Birds have fascinated mankind since ancient times, whether for their song, their plumage, their ability to fly, to organize themselves into flocks and communities, to protect themselves, or to beautify the most varied landscapes that our eyes can contemplate. In different sizes, such as the ostrich and the hummingbird, some can fly, others are excellent swimmers, and others are terrestrial and excellent runners.

In this article you will learn about the peacock, one of the most appreciated land birds, mainly for the beauty of its plumage, used as adornment in accessories, clothing and costumes, among other applications. Exotic, this bird belongs to the pheasant family, and there are three important species: the blue peacock or Indian peacock, originally from South Asia; the green peacock or Javanese peacock, from Southwest Asia; and the peacock, which comes from the South Asia region.Congo peacock, found in Central Africa. Only the males of the blue and green species have a tail with colored feathers.

Despite being adapted to captivity for thousands of years, the peacock, when in its natural habitat, is found in lowland forests, and at night it sleeps on trees. Males of the blue and green species can measure 90 to 130 centimeters; and the females are almost the same size - in both species they are green and brown. The male's tail has feathers of about1.5 meters long, in a metallic green color. On each one there is a brighter point, similar to an eye. Both males and females have a crown of feathers on their heads.

What is most striking is that the peacock displays its tail feathers, which rise and spread in a fan shape to attract the female or to appear larger in the face of a threat. Similarly, the body of the Congo peacock is blue and green, but the tail is small and rounded. The peacock's body has green and brownish tones.

Palinchakjr / Getty Images Pro / Canva

A curious fact is that the white peacock, which is quite rare, is actually the partially albino blue peacock, differing from the others due to the absence of melanin in its almost totality. This condition makes it sensitive to sunlight and susceptible to predators, should it be in its natural habitat.

While the curiosities about peacocks are many, there is the special, mystical and sacred meaning around the world attributed to them. And that is the main approach of this article. So take a few minutes of your time in reading the following text and learn more about the symbolism of the peacock!

What does the peacock represent?

To the collective unconscious, the peacock represents beauty, grace, love, personal power, pride, self-esteem, lightness, exuberance, prosperity and royalty. Even when it is said that someone is peacocking, the idea is that the person is showing off, showing ostentation, vanity, pride or magnitude. The interpretations can be positive or negative, but they refer toto self-esteem.

Moreover, even though this bird is majestic and beautiful, its feet do not have the same splendor, being even disconnected from the beauty of the plumage, which symbolizes the duality that the human being experiences along his journey: light and shadow, beautiful and ugly, and so many other oppositions, making it clear that in life it is essential to have balance.

Still in the spiritual sense, this archetype refers to transformation, psychic healing, inner peace, courage to eliminate fears, and capacity for regeneration, mainly because the peacock's feathers fall every year in winter, and new ones are born in spring. It is the sense of resurgence, of renewal, of success over death.

Danindub / Getty Images / Canva

The open tail of a peacock resembles the shape of the rising sun, the celestial vault, and the "eye" of each feather resembles the stars of the Cosmos. Thus, the symbolism of the peacock is so strong that many people tattoo this bird on their skin, in a real way, stylized or reduced to a feather, in order to always have it with them and remember its meaning, especially its capacity for transmutation.

But it is the spiritual meaning attributed to the peacock that has lasted for millennia, especially in Eastern cultures and in relation to the great religions. Considered the bird of paradise, it represents protection, good luck, intelligence, wisdom, compassion, purification, prosperity, and fertility.

The peacock for different philosophies

The way of thinking, the values and beliefs of a people are widely studied by areas of human knowledge, such as Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, among others. They all seek to understand life on the face of the Earth, both in the present moment and in the past, and also to identify future possibilities. In this sense, symbols are significant referential instruments, becauseThus, the peacock has shown itself in different philosophies. Check it out!

Ancient Greece

The peacock was a symbol in Greek mythology. It was one of the animals of the goddess Hera (Juno to the Romans), ruler of the matrimonial union. It is said that her husband, Zeus, who was not very faithful, went to meet a nymph named Lo. Hera, however, very intuitive, followed him and, when she noticed the fact, she turned the nymph into a heifer. She even asked Zeus to give her the young cow as a gift.Hera asked Argos, her faithful servant and a giant with a hundred eyes, to watch the heifer at all times. Even though he slept with 50 eyes, he watched her with the other half and kept her isolated. However, Zeus discovered the fact and ordered Hermes to free Lo. By playing a melody, Hermes made Argos close all eyes and fall asleep completely, and rescued Lo.When Hera learned of this, she was devastated at the loss of her servant, and to eternalize him, she collected all 100 eyes and placed them in the tail of her sacred peacock. Although with a cause linked to jealousy, the symbol denotes vigilance, eternity, and regeneration.

Christianity

Among Christians, because of the pattern of the peacock's tail feathers, it is attributed the meaning of omniscience (God, who sees all and knows all). The fan formed by the open tail represents the universe.

VMonte13 /pixabay / Canva

In addition, the "eyes" of the feathers also symbolize the stars. The fan and the eyes together represent eternity, immortality and totality, the omnipresence of God, while the crown (crest), similar to a six-pointed star, represents majesty and power, the omnipotence of God.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, the peacock is related to spiritual evolution. The "eyes" in the bird's feathers symbolize vigilance; the tail, when open, represents accessibility for attaining purity. The peacock is a symbol of wisdom, and in ancient sculptures of Buddha, he is depicted as the bird. In addition, some Buddhist legends relate that he was a golden peacock in past lives and thatAmitabha Buddha (Buddha of Eternal Light) has his throne under a tree, supported by eight peacocks.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the figure of the peacock is present in religious ceremonies, symbolizing the bodhisattva (one who transcends), who does not let himself be attracted by emotional poisons - such as jealousy, envy, anger and rage - nor be contaminated by impure aspects. He is able to coexist among people to help them achieve enlightenment. He symbolizes good omen, purity andIn Buddhism in China and Japan, the peacock is associated with the goddess of compassion and mercy Kannon Bosatsu or Kuan Yin.

Hinduism

Although the peacock feeds on insects, seeds, leaves, flower petals, and small invertebrates, it can also consume lizards and snakes. Thus, the symbolism of the peacock in Hinduism is related to immortality, due to the fact that the bird absorbs poison and stays alive. Moreover, it even transforms something negative into positive, suffering into beauty, evil into good.

Also, the peacock is represented as the bird of the god Krishna, who wears one of the feathers on his head, as the mastery of vanity for enlightenment and consciousness. Similarly, Saraswati - the goddess of music, poetry, knowledge, wisdom and study - is sometimes shown riding a peacock. Similarly, the peacock's feathers represent the qualities of patience, prosperity, kindness and good luckof the goddess Lakshmi.

Moreover, in India the bird is so revered that in the gardens of palaces, Hindu temples and sacred places it is tended and fed by priests. Since 1963 it has been the country's symbol bird. It is also associated with the Peacock Throne, one of the most important objects in Indian history. Studded with emeralds, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls, the throne was carried as a war trophy by thePersian King Nadir Shah in 1739 and never found again.

Traditional Chinese Religion and Syncretism

Among Taoists, Confucians, and Buddhists in China, the peacock represents the manifestation of the Heavenly Phoenix on Earth, one of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty. The "eyes" in its tail attract luck and success. They bring positive energy and enable public admiration. In addition, it is believed that the peacock's grandeur can rekindle the flame of a love relationship.

Raghu_Ramaswamy / Getty Images / Canva

In the Ming dynasty, the symbolism of the peacock was related to the divine, holiness, order, power, beauty, and protection. Even in China and Vietnam, from the 13th to the 18th century, the bird became a symbol of abundance, prosperity, and fertility. The Chinese believed that the peacock's gaze could even make a woman pregnant.

Islam

In Islam, the peacock is seen as the one who welcomes souls at the gates of paradise. It is a symbol of God's vision, for it is the animal with "one hundred eyes. In addition, in the esoteric branch of Islam, known as the Sufi tradition, the peacock with the open tail represents the image of the Higher Self seen reflected in a mirror at the moment when Light was made in the universe, symbolizing spiritual virtuesemanated from the Eye of the Heart.

Shamanism

For shamanism, the symbolism of the peacock is related to kindness, magic, and generosity, for the bird has an upward wisdom, being able to use energy to create anything it wants. Even the Peacock Clan, in ancient shamanism, glorifies the bird and its governing element, fire.

The peacock is an animal that can be evoked for psychic healing, in the sense of providing attitudes of courage and calming fears. It is also believed that an ancient shamanic order, known as the Order of the White Peacock, descends from the planet Venus, so this bird is seen as a protective being, one that guards the temple of that order on that planet and shouts to warn when someone approaches.

Theosophy

In theosophy, a spiritualist doctrine related to the occult tradition and Eastern religions founded by Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) in the 19th century, the peacock is an icon of initiation and of the hundred-eyed intelligence. It symbolizes wisdom and occult knowledge. The "eyes" of this bird's feathers are associated with the pineal gland and represent extrasensory abilities, the sixth sense, theintuition, clairvoyance and mediumship.

