Heron Medicine
*Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak:
Keynote: Aggressive self-determination and self-reliance
Cycle of Power: Spring
There are many variations of herons, including bitterns and egrets. storks and cranes should not be confused with them. Herons are part of a group of birds called "waders." It is a bird of the marshlands and shallow waters. All waders have similar physical characteristics--lopng, thin legs, long necks, and sharp bills. These physical characteristics are important to understand for those who have a heron as a totem.
Legs enable animlas and people to move about on the earth. They are symbols of balance, and they represent an ability to progress and evolve. Also the longer the legs, the deeper the ater the heron will feed in. The deeper life can be explored. The long thin legs of the heron reflect that you don't need great massive pillars to remain stable, but you must be able to stand on your own. This is especially significant for those with a totem of the great blue heron, as it is a lone hunter.
When it feeds, it stands in the water, reflecting a connection to the earth--while implying the exploration of other dimensions on the earth (water element). It is important for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions of earth life. On the surface, this may seem a form of dabbling, but those with herons as totems are wonderfully successful at being the traditional "jack of all trades."
This ability enables them to follow their own path. Most people will never be able to live the way heron people do. It is not a structured way, and does not seem to have a stability and security to it. It is, though, just a matter of perspective. There is security in heron medicine, for it gives the ability to do a variety of tasks. If one way doesn't work, then another will. This heron people seem to inherently know.
Heron do not seem to need a lot of people in their life, nor do they feel pressure to "keep up with the Joneses" or be traditional in their life roles. The only time they gather in colonies is during the breeding season. They stand out in their uniqueness, and they know how to snatch and take ad antage of things and events the average person woud not even bother with.
The great blue heron is considered the king of the marsh, although the short-eared owl has been known to readjust the heron's viewpoint. It is the tallest of the herons, and when it flies, its head is folded back in a flat S-shaped loop. This reflects the innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and control its life circumstances. it reflects a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and path of self-determination. You know what is best for you and should follow it, rather than the promptings of others.
The great blue heron in flight is poerful, and its legs and head are held in a straight line. It uses a slow stalking stride when hunting. When it spies a fish, it spears its prey with its sharp beak and with quick speed. Again it reflects an aggressive movement toward opportunities that present themselves.
The green heron is acturally more of a slate blue, and it has orange legs which are distinctive. This color combination relfects an innate balance at living life in its own unique style. It flies silently, and is most often seen in flight at night and at dusk. Like all herons, it is a marsh bird.
There are distinctive seasonal changes in the color of this bird. The irises of the eyes will turn from yellowish to bright orange, as will the legs. Meditation on this color will provide a lot of insight as to its role in your life.
*D.J. Conway/Animal Magick:
The name heron is applied to a large number of small or large wading birds in the family Ardeidae; they are related to storks and ibises. These birds live in temperate and tropical areas of marshy or salt water around the world. All herons have a long, slender neck, a long, pointed bill with sharp edges, and long legs. Their plumage may be colored black, white, brown, gray, blue, chestnut, buff, or combinations of these. Althouh the heron is a timid bird, it will defend itself with its sharp beak if cornered.
In mystical symbolism, the heron, stork, and crane represent much the same things. They are all solar and Water birds that are said to be able to predict the weather. they represent vigilance and are valuable as destroyers of reptiles.
In Greece, the heron was sacred to Athene and Aphrodite, carrying their messages to humans. In both China and Japan, the white heron is teamed with the black crow to symbolize solar-lunar powers. Ancient Egyptians associated the heron with the rising jSun and the return of the resurrected god Osiris. It signified regeneration of life. In Celtic cultures the heron had many of the attributes of the crane.
Superstitions: It is a general European belief that to shoot a heron is bad luck.
Magickal Attributes: The ability to watch patiently for results. Dignity of movement, methodical procedure in matters. Gaining dignity and self-confidence for facing personal problems.
*Mary Summer Rain/On Dreams:
Heron defines the beauty of spiritual wisdom.
*Lady Stearn Robinson & Tom Gorbett/The Dreamer's Dictionary:
You can expect some losses, but you will regain them and more if you dreamed of these exotic birds.
Open for discussion.
*Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak:
Keynote: Aggressive self-determination and self-reliance
Cycle of Power: Spring
There are many variations of herons, including bitterns and egrets. storks and cranes should not be confused with them. Herons are part of a group of birds called "waders." It is a bird of the marshlands and shallow waters. All waders have similar physical characteristics--lopng, thin legs, long necks, and sharp bills. These physical characteristics are important to understand for those who have a heron as a totem.
Legs enable animlas and people to move about on the earth. They are symbols of balance, and they represent an ability to progress and evolve. Also the longer the legs, the deeper the ater the heron will feed in. The deeper life can be explored. The long thin legs of the heron reflect that you don't need great massive pillars to remain stable, but you must be able to stand on your own. This is especially significant for those with a totem of the great blue heron, as it is a lone hunter.
When it feeds, it stands in the water, reflecting a connection to the earth--while implying the exploration of other dimensions on the earth (water element). It is important for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions of earth life. On the surface, this may seem a form of dabbling, but those with herons as totems are wonderfully successful at being the traditional "jack of all trades."
This ability enables them to follow their own path. Most people will never be able to live the way heron people do. It is not a structured way, and does not seem to have a stability and security to it. It is, though, just a matter of perspective. There is security in heron medicine, for it gives the ability to do a variety of tasks. If one way doesn't work, then another will. This heron people seem to inherently know.
Heron do not seem to need a lot of people in their life, nor do they feel pressure to "keep up with the Joneses" or be traditional in their life roles. The only time they gather in colonies is during the breeding season. They stand out in their uniqueness, and they know how to snatch and take ad antage of things and events the average person woud not even bother with.
The great blue heron is considered the king of the marsh, although the short-eared owl has been known to readjust the heron's viewpoint. It is the tallest of the herons, and when it flies, its head is folded back in a flat S-shaped loop. This reflects the innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and control its life circumstances. it reflects a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and path of self-determination. You know what is best for you and should follow it, rather than the promptings of others.
The great blue heron in flight is poerful, and its legs and head are held in a straight line. It uses a slow stalking stride when hunting. When it spies a fish, it spears its prey with its sharp beak and with quick speed. Again it reflects an aggressive movement toward opportunities that present themselves.
The green heron is acturally more of a slate blue, and it has orange legs which are distinctive. This color combination relfects an innate balance at living life in its own unique style. It flies silently, and is most often seen in flight at night and at dusk. Like all herons, it is a marsh bird.
There are distinctive seasonal changes in the color of this bird. The irises of the eyes will turn from yellowish to bright orange, as will the legs. Meditation on this color will provide a lot of insight as to its role in your life.
*D.J. Conway/Animal Magick:
The name heron is applied to a large number of small or large wading birds in the family Ardeidae; they are related to storks and ibises. These birds live in temperate and tropical areas of marshy or salt water around the world. All herons have a long, slender neck, a long, pointed bill with sharp edges, and long legs. Their plumage may be colored black, white, brown, gray, blue, chestnut, buff, or combinations of these. Althouh the heron is a timid bird, it will defend itself with its sharp beak if cornered.
In mystical symbolism, the heron, stork, and crane represent much the same things. They are all solar and Water birds that are said to be able to predict the weather. they represent vigilance and are valuable as destroyers of reptiles.
In Greece, the heron was sacred to Athene and Aphrodite, carrying their messages to humans. In both China and Japan, the white heron is teamed with the black crow to symbolize solar-lunar powers. Ancient Egyptians associated the heron with the rising jSun and the return of the resurrected god Osiris. It signified regeneration of life. In Celtic cultures the heron had many of the attributes of the crane.
Superstitions: It is a general European belief that to shoot a heron is bad luck.
Magickal Attributes: The ability to watch patiently for results. Dignity of movement, methodical procedure in matters. Gaining dignity and self-confidence for facing personal problems.
*Mary Summer Rain/On Dreams:
Heron defines the beauty of spiritual wisdom.
*Lady Stearn Robinson & Tom Gorbett/The Dreamer's Dictionary:
You can expect some losses, but you will regain them and more if you dreamed of these exotic birds.
Open for discussion.

