For hundreds of years, the Peacock has been honored for its beauty and symbolism. The Peacock’s life of majesty, virility, strength, and charisma is reflected in various mythological stories and tales; they have inspired numerous symbols of divinity and royalty, honor, and immortality.
The ancient cultures like Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans praised the beauty of Peacocks because of their vibrant colors. The sight of a peacock was thought to be a gift from the gods or other divine beings. Thus they were highly valued as a luck-bringing sign of bounty.
In this article, we will explore some of the history, symbolism, and spiritual meaning of the peacock bird.
What do peacocks symbolize? The peacocks are symbolic of re-growth and rejuvenation, royalty, respect, honor, and integrity. They are also a symbol of beauty, love, and passion. In Hinduism and Buddhism, these birds are considered to be sacred and worshipped alongside their deities.
In this article, we will learn everything we need to know about their spiritual meaning and symbolism: their cultural significance, the meaning of their tattoos, dreams, encounters, and the importance of their spirit animals and totems.
Peacock symbolism
Peacocks are held in high esteem in most parts of the world because of their unique and beautiful plumage. But is beauty all these birds have? No, not really. Peacocks stand as a symbol of many other traits, not all of them are positive. Following are three pre-dominant peacock symbolism. Check them out:
Immortality
Many ancient learned men believed that peacocks were blessed with immortality. There’s a myth that explains the origin of this belief. The story dates back to the days of Adam and Eve.
Once Adam and Eve had consumed the fruit from the forbidden tree, they convinced all the animals and birds around them to do the same. Peacock was one of them but refused to eat the fruit. His abstinence was acknowledged by God, who blessed him with an imperishable flesh that would not decay even after his death.
Vanity
Did you know that during the mating season, the peacocks put their bright plumage on display as a mating ritual to attract the peahens? And the peahens choose to mate with the one whose plumage they find most attractive.
Their whole mating ritual represents vanity. We can learn from these birds that vanity can never be fulfilling; our inherent beauty is much more important than our appearance.
Royalty
Peacocks were always considered to be royal birds, be it because of their beautiful plumage, elegant posture, or tender meat. In ancient times, only the kings and their elite guests could enjoy watching the peacocks dance.
Common people in the society would never have access to such pleasures. In light of the royal treatment these birds have enjoyed for centuries, it would only be fair for them to symbolize royalty.
Peacock spirit animal
If you are someone who considers luxury and extravagance to be a necessity in life, the peacock spirits might be watching over you. Such people have an innate desire to lead an extraordinary life and can settle for nothing less.
They are aware that the people around them might think of them as superficial or materialistic for wanting such things, but that’s just who they are; they won’t change for anyone.
These people have the full realization that to achieve the life of their dreams, they will have to work extra hard, and they’re prepared for it. They don’t shy away from hard work and believe in earning the extravagance that they deserve.
Most of these people choose the streams of science or politics; their head is full of progressive ideas that they want to put to good use. They also want to do something that would be remembered long after they’re gone.
As a life partner, these people like to be pampered and are obvious about it. Not everyone can be with them; many would consider them to be high-maintenance, which they are. They’re gorgeous and wouldn’t give up a single chance to flaunt their beauty.
There’s also one flaw in them; their confidence can sometimes seem like arrogance, which makes others dislike them. If you can’t keep up with a person like that, it’s best to stay away from them.
When can you call on your peacock spirit animal?
The peacock spirit animal can transform your life in ways you couldn’t have imagined. You can call on them for guidance under the following circumstances:
- When you wish to explore your hidden skills and talents. Just as the peacocks can’t see their own feathers and are, thus, unaware of their beauty, we, too, can be unaware of our gifts. Their spirits can guide you into your inner consciousness to explore your true potentials. It’ll also help you to become fully aware of your strengths, and then you can use them to your benefit.
- When you lack confidence. The peacock spirits are full of self-love and self-confidence and can lend some of it to you to improve your confidence.
