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

Canary
The Profiles

Canary (Serinus canaria domestica)

Native to the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic off the coast of northern Africa, this unassuming little bird has a long history of fascinating people. The ancient Greek writer Homer identified the Canary Islands as the fabled Elysium, an enchanted otherworld and isle of the blessed. “Poised at the edge of the world, whose inhabitants knew no sorrow,” these little yellow birds symbolized cheerfulness.⁴⁸ Although the islands eventually became known as the Fortunate Islands, finding them overrun by wild dogs, the Romans dubbed them Insula Canaria, “Island of Dogs.” ⁴⁹ The Latin canaria is also the root for the English word “canine.”

Centuries later, the Canary Islands were rediscovered by the Spanish, who named the yellow birds for the islands. Captivated by the canary’s singing, the Spanish imported them to the Continent, where they became popular as pets throughout Europe. Four hundred years of selective breeding has resulted in over two hundred species of these charming domesticated songsters. At this point, not all breeds have the quintessential yellow color.

Folklore has portrayed this bird with double meanings. On the one hand, it was considered good luck to own a canary; however, if it sang after dark the owner would not have a long life. Also, if another person’s escaped canary entered your house and fluttered in front of a mirror, you could expect a death in the family. According to other legends, it was good luck for a bride to wear a canary feather, and if she owned one that had just laid eggs she could expect to have as many children as eggs in the bird’s nest. However, if she or her groom owned a canary and it died on their wedding day, it was advisable to postpone the event.

In North America, goldfinches and escaped domestic canaries are often mistakenly identified as the Atlantic canary (Serinus canaria), which can be found in the wild in parts of Europe. As pets, canaries are one of the most popular birds in the United States. My grandfather was a devoted canary owner. He kept its cage in the dining room and had an after-dinner custom of whistling a duet with it.

Magical Workings

Just as caged canaries were taken into coal mines to warn of dangerous gases, this bird may bring warnings to us and aid in developing intuition. Famous for singing, canary can help us find and activate our inner voices as well as other talents.

Originating on the fabled Fortunate Islands, this bird is instrumental in finding your soul path and exploring spirituality on a deeply meaningful level. Canary’s association with Elysium can also help us weave together connections with past lives, which can bring healing, harmony, and well-being. Let this bird guide you when you want to consecrate sacred space through singing and chanting.

Carve this bird’s name on a yellow candle and place it on your altar to invite happiness and beauty into your life. Symbolic of sensitivity, canary can guide you in matters of companionship as well as creativity. Call on canary’s help by using a pinch of saffron in spells for love and luck.

Make Connection

Connect with canary energy by burning dragon’s blood incense. The dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena draco) is also a native of the Canary Islands. Place a yellow candle with the word canary carved into it on your altar and light it along with the incense. Close your eyes for a few moments and bring the image of a canary into your mind. When the image is clear, open your eyes and sit in silence as you observe the smoke of the incense. As it rises, visualize it forming a connection between you and canary. If the color of the smoke seems to change to somewhat yellowish, canary is making contact with you.

Associations

Solar system: Sun

Bird Identification

Canary (Serinus canaria domestica)

Size: 4 to 8 inches

Wingspan: 9 to 11 inches

Comparative size: Sparrow to robin

Description: While the quintessential canary is solid yellow or white, their colors include blue, green, and cinnamon as well as a mix of variegated shades

Range: Households worldwide

Habitat: A clean cage with enough space to flit around

Eggs: Almost white, to blue, to greenish-blue; may have light reddish-brown or dark brown speckles

Collective noun(s): An aria or an opera of canaries

48. Robert G. Pasieczny, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Canary Islands (New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2013), 29.

49. Bill Sherk, 500 Years of New Words (Tonawanda, NY: Dundurn Press, 2004), 57.