The pelican is a bird that has interesting spiritual meanings. Its large bill that can hold a lot of fish reminds us of being provided for.
Pelicans are also symbols of sacrifice, renewal, and resurrection. In this post, we will explore the deeper spiritual meanings behind the pelican.
Spiritual Meanings of Pelican
Sacrifice
You know that mother pelicans will pierce their own breasts to feed their hungry chicks with their blood when no other food is available. This symbolizes the sacrifices parents make for their children. It reminds you to make sacrifices for your loved ones when they are in need.
Renewal
The pelican is believed to have the ability to drain the poison from its body. This represents spiritual renewal and rebirth. When you feel weighed down by negative emotions or habits, look to the pelican as a sign to cleanse yourself and start fresh.
Nourishment
Legends tell of pelicans feeding their young with their own blood. This exemplifies the nourishment parents provide for their children. The pelican’s generosity inspires you to nurture others with compassion.
Selflessness
Mother pelicans give of their own bodies to feed their chicks. This ultimate act of selflessness serves as an example of placing others’ needs above your own. It calls on you to serve those less fortunate.
Resurrection
It was thought that pelicans stabbed themselves to feed their young, and afterward the mother bird was resurrected to life. This came to symbolize Jesus’s resurrection and Christ’s sacrifice. This meaning reminds you of rebirth after hardship.
Temperance
In medieval times, the pelican was believed to only eat and drink moderately. This moderation and self-restraint reminds you to find balance between indulgence and abstinence.
Compassion
The caring way mother pelicans nourish their chicks represents the purest form of compassion. The pelican’s example inspires you to approach all beings with love and empathy.
Generosity
Pelicans readily share food with others in their flock, including chicks that are not their own. Their generous and giving nature is a model of selflessness that you should emulate.
Faith
Legends depicting pelicans feeding their young with their own blood require placing faith over reason. This meaning calls on you to believe in things larger than yourself.
Pelican Symbolic Meaning and Messages
The pelican is a large water bird with a big beak and pouch. Long ago, people made up myths about the pelican that gave it spiritual meaning.
One myth says that the mother pelican will pierce her own breast to feed her babies with her blood if there is no other food. This shows how parents make big sacrifices for their children. The pelican reminds us to put others first.
The pelican was also thought to be able to drain poison from its body. This means it represents cleansing yourself and starting over. If you feel stuck in bad habits, the pelican is a sign to make a change.
Since the pelican feeds its babies, it is a symbol of nourishment and selflessness. Its generosity should inspire us to nurture others.
The legend of the mother pelican wounding itself to feed its young also symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. So the pelican can mean rebirth after hardship.
In the past, pelicans were thought to only eat and drink a little at a time. This moderation represents self-control and finding balance in life.
The caring nature of the pelican shows the purest kind of love. Its example teaches us compassion.
Pelicans readily share food, even with birds that are not their own chicks. This generous spirit is a model to follow.
The myths about pelicans feeding their young require faith over facts. So the pelican also asks us to believe in things bigger than ourselves.
Overall, the pelican symbolizes sacrifice, renewal, nourishment, selflessness, resurrection, temperance, compassion, generosity, and faith. Its messages inspire us to show love, self-control and serve others.
Spiritual Meaning of a Pelican Crossing Your Path
Seeing a pelican cross your path means you should think about sacrifice. Pelicans are a symbol of parents sacrificing for their children. So the pelican reminds you to put your loved ones first.
A pelican sighting also means cleansing yourself. Legends say pelicans can remove poison from their bodies. So they represent starting fresh after you’ve made mistakes.
The pelican is a sign of generosity. Its habit of feeding others symbolizes compassion. So take a pelican sighting as encouragement to nurture people.
Pelicans stand for rebirth too. Myths tell of pelicans rising after death. So if a pelican crosses you, it could mean new life after a struggle.
Spotting a pelican means having self-control. Pelicans only eat and drink a little bit. They represent finding balance in life.
Overall, a pelican in your path calls on you to be loving, generous, balanced, and ready to sacrifice for others. Its spiritual meanings inspire you to serve more.
Pelican Totem, Spirit, and Power Animal
Pelican as Your Totem
The pelican as your totem means you are very nurturing and caring. You would do anything to provide for your loved ones. Family is your top priority. You are also community-minded and driven to help others. Generosity comes naturally to you.
But beware of sacrificing too much of yourself. Take time for self-care. With the pelican as your totem, you have a motherly instinct and a desire to nourish those around you.
Pelican as Your Spirit Animal
When the pelican is your spirit animal, you are introspective and contemplative. The pelican spirit represents your inner wisdom and connection to faith or spirituality. You are thoughtful and look within for answers.
Like the mythical pelican who could purge poison, you have a desire to cleanse yourself emotionally or spiritually. The pelican spirit brings a need for renewal. You want to let go of past hurts or bad habits and be reborn.
Overall, the pelican reminds you to look inward, cleanse yourself, have faith in your inner wisdom.
Pelican as Your Power Animal
The pelican as your power animal gives you a powerful maternal drive to nourish and protect. You are compelled to provide for others.
Your generous and giving nature inspires people. You work hard and make sacrifices for those you care about. The pelican power animal brings strong feelings of selflessness and caring.
It gives you the energy and drive to serve your community. With the pelican as your power animal, you have a deep desire to help, heal and nourish those around you.
Pelican Dream Interpretation
If you dream about a pelican, it could mean several things. Since pelicans are very nurturing and sacrificing birds, dreaming of one may mean you need to be more generous with your time, money, or energy. The pelican reminds you to put others first right now.
Pelicans are also symbols of renewal because of the legend that they can drain poison from their bodies. So a pelican dream can signify the need to restart something or recover from a difficult time. Your subconscious is telling you to cleanse and renew yourself.
In dreams, pelicans can represent temperance and balance too. Their habit of eating and drinking moderately is a call for self-control. A pelican dream asks you to find equilibrium in your life.
Because pelicans are coastal birds, dreaming of them could reflect a need for tranquility near water. Your mind may be telling you to spend time relaxing by the ocean.
Overall, pelican dreams encourage generosity, renewal, balance, and tranquility. They push you to put loved ones first, start fresh, find equilibrium, and seek coastal calm. A pelican dream is your subconscious guiding you to rejuvenate and focus on others.
In Summary
The pelican has been a symbol of sacrifice, renewal, nourishment, generosity, and faith for ages. Its example teaches us to serve others, find balance, start fresh, and believe.
By sharing its wisdom, the pelican inspires us to give more and be better people. This special bird guides us to nurture life.
