Saturday, March 19, 2011

Celebrating Frog: The Totem of the Shrine

Frog is the Shrine Totem for The Altar of the Arcane Song. My Sister-in-Light Selene Lilitu and I both have always had a natural affinity for, attraction to and attunement with Frog. She loves its attributes of luck (blessings), fertility, healing, joy and magick.
I love its attributes of rebirth and renewal, metamorphosis, transformation, change and balance. We both love how wise its eyes appear to be, even the little, cute ones. Frog is the anticipation and adventure of infinite astral seas, oceans and waters, while remaining centred, grounded in and shielded by earth (good ol' dirt and mud) ^_^

Faemore

Photobucket

Photobucket
Frogs can live as long as forty years, with an average life span of four to fifteen years depending on species and habitat.

Frog is a sign of new directions in life. It can make the quick and effortless leap from one stage or state of consciousness to another. Frog is amphibious. This translates
to "double life" because amphibians dwell on the land and in the water, disappearing
in autumn and reappearing in spring. Frog signifies awakening energy, creation and resurrection, because it changes from an egg (the symbol of life) to a tiny tadpole polliwog form to the stage of metamorph to that of the full-grown frog.

Faemore

I had a dream about a frog once. He was a great fat frog, dark forest green and cobalt blue with black eyes deep as the ocean. I was standing naked, waist deep in a stream at dawn and he hopped onto a rock in front of me and looked at me with a knowing that was more profound than any I had ever seen. I reached out to touch him, and he jumped into the water. At first I was afraid that I had frightened him away, but then he bobbed to the surface, and beckoned me to follow. He led me downstream. The going was easy, the gentle current helped propel me along and keep up with my guide. He led me dowstream for a long time. The morning sun was warming my back as he finally hopped out of the water onto a low bank. I was not tired, the water had been refreshing and smooth. I climbed onto the bank and was met by the most beautiful clearing in the jungle with an old white stone temple and a back drop of the bluest sky I had ever seen. I looked down at my guide, who blinked up at me once and then was gone. I awoke feeling peaceful and alive.

That was a few months before I came to the Wiccan Path, just after my cat Dori had come into my life. She later revealed herself as my familiar. Frogs have always represented magick, insight and wisdom to me, as well as good fortune and blessing. My beautiful dark green and blue frog has never visited me again, but I am certain he will the next time I am to embark on a journey of rebirth and renewal.

Selene

Photobucket

Photobucket
Frogs can be found all over the world with the exception of Antarctica and Iceland.

Frogs were often thought of as a main ingredient in many witches’ brews and were thought to contain powerful medicine. Frog is a creature of cycles, of the earth and water, adaptable and agile. The Lucky Frog Totem possesses the following virtues: Good luck, transformation, creativity, adaptability, sudden change, fertility, healing, movement, metamorphosis, joy, wisdom, agility, wisdom to know when to rest and re-charge, re-birth, and magick.

Faemore

Photobucket

Photobucket
Frogs were the totems and familiars of Medieval witches because ancient traditions associated the frog with Hecate.

Frog is connected to the element of water and the cleansing, purifying powers of rain. It teaches us to honor our tears, for they cleanse the soul. All water rites belong to Frog, and it is associated with all rites of initiation connected with water, the moon and moon goddesses. Just as a human being learns about the element of water first in the mother's womb, Frog spends early life in the water as a tadpole. Frog, like ourselves, is a polywog in the fetal waters, and only learns to hop after it experiences the world of fluidity. It has the power to summon rain by singing a certain song. People who possess the power of Frog are good mediums, healers and seers.

This power enables them to cleanse their environment from any negative influences, and it is used to cure the sick from their illnesses. Frog is always the messenger announcing the beginning of new life. If Frog leaps into your dreams, it may be the time for you to take a break, pay more attention to yourself, and cleanse yourself. This includes freeing yourself from circumstances in your life that are unpleasant and hard, a struggle and a burden. It is important to create a space for new life.

The transformation into adulthood prepares Frog for its power to call in the waters of the skies. In knowing the element of water, Frog can sing the song that calls the rain to Earth. When the ponds are dry, Frog calls upon the Thunder Beings to cleanse and replenish the Earth with water. Like Frog, we are asked to know when it is time to refresh, purify, and refill the coffers of the soul. Frog speaks of new life and harmony through its rain song. Call to Frog and find peace in the joy of taking time to give to yourself. A part of this giving is cleansing yourself of any person, place, or thing that does not contribute to your new state of serenity and replenishment.

Faemore

Photobucket

Photobucket
The Wends, a primitive Slavic tribe, hold newly born children are brought by frogs and not the stork.

Frog has been a Goddess symbol of rebirth since the earliest Neolitic times. It is a symbol of initiation and transformation. It is a symbol of cleaning out negativity and distractions and replacing them with positive energy. It is a symbol of joy in a new cycle of life. It is a symbol of being reborn after a period of seeming-death, when undergoing an initiation of transformation. It is a symbol of beginning a new life cycle by dispensing with negative thoughts and deeds. Frog is transformation and perspective.

Frog's personality is one that seeks and enjoys change. Frog has a good natural balance between the conscious and unconscious mind. It is an articulate individual and it loves any chance to speak its mind. It can be a persuasive being who can change the minds of others. If Frog appears, we should listen for new opportunities and know that our ability to persuade and influence people to participate in new beneficial endeavors is very great right now. Frog's appearance heralds an awakening of the unique and creative powers of our own voice.

Faemore

Photobucket

Photobucket
Frog has been associated with the Faerie Realm.

The ability to live in Water and on Earth speaks of passing between the worlds; the balance of the mundane and the spiritual realms is one of Frog's lessons. Diving to
the depths of a pond, Frog can teach you to retrieve hidden wisdom and ancient mysteries. The ability to enter in and out of this state also indicates an adaptable nature and a readiness for sporadic and sudden changes. The watery world speaks of emotion, empathy, and spiritual rebirth. Frog will teach you the skills and benefits of regular meditative sessions, trance work, and working with lunar tides.

Divination, clairvoyance, and sensory perceptions are all areas Frog can instruct you in as guide or teacher. Once Frog has had its time in the Waters of Consciousness, bathed in the refreshing rains, and transformed itself in the initiatory process, it hops onto shore to bask in the sun and dine on the bounty life offers. When we can honestly look at all aspects of ourselves, we find that our true beauty shines, like the sun after healing rain.

Frog unites the elements of water and earth, bringing joy, delight and healing in its singing and hopping, and leading you to the sacred spring from which you may be refreshed and renewed. A companion of the rain spirits, Frog can help you develop your sensitivity to others, to healing and to sound through your skin and your whole body and aura. Nothing is what it appears to be, and life is fun! There is a hidden beauty and a hidden power in all of nature, and as you open yourself to this you will feel close to Goddess and close to both the earth and to water. Look for the beauty and the magic behind appearances.

Blessed be,
Faemore and Selene