Dogs & The Craft

Dogs are linked to the Craft in a number of ways.

Many Gods and Goddesses have been credited with having, or being given, dog characteristics including Jackal-headed Anubis; Nehalennia, Celtic dog-Goddess of sea traders; Ninkhatak, dog-Goddess of healing; Tuttrean, the Irish wolfhound Goddess who gave birth to two half-human dogs Bran and Sgeolan. Cerridwen transformed herself into a greyhound when chasing Gwion; and Hecate is accompanied by a black dog and horse. Dogs have long been taught to have second sight and the ability to sense death. Certainly, to hear the household dog howling when someone was ill evoked dread right into modern times. Dogs are also credited with being able to detect a person with bad intentions toward its 'family."

Despite these links to the Craft, dogs have not, generally speaking, been given the bad reputation that other animals were thought to have. Dog hair was thought to cure whooping cough, and even rabies. To be followed home by a strange dog was considered good luck, although a dog walking between a courting couple would indicate that a quarrel would soon take place.

Supernatural dogs, usually black, are said to haunt places in many parts of the world, and to see one usually a bad omen. Where I live Black Shuck, a giant-sized dog, is said to appear to warn of impending disaster, although some locals may now be confused as we actually have an enormous black dog of our own! Further south a black dog is said to appear in the car of lone drivers who are in danger of an accident.

"The signs are always with us, whether we take notice or not."

~from the Real Witches Year by Kate West

While we were in greece my spirit guide decided to show himself in the form of a large shaggy grey and black dog, who adopted our group and made sure that we got to and from where we were going safely all week.  On our mountain hike, I fell and scratched my back all to hell, and the adrenaline from that made my legs shaky and for a while I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it down ok... The dog was pacing back and forth by the fence waiting for us, and gently pushed me down to the ground and licked my back all over as soon as we got down to the bottom... It healed really quickly too.
I've always been drawn to dogs, I'd love to learn more about them as magickal beings.

hi Kathartica,

I, too am drawn in by dogs as of late. They are incredibly magical beings, and the more I find out, the more I know why one has chosen me....we have a section in the BOS on Dog Magick as well...if you get a chance, check it out!