy of Ra, the Egyptian Sun God, Apep is the Dragon of Destruction and Chaos. When Ra goes go forth in his solar barge, Apep tries to kill Him, but is usually thwarted by Ra’s allies. On the few times that Apep appears to be successful, a solar eclipse occurs.

Dragon of the Cosmos are dangerous to people. If you think that you may encounter one, be prepared to offer the Cosmos Dragon, gold, silver, or platinum. Then praise Them, “Oh, Great Dragon of the Central Cosmos, Great Dragon, upon You rest the bones of the Universe. I exalt You.” In addition, people who have Sturgeon or Sperm Whale as their animal teachers can call upon these animals for help, as well. It is best to avoid Cosmos Dragons all together. These Dragons do have the wisdom of divine knowledge, but They keep it to Themselves.

Because They threaten the Order which is maintained by the Gods, Cosmos Dragons embody the attributes of chaos. When these Dragons communicate, They do so by lightning, tidal waves, and earthquakes. This alone creates havoc on the earth and elsewhere. In myths, They are the creators and the destroyers of worlds. Cosmos Dragons are indeed The Beings of the Timeless Chaos.

The Families of Dragons

To understand dragons better, people have commonly divided them into various families. As with scientific classification, organizing dragons into groups gives folks a framework to learn about them. By studying dragons in families, you can discern who are friendly and who are dangerous. Since each family has their own unique talents, they can also offer their matchless wisdom to seekers.

In Western Tradition, dragons are usually grouped into families by the elements. I have used that system to construct my classifications of dragons. Living in the East, the Dragons of the Air ride the winds. Meanwhile, the Dragons of Fire reside in fire, and are of the South. In the West, the Dragons of the Waters frolic in the waters. With the Air Dragons and Ice Dragons, Water Dragons rule the weather, as well. Ruling the Earth and guarding its treasures are the Dragons of the Earth, who reside in the North. Because each dragon family governs a cardinal direction, therefore in rituals a seeker can avoid the hostile ones and ensure her safety.

In the World of the Dragons, there are three more families. These groupings are from my own understanding of these Magnificent Beings. World myths feature dragons who created and destroyed worlds. Since these dragons have such a profound effect on the fabric of the Universe, I refer to them as the Dragons of the Cosmos, who live in the Center.

Like many people, I was entranced by the “fire-lizards” in “The Dragonriders of Pern” books by Anne McCaffrey. These small dragons liked to sing and sit on people’s shoulders. Later, when reading D.J. Conway’s books on dragons, I realized that the guardian dragons that she talks about are the same as the “fire-lizards” of Pern. Moreover, I have encountered these dragons whenever I go on wildflower walks, especially in open meadows. I call them, the Dragons of the Fields. These small playful dragons move along the East-West axis, and prefer going from sunrise to sunset.

The last family of dragons, I encountered in ice storms and blizzards. When I grew up in New England (US), I saw silver dragons roaring about in the snow and ice. Since that time, I have noticed these dragons flying about in massive blizzards. I call them, the Dragons of the Ice. They prefer the colder darker areas of the world. Ice Dragons traverse the North-South Axis, going from Pole to Pole.

Fire and Chaos Dragons are dangerous for different reasons. Traditionally hostile to humans, Fire Dragons must be approached with great care. Meanwhile, Chaos Dragons, who are a part of the universe’s fabric, have intense unbounded energy. They can annihilate a careless person.

Fortunately for us, the other dragon families are less formidable. Ruling the weather together, Water and Air Dragons are both benign and destructive. But they can be approached for soft breezes and gentle rains. Guarding the Earth’s treasures, Earth Dragons kill first and ask questions later. Nonetheless, their greatest treasure is their profound wisdom. Rarely encountered by humans, Ice Dragons prefer the silence and stillness of the Polar Regions. Their intense life force can warm the coldest heart. On the other hand, the noisy Field Dragons love being guardian dragons of humans.

