The horse
is an odd-toed ungulate mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The
horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed
creature into the single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate
horses around 4000 BC to 3000 BC on different continents.
Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of recreational
pursuits, as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture,
entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from
which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many
different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived
from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals.
Horses belonging to heroes, magical horses and
part-horse, part other-creatures were favorite amongst the stories. Horses have
always captivated our imaginations and have become woven into many legends and
myths. They can been found in folklore
and legends in a variety of cultures – from the horse Gods of the Celtic lands
to the pale horse found in Biblical prophecy.
Horses are known to be strong, freedom, swift, loyal, teamwork, journey
and courageous and are one of the more spiritual amongst the animal kingdom.
Horses might be used in magic. Divination was performed when a horse walked
over two spears placed in the ground in front of a temple. The pattern in which
the horse stepped over the spears – including whether or not a hoof touched the
spears – all helped the shamans determine the outcome of the matter at hand.
Even parts or images of horses have meaning. A horseshoe found along the side of a road
was particularly powerful, and was known to provide protection against disease.
But sometimes, a horse is
representative of doom and despair. Death is one of the Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse, and each of the four rides a different colored horse. In the Book of Revelations, Death arrives on a
pale horse.
During the Beltane season, there are Hobby
Horse celebrations in many parts of the United Kingdom and Europe. Wiccan
Beltane is a time of lust and sex and fertility, and few symbols are as
representative of this as the horse. In England, the hobby horse tradition goes
back to the island’s early Pagan roots, as the hobby horse welcomes in the
fertility season. These festivals are also
tied to early pre-Christian fertility rituals, as the horse symbolizes the
masculine energy of the season.
The Ehwaz rune e symbolizes inner
strength, transportation and
fortitude. It is a
rune of strength, will and determination to perform one’s duties diligently.
Ehwaz represents energy and motion and the force and power by which to achieve
. Specifically, this is the rune of the Horse, or Horses. The Ehwaz rune
represents ‘horsepower’ and the ability to work hard and carry heavy loads. Ehwaz is telling you to always be proud of
your achievements, whilst remaining humble. This will ensure that your travels
will be swift, positive and rewarding.
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is a grey eight-legged horse.
Sleipnir is God Odin's steed, the child
of God Loki. He is described as the best
of all horses and is sometimes ridden into the land of death or through the air.
Sleipnir was swift, sure footed and
could jump anything. Odin and Sleipner may have been the precursors to the
modern tale of Santa Claus and his flying reindeer. According to Icelandic folklore, the horseshoe
shaped canyon Asbyrgi located in northern Iceland was formed by Sleipnir's hoof. And a
statue of Sleipnir stands in Wednesbury, England, a town which takes its name
from the Anglo-Saxon version of Odin, Woden.
There
are also Skinfaxi and Hrimfaxi, the horses which bring
daylight and night. Skinfaxi possesses a brightly burning mane to lit up the
sky and Hrimfaxi sometimes sprinkles the ground with his spit as he runs
through the night sky, which explains the source of dewdrops.
But
this is not a complete list of horses in Norse lore, there is also Gyllir,
Lettfeti, Arvak, Silfrtopp..., the list could go on for dozens more.
For
Old World Pagans who live in the country or on a farm, the power of a horse may
be familiar. They may have used them in
the field or to ride to a friend's home.
A horse is loyal, swift, playful and strong. A horse shoe is a good symbol.
But
for Urban Pagans who live in the city or in a suburb, they may not have ever
met a horse or even seen a horse. I like
to think of horsepower in those cases.
The horsepower of a car, train or airplane can be use to ride to a friend's
home or to plow the driveway. A car can
be playful, travel, strong and comes in a variety of colors and sizes similar
to a horse. A wheel is a good symbol. Both require feed (gas) and
care (washing) - and both can kill you or cause other damage.
O Master - Feed me and care for me, and when the day's work is
done, provide me with shelter, a clean dry bed and a stall wide enough for me
to lie down in warm comfort. Amen
-OR-
O Master - Feed me and care for me, and when the day's work is
done, provide me with shelter, a clean dry slab and a garage wide enough for me
to rest in warm comfort. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment