Plant Magic: Wisdom from the Green World

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Why Did the Wren Have a Target on Its Back?

The wren is a small, plump bird that has a distinctive way of holding its short tail upright. Even though wrens live in close proximity to us, they are most often heard but not seen. They sing trilling melodies in duets that tend to be very loud at dawn.
      From ancient times to medieval Europe and Britain, the wren was almost universally believed to have great magical power. One of its feathers was said to be powerful enough to be used as an amulet against magic spells and misfortune. According to an ancient tale attributed to the Greek writer Aesop, this clever little bird outwitted an eagle in a contest to become the king of birds. 
      The wren was an honored bird and it was considered unlucky to kill one… except between Yule and New Year’s Day or often January 6th (Twelfth Night)—the dates provide a clue. In the British Isles and parts of France the custom was called The Hunting of the Wren, which eventually became centered on December 26th, St. Stephen’s Day.
      Although this tradition is often said to have come from Pagan practices, it seems odd that brutalizing such an esteemed bird would be cause for celebration. Reasons given for all the hoopla of hunting down wrens varies from ridding the world of evil forces because it carries a drop of the devil’s blood or because it was said to be a wicked fairy in disguise. In the early Christian times of Ireland, wrens were believed to be witches. This poor little bird was also blamed for betraying St. Stephen, thus causing his martyrdom.
      There is a theory that killing a wren at winter solstice could have been a proxy for human sacrifice to dark forces and bring back the sun, which could have gotten mixed up and mixed into evolving traditions. However, I can’t help thinking about how closely the wren was associated with the Druids. In fact, the Welsh word dryw means both “wren” and “druid.” And like the story of St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland—where they never existed—killing the wren was symbolic of ousting Pagan beliefs and practices. And doing it during the Yule revels that carried on until Twelfth Night was a fitting way to step on and stamp out old customs.
      The wren is a magical ally that brings strength, courage, and protection. It is an aid for opening the channels of communication for divination and is instrumental in connecting with spirits. It provides balance while awakening the power within. As a new Pagan custom, place a picture of a wren with a sprig of holly on your altar to honor this bird. 
      (Wren picture: The Avian Oracle, Crossed Crow Books.)


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The author of over a dozen books, Sandra is an explorer of history, myth, and magic. Her writing has been featured in SageWoman, The Magical Times, The Portal, and Circle magazines, Utne Reader and Magical Buffet websites, and various Llewellyn almanacs. Although she is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, she travels a solitary Goddess-centered path through the Druidic woods. She has lived in New York City, Europe, England, and now Maine where she lives in an 1850s farmhouse surrounded by meadows and woods.  

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