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Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans
Connect to the Great Goddess through the Magic of Birds Birds have been symbolic of the Great Goddess for millennia, representing her power and connection to the mysteries of life, death, and spirit. Bird Magic teaches you how to commune with the Goddess, incorporating her into your magical life through exercises, crafts, meditations, and more. Working with bird magic helps awaken your intuition, tap into subtle energies around you, and strengthen your bond with the natural world. Providing an encyclopedic listing of more than sixty bird species―highlighting each one's history, folklore, location, appearance, and magical wisdom― Bird Magic shows how they can enhance your spiritual and personal life. With in-depth information, helpful illustrations, and hands-on guidance, this book will be your go-to reference for years to come.
312 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2016
9 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Kynes
56 books123 followersI describe myself as an explorer of myth and magic. My inquisitiveness has led me to investigate the roots of my beliefs and to integrate my spiritual path with everyday life. I like to develop creative ways to explore the world, which serves as the basis for my books. I have written nine books; numbers ten and eleven are in progress. In addition to writing, I am a yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 30, 2021
I bought this a few years ago at a bookstore going out of business sale and finally got around to reading it. Unfortunately it wasn’t what I was hoping for and I am kinda disappointed.
The first few chapters are speculation (presented as fact) that all of prehistoric Europe worshipped a single deity known as a Bird Goddess. This seemed a bit weird to me. I tend to roll my eyes anyway when people make claims about prehistoric beliefs because there’s so much that cannot be known.
The remaining two-thirds of the book is a list of common birds with some folklore, correspondences, and suggestions on connecting with them spiritually. I’m keeping the book in my collection for this part because it offers something a little different than most compendiums of folklore.
The first few chapters are speculation (presented as fact) that all of prehistoric Europe worshipped a single deity known as a Bird Goddess. This seemed a bit weird to me. I tend to roll my eyes anyway when people make claims about prehistoric beliefs because there’s so much that cannot be known.
The remaining two-thirds of the book is a list of common birds with some folklore, correspondences, and suggestions on connecting with them spiritually. I’m keeping the book in my collection for this part because it offers something a little different than most compendiums of folklore.
November 30, 2016
**I received a free eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This book really caught my attention because it's a topic I know nothing about, and the summary got me very curious.
The amount of information included here and how much research had to be done in order to create this is really admirable, so much was being shared in just one paragraph! I did have to re-read some parts to get it all in my head.
In Bird Magic we read about the role birds have played in the past and in different cultures, and the connection they have with the Ancient Goddess. Many people have considered birds to be special beings, and we get an amazing history lesson from these pages, and even some activities to get closer to birds and the Goddess.
Not only that, but this book also includes an encyclopedia with the description of many birds, along with their characteristics, magical workings and how to make a connection with them.
A really interesting and entertaining book, even if you don't know much about the topic.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
This book really caught my attention because it's a topic I know nothing about, and the summary got me very curious.
The amount of information included here and how much research had to be done in order to create this is really admirable, so much was being shared in just one paragraph! I did have to re-read some parts to get it all in my head.
In Bird Magic we read about the role birds have played in the past and in different cultures, and the connection they have with the Ancient Goddess. Many people have considered birds to be special beings, and we get an amazing history lesson from these pages, and even some activities to get closer to birds and the Goddess.
Not only that, but this book also includes an encyclopedia with the description of many birds, along with their characteristics, magical workings and how to make a connection with them.
A really interesting and entertaining book, even if you don't know much about the topic.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
June 12, 2019
Went into this one with some high hopes and was a bit let down. The bulk of the pages are filled with 3-4 page profiles on different North American bird species and a few birds from other geographic areas that have been introduced to North America whether by accident (Indian ringnecks and monk parakeets, anyone?) or deliberately as an attempt to control pests.
The history bits were interesting, especially the mentions of birds in Minoan art and symbolism. Your mileage may vary when it comes to the rituals and crafts. With the exception of the witches' ladder there wasn't really anything in those sections that I felt motivated to pursue.
Personally, I was hoping that there would be more with regards to the lore of bird species that are commonly kept as pets. A few short pages are devoted to the Budgerigar and that's pretty much it. Indian ringnecks (psittacula krameri) and Alexandrines have an extensive history of being associated with various deities in Hindu mythology. Shiva's wife Parvati, in her aspect of Meenakshi, is always depicted in art with a ringneck on her right shoulder with its beak next to her ear so it could whisper its knowledge of the 64 arts to the Goddess.
