_
___The Unicorn, a legendary animal usually depicted as a large horse with a single horn on its forehead. It has also been described as having the hind legs of an antelope, the tail of a lion, and the beard of a goat. Represented in the arts of numerous ancient and medieval Asian and European cultures, the unicorn may have been created from distorted reports of rhinoceroses. Ctesias, a Greek physician, about 400 BC wrote a classic description of the unicorn, calling it an Indian wild ass with a white body, purple head, and a straight "cubit-long" horn with a white base, black middle, and red tip. He described it as fleet and fierce. The unicorn is also mentioned in the writings of Aristotle, Pliny, and Aelian.
___In medieval Christendom the unicorn was endowed with symbolic qualities, both religious and secular. Some early translations of the Hebrew scriptures mentioned the unicorn (modern versions tend to call the same animal a "wild ox"), and as a biblical beast it acquired ecclesiastical associations. It represented chastity and purity. Though it would fight savagely when cornered, it could be tamed by a virgin's touch. Many examples of medieval artincluding woodcuts, illuminations, and tapestriesdepict the unicorn, particularly the hunt for it. In some Christian interpretations the unicorn is associated with the Virgin Mary; in others it represents Christ the Redeemer. Unicorns were also popular emblems in medieval heraldry.
___During the Middle Ages, and even later, the unicorn's horn (as it was alleged to be), because of its fabled purity, was a popular ingredient for medicines and for alchemical reactions. Potentates and pontiffs obtained reputed unicorn's horn because it was considered strong protection against poison. The horn was also believed to ward off stomach trouble and epilepsy.
____Or as in the words of the butterfly from The Last Unicorn
"Unicorn.Old French,unicorne.Latin,unicornis.Literally,one-horned:unus,one and cornu,a horn.A fabulous animal resembling a horse with one horn.".
___Unicorns are not mythical creatures, nor are they physical creatures in the way you might think of them. Unicorns are the astral bodies of a special type of person possessed of both a physical manifestation (human) and an astral manifestation as a powerful equine with cloven hooves and a single horn. This horn is the focal point of their magickal power which enables this dual life, and as such is an extremely potent talisman of great magickal energy. That the unicorn shows this horn only in the astral planes does not detract from its potency in the physical.
___Unicorns are quite often natural healers, curing ails with a touch of their physical (human) form or by contact with the afflicted's essence in the ethereal or astral planes. It is this very healing magick that many hunters seek, not realizing, often, that unicorns will offer their healing touch to any of pure heart who needs it.
___Unicorns are the embodiment of the fiery energies of masculinity balanced with the healing and soothing energies of femininity. That the horn is such a powerful phallic symbol is no wonder, when one considers that unicorn stallions are masculinity-as-it-should-be: strength tempered by wisdom, force tempered by compassion, action tempered by calm, and destructive nature tempered by creative energy.
___All unicorns, male or female, have the ability to speak to and commune with a variety of beasts of the fields (quite similar to were-creatures abilities) and tend to be much more in tune with the forces of nature both within and without the physical world in which we live.
___If you wish to meet a unicorn in person, look for the man or woman who seems to attract those who are in pain (physical or mental/emotional) and sends them away feeling better without trying. Or, look for the man or woman who seems to understand the songs of coyotes and wolves, the calls of ravens and sparrows, the neighing of horses, the contemplative words of owls, or even the song of the wind through the trees or the call of the river as it races to the ocean. Then look for the slight longing for a far-away place in the eyes, and most likely you have found a living unicorn.
___Historically, Unicorns, have been been associated with love, and in particular with great passion. The idea of the mighty unicorn springs from the darkest mists of ancient history and evolves from that of the horse. The lore of ancient Babylon tells us that mankind evolved from a wild horse, that was itself evolved from the mating of a wild ass and a gazelle. This wild horse was seduced by a beautiful woman....and thus the horse became a man -- a savage man, who gradually evolved into a gentle lover and acquired a veneer of civilization. But it was only a veneer -- always... the beast -- the stallion -- the creature of might, power, and great prowess lurked beneath the surface. The man within never ceased his longing for a return to the freedom of his days as a wild beast, and so he stalked and captured the horse.... Once mounted upon the creature's back, man and beast melded and became one in mind in spirit; and finally once again was man able to run wild and free.
___Then came the age of Bronze metallurgy and the making of mighty forged weapons. The masterful horsemen of the steppes rose to new heights of strength and power, as they transformed into tribes of mounted warriors and swept down upon the gentle pastoral societies like ravaging hoardes of demons. Man, horse and sword, an all conquering, unholy triumvirate of might and majesty that could only be tamed by a woman's love. Man, horse and sword...together they are The Unicorn
___Tradition tells us that unicorns are attracted to the sweet purity and innocence of virgins...and that is perhaps true of young unicorns as yet untested by life or battle. I have two sons and I certainly hope that they are fortunate enough to find some sweet, virginal young lass to share their lives and love forever more. But virginity is a fleeting thing and once those first few hours of true innocence are past, I hope even more that they will have found a woman worthy of them in all the ways that matter most,and sustain one through time and circumstance.
___As for me, I cannot envision sharing my life with a man who could find any great pleasure with an innocent, young girl. I cannot envision having any common ground on which to build a meaningful relationship with a such a man, and to be honest I cannot imagine such a man being long content with a woman such as myself. I prefer my unicorns and my men with that touch of dashing silver that comes only with a certain degree of age, experience and maturity, and I believe that a man who would genuinely appreciate me, would probably have as little in common with a much younger woman as I would have with a much younger man...but to each their own!
___However, in the name of justice and fair play let me say here and now for the record that I have a couple of good friends who are the exception that proves the rule. There is a substantial age difference between them and I for one never thought it would work out when they met (pre internet, but via modem) over eight years ago. I was wrong...they've spent those past eight years together in a euphoric state of absolute mutual bliss. If ever there were two people who were fated to be together forever....