Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans - Sandra Kynes 2016

Heron: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron
The Profiles

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

The great blue heron is the largest of the North American species. Specially shaped vertebrae allow herons to curl their necks into an S shape for aerodynamic flight. The heron also has a high percentage of photoreceptors in its eyes, allowing it to hunt at night. The little green heron is one of a few birds that uses tools to catch prey. It floats light objects such as feathers, insects, or pieces of bread on water to lure fish to the surface, where they are easier to snatch.

The name heron is believed to come from the Old English hragra, the pronunciation of which was said to imitate the sound of these birds.⁸⁰ Up until the seventeenth century, herons were known as henshaws and heronshaws.⁸¹

Heron hawking was a popular sport in England and parts of Europe that involved the release of hawks or falcons to capture a heron. In the early days of the sport, an outing ended with the heron as dinner (they were considered a delicacy). By the mid-nineteenth century, the sport had become a competition that drew crowds to watch a pair of falcons spiral down to the ground with a captured heron. The bird was then banded with a brass ring bearing the name of the falcon club and released unharmed.

In Egypt, the heron was a symbol of abundance and blessings. In India, a heron landing on the roof of a house was considered good luck.

Magical Workings

Believed to possess the power of the otherworld, heron is an ally for shamanic work and traversing the astral realm. Call on this bird for guidance when seeking your life path and for developing psychic skills. Heron teaches the importance of focus for introspection or any type of self-work that fosters transformation.

As a symbol of abundance, heron can bring opportunities and security. In addition, it is an aid for cultivating assertiveness. This bird teaches the power of keeping secrets and the wise use of authority. Turn to heron for help in unlocking your magical abilities. Call on its power and connection with the moon by placing an image or figurine of it on your altar during esbat rituals.

Make Connection

To connect with heron energy, go to a place where you can wade in shallow water. It only needs to be ankle-deep. If you choose a swimming pool, go at a time when it is quiet and few people are around. As an alternative, especially in winter, the bathtub in your home works just as well. If possible, do this at twilight, an in-between time of day when heron likes to hunt. Slowly step into the water and then stand as still as you can. Visualize an image of this bird. It will make itself known through a majestic presence at the core of your body, and you will feel the liminality of the in-between time and space of heron.

Associations

Zodiac: Capricorn

Element(s): Air, fire, water

God: Amun

Solar system: Moon

Magical beings: Fairies

Bird Identification

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Size: 38 to 54 inches

Wingspan: 65 to 79 inches

Comparative size: Goose to very large

Description: Long neck and legs; thick, daggerlike bill; overall slate-blue with lighter to grayish areas on the shoulders and breast; white forehead and top of head; black crown, crest, and legs; during breeding season, both males and females develop long plumes on the head, neck, and back, giving them a shaggy appearance

Range: From coastal Alaska throughout most of the United States, through Mexico and Central America

Habitat: Fresh and saltwater marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakes

Eggs: Pale blue

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Also known as: Green-backed heron

Size: 16 to 19 inches

Wingspan: 25 to 27 inches

Comparative size: Crow

Description: Short, yellow legs; thick neck; broad, rounded, dark gray wings; long, daggerlike bill; deep green back; chestnut neck and breast; dark cap often raised into a short crest

Range: Throughout the eastern United States through the plains states; Pacific Northwest coast through California, parts of the Southwest, Texas, the Gulf Coast, Mexico, Central America, and part of South America

Habitat: Wooded ponds, marshes, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries

Eggs: Pale green to bluish

Collective noun(s): A colony, a hedge, a heronry, a sedge, or a siege of herons

80. Fraser and Gray, Australian Bird Names, 64.

81. Wells, 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, 106.