Dog

I was looking at What's Your Sign.com and found this on the dog. When we look into history and discover dog meaning and symbolism we see that it is connected to the supernatural realms. The dog has long been considered a link between the physical and non-physical dimensions. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic and other cultures have all described the dog as a sacred guardian of the Otherworlds that being, realms outside our daily experience. If you hear of dogs being symbols of death it means that they are the guardians of temporary domains, and can even serve as spirit guides in non-physical journeys.

Anubis, for example,was the Egyptian god whose charge is to insure safe transitions from the physical world into the Afterlife. With the head of a jackal, Anubis dons the super-powerful sensory perception of the dog. Further, that dog connection represents the qualities of protection, guidance, loyalty and adherence to the flow of unseen spiritual energy. In this ancient light, we get distinct impressions of security, guardianship, and protection.

In Celtic symbolism, dogs represent heroism. They embody heart-pounding attributes such as courage, persistence, and virility. A big part of this is due to a Celtic dog's role in hunting. Dogs were even trained by the ancient Celts to assist in war. Here we see that same thread of defense, protection and action for the good of the clan. An interesting paradox is that Celtic dogs are also symbolic of healing. They are often associated with Nodens, who was a Celtic god of nutritive waters, hunting and healing. Dogs have also been portrayed with Sucellus, the Celtic god of protection and provision from an agricultural view.

Native American tribes have long depended upon the dog for their guidance and assistance in everyday chores such as agriculture efficiency and hunting. In fact, when horses were introduced to North America by the Spaniards, the term "sky dogs" was dubbed for horses because they were as helpful as their canine allies. To Native Americans, dogs convey symbolism of assistance, fidelity, community, protection, friendship and communication.

To the Chinese, dogs are also considered a harbinger of friendship. The legendary Fu Dog is considered a guardian of sacred spaces and embodies concepts of protection. Dogs are considered very auspicious. In Asian wisdom dogs are symbols of good luck, loyalty, obedience and prosperity.

The field of Alchemy also involves dogs and sometimes wolves which is associated with Mercury in alchemical wisdom. This is because Mercury is easily fused with other metals. This hints to amicable bonds, that being, friendship, and ties that bind with ease. Mercurial dogs are also symbolic of transition, intelligence, and easy flow through the processes of transmutation.  

I had a Bichon Frise when I was younger.  Every time he went to lay down close to my dad while he was on the computer, he would get his poor little curly tail run over by  dads chair. But being that resilient, forgiving, loyal bundle of fluff that he was, he always came back because that's what dogs do. People used to say he looked like a little white snowflake.  I miss him and I just couldn’t do a blog post about dogs without including good old Cujo.  That was his name, by the way.  My dad chose it.

Dog Symbolism includes: Fidelity, Loyalty, Assistance, Intelligence, Obedience, Protection, Community, Cooperation, Resourcefulness, Communication, and Sensory Perception