The swan is a symbol of beauty, innocence, femininity, nobility. In Rus', as well as in Asian countries, the swan was revered precisely as the embodiment of femininity. Widespread in the folklore of these countries are modifications of the image of the Swan Princess, a wise and pure creature possessing magical powers, or a girl bewitched by an evil wizard.
Flag of Western Australia. The black swan is the symbol of Australia
Michelangelo. Leda and the swan
Swan couples, devoted to each other, maintaining a long-term family union, have become a symbol of boundless marital love and fidelity. The flight of a swan was associated with witchcraft, fortune telling, and prophecies. In a broader sense, a flying swan was associated with the passage of time, the movement across the sky of the Sun. The white swan is an emblem of perfection, purity, immortality.
In Antiquity, the swan was a symbol of the goddess Venus and later in European mythology it acted as a figurative designation of a beautiful woman, a chaste goddess with secret knowledge. However, there are also motifs where the male symbolism of the swan is clearly visible, for example, in the myth of Leda and the swan. According to legend, the beautiful Leda was the wife of Tyndareus. With her beauty she enchanted everyone who cast even a fleeting glance at her. The Thunderer Zeus also succumbed to the spell of Leda. In order to visit his beloved unnoticed by his wife Hera, Zeus turned into a swan and in this guise appeared before Leda. From their union children were born: daughter Elena and son Polidevk. In myth, the meaning of the image of a swan is associated with masculinity, satisfaction of desire and fertility.
Brahma riding the sacred swan Hamsa
Cue, Shchek, Khoriv and Lybid. Monument to the legendary founders of Kyiv
The swan is the emblem of the Scottish clan Linsdale.
Norse mythology views the swan with Freya, the goddess of fertility and love. Trolls, elves, three goddesses of fate - the Nora used swans as a means of transport. Valkyries, who collected the souls of the dead over the battlefields, were believed to be able to turn into swans.
Swan in legends and myths
Since ancient times, the swan has served as a symbol of purity, wisdom, love, music and poetry, fidelity and chastity. A special attitude towards birds can be traced not only in Ancient Rus', but also in Greece, India, and China. The reason for this reverence is the beauty and grace of the bird, as well as the fact that the partners are faithful to each other throughout their lives.
Swans in Greek mythology
Snow-white birds in Greek mythology are the faithful companions of Apollo, Aphrodite, Orpheus and Eros. Even Zeus himself once turned into a white swan to appear in all his glory before Leda. And it was the swan that was present during the birth of Apollo - the gift of clairvoyance of the Olympian god is associated with this.
Swans in the myths of Ancient India
In the myths of Ancient India, it was from a swan egg that fell into the abyss of Chaos that our Universe was born. Birds in India were also a symbol of the duality of existence: breath and spirit. And snow-white, sparkling plumage is a symbol of the purity of the human soul. The supreme deity of the Hindus, Brahma, is often depicted riding a swan.
Myths of the Slavs and Celts
In the myths of the ancient Slavs, the swan is associated with the feminine principle and is a holy bird. In the legends and tales of the northern peoples of Rus', it is in the image of a snow-white swan that a wise and beautiful maiden appears, possessing various secrets, knowledge and miracles. There is exactly the same image in Celtic myths. This is how in “The Song of the Nibelungs” girls turn into snow-white birds. Also among the Celts, birds had magical powers and were associated with the sun, purity, and generosity. The Celts believed that the bird could not only heal all diseases, but also bring love, wealth, peace and quiet to the home. Apparently, this is why people born in the month of the Swan, according to the Celtic calendar, were considered the luckiest and happiest.
Swans in Chinese mythology
In China, birds are associated with the sun and masculinity. In some regions they are still revered as sacred.
Where to place
The northwestern sector of the house is the sector of helpers. Place a couple of swans in this area, no matter in what form. It could be a figurine, a painting, a pillow or even soft toys. And the symbol will help you find a life partner.
If you are already married and you want to add new colors and sensations to your family life, place love birds in the zone of love and marriage, in the southwest.
And by placing three swans in the east, in the family zone, you will thereby give the universe a sign that you want an addition to the family.
Of course, there is no better room for a symbol of love and fidelity than the marital bedroom. For those who only dream of meeting their other half, it is better to place the Swans symbol in the room where they will be seen as often as possible. For example, in the living room or kitchen.
