Animal Symbolism.
Animals are a fundamental pillar of nature in the ecosystem of the planet Earth, they have coexisted with us since the beginning of humanity and their ancestral symbolism that marveled all our ancestors is linked to the collective unconscious, which is why we tend to relate some animals with certain human attitudes.
Throughout the history of humanity, in many cultures of our planet, the concept of the animal totem has existed since primitive tribes lived in close contact with nature and all the living beings that make it up.
Each of the animals that live on earth represents a unique essence, with a characteristic personality and a way of being that sets it apart from the rest. Animals offer us teachings and lessons from their evolutionary wisdom, but there are four very important species that represent the global essence of animal consciousness on our planet, they are the panda bear, the turtle, the owl and the dolphin.
The panda is the representative of mammals on our planet, it is linked to the earth element, it is a symbol of inner strength and the power of introspection, its constant struggle against adversity makes it a born warrior. In turn it represents the fragility of the earth given its danger of extinction, the contrast in its black and white coat represents the Yin Yang between male and female energy.
With his calm character of modest personality, he transmits peace in his environment, in China he is considered the totemic animal of youth for the tenderness and innocence that he exudes, is a symbol of diplomacy between cultures, in Eastern culture he is considered a national ambassador who manages to open doors to other countries. The bond of the panda bear and bamboo reflects a strong connection with nature, this bond represents the inner development and reach of higher knowledge.
Quiet and modest is also the turtle, the representative in the land of reptiles, amphibians and insects, is linked to the element fire, in the ancient symbolism of the aboriginal Americans is the symbol of the planet Earth. It means longevity, patience, observation, stability and protection.
The turtle is the totemic animal of creation and motherhood, is a magnificent teacher to connect with mother earth, in Asia represents the cosmic order, its large shell is the symbol of heaven and its body is that of the earth. In the Mayan culture it was considered a magical animal because they said that in its belly was the map of the stars, in turn the thirteen parts of its shell were associated with the thirteen faces of the moon.
In the darkness of the night under the moon is the owl, the representation of the birds on Earth, since time immemorial night, darkness and the invisible have produced great fear to humans, but on the contrary the darkness is the ally of the owl, he has the ability to see and identify anything in the absence of light.
It means stealth, visual acuity, silence and speed. The owl is a wise teacher, messenger of secrets and omens. It represents mystery, transition and above all wisdom because it can see what others cannot. It was an important animal in ancient Egypt, Celtic Europe, Hindu and Greek philosophy.
Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was accompanied by an owl on her shoulder, which revealed the hidden truths and had the ability to illuminate the blind side of Athena, allowing her to tell the whole truth.
The one who illuminates the ocean with his presence is the dolphin, the animal representative of the marine beings on earth. It is considered the king of the marine world by many ancient cultures, what is due to its grace and intelligence, is the symbol of joy, communication, love, generosity and healing.
As a totemic animal it represents duality since it is a fish, but it is also a mammal, it is water, but at the same time needs the air to breathe. For the Celts it was an important totem, because it was the protector of the sacred waters of the world, they said that with the sounds they emit they purified all around them. The dolphin represents life, the reparation we need to maintain the rhythm of life for all living beings.
External resources:
Bibliographic reference:
Power Animals and the Collective Unconscious. Marga Farró (2018). Kindle version.
Cover page courtesy of Pixabay.com. Backless images courtesy of kisspng.com.
Panda 1 y 2. Tortuga 1 y 2.
Búho 1 y 2. Delfín 1 y 2.
An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.- Martin Buber.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://recetasbreili.site/literatura/symbolism-of-animals/