Post by Spirit of the Lynx on Jul 4, 2007 19:05:34 GMT -5
From: taraluna (Original Message) Sent: 11/1/2003 6:15 PM
Peacock
Resurrection & Wise Vision (Watchfulness)
Cycle of Power: Spring & Autumn
The peacock is a bird which has stirred much lore & myth in every society.This bird with its beautiful plumage fascinates all who encounter it. As with many birds, the male has the brighter feathers & is more ostentatious. The peahen is no less magnificent in its own right. It is a protective & powerful bird.
Probably the peacock's two most outstanding features are the feathers & its eerie & rauscous calls. The call has a kind of laughter quality to it, as if the peacock is a reminder to laugh at life. One story I have heard in connection to its vocalizations is tied to the appearance of its feet. The peacock has ugly feet, and there is a story that it screeches every time it catches sight of them.
For anyone with a peacock as a totem, an examination of the mysticism & symbolism of feet should be examined. The feet are our support system; they are at the foundation of our structure. They enable us to move & to be upright. What are the feet of the peacock saying about you & your life? An examination & use of foot reflexology is beneficial to study for anyone with a peacock as a totem.
The feathers have been used for ritual & for decorative purposes. The colors & patterns of its feathers reveal why such mysticism has arisen in connection with the peacock. The blue-green iridescence creates a sense of awe. The bluish-green tint has often been associated with royalty. The "eyes" within the feathering have often been associated with greater vision & wisdom.
This idea of watchfulness is found in Greek Mythology. Argus, a watchman for the goddess Hera, had a hundred eyes. When he fell asleep during his duty & was killed, Hera placed his eyes in the peacock-her favorite bird.
Of all birds, the peacock most resembles the traditional descriptions of the phoenix. The phoenix is the legendary bird of resurrection that is sacrificed in the fires of life & then rises from the flames out of its own ashes. The peacock, as a reflection of the phoenix, has touched many societies. In Chinese mythology the plumage is a blending of five colors that have a sweet harmony of sound.
In Egypt it was linked to the worship of the sun god, Amon-Ra. Even in Christianity it was a symbol of the death & resurrection of Jesus. In Egypt, the peacock was associated with the all seeing eye of Horus. To Hindus, it was associated with Hindra, the god of thunder who became a peacock to escape the demon Ravanna, thus being endowed with 100 eyes in the feathers.
The peacock was often considered sacred in that it destroyed poisonous snakes. In Egypt it held a position second only to the ibis in this catagory. Because of its many eyes, it has been associated with wisdom & vision-heightened watchfulness. It has also been associated with immortality. Partly this is due to its similar appearance to depictions of the phoenix. This idea also rises from the old belief that its flesh would not putrefy.
An examination of these & other myths associated with this bird may reveal possible past-life connections for those with this totem. It will shed insight into the role it will play in your life. The lore associated with the peacock is closely tied to its characteristics & behaviors, and will help you see how other societies were able to draw connections & make correspondences.
Derived from "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews
Peacock
Resurrection & Wise Vision (Watchfulness)
Cycle of Power: Spring & Autumn
The peacock is a bird which has stirred much lore & myth in every society.This bird with its beautiful plumage fascinates all who encounter it. As with many birds, the male has the brighter feathers & is more ostentatious. The peahen is no less magnificent in its own right. It is a protective & powerful bird.
Probably the peacock's two most outstanding features are the feathers & its eerie & rauscous calls. The call has a kind of laughter quality to it, as if the peacock is a reminder to laugh at life. One story I have heard in connection to its vocalizations is tied to the appearance of its feet. The peacock has ugly feet, and there is a story that it screeches every time it catches sight of them.
For anyone with a peacock as a totem, an examination of the mysticism & symbolism of feet should be examined. The feet are our support system; they are at the foundation of our structure. They enable us to move & to be upright. What are the feet of the peacock saying about you & your life? An examination & use of foot reflexology is beneficial to study for anyone with a peacock as a totem.
The feathers have been used for ritual & for decorative purposes. The colors & patterns of its feathers reveal why such mysticism has arisen in connection with the peacock. The blue-green iridescence creates a sense of awe. The bluish-green tint has often been associated with royalty. The "eyes" within the feathering have often been associated with greater vision & wisdom.
This idea of watchfulness is found in Greek Mythology. Argus, a watchman for the goddess Hera, had a hundred eyes. When he fell asleep during his duty & was killed, Hera placed his eyes in the peacock-her favorite bird.
Of all birds, the peacock most resembles the traditional descriptions of the phoenix. The phoenix is the legendary bird of resurrection that is sacrificed in the fires of life & then rises from the flames out of its own ashes. The peacock, as a reflection of the phoenix, has touched many societies. In Chinese mythology the plumage is a blending of five colors that have a sweet harmony of sound.
In Egypt it was linked to the worship of the sun god, Amon-Ra. Even in Christianity it was a symbol of the death & resurrection of Jesus. In Egypt, the peacock was associated with the all seeing eye of Horus. To Hindus, it was associated with Hindra, the god of thunder who became a peacock to escape the demon Ravanna, thus being endowed with 100 eyes in the feathers.
The peacock was often considered sacred in that it destroyed poisonous snakes. In Egypt it held a position second only to the ibis in this catagory. Because of its many eyes, it has been associated with wisdom & vision-heightened watchfulness. It has also been associated with immortality. Partly this is due to its similar appearance to depictions of the phoenix. This idea also rises from the old belief that its flesh would not putrefy.
An examination of these & other myths associated with this bird may reveal possible past-life connections for those with this totem. It will shed insight into the role it will play in your life. The lore associated with the peacock is closely tied to its characteristics & behaviors, and will help you see how other societies were able to draw connections & make correspondences.
Derived from "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews