Clouds are not just physical formations in the sky, but they also hold symbolic and spiritual meanings in various cultures and belief systems. Throughout history, clouds have been seen as powerful symbols representing a range of concepts, from divinity and spirituality to emotions and transformation. In this article, we will explore nine different cloud symbolism and spiritual meanings, including the enigmatic dark cloud.
1. Divine Connection: Clouds as Messengers from the Heavens
Since ancient times, we’ve looked to the sky for signs from the divine. Are you familiar with the phrase, ‘The writing’s in the sky’? It’s an idiom that implies a sign or a message is easy to see and read. In other words, the message is crystal-clear and impossible to miss.
Clouds have always been interpreted as a form of communication from the heavenly bodies. Here are some examples of clouds as messengers:
Islam: Allah’s Message in the Clouds
According to one Islamic legend, the Prophet Muhammad had a vision in which he was told to use the clouds for guidance. Clouds appeared to him with their own independent wills and spoke with a thunderous voice.
The voice from the clouds was so loud that all of creation heard it and understood its message. The clouds and the message they bore were respecters of nothing; everything was equal before them.
Catholicism: Jesus’ Coming in the Clouds
In Christian teachings, Jesus is often said to come again as he left – in an extraordinary cloud. The Book of Daniel says there will be a human figure – no other face or appearance details were mentioned – riding on the clouds like chariots.
Hinduism: The Smoky Cloud of Vishnu
According to Hinduism, each god possesses an attribute that they use to magnify their greatness. The attribute of Vishnu is ‘illusion.’ He wraps himself with a smoky cloud that makes him appear much bigger than his actual size.
The belief is that most humans get lost in this illusion and don’t see Vishnu for who he really is.
Spiritualism: Signs from Spirit Guides
We all have spirit guides looking out for us; sometimes they send us messages through symbolic mediums like animal sightings, repeated number sequences, or yes, even clouds.
Spirit guides are said to be able to manipulate cloud formations as messages to those who are capable of interpreting them. It’s been said that if you meditate on your question hard enough, you may just find your answer in cloud formations.
2. Transformation and Change: Clouds as Symbols of Shifting Perspectives
As a society, we’ve been conditioned to see clouds floating above us and to instantly interpret them to mean “bad weather is arriving soon.” But when you look at the formation of clouds from the spiritual level, they have a message that goes beyond the physical.
People who see a storm ahead and interpret it as incoming doom, they will see every dark cloud as a negative harbinger. But people who see a storm in a different light, one that values life-giving rain and refreshing winds, will see overcast weather as the impetus for positive change.
By altering our perspectives, we can transform how we interpret an otherwise benign object or situation. We can choose to live in misty grey doldrums, or fill our lives with vibrant colored air bubbles that excite us. We can control how we mentally process negative experiences and use them to our advantage or let them bring us down.
Ultimately, viewing a wispy white puff as a symbol of transformation enables us to become more resilient and less stressed out about circumstances out of our control. When we reframe how we think about something, we empower ourselves to proactively adjust our lives rather than letting ourselves get stuck in the same place of stagnation.
The first step in changing perspective lies in your attitude. Are you looking down on the ground or gazing up toward the sky? Every time you consciously choose to think positively about a challenging situation (i.e., to look up), you evolve into someone who can more readily adapt.
In ancient times, people didn’t understand how clouds formed or why weather behaved as it did. As they grew more knowledgeable about it, they made connections between what they understood to be the physical properties of clouds and what they could explain through cultural narratives based on mythology and religion.
By paying attention to how their mental perceptions about life changed their outcomes, they were able to perceive reality through a spiritual lens and cultivate meaningful connections with others.
Cloud Color Symbolism
Ancient Greek: white clouds become flesh
In ancient Greek mythology from the book The Secret History of the World, clouds were seen as sacred because some cultures believed that human beings were created from them. In Hesiod’s Theogony, an origin myth finding its roots around 700 B.C., he described how clouds in the form of Nephelai became pregnant and bore creatures of flesh and blood.
Ancient Greeks believed that Nephelai gave birth to their gods Zeus and Hera from within the confines of their cloud homes before sending them down into the world to fulfill their destinies.