Swan as a symbol of the country
Not only in the past, but also in the present, the attitude towards birds is special. So in Finland the bird is a national symbol. The numerous lakes of this European country are home to one of the largest populations of whooper swans in the world. The swan in Finland also symbolizes the high quality of manufactured products. The quality mark is placed only on goods produced in Finland and from Finnish raw materials.
The attitude towards birds is so respectful that even a pair of these beautiful birds is engraved on the one euro coin.
In large cities of Finland, birds remain for the winter. Local residents consider it their duty to feed them, and bring all kinds of treats to the shores of the lakes. And in places where these beauties just nest, various holidays and celebrations are held during the spring migration.
For the Finnish peoples, since ancient times, the snow-white bird has been a symbol of purity and purity. And killing a swan was considered a sin. People believed that whoever killed the bird would face inevitable death.
Even today, some peoples of Finland believe that the world was created from a swan's egg: it fell and split into pieces. The sky and earth were formed from the shell, and the entire animal and plant world was formed from the white and yolk.
Reproduction
Swans form pairs at the age of two to three years and remain faithful to their partner throughout their lives. The breeding season begins with the arrival of rains: this is due to a rise in water levels and an increase in the amount of food. The mating season begins with beautiful dances: one of the partners spins, gracefully shaking his neck and showing off his plumage. When the second partner joins the game, both birds begin to move in sync, stretching their necks, spreading their wings, and swimming. Usually the dance lasts no more than half an hour and ends with mating.
Both partners take part in the construction of the nest. The nest is built from stems, leaves, dry grass and fluff. Most often they choose a place in shallow water or at the very edge of the water. If there is an abundance of food, the pair will use one nest for several years. There are usually no more than seven eggs in a clutch. The incubation period is one and a half months.
Both the male and the female incubate the eggs. For the first two days, the chicks remain in the nest.
On the third day, they follow their parents in search of food, and spend almost all their time on the water. The young begin to fly on the wing after the first adult molt - at four to five months, and remain with their parents until the next breeding season.
Why do swans dream?
Different dream books interpret differently what white swans mean in dreams. There are several most popular dream books:
- Tsvetkova,
- Female,
- Children's,
- Aesop,
- Freud,
- Miller,
- Numerological,
- Meneghetti.
To see white swans in a dream, according to the women’s dream book, means impending positive changes, pleasant excitement, and meetings. Several swans swimming on clean and smooth water - to goodness and success.
According to Aesop's dream book, seeing swans in a dream is a symbol of greatness, grace and innocence. The dream book says that the person who saw the dream met a person with all the listed qualities, and he will play an important role in fate. Flying swans indicate a change in weather. In winter - cold weather and snowfall, and in summer - rain and cool weather. Seeing one white swan floating on the water in a dream means a long-awaited meeting. For single people - to a meeting promising marriage. Feeding birds from your hands or seeing them eat is a great success.
A children's dream book says that a dream about a swan promises an interesting meeting, new prospects and opportunities. According to Tsvetkov’s dream book, a swan seen in a dream foreshadows separation, moving, parting, or loss of a friend.
Seeing swans in a dream, according to Freud’s dream book, means harmonious development, balance, pleasure and harmony in your personal life.
And according to Miller’s dream book, dreaming about white swans means pleasant experiences, new prospects and opportunities, interesting and useful meetings. If the bird has black plumage, this means doubts and unpleasant news. And seeing dead birds in a dream is a sign of disappointment.
According to the numerological dream book:
- Seeing a swan couple in a dream means goodness, happiness, happy changes,
- Flying birds seen in a dream - to a truce (if you are in a quarrel with someone), to new meetings, promotion,
- If you dreamed of one swan - to betrayal,
- And if you dream about a bird for several nights in a row, you should be more attentive to what is happening in life.
But according to Meneghetti’s dream book, seeing these snow-white birds in a dream means a quick result from the efforts spent, getting what you want, fulfilling a dream. For a man, the meaning is slightly different: a dream about a swan indicates that a powerful woman has a strong influence on life.
Description of the species
Black swans became known to Europeans only after the discovery of Australia and Tasmania. This is where this beautiful and exotic bird comes from. After the discovery of New Zealand, black swans came to these islands, where they became incredibly popular in private backyards and parks.
The black plumage of birds has a peculiar moire pattern created by the grayish edging of the outer feather.
Some birds have interspersed white or even black and white feathers. It is very common to find representatives of this species with curled flight feathers and shoulder feathers. The beak is bright scarlet. The feet are most often black or blue-black. The young are distinguished by their grayish-brown feather color and light, often pink, beak.
