3.11.13

Alder Moon and Bear Goddess

Alder, called Fearn by the Celts, and pronounced fairin, is the tree of Spring (March - April) on the Celtic Tree Calendar, the fourth moon/month in the Celtic year, coinciding with the Spring Equinox. It is a time of new growth and rebirth, for finding a balance (duality) between solar and lunar duplicity, work and play, standing up for rights or walking away, making spiritual decisions, magic relating to prophecy and divination, alchemical tradition within the Work, self-knowledge and transformation, and getting in touch with your own intuitive processes and abilities. Alder is a gateway to the otherworlds as well as being a fae tree. It is an excellent companion for otherworld working and journeying. Alder can empower you with the freshness of spring. Its magic is quite dark and extremely powerful . It has many uses, including using it as a defensive shield, and to command the four winds or elements.

MotherBear and StarChild. Women, Shamanism and Bear Medicine.

In Celtic Astrology the animals for alder are fox and bear, whose Gaelic name is Art (pronounced as AiRCH) (Cutios is the Celtic name for this season and means windy time). In my case, they could be my totem and elemental animals. As soul sister Adrienne explained to me... the totem is a guide, the elemental is the protector, the one that you give jobs to do. Bear, a powerful pagan symbol, heralds awakening the strong force of the unconscious. Bear hibernates in the cold dark months of the year that Wolf rules over, allowing him or her access to the unconscious in order to blend intuition and instint leading to forge wisdom and personal power. Bears know instinctively when the time is right and where to go. In ancient hieroglyphs and carve markings, the bear is thought to be the liaison, or Great Communicator between earth and sky. Bear is linked to trees, considered to be natural antennas, joining the heavens and the Earth. Duplicitous bear is an alchemical animal and a natural healer. 
Bears comprise the family Ursidae. Bear people are primitively powerful, courageous, playful and extrovert with an inherited sixth sense, they are sensitive to the mystical side of life and very connected to their native roots. They are extremely protective of their loved ones, have a great sense of adventure and like to roam the land.

Celtic Bear Goddess Artio equivalent was the Greek Goddess Artemis, the Spring Maiden Goddess of the wild, the untamed, for Aries. The name could be possibly related to Greek árktos ‘bear’ (from PIE *h₂ŕ̥tos). The Alder Moon, April's Full Moon, Pink Moon or Ostara Moon is symbolic of rebirth in the cycle of life, death and rebirth, which is the maiden arquetype that the Moon Goddess of Spring represents, the maiden aspect of the Goddess, the Triple Goddess in her maiden form. Constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor represent goddess Artemis.

Bear Constellation - Ursa Major

The birthstone is Ruby which symbolises freedom from worry, brilliance and innocence.  Ruby is used to attract protection, strength, power, joy and wealth.

Pink Moon by Jackie Morris Artist

A Silence Lake Intimacy by Jackie Morris Artist

Secret Painting by Jackie Morris Artist

My title: The Spring Maiden and Bear

The Guardians by Jackie Morris Artist

The Guardians (with songbirds) by Jackie Morris Artist



Artio. Early Contiental Celtic Bear-Goddess. She was worshipped in the North-East of Gallia. The bronze statue of Muri shows her as a woman carrying in one hand a bowl, in the other flowers and fruits; next to her sits a bear under a tree. She was found mentioned in inscriptions in the Bern region (Switzerland).


The White Bear by Ellie Kirby

Arktoi or Bear Girl

A Polar Bear's Tale by Lucy Campbell


The  bear is a profound Native American symbol of majesty, freedom and power.






The truly brave are soft of heart. - Lord Byron

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario