Horned Sheep is a strong totem and spirit animal in mountain cultures around the world. Nature programs often show them aggressively fighting while on the precipice of mountains.
There are many species of Horned sheep including Big Horned Sheep in North America, the European Mouflon, and the daddy of all sheep the Mouflon native to the Caspian region of the Middle East.
Throughout this article, we will review the horned sheep as an animal, as a spirit guide, and we will explore a few pagan cultures around the world to overview this majestic animal, its place in the lives of pagans, and how it is incorporated into their culture.
The Horned Sheep represent:
● Peace
● Determination
● Strength
● Leadership
● Curiosity
● Aggressive
Biological Information of the Horned Sheep
When referring to the Horned Sheep we take a spectrum of the species of wild animals. An adult female is referred to as a ewe, and an adult male is referred to as a ram.
Usually, male sheep have curved horns, so the idea of the Horned Sheep came from them. Young sheep are called lambs.
Sheep are domesticated animals typically kept as livestock. The most common wild relative of the domesticated sheep is the mouflon, native to the Caspian region and Iran, where it’s believed it was domesticated.
Although the domesticated sheep originate from Eurasia, horned sheep are present worldwide. The Bighorn sheep native to North America crossed the Bering Land Bridge during the Pleistocene Age 750,000 years ago.
Represents:
● The Horned Sheep is a very peaceful animal and will avoid any confrontation to maintain its peace, but will always remain curious about its surroundings
● The aggressiveness of the Horned Sheep comes into action when under threat, it won’t back down no matter what, even for the cost of life itself
● Horned Sheep are very courageous, brave and emit strong energy of power and bravery
Ram’s symbolic meaning is strongly related to its horns that are curled in a spiral. The horns were sometimes used to preserve fire and carry it from one camp to another.
The horns are associated with the circle of life, birth, and rebirth, some people even depicted deities of fertility as a Bighorn sheep.
Horned Sheep as a spirit animal will come to you when in need of courage and venturing to new horizons. The spiritual meaning indicates that you should perform some sort of self-reflection and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
When the Horned Sheep comes to you it can represent vigor and affirmation that you are facing your challenges head-on. The sheep applauds your courage and tenacity.
The best thing that the Horned Sheep spirit animal teaches us is to grab life by the horns and leave our comfort zones to reach new heights in life and focus on personal growth, especially in the intellectual region.
Around the World
Throughout history, many cultures associated the horned sheep with powerful attributes such as leadership and determination. The Ram became a symbol in many mythologies and is connected to the warrior side of humans.
Native American
Native American culture is broad, but many western tribes either hunted the Big Horn Sheep or domesticated them. The Navajo people who developed an extensive agricultural society had a lifestyle that revolved around sheep herding and weaving.
One of the most important ceremonies is called Sheep is Life and celebrates the Churro sheep, a vital animal for the Navajo.
The Bighorn sheep feature prominently in a story of the Crow culture. A young boy is pushed off a cliff by his stepfather who was inhabited by evil spirits. The boy’s fall was broken by trees and he was rescued by seven bighorn sheep who gave him “power, wisdom, sharp eyes, sure footedness, keen ears, great strength, and a strong heart”.
Celtic
Depictions of Horned Sheep are relatively rare in Celtic culture, it still has strong symbolism. Cernunnos, a Celtic deity of animals, is depicted as a horned sheep-headed snake.
As an important animal in Celtic mythology, the horned sheep was one of the animals treasured by Brigid, the Goddess of fertility, motherhood, and protector of domesticated animals.
Brigid was a flamed-haired Goddess and the patron of poetry, serenity, and invention. Cirb, the powerful horned sheep king, was often present in her depictions, as the ruler of all horned sheep.
Due to this association, we have evidence that the symbolism’s meaning is strongly connected to the idea of authority and kingship.
