Wiccans do not use actual animals or creatures in our rituals or workings, since this would be contrary to our Laws, but many witches like to use their spirit or invocation in magick since animals have very special properties. Like children, animals are not shackled by the constraints of science or opinion, they understand only that which is manifest in their existence, and as such are open to the magickal. Many witches have animal familiars and often report how their cat seems attracted to the power of the circle, or their dog always seem to know when their owners are about to arrive home. It’s common knowledge that pets sometimes seem to sense things we cannot see, glaring at some invisible being, hackles raised, in the same way your baby may seem to spot something in the air and giggle at it.
Just as many witches have a spirit guide, many are in tune with animal spirits, this is particularly true of witches who have a deeper affinity for creatures rather than humanoid beings.
Like everything else in witchcraft, different animals have different correspondences, and can be invoked for many different things – here are some of those properties.
Aardvark
Finding hidden things.
Alligator/Croc
Initiation, power, patience, earth energy, hold on to money.
Ape
Communication, leading or controlling a group
Armadillo
Personal protection, empathy
Ant
Industry, community, craftsmanship
Birds
All birds are messengers from the divinities.
Badger
Tenacity and courage. The badger will teach you perseverance and endurance in the face of adversity. The badger is a powerful protector of both material possessions and ideals held close to your heart.
Barracuda
Making it on your own, being strong and independent
Bat
The bat is a messenger. The bat may bring a message from either the otherworld or your subconscious.
Bear
Strength and stamina.
Beaver
Corresponds to work, ambition, success and achievement
Bee
The bee is industriousness, hardworking and very family/clan oriented.
Boar
The boar is sacred. It is both cunning and ferocious.
Blackbird
Enchantment, work between the worlds
Black Widow Spider
Weaving a new fate (good or bad)
Blue Jay
Communication, magickal mimicry, guardian energy
Bobcat
Solitary Magick, psychic warning, secrets
Bull
Strength and potency, the bull is a symbol of mobile power
Buffalo
Use for connecting with the Mother, sacred ritual and prayer
Butterfly
If a butterfly is seen while vision questing, no negative energy will be in the immediate area.
Cat
The cat is a strong protector in confrontational situations. As a prowling animal, the cat is also a strong guardian of inner powers.
Chameleon
Changing environment, camouflage
Cheetah
Speed, flexibility, stamina, stealth
Chicken
Divination, fertility, health
Cougar
Cougar is a spectral figure that prowls the night, with yellow eyes burning bright, watching the story of Humanity unfold. Cougar gathers wisdom through experience and courage. With a chilling scream cougar pierces the veil between the worlds. Cougar is a loner and a messenger of the other worlds. The lesson cougar brings is the proper use of power and cougar guides us to the quest within. Cougar’s element is Earth, and cougar is an emissary and leader.
Coyote
Playfulness, trickery, humour, fair mindedness, justice
Cow
The Goddess Aspect, prosperity, sacred to Hathor
Crane
The crane is the bird of the Moon, magic, shamanic travel, secrets and reaching deep mysteries. The crane also represents the logical mind as well as patience while healing occurs.
Crow
The Crow is a symbol of conflict, war and death. Its skill is wisdom with trickery. It is also a protector of scared records.
Deer or Stag
The white Stag is a messenger from the otherworld, following the animal often leads to a quest through the Otherworld. The deer represents grace, swiftness and gentleness.
Dog
Underworld hounds are white with red ears, they hunt and punish the guilty, they represent tracking skills and companionship as well as Loving protection.
Dolphin
They represent harmony, balance and traveling from rough to smooth waters.
Donkey
Determination, common sense, infertility, the land
Dove
Love, sex. fertility, peace
Dragon (lizards)
Wealth, raw powers of nature, the treasures of the unconscious mind.
Dragonfly
The dragonfly has a beautiful, jewel-like coloring. The bright colors take time to develop, reflecting the idea that with maturity our own true colors come forth. Structures in their shells scatter and refract light, making them look iridescent green and blue. This ability to reflect and refract light and color has caused it to be associated with magic and mysticism. Dragonfly’s magic is the power of light and all that has ever been associated with it. In Japan, dragonflies represent new light and joy. Dragonflies remind us that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. Life is never quite the way it appears, but is always filled with light and color.
Eagle
Wisdom and long life, Keen sight, Knowledge of magick and swiftness, the eagle is a strong ally when traveling into new territory.
Eel
Adaptability, Wisdom, Inspiration and defense.
Elephant
Wisdom, intelligence, strength, lesdership, loyalty, memory, longevity
Fish – Fertility, perseverance, providence
Fox
Cunning, slyness, Perceptive. Madra-rua makes fools of those who chase it.
Frog
Shamanism, Magick, Nasty illusion with something wonderful hidden inside.
Goat
Fidelity, immortality, divination, magick, libido
Hare
The Moon, fecundity, fertility, re-birth, sacred to Eostre, Aphrodite and Eros
Hawk
Clear sightedness, teaches how to receive and interpret inner and outer signals.
Heron
Of the Moon and magick, shamanic travel, secrets, the logical mind, through the heron one can find magick in nature.
Horse
Stamina, endurance, and faithfulness, the horse was a faithful guide to the otherworlds.
Lion
Protection, strength of spirit, boldness
Magpie
Omens and prophecies.
Mouse
Secrets, cunning, shyness, the ability to hide. If you see a mouse in a vision quest–pay attention to details.
Otter
Enjoying life, recovering from a crisis, faithfulness, friendliness, and being helpful to others. The otter provides valuable assistance in the otherworlds.
Owl
Teaches us to silently observe life, and gather information to gain understanding.
Oxen
Agriculture
Pig
Renewal
Rabbit
Faery magic, banishing phobias, quick thinking
Raven
The battle cry of an upcoming life crisis, it is a powerful protector if one can gain its favor.
Robin
Harbinger of spring, the fire element, sacred to Thor
Seal
Weather Magic
Sheep
Farming, determination
Snail
Birth, luck, divination
Snakes
Wisdom, reincarnation and cunning. If you see a snake while vision questing, be prepared for the power of transformation to enter your life. The snake represents the life-death-rebirth cycle.
Squirrel
In-gathering, storage
Swan
Helps to interpret dream symbols, smoothes transitions and spiritual evolution.
Tiger
Protection, magic
Whale
The water element, rejuvenation, initiation
Wolf
Loyalty, thirst for knowledge, solitary, perseverance, ruled by the Moon.
Wren
The wren’s song was used in divination, the power of strengthening and cleansing.