I know its been ages since people posted about Bear but I had to say that Tynan Elder Oak's description of her experience with Bear was beautiful. I too feel protected and nurtured by the Bear-whenever I fall asleep at night, I feel as though I'm held in a big bear hug, safe, secure and warm. Same for when I'm feeling sad or lonely or frightened. And I have the 'big dipper' part of the Ursa Major constellation across my chest in freckles which reminds me of Bear's protection and care
For me, Bear holds the balance of male and female-as Earth mother, wisdom, nurturer, keeper of dreams and intuition, and as Sky father, the Great and Little Bear, warrior, courage, strength and protector.
Bear is also thought to be the oldest deity in Europe. Much evidence has been found of prehistoric bear worship. From as far back as the Palaeolithic (around 50,000 years ago) there is evidence of bear cults in which the bear was seen as lord of the animals, a god, and even the ancestor of humans. It is the totem or form of many gods and goddesses throughout many cultures, and bear folklore is widespread-especially in the Northern hemisphere.
Also the great Norse warriors, the Berserkers (translated as 'bear-skin') were renowned for fighting in an uncontrollable rage or trance of fury; the berserkergang. They intimidated their enemies with bear like strength and savagery, going into battle clad in bear or wolf skin. There are many theories as to how and why the berserk rage was achieved but one theory suggests that it was achieved through possession by the animal spirit of either a bear or a wolf. Berserkers would allow the animal spirit to take over their body during a fight.
There are loads of stories about bears. One of my favourites is a Tibetan folk tale about how the Panda became black and white.
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we ... /index.cfm
Anyway, enough rambling for now!
Blackbird
~*Efo can yn fy ysbryd,a'r heniaeth yn fy ngwaed,rwy'n byw bywyd llawn efo calon Celtaidd*~