Each-Uisge (Water-Horse): Be Cautious, Be Aware

Throughout the lands surrounding the North Sea, stories abound of dreaded lake monsters who lurk below the surface. These tales describe many of the monsters as “water-horses.” This beast resembles a seal with two sets of flippers, a long neck and a small head. People usually divide “water-horses” into two types – the long-necked Nessie and the maned Each-Uisge. While Nessie of Loch Ness is more benign, the Each-Uisge, also of Scotland, is more sinister. Haunting lakes and lochs, this shapeshifter kills and eats unwary humans (leaving only the liver). The Each-Uisge usually lures people by pretending to be a docile horse.

 From ancient times, the Each-Uisge has filled people with dread and fear. The Picts depicted Him in all his ferocity their pictographs. The Romans recorded deadly sightings of this beast during their time in Britain. Described as a glistening black horse with a greenish patina, the Each-Uisge would appear on the roadside as a tame horse. Seeing relief, the weary traveler would mount Him, only to find themselves firmly affixed to the beast’s back. After that, the “horse” would quickly trot off. When the Each-Uisge smelled water nearby, He would race into the lake drowning the unfortunate victim.

One blood-curdling account tells the killing of several children by the Each-Uisge. This creature had appeared to several children as a pretty pony. As each child sat on his back, the “pony” would lengthen it to fit more children. When commanded by the Each-Uisge mount, a frightened boy ran away. As the boy escaped, he heard his friends scream as they were drowned in the lake. The next day, the sorrowful villagers only found the children’s livers floating in the water.

The Each-Uisge is called by many names throughout the North Sea region. In Norway, this beast is Backahasten or Nokken, the “brook-horse.” In The Faroes, He is known as Nukur, and Nuggle in the Orkeys. The Irish call Him, the Capall-uisce, and the Manx, the Cabbyl-Ushtey.

In Wales, the Each-Uisge is known as the Ceffyl Dwr. This small beautiful “horse” lived in mountain pools. Once someone mounted Him, the Ceffyl Dwr would fly over the water and, then melt into a mist. After the victim drops into the water, He would reform and eat the body. At other times, this beast would transform into a frog and leap on the victim’s back.

No one is quite sure what the Each-Uisge is. Is this creature, an undiscovered mammal such as a new species of otter or seal? Or are the stories too fantastic for an ordinary animal? Whatever the Each-Uisge is, everyone will agree that He is deadly and vicious.

The Each-Uisge is real to those who believe the old myths. Something lives in those lakes, pools, and lochs; Something that will kill and eat you. Ignore the myths at your own peril. Be cautious and aware that not everything you encounter is benign.
----
Note: The Kelpie is similar to the Each-Uisge, except that She dwells in rivers and waterfalls.

Drawing Copyrighted by Liza Phoenix (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons

Griffin: Majesty and Nobility

The Griffin (Gryphon) has had a long association with humans. For example, She is a part of people’s last names and featured in their coats of arms. Since the time of Sumner, the Griffin has stood for majesty and nobility.

 Various myths depict the Griffin as the combination of the lion and the eagle. Since both of these earthy animals are monarchs of their own domains, the Griffin is considered the Ruler of Heaven and Earth. This mythic animal, with her offspring Hippogriff, are the only members of the Tribes of the Cosmos. While the Griffin protects the Tree of Life with its Golden Apples, the Hippogriff carries the worthy traveler between the worlds. Because of this, the Griffin is also the Sentinel of the Throne of Heaven and Earth.

Archeologists have uncovered representations of the Griffin from Egypt, Persia, and the Middle East. She attended the Pharaoh and guarded the Persian Emperors. From ancient times, the Griffin represented earthy and heavenly power, for She guarded the royal graves. For the Greeks, the Griffin was called “The Hound of Zeus.”

According to the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, Griffins were native to Scythia (central Eurasia). Living in the northernmost part of the known world, these mythic animals guarded their gold from humans. Later, other writers said that Griffins lived high in the mountains of India. In their aeries, these mythic animals guarded emeralds and other treasures from those who would steal from them. Flavius Philostratus said that in India, Griffins were sacred to the sun.

