The Unicorn is one of the most mysterious of all animals. It has been glorified in folk tales, songs, poems, and stories for centuries; and it remains one of the great "unsolved mysteries" of the world. Despite the widely held belief in its existence, there has not even been a reported sighting in hundreds of years.For true believers, the fact that it no longer exists only adds to the mystique; placing it in the same realm as the dinosaurs, the mammoth, and possibly such unknown creatures as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Some believe the Unicorn still exists in remote regions, hiding in shame from the world of today.
The Unicorn has been a integral part of mythology around the world. No two peoples have the same description of it, the only common thread is that they all agree that it had but a single horn in the center of its forehead. The Chinese probably had the first account reaching back nearly 5,000 years.
The Chinese also believed that the Unicorn could foretell the birth of great men like the philosopher Confucius. In 551 B.C., Confucius' pregnant mother met a Unicorn in the woods. It gave her a small piece of jade and placed its head in her lap. An inscription on the piece of jade told of the great wisdom her son would possess; and, sure enough, Confucius became the most respected of all Chinese philosophers. Even today, 2,500 years later, his prophetic words are still honored and revered. In his old age, Confucius reportedly saw the Unicorn for himself and knew that it meant he would soon die.
Most of the Legends agree that the Unicorn is endowed with magical qualities. However, most disagree on exactly what those qualities are. The horn itself (powdered), and the blood of the Unicorn was reputed to be used in many magical and medicinal potions. Whole horns were also supposed to be used for different purposes, from nulifying poisons to preventing disease, along with bringing great luck to anyone lucky enough to possess one.
Medieval pharmacists believed in the power of the Unicorn as a medicine, so much so that the Unicorn even became the apothecaries' symbol. Legend has it that the Unicorn's strength came from the fact that once a year, it returned to drink the waters and eat the vegetation of paradise.
We may never know whether the Fabled Unicorn ever existed or not, but the believers around the globe don't seem to need any physical evidence to know that they did or still do. Maybe they just stepped into a magical realm to wait for Man to deserve their presence once again.
CLICK HERE to check out some of my favorite Unicorn books
Click on the link below to see my New Book Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft - Find out about the book coming out in 2010.
Read Exerpts from the book. Learn how to make your own spells, Hand craft your own Wand or Besom.The official release date has not been set but you can order Pre-release copies from:
Publisher Direct