The black swan is a rather large bird. The weight of individual representatives can reach ten kilograms or more, and the wingspan is about two meters. The body length of females does not exceed 110 cm, males - 150 cm.
Representatives of this species have the longest neck among all their relatives, a neat small head and a short, dense tail. The length and structure of the neck allows it to reach food even from great depths.
Swans in art
The image of a bird is beautiful, which is why it is so widely reflected in art. Images of these noble and graceful creatures can be found on the canvases of Leonardo da Vinci, Moro, and Salvador Dali. There are references to birds in Russian folk tales, as well as in many poems by Yesenin, stories by Mamin-Sibiryak, Bazhov. The Strugatsky brothers created the story “Ugly Swans”, and David Mitchell wrote the novel “Meadow of the Black Swan”.
The image of this bird was no less used in music. The whole world knows Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake”. Saint-Saens' musical fantasy of the same name is also dedicated to the bird.
Hallway
A suitable picture must be on the wall in the hallway. It promotes the entry of well-being energy into the house, distracting negative flows, preventing them from entering the home. It is better to hang such a picture opposite the front door. It is better to depict neutral scenes of nature.
Flowers
An excellent option would be an image of a bouquet, flower arrangement, field of flowers. In this case, the flowers can be anything: daisies, peonies, edelweiss, poppies, tulips, roses, lilacs, etc. The image of sunflowers will be especially successful: they attract the energy of prosperity and drive away evil spirits.
Landscapes
Landscapes are good. A peaceful forest landscape, a blooming garden, a boundless sea with a ship (but not a stormy one) - all this can be hung in the hallway. An excellent option would be to depict mountains over which the sun rises - this will provide the house with reliable protection and support. If the hallway is quite cramped, a painting depicting a road rushing into the distance will visually expand the space.
Other
You can hang a still life with fruit or luxury items in the hallway. A canvas depicting animals is perfect: puppies, dolphins, a bear family, a tiger, etc. Animals should not evoke a feeling of aggression, even if predators are depicted.
If the hallway is a long corridor, hang a picture on the wall with light-colored horses galloping towards the house: this will bring good luck and increased prosperity.
Kitchen
For this room, canvases made in green and red colors are suitable. A classic option is a still life of ripe fruits or vegetables. An excellent option is a basket filled with fruits. Among other things, she will attract monetary well-being into the house. Since the elements of Wood and Fire reign in the kitchen, you can hang a canvas here depicting a cozy hearth, as well as a tree (green, blooming or with fruits).
An excellent option for the kitchen would be drawings of aesthetically designed dishes and drinks. You can hang a canvas depicting a cozy cafe or an elegant table in a blooming garden. Paintings with beautiful tableware (tea sets, antique goblets, gilded glasses, etc.) are also suitable. However, the painted dishes should not be broken, dirty or damaged.
Children's
The child takes part in arranging the room
The decor of this room must be approached in tandem with its little owners - be sure to coordinate all the paintings or drawings that you want to hang. Consider the child’s character: brighter colors and dynamic scenes are suitable for calm children, calmer ones are suitable for hyperactive children. In a children's room, images of cute animals, bright butterflies, the sun, water, and trees would be appropriate.
A talisman for good study will be a drawing depicting an elephant or the sea with a sailboat. If a child wants a picture with a cartoon character or a funny dinosaur, do not refuse him. Just make sure that the drawing does not cause aggression or overexcitation. To attract good luck, hang a picture of a Maneki-Neko bird or cats on the wall.
Bedroom
The main priorities for this room are peace, relaxation and tranquility. According to Feng Shui, it should not be overloaded with paintings - one or two are enough. You should give preference to calm tones: white, light, pastel, and if you want to refresh your married life, hang a moderately bright canvas.
Nature
Calming landscapes will be an excellent option for a bedroom. You should not hang a canvas here that depicts autumn or winter; it is better to give preference to summer and spring landscapes. Drawings of graceful plants and birds, made in moderate colors, are well suited for bedroom decor.
Feng Shui is ambivalent about images of water in a sleeping area. Canvases depicting a stormy sea, waterfalls, fast-moving rivers, stagnant swamps and dark pools are not recommended. However, a clean lake, a calm river or a spring stream may well be located here, the main thing is that the plot and color design evoke relaxation.
