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Signs
Symbol
Symbolic
Symbolism | |
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The bird is generally thought to
be a symbol of freedom. They can walk on the earth and swim in the sea as humans
do but they also have the ability to soar into the sky. Birds are free to
roam to earth and the sky. Many cultures believe that they are a symbol of eternal life; the link between heaven and
earth.
A comprehensive guide to
Swan Symbol:
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Swan Symbol
There is no exact definition for any symbol; each symbol is open to
interpretation and birds are no exception to this. Their symbolism
can vary greatly depending on different cultures and religion. The
Swan is generally thought to be a symbol of solitude. Many cultures
believe that the swan is the bird of life and it combines the
elements of air and water. In Chinese mythology, the swan is a
symbol of yang and considered a solar bird. Christians believe the
swan to be a symbol of grace and purity, it symbolizes the Virgin
Mary. Ancient Romans believed that the swan was a symbol of a happy
death. In Celtic folklore, swans were a symbol of love and purity,
their music was considered magical. The extract below is taken from
the popular Irish legend of the Children of Lir where the kings
children were turned into beautiful swans by their evil stepmother.
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Extract from
The Children of Lir - Celtic Legend
"So Lir
and his people listened all night to the singing of the
swans, nor could they move nor speak till morning, for
all the high sorrows of the world were in that music,
and it plunged them in dreams that could not be uttered.
Next day Lir took leave of his children and went on to
the palace of Bóv the Red. Bóv reproached him that he
had not brought with him his children. "Woe is me," said
Lir, "it was not I that would not bring them; but Aoife
there, your own foster-child and their mother's sister,
put upon them the forms of four snow-white swans, and
there they are on the Loch of Derryvaragh for all men to
see; but they have kept still their reason and their
human voice and their Gaelic."
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Swan Symbol
- Meaning
The
definition of a swan is a stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with
very long neck and usually white plumage as adult. Swans have a
strong large beak with a long neck. They are noted for their
graceful movements when swimming. There are several different
species of swan, most species are white in color. The Mute
swan (Cygnus gibbus) is one of the largest species of swan. It bends
its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling swan do not bend the
neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud cry, this is
due to their complex windpipe. The Australian black swan (Chenopis
atrata) is black in color with some white patches on its wings. The
South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha}) is a
very beautiful and graceful species, entirely white, except the head
and neck, which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a double
bright rose-colored knob.
Swan Symbol - Christian Significance
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According to
the Easton bible dictionary, the definition of the swan symbol is as
follows:
The Swan is mentioned in the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:18;
Deut. 14:16), is sometimes met with in the Jordan and the Sea of
Galilee
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Swan Symbol -
Facts
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Swans are the largest of the waterfowl species
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Native Aborigines believed that birds carried stories
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The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds averaging 18kg
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All Swans are white in color apart from the black-neck swan from
South America and the black swan from Australia
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Swans usually mate for life
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Unlike other birds, the male and female swans are the same color.
The only obvious difference is size, male swans are larger than
females
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In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song,
especially at the time of its death
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The name Swan is often given to singers and poets. Shakespeare
is often referred to as the the swan of Avon
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The swan is a particularly sacred symbol for the Hindu people.
Paramahamsa translates to "Supreme Swan." and is the mount of
the god Brahma. In the Vedas and the Purânas the swan is a
symbol for the soul. It is also the symbol of the divine bird
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The swan is a symbol of poets and the popular metaphor "Swan
song" is a final gesture or performance which is given just
before death or retirement. it is believed that the phrase
relates to the ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song
just before they die
Swan Symbol -
Dream Explanation
- Seeing a swan in a lake or pond, is a good omen, a symbol
indicating a future of prestige and wealth
- Swans are symbolic of grace, beauty, and dignity
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Picture of Swans
and Cygnets
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Dream Interpretation
- Significance of Bird Symbol
The following
explanation of dreams involving birds in general is taken from the book entitled 'Dream
Dictionary (10,000 Dreams Interpreted - by Gustavus Hindman Miller)':
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It is a favorable symbol in a dream to see birds of beautiful plumage. A
wealthy and happy partner is near if a woman has dreams of this
nature
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Moulting and song less birds, could denote merciless and inhuman
treatment of the outcast and fallen by people of wealth
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To see a wounded bird, is a symbol of fateful of deep sadness caused by
erring offspring
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To see flying birds, is a symbol of prosperity to the dreamer. All
disagreeable environments will vanish before the wave of
prospective good
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To catch birds, is not at all bad. To hear them speak, is owning
one's inability to perform tasks that demand great clearness of
perception.
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Swan Symbol
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Pictures and Videos of
Swan Symbol
Discover the vast selection of pictures
and information which relate to
Swan Symbol and illustrate the many individual symbols that we see in
everyday life, each with their own unique meaning. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the Signology Index - a great educational resource for
everyone! |
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