That's the kind of info I was hoping to find, the really interesting obscure stuff.
As a general guide to basic divination with birdies, this book may fit your bill, though.
The history bits were interesting, especially the mentions of birds in Minoan art and symbolism. Your mileage may vary when it comes to the rituals and crafts. With the exception of the witches' ladder there wasn't really anything in those sections that I felt motivated to pursue.
Personally, I was hoping that there would be more with regards to the lore of bird species that are commonly kept as pets. A few short pages are devoted to the Budgerigar and that's pretty much it. Indian ringnecks (psittacula krameri) and Alexandrines have an extensive history of being associated with various deities in Hindu mythology. Shiva's wife Parvati, in her aspect of Meenakshi, is always depicted in art with a ringneck on her right shoulder with its beak next to her ear so it could whisper its knowledge of the 64 arts to the Goddess.
That's the kind of info I was hoping to find, the really interesting obscure stuff.
As a general guide to basic divination with birdies, this book may fit your bill, though.
February 24, 2017
I was honestly really looking forward to this book. Goddesses AND birds!? I love those things. I took transit to my local witchy bookshop, was super excited to have this book in my hand, but I found it to be overall very underwhelming and poorly researched.
After the first 66 pages, it goes into bird descriptors a la Andrews' "Animal Speak", and this takes up the bulk of the 282 pages. That isn't a dealbreaker for me, but the lack of depth is. It falls victim to the lazy "In Native American legend", which is always a huge red flag. Please, put some effort into it. Which of the 500 nations did you get this information from? I thought at the very least, there would be something about ravens being common trickster animals in many Pacific North West Coast Indigenous nation's mythologies (Raven Tales?). There wasn't. Oh well. Next book.
After the first 66 pages, it goes into bird descriptors a la Andrews' "Animal Speak", and this takes up the bulk of the 282 pages. That isn't a dealbreaker for me, but the lack of depth is. It falls victim to the lazy "In Native American legend", which is always a huge red flag. Please, put some effort into it. Which of the 500 nations did you get this information from? I thought at the very least, there would be something about ravens being common trickster animals in many Pacific North West Coast Indigenous nation's mythologies (Raven Tales?). There wasn't. Oh well. Next book.
July 24, 2016
Beautiful, enchanting, magical. It's this and much more Bird Magic by Sandra Kynes published by Llewellyn Publications.
It's a powerful story of the Bird Goddess and the meaning of birds for culture all along the centuries. A wonderful study very appreciated by me, because it touched the most important cultures, from Greek to Latins passing through Egyptians, Celts, and many more other cultures.
What you can find in the book? Without to discovering too much of course this one is a book for a true believer. Believer of what? Of course of the power of the Bird Goddess and the messages able to be communicated by birds during our life.
The bird as goddess has always been represented in ancient times starting from the Prehistoric, Neolithic, when in caves men and women loved to represent little figurines of a Bird Goddess. With the time also The Egyptian with Isis gave to this Goddess the shape of a bird, like also Greek and other remarkable old cultures as the Indian one or the Celtic culture where the raven the crow and the eagle the God Lugh. Later Christianity represented with a dove symbol of peace the bird. Why all this interest for Bird?
Because substantially a bird has always been read as magical by man. A bird is able to flying, a characteristic unknown by man. We can fly thanks to airplanes, but we are not free to go where we would want to go just by ourselves.
A bird can goes in many places seeing the world under a complete and different aspect. A bird is a messenger. Remember when people used to send letters through pigeons?
Shamanism loved to use birds for traveling between the world. Many cultures loved to wearing also pieces of birds' bones (and feathers)because it was known that the force of bones could be renewed wearing them. A sparkle of the force the divine bird had had could sparkle also into a man.
I also remember Romans loved to watch birds for good luck. Romolo and Remo followed this tradition. Romolo would have become the first King of Rome as predicted by birds.
Wonderful reconstruction of all the old history of the Bird Goddess, later Kynes explains how to keep cheerfully close to us and in our garden or backyard birds. Feeders, a good attitude, will help birds to stay close to us, in particular if they notice that we are friendly. Of course nesting houses can also be helpful. It's important not just leaving food to birds during the winter-time but also during spring and summer time.
Prayers and altars for divination can of course be added for invoking the spirit of the Bird Goddess.