The dual nature of the Griffin led Medieval Christians to associate Her with Christ. The eagle reflected the divinity of Christ, while the lion, His humanity. St. Isidore noted, “Christ is Lion because He reigns and has strength; Eagle, because after the Resurrection, He rises into Heaven.” Because of this, the Griffin is often featured in cathedral windows and carvings.

 The legends say that the Griffin also guards the Holy Grail of Christ. (The Grail is carved from a single emerald.) Many Knights of the Round Table have searched for the holy artifact, but usually gave up after a futile search. Only the pure of heart was allowed to find the Grail. The Griffin killed everyone else who persisted, as She did all those who would steal from Her.

 As the Monarch of the Heavens and the Earth, the Griffin teaches nobility and majesty. This fierce and intelligent animal, subject of many legends, watches intently over her domains. Protecting the Tree of Life, She ensures that only the pure of heart can receive its blessings. With her power comes her responsibility to use it wisely. Remember that this is a part of nobility. Follow Her example in what you do as you lead others.

Mythic Animals: Magic

What is a mythic animal? Traditionally considered a product of people’s imaginations, they are animals that do not exist on the physical plane. In fact, many mythical animals are a combination of several real animals. (They usually have the characteristics of both animals.) But mythic animals are real to those who dream.

Mythic animals live on the edges of our minds. Moreover, they live in our world, in places where everything is a little wild and primitive. Furthermore, we may encounter them, when we least expect it. For example, on a foggy day or a moonlit night, you may glimpse one. I have seen dragons sunning themselves on mountains as I traveled a busy highway. Dragons have also appeared briefly in raging snowstorms in my local area.

The edges of cultivated areas and wild areas are the best places to encounter mythic animals. Since they are “between places,” these border areas have great power and mystery. At marshes and beaches, encounters with water beasties will often occur. Also, you can come upon mythic animals in deserts or deep in the forests, where things are lonely and wild.

Mythic animals come from many places. To ancient peoples, they were the forces of nature, in all her aspects. For example, thunderbirds governed the weather. Later travelers returning from faraway places told of the exotic creatures they saw. Romans reported on dragons that lived in Joppa in the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, people reported on their encounters with local dragons and other animals. They listed them in their bestiaries, describing each animal.

When people started measuring and examining the natural world, they lost their ability to see any mythic animals. At the same time, all the mythic animals seemingly disappeared. In modern times, people usually seek rational explanations for every phenomenon that they witness.

However, the mythical beasts never really went away. Some people believed that they could still see them. The mythic imaginations of these folks led scholars to continue collecting tales of griffins and others. Today, more people have been able to see more of the mythic animals.

In her book, The Great Work, Tiffany Lazic writes that “mythical beasts guide us in our quest to find the synthesis between our inner and outer worlds.” She sees their uses in heraldry, such as the griffin, connects people to the past and to the future. Because mythic animals are both products of the human imagination and composite of actual animals, Lazic believes they are excellent helpers for integration work.

How do we begin the search for the Mythic Ones? What do the mythic stories, from around the world, have in common? What is the true treasure that the Mythic Ones hold? Does it differ from mythic animal to mythic animal? How can we deepen our relations with the ones, who are friendly to humans? Are there any that we should avoid? Study the myths of the world for the answers.

One example would be the griffin (half-lion and half-eagle). Often used as a last name, this mythic animal is also featured on people’s coats of arms. Lions and eagles both represent royalty. Moreover, the eagle is the Ruler of the Skies, and the lion, Ruler of the Land. Mythology has the griffin protecting and governing both realms. Given the griffin’s exalted status, only the most noble and courageous of people could approach him.

Once we know who are friendly to humans, such as fu dogs, we can begin to approach them. When we do that, we widen our realm of possibilities and develop a new sense of worth. Our relations with them will nurture our hopes and dreams, as well as, give us a greater reverence for all life. When we embrace their energy, we become conscious of the mystical in our lives. Finally, we align ourselves with the mythical world. We bring magic back into our lives.

