Fire Witch Lore
The Phoenix
The myths of the phoenix came about due to the natural solar eclipses and humanity’s inability to explain them in the past. The amazing part of these myths is that during an eclipse, one can see the pattern of the wings in the sun’s corona. The phoenix was called the bird of the sun.
The ancient Egyptians considered the phoenix to be an avatar of the sun god. When his life was over (which was originally estimated at 500 years and went up close to 100,000 years in later times), he would light himself on fire, only to be reborn from the ashes after a suitable resting period (also around 500 years). It was said that the fire smelled of cinnamon.
The spirit of the bird wraps its nest in myrrh and sacred leaves and molds it into the shape of an egg. It carries the egg to the temple of the sun god and flies away for its rest.
The phoenix was described as red and yellow, with a purple neck, and was considered the most magnificent bird. Only one phoenix was allowed to live at a time.
Not only could the ashes give renewed life to the phoenix, but they were reputed to bring humankind back from the dead as well. One emperor peror even dined on a bird of paradise as a substitute for the phoenix, hoping to achieve immortality, but he was murdered shortly after.
Ovid stated that the phoenix ate only frankincense and other odif- erous gums. It was further speculated by others that the phoenix hid from humankind intentionally.
The phoenix spans almost all mythologies and is a much-loved symbol of everlasting life. It is seen as a sign of peace and prosperity.
–Tammy Sullivan, Elemental Witch: Fire, Air, Water, Earth; Discover Your Natural Affinity
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