We all know the big tradition of hunting eggs and decorate them during the Easter Time. A joy for all family and in particular for little children.
An egg can also be decorated as a talisman, Sandra explains for various purposes like to attracting abundance. The author will explain also the history and tradition of decorating eggs.
What is an egg? An egg means fertility, potential life. An egg reminds us to the mystery of life, it's arcane. It creates questions without answers: the chicken was born before the egg? Dinosaur laid eggs. Who was born before? The dinosaurs or the eggs?
It's a mystery.
Birds are helpful for establishing a good connection with the other world and with the Bird Goddess.
Birds imagines put also in graves of children. Owls in particular had the role of protecting the dead one during his/her trip in the Other Dimension and at the same time as help for the people still alive of that family in pain.
Lilith the Divine Owl symbol of death and rebirth.
Many rituals for trying to attract the power of Bird Goddess.
The power of three as a number another wonderful chapter that I am sure will intrigue all of you in an esoterical trip that will clarify and will explain why during the centuries the number three has always been considered the perfect number for excellence.
Many exercise for visualize your bird guide.
A long portion of the book will explain you all the meaning of the most common birds and how you can use their power for attracting their potentialities.
I picked up the owl because it's two years I have owls in my barn.These year three little owls, their name Johnny, Alice and Joe, and two years ago, Gustavo.
The owl as explains very well the author is symbol of what it is unknown in the world. An owl is symbol of clairvoyance. An owl will see before us what it will happen and will prepare us. The force of the obscurity able to let see to them also the unknown, putting a clear connection and a bridge between these two worlds and dimensions, between light and obscurity, known and unknown, present and future.
An owl can be symbol of death but also or rebirth .
When I tell you that I suggest you warmly this book it's because your money will be very well spent.
Not only there is a complete list of American birds, but there is the entire story of the Bird Goddess and the meaning of birds for all the ancient and recent cultures, and trust me when I tell you that, accurate, serious and profound.
A bird is not a just a bird. A bird is a messenger of God, of the Divinity of our superior Force, because we are not alone.
A bird means always something. If a bird will stop by close to you just listen.
Some news are waiting for you!
Thanks so much Netgalley.com!
It's a powerful story of the Bird Goddess and the meaning of birds for culture all along the centuries. A wonderful study very appreciated by me, because it touched the most important cultures, from Greek to Latins passing through Egyptians, Celts, and many more other cultures.
What you can find in the book? Without to discovering too much of course this one is a book for a true believer. Believer of what? Of course of the power of the Bird Goddess and the messages able to be communicated by birds during our life.
The bird as goddess has always been represented in ancient times starting from the Prehistoric, Neolithic, when in caves men and women loved to represent little figurines of a Bird Goddess. With the time also The Egyptian with Isis gave to this Goddess the shape of a bird, like also Greek and other remarkable old cultures as the Indian one or the Celtic culture where the raven the crow and the eagle the God Lugh. Later Christianity represented with a dove symbol of peace the bird. Why all this interest for Bird?
Because substantially a bird has always been read as magical by man. A bird is able to flying, a characteristic unknown by man. We can fly thanks to airplanes, but we are not free to go where we would want to go just by ourselves.
A bird can goes in many places seeing the world under a complete and different aspect. A bird is a messenger. Remember when people used to send letters through pigeons?
Shamanism loved to use birds for traveling between the world. Many cultures loved to wearing also pieces of birds' bones (and feathers)because it was known that the force of bones could be renewed wearing them. A sparkle of the force the divine bird had had could sparkle also into a man.
I also remember Romans loved to watch birds for good luck. Romolo and Remo followed this tradition. Romolo would have become the first King of Rome as predicted by birds.
Wonderful reconstruction of all the old history of the Bird Goddess, later Kynes explains how to keep cheerfully close to us and in our garden or backyard birds. Feeders, a good attitude, will help birds to stay close to us, in particular if they notice that we are friendly. Of course nesting houses can also be helpful. It's important not just leaving food to birds during the winter-time but also during spring and summer time.
Prayers and altars for divination can of course be added for invoking the spirit of the Bird Goddess.
We all know the big tradition of hunting eggs and decorate them during the Easter Time. A joy for all family and in particular for little children.
An egg can also be decorated as a talisman, Sandra explains for various purposes like to attracting abundance. The author will explain also the history and tradition of decorating eggs.