Manannan, the God of the Sea, owned several magical sheep that could produce enough wool to clothe all of the Celtic peoples. Symbolizing sustenance, the sheep became the unofficial symbol of Ireland. It’s also believed to be a symbol of fecundity and rebirth, as well as renewal.
Horned sheep were important in Druidry and can be found in the legend called The Story of White and Black Sheep which teaches us the importance of balance between the material and spiritual world.
Norse and Rodnovery
On the other hand, in Norse mythology, we do not have many horned sheep mentioned. One of the myths illustrates how the watchman God Heimdall’s heading is so strong that he can hear wool growing on the sheep’s back.
Similar to Norse, the Horned Sheep doesn’t have a significant presence in the Rodnovery culture, except in association with the deity Veles, who is the protector of all animals and can sometimes shapeshift into a Horned Sheep.
Horned Sheep in Eastern Spirituality
Horned Sheep, or the Ram, has a significant presence in the Eastern Spiritual teachings. It is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Its meaning around the Asian world is related to the male symbol yang and the sun. Sheep often also are strongly connected to the idea of respect and fulfillment.
Horned Sheep are also used to symbolize parental respect, similar to a lamb kneeling to take their mother’s milk. Buddhists see the Horned Sheep as a symbol of determination to control the three poisons of ignorance, desire, and hostility.
The characteristics of the Horned Sheep turned it, on the other side, into the symbol of indecision, as it following their primordial instincts symbolizes lust and insatiable desire for fulfillment. Overcoming these positions is the ultimate achievement.
Subsequently, the year of the Sheep in the Chinese calendar is the year of prosperity, because Chinese people usually see it as an auspicious animal. People born under the sheep sign are peace-loving and kind, with a dose of elegance and an appetite for art, with a strong passion for their beliefs.
Conservation
Horned sheep species once were numerous in mountainous regions around the world. However unregulated hunting, habitat decline, and exposure to domesticated sheep diseases have lowered their numbers to dangerous levels.
In the United States conservation efforts have been ongoing since the 1940s. Limited hunting is allowed in areas where the population is deemed stable.
Some European countries protect the Mouflon sheep from hunting. Cyprus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan offer protections.
Bighorn sheep are often hit on roads and benefit from Wildlife Crossings.
Dreams
Horned Sheep are mainly a masculine symbol that is associated with strength and power, so dreaming about these majestic animals indicated the refusal to obey the rules and the desire to make them.
On the other hand, associated with fertility, dreaming about them could represent sexual drive or natural urges. It can as well point out impulsiveness and aggression, or it can symbolize powerful influential people from your life.
Like other dreams, we must pay attention to the details about the Horned Sheep to get a correct interpretation. If you dream of a white sheep it foretells a good day coming your way, whilst a black one indicates a difficult period. If you dream about a flock of sheep, that means your life is stable, and if the sheep bleat during your dreams that points out to gossiping and you should refrain from sharing too much.
Careers
Horned Sheep are natural leaders. People who identify with them often gravitate to strong leadership positions. Lawyers, CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Military officers are among favored careers.
Totem Animal
People embracing the Horned Sheep as their totem animal benefit from creativeness, boldness, and self-motivation. This totem animal doesn’t let you miss out on opportunities. This totem animal belongs to adventurous people, those who are determined to succeed.
As a sign of authority, this totem animal is ideal for leaders that are ready to grab every opportunity fiercely and to learn to be like that. Approach your obstacles with courage and strength.
Take Away
Embrace the Horned Sheep as your spirit animal, and any sort of good connection with it, on any level, will for sure be beneficial to some aspect of your life, whilst opening new horizons to teach you to go out of your comfort zone and grab life by the horns!
Author, Marko Rajkovic is from Serbia, Europe, specializing his pagan path in his Native Slavic Faith called Rodnovery and dwelling into Wiccan solitary practices. He loves outdoor adventures, hiking and has lots of animal friends. He is one of the administrators of Pagan Chat Marko writes about Rodnovery and Wicca.
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