- When you are trying to heal from a tragic past experience and need the energy to move forward in life. The Shamans used to believe that peacocks possessed strong healing powers. Their spirit can heal all your mental and emotional wounds and help you grow stronger and wiser from your experiences.
Dreaming of Peacocks
You can’t deny that being visited by these beautiful creatures in your sleep makes you happy. However, what is the spiritual meaning of their dreams? Let’s find out.
A white peacock
A white peacock is symbolic of pride. Dreaming of these peacocks signifies that while you might not realize it, your manner of sharing your knowledge with others sometimes comes off as too proud, perhaps even mean. Because of this, people usually don’t like you a lot.
A peacock’s feather
Dreaming of a peacock’s feather is a lucky sign. Such a dream signifies that you are about to find success in your professional life, and it will open a lot of new doors for your business soon.
A dancing peacock
Peacocks only dance when they’re happy, so dreaming of it could be reflective of the happiness you are experiencing in your waking life. These dreams have another interpretation as well. They could be symbolic of an important opportunity waiting for you. Therefore, you should be prepared for it.
A peacock in a cage
Although keeping peacocks in a cage seems brutal, dreaming of such a thing has a positive interpretation. It indicates that you are keeping your pride under check, which is a wise thing to do.
A dead peacock
If you see a dead peacock in your dream, it has a negative interpretation. Such a dream indicates that you will soon have a heated argument with your parents or partner, and it will hurt the feelings of both parties equally. Moreover, if you were the person who killed the bird in the dream, it means that the argument began due to your fault, and so, you should apologize before it’s too late.
A flying peacock
Dreaming of a flying peacock is not a good sign. Such a dream is symbolic of arrogance and suggests perhaps your success might have gotten to your head. While you should be happy about your achievements, many of your goals are still unfulfilled, and if you get carried away with this one, you might never get a chance to succeed again.
Chasing a peacock
If you see yourself chasing after a peacock in your dream, it indicates that you are someone who always strives for perfection. While aiming for perfection is a good thing, being obsessed with it is very unhealthy for you.
A black peacock
A black peacock appearing in your dream is a bad omen. It signifies that someone in your friend circle is secretly envious of you and is planning to use everything he/she knows about you against you.
Peacock symbolism in Greek mythology
The Greeks have a fascinating myth about how peacocks got the unique, eye-like patterns on their feathers. This is how the story goes:
In Ancient Greece, peacocks were known as the birds of paradise devoted to Hera, the Greek goddess of family and marriage. Hera was married to Zeus, the king of the Gods. Once, Zeus fell in love with a young woman named Io. Io was also known by the name of “Callithyia” and served Hera as her first priestess.
Soon, Hera came to know of their affair and was furious. She demanded that the girl be brought to her and turned her into a Heifer. Then, she appointed her servant, Argus, to guard the Heifer. Argus was an all-seeing monster who had a hundred eyes and was truly devoted to his mistress.
Zeus felt miserable about everything that had happened and wanted to help poor Io escape. To do that, he summoned Hermes, his messenger, and ordered him to kill Argus. Hermes went to Argus and began to play his flute to hypnotize him. Once he was asleep, Hermes killed him and freed Io.
Hera was deeply hurt at the death of his loyal servant and removed his eyes, placing them on the feathers of a peacock to immortalize his devotion.
Peacock totem
The peacock totem enters your life when you have lost the ability to appreciate the beauty in your life. Their totems are known for valuing beauty and grace above everything else, and that’s what they’re here to teach you. These totems are well-versed in the art of self-love, self-confidence, and pride, and can sense the lack of these in your life.
Under their influence, you will first learn how to appreciate yourself, your talents, and your skills. And it is only once you have learned self-love that you would be able to spread this love around.
Peacock symbolism in the Far Eastern Culture
In Chinese culture, it is believed that the peacocks are the manifestation of the supernatural Phoenix on Earth. These birds were also used as a symbol of the Ming Dynasty and represented power, beauty, and divinity.