What is an egg? An egg means fertility, potential life. An egg reminds us to the mystery of life, it's arcane. It creates questions without answers: the chicken was born before the egg? Dinosaur laid eggs. Who was born before? The dinosaurs or the eggs?
It's a mystery.
Birds are helpful for establishing a good connection with the other world and with the Bird Goddess.
Birds imagines put also in graves of children. Owls in particular had the role of protecting the dead one during his/her trip in the Other Dimension and at the same time as help for the people still alive of that family in pain.
Lilith the Divine Owl symbol of death and rebirth.
Many rituals for trying to attract the power of Bird Goddess.
The power of three as a number another wonderful chapter that I am sure will intrigue all of you in an esoterical trip that will clarify and will explain why during the centuries the number three has always been considered the perfect number for excellence.
Many exercise for visualize your bird guide.
A long portion of the book will explain you all the meaning of the most common birds and how you can use their power for attracting their potentialities.
I picked up the owl because it's two years I have owls in my barn.These year three little owls, their name Johnny, Alice and Joe, and two years ago, Gustavo.
The owl as explains very well the author is symbol of what it is unknown in the world. An owl is symbol of clairvoyance. An owl will see before us what it will happen and will prepare us. The force of the obscurity able to let see to them also the unknown, putting a clear connection and a bridge between these two worlds and dimensions, between light and obscurity, known and unknown, present and future.
An owl can be symbol of death but also or rebirth .
When I tell you that I suggest you warmly this book it's because your money will be very well spent.
Not only there is a complete list of American birds, but there is the entire story of the Bird Goddess and the meaning of birds for all the ancient and recent cultures, and trust me when I tell you that, accurate, serious and profound.
A bird is not a just a bird. A bird is a messenger of God, of the Divinity of our superior Force, because we are not alone.
A bird means always something. If a bird will stop by close to you just listen.
Some news are waiting for you!
Thanks so much Netgalley.com!
June 18, 2021
Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans is, by far, one of the most informative materials in this subject area. Sandra Kynes provides copious amounts of obviously heavily researched information, while keeping the reader engaged. Llewellyn Publications hit the jackpot with this gem.
February 13, 2020
I found this interesting especially the information about collecting feathers. The front section was more informative than the second part. The information on the actual birds was a little light, but you can find more information in other places.
June 8, 2025
Handy little book
This was my first book.on the subject of bird magic and I think this was a great introduction, would of been nice if it had more information explaining what bird magic is but all the same it was a handy little book
This was my first book.on the subject of bird magic and I think this was a great introduction, would of been nice if it had more information explaining what bird magic is but all the same it was a handy little book
May 18, 2023
Best for a beginner (Wiccan and birder) but boring for someone like myself, who is beyond the basics in both aspects.
July 9, 2025
I was disappointed that there were three or four key concepts that were attributed to most birds - protection, astral travel, etc. I did enjoy learning about some birds I’d never heard of. I wish there had been more bird lore included.
June 28, 2016
Thanks to Llewellyn and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book.
I love what the author has done in this book. First, she connects birds with the ancient goddess.
In doing so she draws upon books and authors that most writers today don't mention - Gimbutas,
Buffie Johnson, Baring and Cashford. She discusses how birds are connected with the various
aspects of the goddess and gives one rituals to use in order to connect one's self. The last part
of the book lists over 100 birds with information, habitat, and a ritual for making connection.
At the end is an extensive bibliography; appendices with a chronology, a list of sabbats and deities
and the the birds connected with each.
I gave this book 5 stars because I think it is important. It is not perfect. I personally did not find
most of her rituals meaningful to me but they are adaptable. The information is extensive and useful and reminds us of the ancient goddess and shows us how to bring her into our daily lives.
I love what the author has done in this book. First, she connects birds with the ancient goddess.
In doing so she draws upon books and authors that most writers today don't mention - Gimbutas,
Buffie Johnson, Baring and Cashford. She discusses how birds are connected with the various
aspects of the goddess and gives one rituals to use in order to connect one's self. The last part
of the book lists over 100 birds with information, habitat, and a ritual for making connection.
At the end is an extensive bibliography; appendices with a chronology, a list of sabbats and deities
and the the birds connected with each.
I gave this book 5 stars because I think it is important. It is not perfect. I personally did not find
most of her rituals meaningful to me but they are adaptable. The information is extensive and useful and reminds us of the ancient goddess and shows us how to bring her into our daily lives.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews