Celtic Animal Birth Signs

The day you were born can affect your personality according to the Celts, who likened us to a particular
animal according to our birthdays. The origins of this list are unknown.

• December 24 - January 20
  • Animal:  Stag
    Gaelic Name:  Damh (Approximate pronunciation: Dav)
    Ruling Planet:  The Sun
    Key Words: Independence, Majesty, Integrity, Pride
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Sensitivity to other worlds, shape shifting, initiation,  journeying
    Birthstone: Crystal
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder and salmon. Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter & goose. Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• January 21 - February 17
  • Animal: Crane
    Gaelic Name: Corr (Approximate pronunciation: Corr)
    Ruling Planet: Uranus
    Key Words: Secret Knowledge, Eccentric, Patient
    Gift Quality or Ability: Crane people are unusually clever people with specialized skills and talents, with a progressive outlook on life.  Sense of the evolving spirit.  Sensitivity to the other world, journeying, magick.
    Birthstone: Peridot
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of bee and swan.  Will also relate well to the signs of bear, owl and cat.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• February 18 - March 17
  • Animal: Seal
    Gaelic Name: Ron (Approximate pronunciation: Ron)
    Ruling Planet: Neptune
    Key Words: Spiritual, Loving, Super-sensitive.
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Seal people tend to have great compassion and are highly adaptable folk.  They are also the romantics and dreamers of life. Artistic and emotional.  Sensitivity to the other world.  Shape changing and connection with the faerie folk.
    Birthstone: Coral
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of otter and goose.  Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, stag, and adder.  Difficulties maybe expected in relation to all other signs.
• March 18 - April 14
  • Animal: Bear
    Gaelic Name: Art (Approximate pronunciation: A as in cat, R as in English, T as in English Chin.  AiRCH)
    Ruling Planet: Mars
    Key Words: Achieving, Primal Power, Instinct.
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Bear people are very connected to their ancestral roots.  Filled with courage and a sense of adventure.  Extremely physical, extroverts.  Protection, journeying, and sensitivity to the other world.
    Birthstone: Ruby
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and owl. Will also relate well to the signs of crane, bee and swan.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• April 15 - May 12
  • Animal: Adder
    Gaelic Name: Nathair (Approximate pronunciation: na-CHair.  N, a in cat, T as in Chin, h – silent, air.)
    Ruling Planet: Moon
    Key Words: Transformation, Healing, Life Energy.
    Gift Quality or Ability: Adder people have a virtue of resourcefulness, that is one of their greatest strengths.  Strong interest in family.  Excellent memory.  Drawn to natural methods of healing.  Healing, magick, shape shifting and initiation.
    Birth Stone: Moonstone
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of stag and salmon.  Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter and goose.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• May 13 - June 9
  • Animal: Bee
    Gaelic Name: Beách (Approximate pronunciation: beh-ach.  B, E as in get, A as in cat, CH as in German iCH.)
    Ruling Planet: Vulcan
    Key Words: Organization, Community, Analytical.
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Bee people are very charismatic and full of new ideas.  Lively spontaneity and the ability to communicate on every level. Influential and very social. Fertility and creativity.
    Birth Stone: Topaz
    Compatibility:  Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and swan.  Will also relate well to the signs of bear, cat and owl.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• June 10 - July 7
  • Animal: Otter
    Gaelic Name: Dobhran (Approximate pronunciation: dav-rhan.)
    Ruling Planet: Jupiter
    Key Words: Family, Helpfulness, Intuitive.
    Gift Quality or Ability: Otter people are enterprising with a wide breadth of vision.  Very optimistic with a personal magnetism.  Protection, shape shifting, and journeying.
    Birth Stone: Diamond
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of goose and seal.  Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, adder, and stag.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• July 8 - August 4
  • Animal: Cat
    Gaelic Name: Kati (Approximate pronunciation: ka-Chi.)
    Ruling Planet: Earth
    Key Words: Creative, Sensual, Nobility
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Cat people have a strong sense of personal integrity and a firm set of values.  Loyal and trustworthy.  Deep devotion to family.  Affectionate.  Protection, shape shifting and sensitivity to the
    other world.
    Birth Stone: Red Carnelian
    Compatibility:  Harmonious relations with the signs of owl and bear.  Will also  relate well to the signs of the crane, bee, and swan.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• August 5 - September 1
  • Animal: Salmon
    Gaelic Name: Bradan (Approximate pronunciation: bra-TAN.)
    Ruling Planet: Mercury
    Key Words: Wisdom, Inspiration, Rejuvenation
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Salmon people have knowledge of the arts and science as well as good reasoning powers.  Perceptive and clever.  Keen observers.  Initiation, shape shifting, connection with faerie.
    Birth Stone: Amethyst
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of adder, and stag.  Will also relate well to the signs of seal, otter and goose.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• September 2- September 29
  • Animal: Swan
    Gaelic Name: Eala (Approximate pronunciation: ellah.)
    Ruling Planet: Venus
    Key Words: Beauty, Love and Soul.
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Swan people are kind and gentle, adept in love and the social arts.  Calm and serene with a strong domestic sense.  Connection with faerie, shape shifting, and creativity.
    Birth Stone: Emerald
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of crane and bee.  Will also relate well to the owl, cat and bear.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• September 30 - October 27
  • Animal: Goose
    Gaelic Name: Geadh (Approximate pronunciation: Gia-gh.)
    Ruling Planet: Moon
    Keywords: Veiling, Direction, Vigilance, Stamina
    Gift Quality or Ability: Goose people are generous providers but also thrifty savers and investors regarding their future security.  They have a sharp intellect as well as a wit.  Artistic.  Protection, fertility, and
    creativity.
    Birth Stone: Opal
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of seal and otter.  Will also relate well to the signs of salmon, adder, and stag.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• October 28 - November 27
  • Animal: Owl
    Gaelic Name: Cailleach-oidhche (Approximate pronunciation: Kall-eeck
    Oheeche.)
    Ruling Planet: Pluto
    Keywords: Wisdom, Change, Detachment.
    Gift Quality or Ability: Owl people have a powerful presence and personal magnetism that can both attract and overpower sensitive people.  Highly imaginative and passionate.  Initiation, sensitivity to the other world, magick.
    Birth Stone: Jasper
    Compatibility: Harmonious relations with the signs of cat and bear.  Will also relate well to the signs of bee, swan and crane.  Difficulties may be expected in relation to all other signs.
• November 25 - December 23
  • Animal: Raven
    Gaelic Name: Bran (Approximate pronunciation: Bran.)
    Ruling Planet: Saturn
    Gift Quality or Ability:  Raven people have a constructive approach to life. They will continue a struggle that would defeat most people.  They are very self-disciplined and patient.  Shape shifting, sensitivity to the other world, connection to the faerie.