Moreover, they are also associated with Goddess Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy, and are symbolic of mercy, empathy, and compassion. In Japanese culture, the same goddess is known by the name of “Kwan-Yin”.
Peacocks are the national bird of India. Their feathers are kept in many Indian households as a symbol of prosperity and good health. In Hindu mysticism, the creation of peacocks is attributed to Lord Vishnu, who used a feather of a Garuda, a bird he used as his vehicle (vahana), to create a peacock.
Many other Hindu Gods and Goddesses are associated with peacocks. Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, and Karthikeya are all shown to be mounted on these royal birds.
Another story associates these birds with Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu himself. Once, a group of peacocks was sleeping close to a place where Krishna was chatting with his friends.
To please these peacocks, Krishna began to play his flute, and the melody it produced was so heart-warming that all the sleeping peacocks woke up and danced to it. After having enjoyed themselves thoroughly, the group approached Krishna.
The group leader bowed down to him, thanked him for his music, and requested that he accept a feather from his plumage as a token of their admiration. Krishna happily accepted it and began wearing it on his crown.
What does it mean to see a peacock?
Did you recently encounter a peacock and are curious to learn what it could mean for you? There could be several reasons behind a peacock appearing in your life.
The first and most important one could be to deliver the message of self-love and acceptance. These birds are trying to tell you to adopt a new perspective in order to find the beauty in everything around you, beginning with yourself.
You might hate all your flaws and imperfections, but you must understand this: we’re all humans. And to be truly human is to have flaws. And if you can’t make peace with your own flaws and accept yourself, you will never be able to love someone else.
You might have heard of an old saying, “You can’t fulfill someone else’s thirst with an empty vessel”. And without self-love, you are nothing more than an empty vessel.
Moreover, the appearance of a peacock in your life could also have a romantic purpose. If you’re single and seeking a potential partner, these birds could be a sign that you will soon meet the kind of person you’ve been waiting for.
However, if you’re in a relationship that is not working out, but you dread parting ways for fear of loneliness, the peacock is asking you to be courageous and take the right step. Have faith in the fact that you deserve someone who loves you whole-heartedly, and you will find them when the time is right.
Getting a Peacock tattoo
Peacocks are one of the birds that have the richest cultural significance, which lends their tattoos a diverse variety of meanings. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular peacock tattoos and what they could mean:
- In Christianity, peacocks are believed to be the birds favored by God and blessed to never decay, even in death. If you desire glory that lives on even after you pass away, a peacock tattoo is perfect for you.
- The Buddhist admired the unique pattern on the peacock feathers and associated it with an expansive consciousness, and the disciples of Buddha who believe in this concept often get a peacock feather inked on their body.
- In China, people in the military were given a peacock feather as a symbolic honor for their service to the nation. As such, anyone who wished to serve their land or even humanity could bear these tattoos.
- Lord Krishna’s devotees also get peacock feather tattoos as a motif of their true devotion.
- The peacocks are also symbolic of beauty and elegance, so their tattoos are more prevalent among people who appreciate their beauty, both inside and out.
- In ancient cultures, peacocks were a symbol of royalty and luxury. Only the elites had access to these birds. Their tattoo can, thus, represent your elevated status in society.
Conclusion: Peacock Symbolism and Spiritual Meaning
Just as ravens are symbolic of wisdom, falcons of strength, and cranes of elegance, the peacocks are symbolic of beauty. With their bright and colorful plumage, which is unparalleled by any other bird, they have an awe-inspiring appearance.
However, these birds do not represent beauty that is only skin deep but the internal beauty as well; the beauty of thoughts, emotions, and intellect. The peacock spirits believe that to be truly beautiful, a person has to have a heart as pretty as their face.
Apart from beauty, these birds are also symbolic of royalty, purity, and immortality. The people guided by peacock spirit animals are creative, intelligent, and have the desire to make the world a better place.