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  • Writer's picturelaura zibalese

Symbolism of Birds: Messengers of Omens & Signs for Your Life


Birds are messangers from spirit, bring omens and signs
Birds: Omens, Signs, and Messangers

In Ancient times Birds were seen as Omens, Signs from heaven, Messengers of the gods. Birds bought with them powerful signs

of the future, messages from the dead, and omens for good or ill

to come.

Prophets and priests of old would watch the skies, seeking signs from the Gods, as did the people from peasants to kings.


Messenger Birds delivered signs and omens seen in their behaviors by all.


For example, an eagle carrying a snake in its claws is a well-known omen of victory. While an Aztec prophecy once foretold that when they saw an eagle, standing on a cactus, with a snake in its talons they would find their new home...when the wondering Aztecs found it, in the middle of a lake, they built the pyramid city of Tenochtitlan. We know that city today as Mexico City.


Birds Messengers of the old and New Religions.

For eons humans have associated animals and plants with Gods and Goddess. Birds in particular were considered messengers who delivered signs to mortals.


The Owl sacred to Athena and symbole of wisdom.
The Owl was sacred to the goddess Athena

The Goddess Athena, for instance, had an Owl as her sacred animal, symbolizing her great wisdom, while Zeus's sacred bird was the Eagle, flying high, allowing him to see all the world. Odin on the other-hand had two Ravens that served as his eyes on the world.

In the Christian world a Dove became the symbol of the holy spirit, of peace and was the bringer of hope to waterlogged Noah. In the book of Ezekiel one of the four living creatures has the face of an eagle and represents the Spirit of God.



As the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle stands for endurance, independence, and courage and is a protected species due to its symbolic importance to all Americans.

For a Psychic Reading with Laura please go to the bookings page. groundedpsyhcic.com 


Everyday people throughout time have watched for these divine messengers, these bringers of signs and omens. Even today you may hear someone say...A cardinal just landed on my windowsill...it must be a message from Grandma who passed last year.


Some birds are known to bring good luck to the seer. Peacocks, with their splendid plumage and regal demeanor, are believed to bring wealth and prosperity, while a hawk symbolizes achievements and focus, and seagulls foretell happiness and peace.


Let Us look at 12 of these Birds and what messages, signs and omens they bring!

1. Hummingbird

Hummingbird is considered a harbinger of Joy and victory over darkness
Hummingerds signs of Joy, victory over darkness

The Hummingbird is considered a harbinger of Joy and victory over darkness, and is a messenger of love, beauty, and good fortune. The Aztec God Huitzilopochtli, which literally means the Southern Hummingbird (or left-handed Humminbird), is considered a warrior. Huitzilopochtli as the hummingbird is an incarnation of the Sun whose Solar Forces struggle with the forces of Night to keep mankind and the whole of creation alive.

Seeing a Hummingbird is an omen of hope. Especially if the hummingbird is hovering. It is considered a divine message from Huitzilopochtli, telling you that you can achieve the impossible.


In Native American traditions, hummingbirds are believed to carry the wishes of the people to the spirit world, a testament to their profound connection to the divine.

In the bible a hummingbird is connected to death but not in a negative way. The tiny bird is seen as a messenger from the other side, bringing good news from the loved ones who passed. The hummingbird as a sign from heaven comes to you when you mourn and feel lost.


2. Swallow

Swallows are very auspicious omens
Swallos signs of Luck!

The joyful Swallow is considered a very auspicious bird. The Swallow symbolize the rejuvenating forces of Mother Nature.


The Swallow is a sign of good luck. In Victorian times the swallow was a symbol of a Successful Voyage. Sailors, who spent long periods at sea, adopted the swallow as a talisman of good luck and a harbinger of land. The sight of these agile birds indicated that their voyage was nearing its end, filling their hearts with anticipation and relief.


Swallows are associated with the Spring Equinox, and the Rebirth of Nature. In Greece they were associated with the return of the Goddess Persephone from the Underworld, signaling the beginning of Spring.


When you spot a swallow earlier than the Spring Equinox it is considered a most auspicious sign. If swallows choose to build their nest on your house, this is an omen of happiness, fertility and good luck. However, if someone destroys the nest, this is a omen of bad news for the household.