Rainbow: happiness
According to experts at Color Psychology, rainbows are made from sunlight reflecting off water droplets inside clouds. Their appearance is fleeting but rare and often happens after brief thunderstorms or showers when it’s still raining close by.
Because so many people associate rainbows with following a storm, it’s easy for us to draw parallels between this natural phenomenon and being able to find joy in life–even after periods of darkness.
But rainbows are also historically documented symbols used by various civilizations all around the world over thousands of years. The Norse culture revered the rainbow as Bifrost Bridge, which connected Midgard (Earth) with Asgard (home of Norse gods). It was said that Bifrost could only be traversed by gods or warriors who had been chosen by them.
The bible describes God creating a rainbow over Noah’s ark as His promise never again bring flooding rains upon earth. And indigenous cultures in Central America such as the Mayans viewed them as serpents who lived inside clouds.
For our purposes in defining cloud symbolism though, let’s focus on their meaning post-storms as symbols of happiness.
3. Emotional Significance: Clouds Reflecting Inner States
In spiritual practices, clouds often reflect inner states, as rains can wash emotions away from the body. Similarly, the formation of clouds in the sky reveals not only the weather but the state of our souls.
Recognizing what you see in a cloudy shape and color reflects your inner emotions.
Based on a legend in Buddhism, the emotion you feel determines the color of a cloud after it ascends to heaven from a person’s body.
The same principle applies to how people can interpret you based on the clouds they see. Sometimes, people may make quick judgments about you based on your outward appearance. They may not understand what you go through and how this affects your behavior.
You shouldn’t let such judgments affect your spirit. You’re better off focusing on how to center yourself or seek guidance from other cultures with their own cloud symbolism.
What Do Different Types of Clouds Symbolize?
In general, a clear sky represents happiness and hope. Gray clouds symbolize sadness or uncertainty. Based on the origin of the folklore, different types of colors act as the cover for your true intentions.
The spiritual significance of clouds comes in various forms that include:
- Psychological meaning
- Nature
- Astronomy
- Literature
In literature, for instance, authors may use descriptive words related to clouds to convey their meaning. Using words like “fluffy,” “white” or “dense” gives an image that readers can visualize.
Similarly, you can use these qualities to express who you are without fear of judgment. You shouldn’t let the comments affect your authenticity and how you connect with others.
While it’s important to express your feelings, embracing who you are empowers you. It also allows you to look beyond what others think and cultivate positive relationships with those who respect your beliefs.
Spiritual Transformation
How do different types of clouds form? What is their purpose?
As seen in many religious texts across different cultures, clouds have been instrumental in spiritual transformation.
Clouds are made up of millions of tiny water droplets compacted together. These tiny droplets form from water vapor that condenses onto particles like dust.
This allows clouds to form and change shape as part of a repetitive process called the water cycle. The cycle includes rain that falls from the sky when clouds get too heavy to hold water droplets.
In short, this shows how much power these celestial beings have in shaping and nurturing the earth. Just as these clouds evolve and change shape rapidly, so do humans.
4. Higher Consciousness: Clouds as Gateways to Spiritual Realms
Clouds are also thought to be a physical manifestation of the spiritual world and a gateway to the heavenly realms.
In the Bible, God appeared to Moses in the form of a “pillar of cloud.” This cloud guided the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land. In the book of Exodus, we read that God spoke to Moses through the pillar of cloud, which represents a direct line between man and God.
Clouds are also considered gateways between realms in Indonesian culture. The legend of Prince Kalasrenggi narrates how he created a magical cloud that would move his people from their overcrowded island to a new one. As they slept, he sprinkled them with magical dust and muttered some incantations over them. When they awoke, a bridge of clouds connected their old home to their new home.
In Western traditions, clouds are often associated with death and grief. The Meskwaki Indians of North America believe that storm clouds represent individual sorrows. They believe that these storm clouds “hold rain so they can release it when they need it.” A similar belief exists in India. It is considered taboo for people to whistle during a gathering because it is believed that this would cause storm clouds to gather and disrupt the event.
Similarly, the Chinese and Miao people living in southwestern China believe that death causes clouds to gather in the sky. A mythological bird called the ji liang flies out of the mouth of the dying person and became a constellation called the Big Dipper. Whenever someone else dies, this constellation gives birth to more birds. The ji liang then flies into the sky and becomes a cloud.
While cloud symbolism may not have ingrained itself into modern life as intricately as it has in other cultures, we still have phrases such as “Every cloud has a silver lining” which imply that there are better things ahead.
The sky is full of beautiful wonders that can be interpreted in many different ways. Cloud symbolism can herald new beginnings or exude grief. They can represent goddesses or be self-made gateways into another realm. What meaning do you give to clouds?
5. Beauty and Inspiration: Clouds as Sources of Awe and Wonder
The word ‘cloud’ implies a misty, nebulous, ambiguous shape. The patterns that clouds form are difficult to define. They take up space, often swallowing up most of the sky, but are somehow still insubstantial. This uniqueness draws people to them.
Clouds can create a sense of awe with their grandeur and changing shapes. There is something inspiring and hopeful about the way clouds can cover an entire skyline or quickly transfigure into a different shape.
Clouds inspire artists, writers, musicians and dreamers. In the 19th century, the renowned English painter John Constable’s depictions of rolling cloudscapes within his landscapes earned him the nickname ‘Cloud Constable’.
Today, cloud photography has become a popular hobby. Instagram has over 2 million cloud photos with the hashtag ‘cloudporn.’ This is a testament to how many people appreciate the beautiful patterns of the different types of clouds in the sky.
The Importance of Clouds in Weather
Clouds have been revered in many cultures throughout human history. One explanation is that clouds serve as an indication of changes in weather patterns.
Ancient farmers could look at the sky and get an idea of what their crops could expect in terms of weather. Cirrostratus clouds might mean rain is coming tomorrow. A sky full of cumulus clouds might bring afternoon thunderstorms.
Cloud patterns have also been used to predict future events and individual destinies. Cumulonimbus clouds are foreboding indicators for what’s to come while cirrus clouds are harbingers of fair weather ahead.
Inspirational Meanings of Clouds
The beauty and mystery of clouds have inspired many artists and creatives to use them as subjects. Clouds can serve different purposes depending on how you want to interpret them in your art or writing.
For instance, you might want to use clouds as a metaphor for ideas or emotions that are unclear or enigmatic. Without being too explicit, you can say so much by describing how a character feels as if there’s a cloud looming over their head.
Alternatively, you can use clouds to represent the vastness or incomprehensibility of nature. In this way, it would be easy to liken the sky to an endless canvas where anything could happen.
6. Guidance and Protection: Clouds as Divine Guardians
There are several ancient cultures that have associated clouds with divine intervention, protection, and guidance. Our ancestors saw the skies as a divine place that only the chosen ones could travel to. So, the clouds that resided in the sky were considered as the messengers of the God(s).
One of the oldest civilizations of the world, The Sumerians, believed in Anu, the god of sky and heavens. The Sumerians believed that Anu was the leader of all gods and their creator. Anu was associated with a star (later codified as planet Saturn). He was also known as the creator of four winds (north, south, east and west) which represented different types of clouds: Aurvandil (south), Alal (north), Vindblain (east) and Veðrfölnir (west).
One of the most interesting characters from Norse Mythology is Veðrfölnir. It is said that Veðrfölnir is perched at the location of a “well”, with a hawk named Víðofnir that sits between his eyes. The two characters are said to be messengers (to giants) and scouts (for God’s enemies). During Ragnarokk, it is said that Veðrfölnir will soar from his perch to let out a shriek that will signal the start of Ragnarokk, which is also called the ‘Doom of Gods’.
There’s another character from Norse mythology, known as Vetrliði who is referred to as Þriði in Old Norse literature. Þriði is also considered as one of the messengers who will signal Thor about the arrival of Asgaards enemies.
The Hindu mythology has linked clouds to many of their Gods especially Indra, Varuna and Maruts. Indra is considered as king of all Gods who rules over thunder, lightning and storms. He was also known as the guardian of eastern cosmos. He was also known to bring “the gift of rain” from heaven to earth in successful prayers by humans.
The ancient Native Americans had an entire mythology associated with clouds and their symbolism. The Zuni Indians looked at clouds with respect and great mystery because they were considered to be from ‘above’. Clouds were given so much importance that they even created a cloud god called Corn Maidens who had the power to gather clouds together and disperse them as rain.
