myths symbols sandplay

Equus Part 1

The word equine comes from the Latin equus, meaning horse and includes animals belonging to the family Equidae: horses, asses, and zebras.

Horse:

Symbol of intellect, wisdom, the mind, reason, nobility, dynamic power, swiftness, instinctual animal nature, and the wind

Represents solar power if white, golden, or fiery colored

Symbol of lunar power when associated with oceanic gods

When ridden by evil entities, becomes a symbol of death

The winged Cosmic Horse represents the sun; when white, symbolic of innocence and life and is ridden by heroes

Buddhist symbol of the indestructible, the winged horse named Cloud is a form of Kwan-yin

In Celtic tradition the attribute of the horse deity, Epona the Great Horse and goddess mare

Chinese symbol of the heavens, fire, yang, the South, speed, and a good omen

Christian representation of the sun, courage, swift passage, the four horses of the Apocalypse are war, death, famine, and petulance

In Greek mythology, symbolizes the humid principle when associated with Poseidon as his sacred animal, and as Pegasus, carries the thunderbolt of Zeus

Irish legendary magic spirit horse, the Pooka, was an omen of death

In Indian tradition, the white horse was Kalki Avatara, the final incarnation of Buddha

Japanese form of Bato Kwanno, goddess of mercy and the Great Mother; a black horse is the attribute of the rain God

In Roman mythology, white horses pulled the chariots of Apollo and Mithra; attribute of Diana, the huntress

Sacred to Oden as the eight legged mare, Slepnir

Shamanistic symbol of passage from this world to the next

Sumero-Semetic emblem of Carthage, appears on bas-relief and coins

In Taoist tradition, an attribute of Ch’ang Kuo, a Taoist genie

(continued in Equus Part 2)

Equus Part 2

(continued from Equus Part 1)

Asses:

Humility, patience, peace, stupidity, obstinancy, lewdness, fertility, sure-footedness

As a beast of burden, represents poverty

Buddhist symbol of austerity and humiliation

In Christian tradition, sacred animal of Christ, symbol of the flight to Egypt, the entry into Jerusalem, emblem of St. Germanus

Egyptian symbol of inert power, evil, emblem of Set as destroyer in his typhonic aspect

In Greece, represented sloth, infatuation, sacred to Dionysos and Typhon as a brutish aspect, sacred to Priapus as a protective principle, sacred to Cronos

Hebrew symbol of stubbornness, peace, salvation

Hindu mythological beast which pulled the chariot of Ravana

 

Zebras:

In researching zebra symbolism and myth, I was able to find an African folktale “How the zebra got his stripes”. You can easily find this tale with an internet search. I was wondering, since the zebra is a black and white striped animal, perhaps it could be a symbol of dualism. Could it represent a protector? Other plains animals will graze with herds of zebra because zebra will often alert the animals to danger. I imagine there must be more African myths or ceremonies about the zebra as it is an integral part of life on the plains. The Songye people of Central Africa, wear striped masks to be worn by males for ceremonies related to social control, exorcising negative forces, and enforcing allegiance to the rulers.  Female masks reflect positive forces and are typically worn at night during lunar ceremonies.

“Zebras also represent awareness and self-protection. It is believed when an individual has an encounter with a zebra whether in waking life or through a dream, significant change is on the horizon and important information is ready to surface. Zebra encounters can also signify the individual's need to be aware of their current situation and surroundings in order to make necessary changes. The zebra represents the dual aspects of ying and yang energies, sending the message that every aspect in life requires balance.

Zebras are always on guard and are keenly aware of their surroundings, ready to blend in with the scenery at a moment's notice in order to avoid confrontation with predators. Zebras are unable to sleep unless another herd member is awake and standing guard. These aspects symbolize the human need for protection and partnership”  From www.reference.com

Supernatural, Mythological, and Fabulous Birds

In mythology and lore, birds are frequently used to symbolize the human soul and spirituality. Birds have transcendent powers and are associated with deities and humans. Similar in symbolism to angels, birds represent thought, imagination, and swiftness of spiritual processes. In myth and folktales, birds are often intelligent collaborators with man and are bearers of celestial messages. Associated with air, birds symbolize loftiness of spirit.

The Bird Man, a Maori symbol of the divine, is the all-seeing and the all-wise. In Hindu myth, birds are a symbol of higher states of being. In the tree of life, as described in the Mirach, Mohamed observed brightly colored, singing birds who were the souls of the faithful. The Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol of Ba (the soul) is a bird with a human head and represents the idea that the soul flies from the body after death.

Two headed birds generally symbolize alternating contradiction, positive and negative aspects, and harmonious ambiguity. The two-headed eagle is an attribute of twin gods, symbolizing omniscience or double power. The two-headed eagle also represents Nergal, the Babylonian solar deity, and the fierce heat of the summer and noon sun. The three-legged red crow is the Taoist symbol of the solar and yang principle and represents the Great Triad – Heaven, Earth, Man.

Birds in myth are often associated with the sun, wind, storms, and fire. Eagles and swans are the Vedic symbol of the sun. North American Indian myths describe birds as the mythic personification of lightning and thunder. The Swedish mythological Hraesvelg represents the storms and the wind created by beating its enormous wings. Garuda, the eagle, is the Hindu bird of life symbolizes the sky, the sun, and victory. Garuda is the creator and destroyer of all; a solar bird on which Vishnu rides. He is the emblem of Indra and the wielder of vajra, the thunderbolt.

The Phoenix is the universal symbol of resurrection, immortality, and of death and rebirth by fire. An emblem of solar and fire worship; the Phoenix lives a long life, burns itself to ashes, and comes to life again. Purple and red are the predominant colors of the Phoenix. Named by the Phoenicians, the word phoenix is derived from fo-en-ix - one great fire

The Phoenix is also the emblem of the Chinese Empress and is called feng-huang. In Japanese myth, the Phoenix is called Ho-wo and is the symbol of the entire world; its back the crescent moon, its wings the wind, its feet the earth, and its tail the trees and plants.

The negative symbolism of birds is typified by the harpy or harpyiae; the dark, destructive aspect of the great mother. Associated with sudden death, whirlwinds, and storms; the harpy is depicted as a death demon. However, in heraldry, the harpy carries no sinister association. The harpy signifies ferocity under provocation.

New Miniatures and Blog Posts Update

NEW miniatures have been posted at my online Etsy shop.  Items include sea life, shells, birds, and equine (horses, asses and zebras).

You can access my Etsy shop by clicking on the link at the upper right hand corner of my blog's homepage, above the photo of the dragonfly.  Or Google etsy.com and enter RememberThat1 in the search bar or use the link below:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RememberThat1?

At my Etsy shop, you can view miniatures for sale under the section "miniatures".

 

On another note...

Future Dragonfly blog posts will include:

Supernatural, Mythological, and Fabulous Birds

Equus (horse, asses, and zebra symbolism and myth)

Telling The Story: Sand Painting

Telling The Story:  Australian Aboriginal Painting

Epona ~ Gallic Deity

 

 

Epona Stone statuette, 2nd century AD
Museum of Alesia, Alesia

 

Ancient Celtic tales are found in early welsh literature, known as the Mabinogion, which is separated into Four Branches. In the First and Third branches, in the stories of the family Pwyll, Epona is linked with Rhiannon, the Great or Divine queen.

 

The name Epona (Great Mare) is from the Gaulish language, spoken by the Celtic inhabitants of Gaul (modern France and Belgium).

 

Possibly initially a river or spring goddess, conceived as a spirited steed, Epona became a Celtic mythological deity and great queen of the underworld. She was also associated with the everyday. As the giver of plenty, she was patroness of mares and the protector of foals. Epona is usually depicted riding a mare, with other mares and their foals.

 

In the final Gaelic conquest in 45 BC, the Roman calvary took her as their own. Epona was the only Celtic goddess to be celebrated with a festival in Rome.

Fearther, Claw, and Wing Symbolism

 
credit: Robert Savannah, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Feathers: associated with the wind and the creator gods of the Egyptian pantheon; corresponds to the element air and the realm of birds; symbol of the truth which must rise; represents speed, space, flight; worn as personal adornment in cultures with aerial myths; worn as a headdress, the wearer takes on the mana or power of the bird; the white feather symbolizes clouds, seafoam, and cowardice

Claw: symbol of ferocity, greediness, debasement in sensuality, misuse of reproductive powers; positive association with construction and usefulness as nests are built with the use of claws

 
credit: Robert Savannah, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Wing: activity, air, aspiration, elevation, exultation, fanciful thought, flight, mind, soul, spirituality, swiftness, victory; solar symbol depicting divinity; attribute of celestial, fate, and wind deities; Christian symbol of angels, archangels, cherubs, and seraphs; in alchemy, wings represent the volatile nature of quicksilver; four wings denote the four winds and seasons