Peacock - The Bird of Freedom

The alchemists observed the flight of birds and recognized it as a symbolic image of the human soul undergoing spiritual development. 

The birds mediate between the earthly and heavenly realms using the air element as a bridge. The soul aspires upwards, seeking to fly free from the earthly bound towards light, only to have to return to the earthly consciousness after meditation.  

Symbolically we could also see it as the travel between the consciousness and the unconsciousness... between the earthly realm and the heavenly world.

In Greek mythology, the peacock plays an important role as the bird of Hera (the queen of the Gods), as it is also mentioned in one of Aesop's fables. 

In the story, the peacock complains to Juno (the roman name for the Goddess Hera) that the nightingale has a sweet song  and he doesn't. Juno tells the him that he has size and beauty. The peacock is still not satisfied... what good is it to have size and beauty when his voice is so annoying? Juno then explains that every creature has it's gifts and faults, and that they should learn to be content and embrace all that they are.  The lesson taught by this story is a very important one on the quest towards spiritual development.

In India, the peacock is also seen as a sacred bird and has become the national bird of India.

Many Hindu Gods such as Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth, fortune, love, and beauty), Brahma (God of creation), Sarasvati (Goddess of poetry, music, and wisdom),  and Skanda (son of Shiva), are portrayed riding upon a peacock.  It is also the bird of Lord Krishna (the supreme personality of Godhead).

According to an ancient Indian legend, the peacock is also a destroyer of snakes.  It swallows their venom and uses it's poison to create it's beautiful and colorful plumage, symbolizing transformation of evil into good.

In Tibetan Buddhism, this marvelous bird symbolizes the Bodhisattva; the pure, compassionate and awakened one, who works to release all beings from suffering and lead them towards enlightenment.

In folk art, the peacock is often painted looking backwards, focusing on it's tail and colorful feathers (which are renewed each year), therefore symbolizing renewal.

This majestic male bird is a symbol of beauty, expression, abundance, protection, transformation, renewal, and the most integrated self.  

That is why I chose the Peacock as my newest back-piece... as a powerful statement of freedom!