Spirit Guide: The Pelican

THE PELICAN

Class VI Harbinger Phenomena

The pelican (family Pelecanidae) consists of eight separate species of waterfowl, distinguished by their large beaks and throat pouches. With a largely global distribution, the pelican has been a staple in legend and folklore, and is considered by many (especially sailors) to have powers in relation to the winds and act as a token of good luck. Cultures around the world all have legends concerning the animal, and its relations to humans.

Ancient Egypt:

The henet was known as a goddess associated with life and death. In addition, it was said that the pelican had the powers of prophesy in its ability to foretell safe passage through the underworld for the souls of the dead. The pelican was also often invoked for protection from snakes.

Aboriginal Populations:

The Murri of Australia and the Moche peoples of Peru both mentioned the Pelican in their origin stories.

Medieval Europe:

In the medieval period, it was believed that the Pelican would be self-sacrificing, and would nourish its brood with its own blood if necessary. This was repeated in several medieval bestiaries, and as a result of this, the Pelican was associated with both the Crucifixion and the qualities of self sacrifice in the defense of others. Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225- 7 March 1274) noted these qualities in his Adoro te devote, and in particular Elizabeth I of England (7 September 1533-24 March 1603) took the Pelican as a symbol for herself and the defense of England. It is also notable that at this time in England, parallel stories were being told of the Pelican on the Indian subcontinent.

The Age of Sail:

The stories of the Pelican’s luck and powers of control in the ocean come in to play particularly during the Age of Sail (c1600-1850)

One of the earliest legends tells of a group of mariners who were drowned during a shipwreck, and were unable to rest because they had not been properly buried. Their souls petitioned Neptune, lord of the Seas, and he struck a bargain with them. The sailors would be transformed into the Pelicans, and when they had caught enough fish to fill the holds of their sunken ships, their souls would be released. In return, Neptune offered the sailors protection, proclaiming that any who harmed the birds would be punished with misfortune, and those who assisted the Pelican would receive favor. There are several notable accounts of this coming to pass, one particularly famous mention being in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Coleridge, 1798), where he discusses at length what befell the mariner when the albatross was killed. 

It should also be noted that there is a certain reticence even to this day for a sailor, fisherman, or even a dock worker to scare away or chase off a Pelican from the daily catch for fear of catching some nautically based misfortune. The wiser course of action may be to follow in their footsteps, and allow the birds to pass unmolested, if only to avoid any possible injuries that may occur from the strong beak of the bird should it decide to defend itself.