Mythical Animal Symbolism

As humans we often have affiliations towards certain animals – whether in our waking lives or through our dreams. Some consider knowing what these animals symbolise can help to unlock parts of the self that are hidden or needing working on.

Below is a list of the most common mythical animals and their symbolism.

Dragon

The Dragon represents prosperity which may be of spiritual enlightenment rather than material riches, the guardian of treasures that lay hidden deep within the unconscious 

Fire Dragon - Vitality, enthusiasm and courage, help in overcoming obstacles

Air Dragon - Great flashes of intellect and psyche, insight and clarity, trust your inner voice

Earth Dragon - Power, potential, riches

Water Dragon - Redirect your enthusiasm

Key Meanings:

• Born of Fire
• Protector
• Exists between thoughts
• Ability to move between worlds
• Connection to the birth of the Universe

Griffin 

A magical lion/bird guardian of sacred arcane libraries. It is said that no one can pass a Griffin if they are fearful, greedy, or have no self-confidence; they are refused entrance. It symbolizes a need to protect something powerful within by the use of fierce boundaries. Wisdom, agility, flexibility, persistence, guardian of hidden treasures, guardian of the path to spiritual enlightenment, a symbol of the divine nature, Griffins mated for life and if their partner died they would continue alone forever.

Key Meanings:

• Deep connection to Red
• Making daring leaps of faith
• Ability to look deep into one's soul to find answers
• Connection to Fire
• Physical protection
• Severe revenge tactics
• Ability to feel with every bit of the soul
• Protector of young children
• Ability to soar above the fray
• Knows of the balance within nature

Mermaid

A legendary being of the sea, whose body is configured as half woman, half fish.  Mermaids are commonly portrayed as being mesmerizing seductresses who lure men with their provocative beauty. While many a sailor has mistaken a dugong or other sea mammal for a mermaid, it is the way of this water nymph of the sea. The mermaid is akin to these creatures even to the point of being able to shape shift into one. The mermaid is a symbol of beauty and transformation, as well as an archetype of the classic dark female of mythology, (such as Lilith), leading us into the realm of the deep sea (the unconscious).  Mermaids call us to the unknown, urging us to abandon what we are and to become something new. If a mermaid has appeared you it may indicate a need to be near water to draw upon the energies associated with the element of water.

Pegasus (The Winged Horse)

Pegasus comes to us from Greek mythology. He was born of the blood of Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Pegasus was concerned with sacred places and guarding them. He is the inspirer of rising above difficulties and teaches the importance of having quick and agile wisdom, as well as humility and knowing one's boundaries.  In modern times, Pegasus is seen as the symbol for the immortality of the soul, and as the carrier and protector that guards the spirit in its journeys into the astral plane. Pegasus is the power of the creative spirit in all of us. Pegasus is the horse of the Muses and in the service of poets. He is the symbol of inspiration, and of the beauty we bring to our life and the lives of others. Pegasus, calls you to create, in music, in poetry, in writing, in art and to share your expressions of beauty.

Key Meanings:

• Protector
• Gives inspiration
• Connected to astral travel
• Boundaries
• Humility
• Emotion
• Connected to lightning wisdom
• Ability to fly over any situation

Phoenix

 

The Greek Phoenix is a bird-like creature, that lives  for 1000 years. Once that time is over, it builds its own funeral pyre, and throws itself into the flames. As it dies, it is reborn anew, and rises from the ashes to live another 1000 years.  Phoenix symbolizes immortality, reincarnation and eternal light, the Phoenix brings with it a desire for change.  When Phoenix comes it is likely that you are ready for a significant change, a renewal, a fresh perspective, or even a life-changing transformation.  ‘Arising from the ashes!’  (In ancient Egypt the Phoenix is called the Bennu Bird)

‘The bird proudly willing to burn,

So that he may live again,

Chooses the flames of fires

That burn the aged Phoenix

The nature stands still

Till a new young bird starts again,

and begins the legend of the Phoenix’.

Key Meanings:

• Keeper of the Fires of Creation
• Protector of all Fire
• Death and Rebirth
• Regeneration
• Connection to the Raven/ the Crow 

Unicorn

The ability to negate the effects of venom and poisons, the magick to make dreams become reality, connection to the spirits of the forest with its fauns and fairies.  The magick of the unicorn can effect the weather.  The legend of Zeus and the ‘horn of plenty’ may be the origin of the myth of the Unicorn.

Key Meanings:

• Purity
• Innocence
• Virginity
• Connection to weather patterns
• Connection to the forest spirits
• Relative of Pegasus
• Connection to the Faeries
• Often makes contact under blooming fruit trees

Wyvern

 

Revenge and retribution, creating protective barriers of fear as a defence. They can also symbolize envy, viciousness, war and pestilence. (Wyverns are heraldic dragons that look much like birds. They have two legs and a pair of wings. Sometimes these wings are depicted as ‘hands’, such that they can claps each other when the wings are folded. Wyverns are usually small and have wedge-shaped heads, but are sometimes depicted with smaller, more rounded heads. In addition to a beak-like jaw, which would be necessarily for the wyvern to carry food, the wyvern might also have a, a tail with a poison sting at the end of it.)

Sources:

http://209.240.155.221/animals-mythical.html

http://spiritwalkministry.com/spirit_guides/mythic_animal_spirits

http://www.animalspirits.com/mythicallist.html