Spiritual Symbols: Swans
Birds are often spiritual symbols; doves, eagles and the Phoenix are some of the best known. I didn't know that the swan is also a spiritual symbol until I read it in Shirley MacLaine's book "Sage-ing While Age-ing".
The swan is usually a symbol of death, but in the sense of dying on the physical level to be reborn on the spiritual level.A An interesting alternate meaning to the Ugly Duckling story immediately pops into my head.
Swans appear in other fairy tails and myths:
The German tail "The Swan Maidens".
The Wild Swan by Hans Christian Anderson
The Ugly Duckling also by Anderson
In Navaho tradition the Great Spirit uses swans to work his will and the white swans are believed to have control over the four winds. In other Native American traditions, the swan represents grace.
Australian Aborigines believe the black swans are the wives of the All-Father.
In India, it is the swan that lays the Cosmic Egg from which Brahma is born.
In Greek traditions, the swan symbolizes the muses. Apollo, the Greek sun god, sometimes transformed into a swan. Socrates wrote that the swan sang it's most beautiful song just before it died which is where we get the meaning of the phrase "swan song".
In England, mute swans are the property of the crown and can be owned by companies or individuals only under a grant from the crown. Boat builders use swans as figureheads to bring good luck. In Celtic tradition, the swan is associated with the sun god and the water god. They are also associated with music, purity and the soul.
In Irish folklore, swans can transform into young woman on certain special days.
In the early years of Christianity, lamps were often made in the shape of swans as a symbol of purity and chastity. It was also a symbol of love, light, and courage. It also symbolized Jesus' Transfiguration to some Christians. Swans will eat small snakes and eels, so it was an enemy of "The Serpent".
Swan feathers have been used in healing. Tying a swan feather to a harp is believed to help the harp produce healing sounds.
The swan is usually a symbol of death, but in the sense of dying on the physical level to be reborn on the spiritual level.
Swans appear in other fairy tails and myths:
The German tail "The Swan Maidens".
The Wild Swan by Hans Christian Anderson
The Ugly Duckling also by Anderson
In Navaho tradition the Great Spirit uses swans to work his will and the white swans are believed to have control over the four winds. In other Native American traditions, the swan represents grace.
Australian Aborigines believe the black swans are the wives of the All-Father.
In India, it is the swan that lays the Cosmic Egg from which Brahma is born.
In Greek traditions, the swan symbolizes the muses. Apollo, the Greek sun god, sometimes transformed into a swan. Socrates wrote that the swan sang it's most beautiful song just before it died which is where we get the meaning of the phrase "swan song".
In England, mute swans are the property of the crown and can be owned by companies or individuals only under a grant from the crown. Boat builders use swans as figureheads to bring good luck. In Celtic tradition, the swan is associated with the sun god and the water god. They are also associated with music, purity and the soul.
In Irish folklore, swans can transform into young woman on certain special days.
In the early years of Christianity, lamps were often made in the shape of swans as a symbol of purity and chastity. It was also a symbol of love, light, and courage. It also symbolized Jesus' Transfiguration to some Christians. Swans will eat small snakes and eels, so it was an enemy of "The Serpent".
Swan feathers have been used in healing. Tying a swan feather to a harp is believed to help the harp produce healing sounds.
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