The Sufi myth of the peacock

The symbolism of the peacock is also present in the Sufi myth. According to the story, there was a boy named Adi, who longed to acquire more knowledge about the world, so a teacher he had suggested that Adi go to the south, corresponding to Iraq, and learn the meaning of the peacock and the snake.

In the country, Adi met the two animals and talked to each of them. He wanted to know the achievements of the peacock and the snake to understand what made them so important. First, the peacock said that it was the most important animal because it symbolized being, aspiration, heavenly beauty and divine knowledge, hidden from human beings.

Free-photos / pixabay / Canva

Then the snake said that it also represented everything the peacock had said, but it symbolized all these characteristics by being on earth, reminding the human being that he is part of this place. Trying to sound more important, the peacock said that the snake was sneaky and dangerous and could not be better than him.

The snake's cunning, however, caused it to say that the peacock also has flaws, such as vanity and ostentation, as well as being a strange animal. In the middle of this discussion, Adi, who was listening attentively, declared that there was no more important animal between the two, and that both the peacock and the snake brought lessons for humanity.

The lesson brought by the snake is that, even though it can rise, it keeps crawling, just like humans, in a symbolic way. The peacock, on the other hand, cannot rise, because it is too vain, like so many people, i.e., both represent the potentials that human beings have, but have not managed to achieve for some reason, thus carrying a message of wisdom.

Symbolism of the White Peacock

As we said at the beginning, the white peacock is a rare albino bird, more fragile than the others in relation to sunlight and predators, due to the lack of pigmentation in its feathers, it symbolizes neutrality, purity, peace, and generosity.

Considered a symbol of death, resurrection, and the longevity of life, especially associated with Jesus Christ, it signifies spiritual elevation and connection with the divine. In addition, it symbolizes the royalty and purity of Jesus Christ's heart. The color also represents the Holy Spirit.

How to use the symbolism of the peacock in daily life?

Eventually we all need to transform dense energies into high energies to achieve serenity and peace of mind. Also, when facing difficulties, we need to strengthen our self-esteem and make suffering an apprenticeship, finding beauty in this experience. To do so, we can admire a peacock figure, either in a painting, a book, a computer screen background, an outfit orA few minutes a day are enough to rescue the archetypes it represents and get the energy one desires.

Jeliva / Getty Images Pro / Canva

Peacock energy in the home

Have you ever thought of placing the image of a peacock in your home? It can be in a statue, a picture, a pillow, or even in the colors of some part of the decoration. A simple representation of this bird will already attract the good energy that the peacock presents.

The peacock is a symbol of the soul, of peace, beauty, prosperity, love, and compassion, causing the people around it to evolve in the face of life's difficulties. This figure, represented in your home, can stimulate affection, dialogue, and overcoming, as well as bring luck.

In addition, the peacock is a symbol of courage, because he is not afraid to expand his tail and shine out into the world, showing who he really is. At the same time, the changing of the peacock's feathers indicates that we need to renew our energies and leave behind that which hinders our evolutions.

A peacock in your home, represented in any way you wish, is therefore a very positive sign. It will help you see the good side of life and of who you are, giving you the light you need to act with authenticity, to relate well to others, and to keep your home with great vibrations.

The peacock's vision of preservation

There is a belief that finding a peacock feather brings good luck, peace of mind, and serenity, but even going to the zoo in the winter is not possible to find one. This plumage is extremely coveted, just like that of some other birds, such as the pheasant and the macaw.

In Brazil, due to the Carnival parades of the samba schools, to make costumes for the muses and the highlights of the floats, many peacock feathers are used every year, making the country a great importer of this material, which comes from countries such as India, China, and South Africa. It is important to point out that the feathers are plucked from the animal, in a very cruel and painful process.

You may also like

• Understand how Reiki works on animals and be surprised
• See what your spirit animal is and what it means
• Be moved by the protection that animals bring us

The peacock also represents a true paradox, since its symbolism highlights kindness, mercy, transformation and spiritual elevation, subjecting such a splendid bird to such a practice seems inconsistent. Besides, the industry already presents, for carnival purposes, synthetic materials, very similar to natural ones. And many schools - the most conscious ones - already dothis substitution.

So, to conclude, take advantage of the symbolism of the peacock and the lessons of generosity and spirituality that it has taught for thousands of years and open your mind, expand your consciousness and become an agent of paradigm shifts. Do good for yourself and for others, regardless of the species to which they belong. Preserve nature, beauty and life! Transcend!