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

Jay: Blue Jay, Steller’s Jay
The Profiles

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

It is a well-known fact that these birds love acorns and have a habit of caching them, which has aided in the reforestation of oak trees. Because of this, jays were believed to be the souls of Druids in British folklore. In Native American legend, jays carried messages between the realms and were associated with underworld journeys. French folklore says that the jay’s piercing call is an omen of good things to come.

According to some sources, the name jay comes from the Old French jai, meaning “chatterer,” a word often used in reference to a talkative person.⁸⁶ Other sources note that the name comes from the Latin gaius or gaia, which was a name used for both the jay and magpie.⁸⁷ In the past, the English word jay meant a silly person, and a jaywalker was a rustic bumpkin who did not understand the ways of the city. While these birds may be noisy chatterers, they understand the world around them and use this knowledge to their advantage.

Named for German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, the Steller’s jay is actually louder than other jays and often mimics hawks. Blue jays also imitate hawks, and in captivity they mimic humans and cats, as well. Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems. These birds are protective of their families and have been observed taking care of older members unable to fend for themselves. Like their cousin the crow, jays mob predators or other potentially dangerous intruders to their territory.

Magical Workings

Jay’s association with the underworld makes it an appropriate bird to grace a Samhain altar. Also call on it for guidance in otherworld journeys or for travel in the astral realm. Jay provides a connection between the worlds and aids in interpreting prophecies. As a bird of the forest, it can be instrumental in connecting with woodland energy and spirits.

This bird supports skill development, especially psychic abilities with an emphasis on learning to use talents for the common good rather than private gain. Call on jay for help with assertiveness or when you need to face personal fears. Ask for its help to boost magic spells, especially those relating to luck. Jay is also an aid when seeking higher knowledge and understanding how to use power wisely.

Make Connection

To connect with the energy of jay, hold an acorn between your palms, close your eyes, and visualize this bird. If you don’t have an acorn, use a picture of one. When the image in your mind is clear and strong, recall the sound of this bird’s piercing noise. After you hear the call say: “Jay, Jay, bird of gray and blue; I bury this acorn in honor of you.”

Dig a small hole, plant the acorn, and repeat the incantation twice more. Ideally, plant the acorn outside, but if necessary, it can be buried in a pot with a houseplant. If you are working with a picture of an acorn, burn it and bury the ashes. After this, whenever you want to connect with jay, hold an acorn or a picture or figurine of the bird and bring the sound of his call into your mind.

Associations

Element(s): Air, earth

Sabbat(s): Samhain

Goddess: Gaia

God: Mars

Tree: Oak

Solar system: Mercury

Magical beings: Fairies, woodland spirits

Bird Identification

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Size: 10 to 12 inches

Wingspan: 13 to 17 inches

Comparative size: Robin to pigeon

Description: Gray-blue crown and crest; various shades of blue, black, and white upperparts; bright blue wings and tail with white and black bands; black across throat and around head; off-white or gray lower breast and belly; black bill, legs, feet, and eyes

Range: Mainly east of the Rocky Mountains in southern Canada and throughout the eastern United States

Habitat: All types of forests especially oak, near edge of woods rather than deep forest; also common in suburban and urban areas

Eggs: Bluish or light brown with brownish spots

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Size: 12 to 13 inches

Wingspan: 16 to 17 inches

Comparative size: Pigeon

Description: Large, charcoal-black head with prominent triangular crest; blackish back and breast; deep blue belly, rounded wings, and long, full tail; long bill with slight hook; coloration varies throughout its range

Range: From coastal Pacific Northwest south through northern California and the Rocky Mountains into Central America

Habitat: High mountain slopes and coniferous forests of pine and oak; also common around campgrounds, parklands, and backyards

Eggs: Bluish-green spotted dark brown, purplish, or olive

Collective noun(s): A band, a party, or a scolding of jays

86. Wells, 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, 116.

87. Geoffrey W. Arnott, Birds in the Ancient World from A to Z (New York: Routledge, 2007), 78.