The peacock has a long history of being a symbol of beauty and creativity. The peacock also symbolizes the ability to rise above life’s challenges, and is often used as a totem by those who have endured great hardship.
The peacock is a well-known symbol in many cultures, with meanings that vary depending on the culture. In some cultures, it is seen as an omen of death or misfortune; in others it is seen as a sign of good luck or fertility. In Hinduism, the peacock represents Brahma, the creator god.
Superstition
In the realm of superstition, peacocks are birds of misfortune and bad luck.
It is believed that keeping peacock feathers in the home or wearing them brings misfortune.
This belief may stem from the Ancient Greek tradition of keeping peacocks in religious temples. Stealing a sacred bird or one of its feathers was punishable by death.
The Evil Eye
Peacock feathers are also associated with the evil eye. This again may stem from the ancient Greeks.
According to mythology, the peacock is the sacred bird of the goddess Hera. The bird got its eyes from Hera’s faithful servant, Argus.
Argus was the hundred-eyed protector who was slayed by Hermes in order to set Io free. After his death, Hera placed his eyes on the peacock’s feathers so that he might never be forgotten.
The Legend Behind the Peacock
There are many legends about the peacock. One of them is that the peacock is a symbol of beauty and immortality. In this legend, the peacock was the most beautiful bird in the world. It was so beautiful that it could not fly because its feathers were too heavy. The devil said that if it could fly, he would be able to tempt all living creatures with its beauty and immortality.
In another legend, there is a prince who goes on a quest to find a magical bird with a tail of gold and feathers of blue and green. He finds this bird in India (the country where peacocks live). And then he takes it back to his home country in Arabia (the place where this story takes place).
Tattoo Symbolism
While it is easy to see where the negative interpretations of the peacock stem from, in far more ancient symbolism the peacock was a solar symbol. It also represented the sacred wheel of life and time.
As a symbol of protection, royalty often made use of the peacock as protection from outsiders.
The peacock, an often popular tattoo, protects the wearer with its many eyes.
How to Interpret Your Own Totem Animals and Meanings
Totem animals are symbols that represent your personality. They are a way to understand your own qualities and strengths.
The peacock is a spiritual animal that symbolizes beauty and creativity. It also represents the ability to show off one’s beauty, which is why it is often used as the symbol for fashion designers.
A totem animal can show what you need to work on in order to grow in certain areas of life or how you can improve yourself. For example, the wolf totem might represent someone who needs more courage or who has a tendency to be too aggressive
Sources:
- A Dictionary of Omens and Superstitions by Philippa Waring
- Classical Mythology by Mark P.O. Morford and Robert J. Lenardon
- The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols by Jean Chevalier and Alain Gheerbrant. Translated by John Buchanan-Brown
