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

Goose: Canada Goose, Snow Goose
The Profiles

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Although geese spend a lot of time on land, they are the quintessential waterbird in the life-giving aspect of the Goddess. As noted in Chapter 3, the flying-V formation of waterbirds inspired symbols of abundance and fecundity. They are also harbingers of the changing seasons.

Kept domestically in ancient Egypt, the goose was sacred to Isis, Osiris, and Horus. It was associated with the solar god Amun as well as the earth god Geb. In Egyptian creation myth, a goose laid the cosmic egg that became the sun. In India, the goose was also a solar symbol and a creature worthy of drawing the chariot of Vishnu. Also according to Hindu legend, the god Brahma rode a goose. In China, geese were believed to be messengers between heaven and earth.

Votive offerings in the form of geese figurines were left in the temples of Hera. Geese guarded the temple of Juno in Rome, which is not surprising as geese can be very aggressive, and through the centuries they have served as barnyard defense. A white goose was associated with Aphrodite and was sacred to Bertha, a Germanic earth goddess. In Norse mythology, Freya was noted as goose-footed. Geese were used widely as a sacrificial animal and a frequent offering to Odin at Mabon.

The familiar post-Thanksgiving dinner tradition of wishing on the turkey’s breastbone was a divination practice that centuries ago involved a goose bone. As today, two people would pull on a wishbone, and the one who ended up with the larger piece when it broke was in store for good luck. In medieval Germany, divination with the breastbone of a goose was used to foretell the severity of the coming winter. A male is called a gander, a young goose of either sex is a gosling, and a female is simply a goose.

Magical Workings

Domesticated for their eggs, meat, and feathers, geese symbolize comfort, abundance, and domesticity. Also on the home front, these birds represent love, marriage, fertility, and fidelity. Call on goose to aid you in any of these areas of life.

Goose also provides support for divination practices, especially interpreting messages and omens. In addition, this bird aids in working with spirits and can serve as a guide in otherworld journeys. Acting as a guardian, goose is instrumental for warning of danger. For travel in the physical world as well as other realms, call on it for protection and a safe return.

Although considered noisy by some, goose brings clear communication and fosters cooperation. Spiritually, it can be a guide for soul pathway working, deeply meaningful quests, and personal growth. Sparking inspiration and imagination, goose can help us find true freedom and happiness.

Make Connection

To connect with goose energy, go to a children’s zoo, farm, or a place in the wild where you can observe geese. Listen to their calls long enough that you can keep the sound in your mind, and then go to a place where you can sit quietly. Replay the sound in your mind and imagine that you are calling out to goose. Listen for a callback to acknowledge contact.

Associations

Zodiac: Capricorn (snow goose), Libra

Element(s): Air, earth, water

Sabbat(s): Mabon, Yule (snow goose)

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Bertha, Freya, Hera, Isis, Juno

Gods: Amun, Brahma, Geb, Horus, Odin, Osiris, Ra, Vishnu

Solar system: Sun

Moon phase: Full (snow goose)

Ogham: nGetal

Bird Identification

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Size: 30 to 43 inches

Wingspan: 50 to 70 inches

Description: Long neck; large webbed feet; wide, flat bill; black head, bill, and neck; white cheeks and chinstrap; cream to light tan breast and underparts; brown back

Range: Part of Alaska, throughout Canada and most of the United States, and part of the Mexican Gulf Coast

Habitat: Lakes, bays, rivers, marshes, grassy fields, and suburban or urban parks and lawns

Eggs: Creamy white

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)

Size: 27 to 33 inches

Wingspan: 52 to 54 inches

Description: Stout body; hefty pink bill with a dark line called a “grinning patch”; long, thick neck; white body; black wingtips; dark-colored snow geese are called blue geese and have a white face, dark brown body; white under the tail

Range: Canadian Arctic, Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, Gulf Coast, and southern California

Habitat: Near water on open grassy areas

Eggs: Creamy white, elongated oval

Collective noun(s): A drove, a flock, a gaggle, a skein, or a string of geese. There is also a wedge of Canada geese, a blizzard of snow geese, and a brood or a shoal of goslings.