Mythical Animals: Simurgh (Simorgh) of Persia (Iran)

When I read translated excerpts of the Persian epic, “The Shahnameh (Shahnama): The Book of Kings,” by Abu’I-Qasim Firdawsi (Ferdowsi) (d. 1020-21), I encountered the mystical Simurgh (Simorgh). What drew me to this beast was that she had survived the destruction and rebirth of the world three times. I pondered what sort of wondrous beast could do this. In his writings, Joseph Nig, noted chronicler of mythical beasts, called this beast “the Wise Old Bird of the Ages.”

Described by the Persian as a beast of two natures (mammal and bird), the Simurgh was a devoted mother who both nurtured her young and several Kings of Persia. Mostly resembling an eagle, this beast also had the head of a dog, claws of a lion, and the tail of a peacock. In addition, her feathers had special healing properties.

From her perch on the Tree of Knowledge, the Simurgh would observe the affairs of humans in the world. Whenever she left the Tree, this beast would send out the seeds of goodness and wisdom. And when she landed back on the tree, the Simurgh would spread the seeds of life throughout the world.

Her ancient age and wisdom of being a mother, first attracted me to the Simurgh, since I was entering my “Cronehood.” My immediate impression of the Simurgh was of a wise old mother who cared for abandoned children and healed wounded people. Furthermore, she would guide people and teach them the ways of goodness. These aspects of the Simurgh helped me to settle into being a “Crone,” and accept my new role in life.

Later I read a translation of “The Parliament of Birds (Mantiq ut-Tayr)” by Farid ud-Din Attar (12^th Century), a Persian Sufi poet. The focus of this mystical poem was the journey of several birds searching for the Simurgh, the Ruler of the Birds. As they travelled over seven valleys, some of the birds shed their undesirable qualities, while others went home. (These valleys were called “yearning,” “love,” “gnosis,” “detachment,” “unity of God,” “bewilderment,” and “selflessness and oblivion of God.”) Finally when they arrived at the place they believed that the Simurgh lived, only thirty birds remained. Now purified, these birds encountered the Divine in the being of the Simurgh. Afterwards, the birds realized that they were all the Simurgh, which also means (thirty (Si) birds (murgh)).

Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak (Professor at University of Maryland) writes that the birds were in the “all-embracing presence, a transcendent majesty speaking not just in silence but through silence.” He explains that “The Parliament of Birds,” expresses the heart of Sufism, when the individual merges into the “ocean of eternity,” the mystical ecstasy of the Divine. In this poem, the Simurgh becomes the catalyst for the transcendence of divinity.

For me, the Simurgh evolves from being a dispenser of wisdom to a being who sends life out into the world. Finally the Simurgh becomes the immutable essence of the Divine. As a Crone I would like to evolve like the Simurgh, though I could never be Divine. At the end of my days, I hope to be like the thirty birds. After the end of their mystic journey, they merged into the “ocean of eternity.” I hope to do the same after my journey to meet the Simurgh.

-----

Please note that since Iranian (Persian) does not have a Latin-based alphabet, I found several spellings for the same Iranian word. I used both the spellings used by Iranians and those more common to English speakers.

Works Used:

Allan, Tony, “The Mythic Bestiary,” Duncan Baird: London, 2008.

Karimi-Hakkak, Ahmad, “At the Sign of Simorgh: Mythical Birds and the Mystical Discourse in Persian Poetry,” Foundation for Iranian Studies, http://fis-iran.org/en/programs/noruzlectures/simorgh-hakkak,  2012.

Nigg, Joseph, “The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts,” Quarto: London, 2002.

---, “Simorgh, A Fabulous Mythological Bird,” “Tehran Times,” 27 June 2012, http://www.tehrantimes.com/highlights/99516-simorgh-a-fabulous-mythological-bird.

Vinao, Ezequiel, “El Simurgh for Piano and Electronics,” 1991-1992.

http://www.tloneditions.com/Ezequiel_Vinao_Simurgh_The_Conference_of_the_Birds.html

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007.

Mythical Animals: The Catoblepas

As described by the Roman naturalist Pliny, the Elder (1^st Century CE), the Catoblepas was a four-legged bovine-like animal. According to Pliny, this beast had the body of a buffalo and the head of a boar. As an herbivore, the Catoblepas ate poisonous plants that caused its breath to be toxic. Because of this, the beast was often found alone, for out of self-defense, many animals stayed far away from the Catoblepas.

Later Aeolian, a Greek naturalist in the 2^nd Century, noted that the Catoblepas had a killing stare. He called the beast “Katobleps”, the “Down-looking One,” since the naturalist observed that the beast was conscious of its peculiar power. Since the animal seemed unwilling to lift its heavy head, people were safe from its stare. The Greek naturalist added that the beast’s eyebrows were high and shaggy, with narrow and blood shot eyes.

Although Pliny and Aeolian agreed that the Catoblepas lived in North Africa, they differed as to where. Pliny, in his writings, said that the Catoblepas inhabited Western Ethiopia near the source of the Nile. Aeolian believed that the beast lived in Libya. Meanwhile early travelers said that the beast could be found near the islands of the Gorgons in the far side of the Mediterranean Sea near the Hesperidies.

Travelers’ reports lead to confusion between the Catoblepas and the Gorgons, which caused people to think that both possessed killing stares. Another reason for the confusion was that the Catoblepas had a scraggly mane which fell over its forehead. This mane covered its eyes similar to the snakes on the Gorgon’s head. Because of this similarity, people thought that the gaze of the Catoblepas would turn them into stone. Since the mane covered the beast’s head, people believe that they were relatively safe. However, when the Catoblepas raised its head and belched, the breath would kill anyone nearby.

In his book, “The Temptation of Saint Anthony,” (1874), Gustave Flaubert (France, 1821 - 1880) described various Monsters that appeared in Saint Antony’s nightmares. One of them was the lonely and solitary Catoblepas. This beast told the desert saint that it was aware of very little around it. The beast was mostly focused on the warm mud under its stomach. Then mournfully, the Catoblepas informed St. Anthony that once it had absently-mindedly eaten its own foreleg. (This contradicts Pliny’s observations that the beast was an herbivore.)  Flaubert described the Catoblepas with a long thin neck that could not support the head, but had stiff bristles hiding its face. For whatever the reason, St. Antony survived his encounter with the beast.

Later a naturalist, Baron Georges Cuvier (French, 1769 - 1832) deemed that Pliny and Aeolian were describing an African gnu or wildebeest. Modern zoologists agree that Cuvier’s identification of the Catoblepas was accurate. However, that does not mean that the Catoblepas is a fictional beast or a misidentified member of the deer family. Flaubert observed that this beast does wanders absent mindedly through our nightmares. That alone makes the Catoblepas real in our world.

Works Used:

Allan, Tony, “The Mythic Bestiary,” Duncan Baird: London, 2008.

Atsma, Aaron, “Katoblepones,” Theoi Project, 2011, http://www.theoi.com/Thaumasios/Katoblepones.html.

DeHoff, Nathan, “The Catoblepas that Got the Cream,” Vovatia, 20 May 2013, http://vovatia.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/the-catoblepas-that-got-the-cream/.

Macumbeira, “‘The Temptation of Saint Anthony’ by Gustave Flaubert,” A Reader’s Dairy, 21 August 2010, http://www.macumbeira.com/2010/08/temptation-of-saint-anthony-by-gustave.html.

Nigg, Joseph, “The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts,” Quarto: London, 2002.

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007

Mythical Animals: The Peryton

From Wikipedia

Little known in modern times, the Peryton was an animal feared by ancient peoples, for these beasts often hunted humans out of spite. Resembling a winged deer, the Peryton had the antlers, head, and legs of a deer. In addition, this beast possessed the wings and body of a bird. Furthermore, some Europeans thought that Perytons were relatives of the Stymphalids, the man-eating birds of Arcadia.

 Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina, 1899 - 1986) documented in his “The Book of Imaginary Beings” (1969) that the Peryton had originally came from Atlantis. When that continent sank, these beasts fled east beyond the Pillars of Hercules to the mountains of Greece and North Africa. Since they perceived that Atlantis, their home, was destroyed by humans, the Perytons sought their revenge by murdering people.

 Whenever a Peryton hunted, the beast would cast the shadow of a human on the ground. Since it was not vulnerable to human weapons, a Peryton could easily kill a person. However once the beast did so, its shadow was transformed into that of a winged deer. According to Dr. Karl Shuker, (U.K., 1959 - ) a zoologist and cryptozoologist, a Peryton lost its invulnerability after slaying a person. Moreover, the beast could only kill one human in its lifetime.

 Roman accounts tell that a sibyl prophesied that the Perytons would bring about the end of Rome. During the Punic Wars (264 BCE to 146 BCE), these beasts fought for Carthage against the Romans. From their home in North Africa near the city, Perytons regularly attacked Roman ships in the Mediterranean Sea. 

During the Second Punic War in 218 BCE, Hannibal had attacked Rome. As he laid siege against the city, Hannibal waited for more reinforcements to arrive from Carthage. Meanwhile the Roman general Publicus Scipio Africanus sailed to North Africa to stop them. As he sailed, the Perytons attacked his fleet killing many Roman legionaries. To stop the on-going carnage, Scipio ordered the survivors to raise their large square shields (scutum) towards the sun. The reflection from these shields blinded the Perytons, which then fled to the mountains of North Africa where they are reputed to be living today. 

  Various scholars have claimed that Borges made up his stories about the Perytons. According to them, Borges’ sources were bogus, and the Peryton was a figment of the writer’s imagination.  Borges, himself, claimed that his information came from a 16th century Rabbi’s essay, who cited an ancient Greek scholar. Borges said that the only known copy of this Rabbi’s treatise was destroyed in World War II. Many think that this is very suspicious and highly coincidental.

 However, Dr. Shuker points out the abundance of portrayals of winged deer in various cultures. He thinks that Borges had other sources for his information about the Peryton. Dr. Shuker points to the statues in Segovia, Spain, and at the palace grounds of Linlithgow Palace in Scotland as evidence. 

 Meanwhile, Caspar Henderson (U.K., 1963 - ), author of  “Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary,” asked, “which dreams are wholly fantastical and which are vision or distortions of what is real or has the potential to be so?” Henderson observed that life is inventive and creatures today are as fantastic as the ones that Borges wrote about. Therefore, the Peryton exists whether we want to believe Borges or not.

 Works Used:

Allan, Tony, “The Mythic Bestiary,” Duncan Baird: London, 2008.

Henderson, Caspar, “Rereading The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges,” “The Guardian,” 23 November 2012, http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/nov/23/caspar-henderson-rereading-jorge-luis-borges, .

Nigg, Joseph, “The Book of Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts,” Quarto: London, 2002.

Shuker, Karl, “‘And Hast Thou Slain the Peryton?’ – An Antlered Atlantean,” ShukerNature, 21 November 2011, http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2011/11/and-hast-thou-slain-peryton-antlered.html, .

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Ash DeKirk, “A Wizard’s Bestiary,” New Page Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ, 2007.

Mythic Animals: Cat Beasts: The Antlion

modern insect: antlion

The “Ant-lion” could be one of two beasts. According to Medieval Bestiaries, one beast called “ant-lion” was the result of the mating between an ant and a lion. This beast had the head of a lion and the body of an ant. Since the lion head ate only meat, and the ant body could only digest grain, this “ant-lion” would starve to death.

 

The other beast is known as the “lion of ants.” This large ant-beast hid in the sand and ambushed the ants as they came crawling by. These insects feared the “lion of ants,” since the beast was larger than any of them, and hunted them without mercy. However to the birds, this “ant-lion” was only a tasty insect to eat. In addition, various Bestiaries said that the beast would run away if its intended victim stood up to it.

 

Works Used

Armott, Michael, “The Aberdeen Bestiary,” Aberdeen University Library, 1995, http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/bestiary.hti, .

Badke, David, “Medieval Bestiary,” 15 Jan. 2011, http://bestiary.ca/index.html, .

Swanson, Mark, “The Antlion Pit: A Doodlebug Anthology,” 2012, http://www.antlionpit.com/index.html, .