3. Owl

Owls are believed to be harbingers of doom and carriers of unimaginable wisdom at the same time.
Owls omens of Wisdom and Doom.

Owls are believed to be harbingers of doom and carriers of unimaginable wisdom at the same time, Owls were often considered prophets of doom. In ancient Rome as well as modern European and American folklore, a hooting owl warns of impending death.

Owls have been associated with many gods and goddess but one of the most powerful associations is with Athena (Minerva to the Romans) the Goddess of Wisdom in Ancient Greece. Owls have often been associated with magic, witches and sorcerers, and in some cultures, the owl is a symbol of wisdom and all-seeing knowledge.


When an Owl appears, it is said one must be extra careful about ones next steps, as the Owl tries to make us ready for what’s coming. The omen isn't necessarily bad but it certainly will be important or even life-changing.


Owls are not omens of Bad Luck or even Harbingers of Doom (unless you see two owls fighting and shouting over your house!) Most of the time, they are messengers of News of Great Importance. Owls are considered Royal Birds, therefore seeing them can be considered as omens of success.

If you are using your psychic abilities or magic as in ages past, the appearance of an Owl often means that your abilities/magic is strong and you should be very careful with the energies you summon or utilize. Use the energy of the owl wisely!

4. Crow/Raven

Thanks to folks like Edgar Allen Poe and Alfred Hitchcock the Raven/Crow has developed an unjust reputation of being harbingers of death and evil as in the movie the Omen II. The raven's black plumage and haunting calls have often been associated with death and the afterlife in various cultures. Despite these connections with death, the Raven is also seen as a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and cunning.


Raven is also seen as a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and cunning.
Ravens/Crows omens of wisdom and knowledge.

However, while Ravens can bring bad news, they are also considered the personification of truth. In the Norse tradition two crows would sit on the shoulder of the all father, the great god Odin. Hugin representing 'memory' and Munin representing 'thought'. They around the would fly the world each night to return and tell Odin all they had seen.


Crow/Ravens are also the Sacred bird of Thoth, the Great Egyptian God of Wisdom and Magic. Moreover, for the Greeks the Crow/Raven is sacred to Apollo the Sun God, Hera Queen of the Gods, and Asclepius the God of Medicine and Healing.

Seeing a Crow means that truth is going to be exposed to you soon. Ancients believe that wisdom cannot be achieved if you are not ready to receive this information. The sight of a Crow is the divine confirmation that you are now ready! Soon you will learn something really important.

5. Hawk/Falcon

Across all cultures and ages, the hawk's cultural and mythological significance endures as a powerful symbol of strength, grace, and connection to the divine. Its soaring flight and sharp vision have inspired countless tales of prophecy, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.


Hawks are symbols of the mighty forces of Good.
Falcon/Hawk omen for Good!

Hawks are symbols of the mighty forces of Good. Both Horus the Sky God, son of Osiris and Isis, the falcon-headed avenger of the Death of his father and Apollo the Greek God of the Sun and Witchcraft had a Falcon/Hawk as their sacred birds.

In the Christian tradition the falcon represents vision, freedom, and victory. Hence, it also represents salvation to those who are in bondage whether moral, emotional, or spiritual. As in the resurrection freeing humanity from sin.


When hawks and falcons accidentally cross your path – or just appear out of nowhere – it is considered a powerful omen to be alert, as evil is nearby. The Hawk is ready to fight back and attack the evil. Of all birds as omens, the Hawk or Falcon is considered to be the one who prepares us for a battle. Are you ready? Shields up!

For a Psychic Reading with Laura please go to the bookings page. groundedpsyhcic.com 

6. Vulture

Vultures are the sacred birds of Goddess Mut, the primordial Goddess of Water, which ever sprang from her and Nekhbet, goddess of the Heavens.

The priestesses of Nekhbet were called muu (mothers) – signifying their association with Mut, the great Mother – and wore robes of Egyptian vulture feathers. Amongst all birds as omens, Vultures are the most misunderstood.


Vultures are omens of fertility, purification, success
Vultures are omens of fertility and success.

Vultures are omens of fertility, symbolizing the Great Mother, our Earth. However, something needs to be sacrificed. Success is near but work must be done.

