Symbol Dictionary: Animals T-Z
Tiger: According to Symbolic And Mythological Animals (1992) by J. C. Cooper, “In the East the Tiger takes the place of the Lion as the King of Beasts; it represents royalty, fearlessness, ferocity and wrath—Tigers of Wrath. It is always a power symbol.” In India the tiger represents the royal cast, Kshatriyas. In China it is considered the King of the Beasts and Lord of the Land Animals, embodying the Yang aspects of authority, courage, prowess, military might, and protection. The God of Wealth rides a tiger, as well as Chang Tao-ling (Taoist Pope). In opposition to the Celestial Dragon it becomes a yin symbol representing earth, lunar, and matter (while the dragon represents spirit). In Malaysia they were feared; in Sumatra they were powerful and friendly; in Java they were friendly; in South America they were shamanic animals; in Japan the tiger represents courage and warrior hero qualities; and Buddhism depicts it as anger, one of the Three senseless Creatures (money represents greed and deer love-sickness).
Toad: According to Symbolic And Mythological Animals (1992) by J. C. Cooper, “As an animal of the humid principle and one that appears and disappears, the toad is lunar in its symbolism but also represents resurrection. It can also depict evil, the loathsome and death.” The toad was associated with Ahriman, the evil power of greed, envy, avarice, and also fertility in Zoroastrianism; Christianity associated it with the Devil and witches; Celts also believed it to be evil; in China it became a lunar symbol of the yin longevity, wealth, and money-making, and unassailability; In Polynesia it represents death; indigenous North Americans believed it was the Dark Manitou of evil; but in Mexico it represents earth and the toadstool is the sacred mushroom of enlightenment.
 |
Turtle/Tortoise: According to Symbolic And Mythological Animals (1992) by J. C. Cooper, “As a creature of the waters the tortoise is lunar in its symbolism and typifies the creative powers, fecundity, regeneration, time. As the beginning of creation it frequently is depicted supporting the world.” In Hinduism, the tortoise supports the elephant (solar/masculine principle) who carries the world; in China the tortoise also supports the world, with its four feet becoming the four corners of the earth; in Japan the Cosmic Mountain and abode of the Sennin is supported by the |
Unicorn: A mythical horse with a single horn in the middle of its forehead represents this symbol, possibly originating from the Babylonian dragon-beast of a horse’s body, lion’s legs, scales of a snake, and a horned head. This creature may have appeared as a bull in spring, struggling with the lion of summer, similar to the emblem of the lion and unicorn (bull seen in profile) of the British coat of arms. Walker asserts that the unicorn is a “Classic symbol of the phallic horse deity, or sacred king incarnate in a horned horse.” The unicorn is often seen in religious art with the Virgin Mary. John Bradner, in Symbols Of Church Seasons And Days (1997), states, “According to legend the only way to capture a unicorn was to lay a trap for it, which would be a virgin seated where the unicorn was accustomed to run. The unicorn would stop and go to her and lay its [horned] head in her lap. Christian writers made this an allegory of the Annunciation to the Virgin and the Incarnation of Christ, born of a Virgin.” See UMS Wizards, Magical Creatures And Adepts course.
Whale: According to Symbolic And Mythological Animals (1992) by J. C. Cooper, “also called Whinlepoole, the whale symbolizes the power of the waters and hence regeneration, but it is also the engulfing grave.” The Ainu of Japan consider the whale the God of the Sea and the whale occurs throughout Inuit legends and festivals.
Wolf: “Although the general symbolism of the wolf is one of evil, destructiveness and devouring, its fierce qualities can also be protective and therefore venerated,” according to Symbolic And Mythological Animals (1992) by J. C. Cooper. The Egyptian god Upuat or Ap-Uat can be depicted as a wolf, as well as Khenti Amenti, Opener of the Way; in Zoroastrianism Ahriman, symbol of human evil is depicted as a wolf; in Celtic tradition the King of Ireland was descended from a wolf and Cormac, and are often considered helpful animals; in Scandinavian, the wolf is ambivalent; in Japan it is admired for its ferocity, tenacity, and swiftness among the Ainus. The wolf is the totem animal of Greek Sun God Apollo
Lycaeus. See Dog.