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

Ibis: Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, White-Faced Ibis
The Profiles

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)

The ibis is a tall wading bird that has been hunted for food as well as for its feathers. Once called the black curlew, the glossy ibis is fairly new to North America and expanded its range north along the Atlantic Coast in the early nineteenth century.⁸⁴ The ibis is easily confused with herons and storks, and it does not help that the only stork native to the Americas was originally called the wood ibis. Ibis belong to the family called Threskiornithidae, which is Greek and means “sacred bird.” ⁸⁵

In Egypt, this bird was sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom, who was usually portrayed with the head of an ibis. In addition to ibis statuettes as votive objects, the birds themselves were often sacrificed to serve as offerings to him. The Egyptians believed that the ibis possessed the gift of foreknowledge because its migration seemed to herald the flooding of the Nile, which brought renewal and abundance. Mummified ibises have been found in tombs, perhaps as a symbol of rebirth. The Greeks associated the ibis with Hermes, one of the Olympian gods and messenger to other deities.

The crescent shape of this bird’s beak is the source of its association with the moon. The length of its stride was said to be the basis for the ancient measurement called a cubit. The ibis was also said to have the power to kill a crocodile with one of its feathers.

Magical Workings

Known as the sacred bird of the Nile, ibis can help us connect with ancient wisdom. Call on its lunar association to boost the energy of moon magic and esbat rituals. Invite this bird to strengthen spells for drawing abundance into your life as well as for protection. It is also an aid for healing and supports well-being.

As a bird of Thoth, inventor of writing and patron of scribes, ibis is an aid for all forms of communication including human, animal, and spirit. Ibis is also a bird of prophecy and its power can be invoked to help develop sensitivity and divination skills. Place an image or figurine of ibis on your altar when seeking enlightenment.

Make Connection

To connect with ibis energy, go outside on the night of a crescent moon. Gaze at the moon for a few minutes and then close your eyes. Hold the image of the moon in your mind and then visualize ibis in the sky with the moon tucked into the curve of its bill. Feel the power of this great bird. Carried by moonlight, the energy of its blessings gently surrounds you. Remember how this feels and you will be able to contact ibis whenever you need it.

Associations

Zodiac: Cancer

Element(s): Air, water

Goddesses: Isis, Maat

Gods: Hermes, Thoth

Solar system: Moon

Bird Identification

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Size: 18 to 25 inches

Wingspan: 34 to 36 inches

Comparative size: Crow to red-tailed hawk

Description: Long, down-curved, dark gray-brown bill; long, black legs; shiny, dark-green wings and tail; dark purple to black upper body, head, and neck, but rusty-red during breeding season

Range: Along the East Coast from Maine to the Gulf Coast of Texas

Habitat: Marshes, estuaries, coastal bays, flooded fields, and swamps

Eggs: Greenish-blue to dark blue

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)

Size: 22 to 27 inches

Wingspan: 33 to 36 inches

Comparative size: Red-tailed hawk to goose

Description: All-white body; tips of wings black; long, down-curved, reddish-orange bill; reddish-orange face; long, gray legs that are reddish during breeding season

Range: East Coast from North Carolina south throughout Florida and along the Gulf Coast west to Texas, Mexico, and Central America

Habitat: Coastal freshwater, saltwater, and brackish marshes, mudflats, mangrove swamps, and lagoons; away from the coast in ponds or flooded fields

Eggs: Greenish-white with dark blotches

White-Faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

Size: 22 to 25 inches

Wingspan: 34 to 35 inches

Comparative size: Red-tailed hawk

Description: Long, down-curved, dark gray-brown bill; white band of feathers around face; red eyes and legs; chestnut-bronze all over; streaks on head and neck in winter

Range: From Oregon and sometimes as far east as Minnesota, south through California to Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico

Habitat: Salt and freshwater marshes and brushy coastal islands

Eggs: Pale blue-green

Collective noun(s): A colony, a congregation, or a stand of ibis

84. Caroline Hill and Ina Stradins, eds. American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America Eastern Region (New York: Dorling Kindersley, Limited, 2011), 12.

85. Murphy-Hiscock, Birds: A Spiritual Field Guide, 102.