The low vibrations need to be transmuted into something greater. Vultures were believed to devour the souls of the dead, only to carry them to the other realms.


Vultures are symbols of death, rebirth, purification, patience, protection, and new beginnings. Seeing a vulture is a sign to let go of the things that no longer serve you and embrace change. Vultures are considered a positive omen of new beginnings.


7. Heron

Herons are seen as carriers of insightful wisdom, encouraging deep inner reflection and the awakening of intuitive abilities.
Harons aswaken psychic abilites.

Herons are seen as carriers of insightful wisdom, encouraging deep inner reflection and the awakening of intuitive abilities. Many cultures revere herons as symbols of purity, grace, and longevity, with special significance in Egyptian, Celtic, and Native American beliefs. Herons represent strength, purity and long life in China. In Native American tradition the heron symbolizes wisdom and good judgment.


In ancient Egypt the heron was a symbol of creation, in fact, the earliest depiction of the Phoenix – the sacred bird of Resurrection – is a Heron!

 

The Hieroglyph of the Phoenix is a heron, the Benu Bird. Hence, amongst all birds as omens, spotting a Heron is considered a very positive sign, a harbinger of Rebirth.


Herons love lakes, rivers, and peaceful waters, in Africa and Greece the heron was a messenger of the gods and a symbol of fishing. Watching a heron fish would be considered a lesson in patience.


In spiritual traditions, the heron represents patience, determination, and being comfortable in solitude. Seeing A Heron is a Good Omen, a heron can signify good luck, suggesting peaceful, self-reliance, and resourceful energy coming your way.


Thus Herons are considered to be extremely fortunate bird omens, especially if they approach you. They deliver you a divine message of Rebirth. Let your sorrow die. From its ashes, a new life will soon begin. The Time has Come!

8. Cardinals


Cardinal sightings are a sign of hope, wisdom or blessings, or that they are angels with a divine message for you
Cardinals signs angels are near.

Many people believe that seeing a cardinal is a sign that a deceased loved one is nearby. There's a popular saying, “When a cardinal appears, an angel is near.” These bright red birds can bring a sense of comfort and connection, as if the person who passed is sending a message that they're still with us in spirit.


The Northern Cardinal's bright red plumage reminded early European settlers of the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, high-ranking bishops who wear red robes and caps. Both this bird's common name and its scientific moniker Cardinalis cardinalis refer to these church officials.


Cardinals represent devotion, loving relationships, courtship, and monogamy above everything else. in the Native American lore, some tribes thought cardinals to be the harbinger of rain, while other tribes, associated cardinals with good fortune.

Cardinal sightings are a sign of hope, wisdom or blessings, or that they are angels with a divine message for you. Many believe Cardinals are a symbol of change. A shift is coming in your life which may be viewed as an ending...but also as an opportunity for a new beginning.


9. Stork

Stork is believed an Omen of something new coming into your lifeStork is believed an Omen of something new coming into your life
Stork delivers signs of good things to come.

The stork represents birth (as well as rebirth). Hera (Juno), the all-mighty Queen of the Gods, used to inflict punishment by transforming people into storks. The legend says Hera grew jealous of a beautiful queen named Gerana and transformed her into a stork. The heartbroken Gerana then sought to retrieve her child from Hera's clutches, and the Greeks depicted the transformed bird with a baby dangling from its beak.


However, the Stork was a bird sacred to her. Hence, as Hera is the Goddess of family, fertility, and motherhood, storks are harbingers of these qualities.

Storks often represent new beginnings in folklore so to start the New Year we have the Wood Stork. They were a symbol of new beginnings in Christianity as well as Ancient Egyptian and Native American cultures.


In Egypt the ba, whose notion spanned from the divine, to the manifestation of the divine, and from the supernatural (or rather super-human) manifestation of the dead to the notion of the soul (psyche) or reputation, counts among the most important Ancient Egyptian religious concepts.


White Storks are frequently found in folklore, representing peace, happiness, fertility, birth and rebirth.


Spotting a Stork is believed an Omen of something new coming into your life – something extremely dear (as a newborn child). However, it’s not sure that you’ll get it. You need to be alert. Let’s not forget that Storks are the Egyptian symbols of our Souls (ba). How easy would it be to catch a soul?

