Thursday 12 May 2011

Magpies

For the past week a large magpie has flown into my garden each day to eat the bread I put out (crusts from my son's bread he won't eat!).So I thought I would take a look at the meaning of magpies:

Intelligence, Familiars, Occult Knowledge

A Magpie totem helps you use  whatever metaphysical or occult knowledge you have – no matter how incomplete it may be. The flip side is that Magpie people can become jacks of all trades, but masters of none – dabbling into everything.  Be careful to apply your intelligence to the task and take it to its completion.

Magpies have the ability to open up the doorways to the Spirit and Fairy Realms. Magpies have been familiars to witches and if you have one as a totem,it might have been your familiar in a past life. If this is the case, Magpie will be at your side permanently, helping you as it did in the past. However, again, be careful of using occult power for quick effects and not taking the time to complete training. Misuse of magic can have dire consequences

Magpie symbolic meanings are numerous and varied. This stands to reason because the magpie herself is a varied creature. Her colourful character is a delight to observe with symbolic eyes because she is so unpredictable, high-spirited and expressive.

When we observe the magpie's behaviours in nature, we can pick out many strong symbolic messages.

Among her many common attributes, here are a few magpie symbolic meanings:

Quick List of symbolic traits of the magpie:
  • opportunistic
  • intellect
  • perceptive
  • flashy
  • refined
  • communicative
  • social
  • deceptive
  • illusion
  • expressive
  • willful
The magpie's speech is symbolic of communication and creative expression. When we hear the magpie speak it is a message to us that we might need to listen to what is being spoken to us - listen with more attention. The chatter of the magpie is also a symbolic message that we may need to speak our minds more clearly....speak up, express our opinions, be creative with our spoken words.

The magpie's obsession with shiny things is symbolic of our tendency to chase after false ideas or perceptions. When the magpie comes into our lives it is often a reminder that we may have to re-evaluate our priorities. Are we chasing after unsuitable desires? Are we serving a false ideal? Are we putting materialism ahead of matters of the soul?

The magpie builds its home in the thickest "V" of trees. Forks or V's in nature are symbolic of gateways or paths into the spirit realm. In this fashion, the magpie asks us about our level of spiritual perception. Specifically, the magpie asks to keep an open mind in matters of the spirit. She also asks us where our spiritual foundation is and encourages us to open the gateways of higher (spiritual) vision.

Her plumage is also symbolic. With striking colouration, the magpie is symbolic of flamboyance, expression, and glamour. When we see her, we do a double-take because her appearance commands our attention. This is a message for us to not hide ourselves away from the world. The magpie beckons us to reveal our brilliance (physical and otherwise) to the world. We are each composed of incredible beauty and grace - the magpie is a reminder that we must express these attributes outwardly in a glamorous display just as she does.

And just when we get to know the symbolic meaning of the magpie, she eludes us and leaves us guessing what she's all about. In nature she has been known to be shy and reclusive - yet in cities she is noted to be extremely sociable with humans. Typically, she is a scavenger...but she has also been witnessed taking down small birds and rodents - acting as a bird of prey (which is not her classification).

These and other oddities in her behaviour are symbolic of illusion and perception. The magpie's message here is that not all things are what they appear to be, and we should not set our judgements in stone. Further, this aspect of the magpie is a message that we do not have to be bound to perceptions. In other words, we may want to consider departing from our habitual behaviors and avoid being type-caste into a specific role.

Interesting food for thought!


Tansy
x


Sources
linsdomain.com
whatsyoursign.com

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