Fafnir

Fafnir, a Wyrm ( also called a Wurm) lived in Germany, where he guarded the Ring der Nebelungen (Ring of the Hazes). He was killed by Siegfried (Sigurd) who, after killing the dragon, ate some of his blood. It is said that from that moment on, Siegfried could understand the language of the birds.

Oengus Mac Oc

by Deepa Chelliah, Clarksville Middle School

 
Oengus Mac Oc, otherwise known as Aengus, is an Irish/Celtic God. He is the god of love, beauty and youth. He is known for his physical beauty and golden hair, and because his kisses become birds. His name means “Son of the Young.” He was the young lad of Dagda. Oengus lived in a mound by the River Boyne.

Natural Element Corrispondence

Air
Direction : East
Rules : The mind, knowledge, abstract learning, theory, imagination, ideas, beliefs, beginnings, rebirth
Elemental : Sprites
Time : Dawn
Season : Spring
Colors : Yellow, white, pastels
Tools : Athame, sword, censor
Zodiac : Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
Animals : Birds, Gryphons
Places : Windswept hills, high mountain peaks, towers

Amida

by Dr Anthony E. Smart

 
The god to whom the Japanese turned at the moment of death. Amida-Nyorai’s realm had a lotus pond brimming with ambrosia groves of jewel-studded trees, on the branches of which perched marvelous birds, while melodious bells depended from the boughs, and above this the Buddha and his angels circled, scattering petals on the gentle breeze.

Dove Goddess

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee, Ph.D.

 

Without doubt birds, and especially doves, played an important role in Minoan belief. According to a current interpretation, doves could be understood as embodiment (epiphany) of a divinity, a representation of a goddess in a bird form nearby her sacred place – a shrine or on a tree. This idea can be supported with literature: according to Homer the goddess was able to take on the shape of a bird. From the Early Minoan period the libation vases and amulets or models in a bird form existed in Crete and they were used for a ritual reason. We can observe a shape of bird even among the signs on the famous Phaistos Disc. The clay models of birds and their images on the ritual vessels are also amongst the regular furnishings of the shrines like those at Knossos, Gournia or at Karphi. The type of these birds has been a subject of long discussions between scholars, but usually they are considered as representing doves.