10. Peacock

The Peacock represents different meanings to different cultures, with its unique majestic beauty, it is a symbol for power, strength, confidence, and even divinity, something with which most monarchs throughout history have wanted to be associated. Many Mughal emperors ruled India from the Mayura or Peacock Thrown...a symbol of their great power over their empire.


theThe spiritual energy of the peacock, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment
Peacock a very positive omen of the Divine.

Peacocks were an important symbol in Roman times, most commonly representing funerals, death, and resurrection.


Peacocks are also sacred birds of Hera, the all-mighty Queen of the Gods. In this case, however, peacocks are harbingers of Success. Among all Birds as Omens, Peacocks are the most auspicious! As a messenger of Hera a peacock brings happiness and says a marriage may come soon!

If a peacock appears to you it is an omen that prosperity and success are coming. If the peacock spreads its magnificent tail, it is a sign of great Luck! However, if a peacock feather is found on your property, then the Evil Eye might be after you! Don't worry, Hera will protect you.


As a sign the peacock inspires us to recognize and cultivate our talents, gifts, and passions, and share them with the world, knowing that our authentic expression has the power to inspire and uplift others. When we embrace the spiritual energy of the peacock, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

11. Dove

The Dove is a symbol of hope and renewal, and peace.
The Dove a sign of divine love, hope, and peace.

Across different cultures, the dove is often revered as a symbol of peace, love, and purity. In ancient Mesopotamia, the dove was associated with the goddess Ishtar, representing love, fertility, and protection.


In ancient Greece, the dove was linked to Aphrodite. Although Aphrodite is a mighty Goddess, when she appears as a Dove, she spreads the message of Love, Beauty, and Peace.


A dove in the Bible represents new beginnings, new possibilities, new creation, the presence of God. Genesis 6-9 tells the story of the great flood when God instructs Noah to build an ark so that Noah's family and a remnant of God's creatures might be saved for a new creation. It was a dove that succeeded in finding land and bringing hope!


The dove has strong symbolic presence in the Christian tradition. The dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. When Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, a dove descended on him, as shown in Matthew 3.16 and Mark 1.10. Additionally the dove is often depicted with an olive branch in its mouth as a symbol and sign of peace.


As a symbol of hope and renewal, the dove has often been associated with messages of harmony and the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Its presence in various cultural and spiritual contexts highlights its enduring significance as a messenger of peace and a sign of compassion and unity.

12. Robin

For centuries, this tiny bird has been the symbol of good luck, happiness, rebirth - and sometimes even as a messenger for lost, loved ones. There are tales stretching back to Norse mythology depicting the robin is the protector from storms and lightning.


Among Bird Omens, Robins are the most intense symbols of Good Luck and happy outcomes!
Robins, omens of Happiness, luck and positive outcomes.

Robin are signs of family, community, living in the moment, leaving the past behind, the season of spring, rejuvenation, fresh starts, joy through song/music, feeling abundant, and being grateful.


The Robin also appears in the Christian Tradition. It is said a robin rested upon Jesus' shoulder when he was on the cross and sang to relieve his suffering. The blood from Jesus' crown of thorns stained the little bird's chest, and ever since then, all robins were red breasted.


The Red Robin, with its vibrant blood stained plumage, thus symbolizes renewal, joy, and the celebration of life. It's often seen as a harbinger of spring and new beginnings.


Amongst all Bird Omens, Robins are the most intense symbols of Good Luck and happy outcomes! Why? Because Robins symbolize the rejuvenating forces of Fire.


Robins are the carriers of the Powers of Sacred Flames. Robins are also associated with the Phoenix, the Sacred Bird of Fire.

Thus if a Robin enters your house, this is a powerful omen of change for the better. Darkness can no longer hold you back. You are free as the Phoenix. Good Luck is on your side and prosperity is coming.

The robins message includes: transformation, growth, renewal, passion, change, and power. The robin is all about perseverance and trying to “keep on keeping on.” The Robin can teach you how to focus and trust yourself better.


Thank you, for reading groundedpsychic

For a Psychic Reading with Laura please go to the bookings page. groundedpsyhcic.com 



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