Likewise, each tribe had their own cloud mythology through which they would interpret nature. To them clouds were an ever present embodiment of God’s wisdom and guidance.
7. Mystery and Uncertainty: Exploring the Dark Cloud Symbolism
So far, the cloud spiritual meaning has been mostly positive. But what about when clouds are dark and looming?
Clouds take on a more ominous symbolism when they’re dark, gray or black. When the sun is covered by clouds or gray skies hang above us, we often feel a certain level of sadness or unease. Dark clouds can obscure our vision and obstruct our paths. They can also make us feel like we lack control. As a result, people often associate these kinds of clouds with negativity and fear.
In many spiritual practices, though, this is not the case. Dark clouds are seen as a necessary part of the cycle. They represent a break in the pattern, an opportunity to renew ourselves and change our direction.
Some people even find dark clouds comforting or hopeful. If you’ve ever felt calm during a thunderstorm or had a strong idea dawn on you after experiencing a setback, you’ve experienced dark cloud symbolism at work.
For example, many cultures have stories about heroes who embarked on long journeys to solve a problem. As they encountered various obstacles and setbacks, dark clouds would appear in the sky. But in every story, heroes learned something important from these dark clouds.
To Buddhist monks, big, dark clouds are an important symbol because they remind us that we can find peace and clarity if we pause for a moment instead of trying to control everything around us.
But there are also cultures where dark cloud symbolism is not positive at all. For example, in ancient Greece, when Zeus was angry with people on Earth he threw dark storm clouds into the sky and rained down lighting.
Interpreting Dream Meaning of Dark Clouds
As with light and fluffy clouds, dreaming about dark clouds can have many different meanings depending on their context.
If it’s raining underneath those clouds your subconscious might be telling you it’s time to cry or release some pent-up emotions. On the other hand, if you find yourself feeling peaceful instead, that dream may be telling you your emotions are finally clearing up.
Poor weather can also indicate difficult times ahead, but they can also represent the end of one period of struggle and the beginning of something new.
Interpreting the Symbolism of Dark Clouds in Art
In art like literature and paintings, dark clouds are frequently used as symbols for anything that threatens our happiness or peace of mind.
If there’s an approaching storm in a novel it’s often a clue that things are about to get worse before they get better. This serves as foreshadowing for any conflicts the author has planned for their characters to face.
In visual art like paintings of landscapes and cityscapes, black or gray clouds often appear when an artist wants to convey feelings of doom or despair.
8. Cultural Perspectives: Cloud Symbolism in Different Traditions
People of many different cultures use clouds in their art, stories, and legends. They may have their own meanings and symbolism according to these people, depending on their experiences with them.
Egypt
The ancient Egyptians believed that their gods spoke to the people through the clouds. They could observe the clouds to try and determine what the gods were trying to tell them. To try and determine why the gods were causing droughts, they would perform rain dances.
Africa
African people would view the clouds as a way for humans to communicate with God, Spirit or Source. The clouds were used as an indicator for the weather, but they also had spiritual significance. This was especially true for Native American cultures that believed they could ascend to heaven on the clouds.
China
The Chinese people had a tradition of trying to discover images in the clouds by using their imagination. This belief in cloud divination started around 500 BC, and quickly became a folk practice. Chinese cloud divination has eight primary symbols that they believe are represented by the patterns in the clouds.
Greece
In Greek mythology, there is a story of how Zeus would use a cloud or fog as a shield against his enemies. In the story of Pandora’s box, it was actually a jar that held all of the world’s evils locked inside. For seven days, there were furious storms and dark clouds that enveloped the land while Pandora struggled with her decision on whether or not to open it.
It’s important to note that in Islamic literature, clouds are mentioned as well. The Quran has different names for different types of clouds. While there isn’t much about their symbolism in the literature, there are still some mentions of different types of them.
Native American Cultures
The Native American cultures would view the clouds as spirit beings that were floating in the sky. They would communicate with these beings to try and gain insight into what was going to happen in terms of weather.
Some people view this as having a double meaning: it’s both an attempt to understand nature and divine prophecy into future events. To try and learn more about what was going to happen, they would perform different types of dances and ceremonies.
9. Symbolic Interpretations: Various Meanings of Clouds in Art and Literature
The sky and its various elements have been a source of inspiration for artists and writers for centuries. The movement of clouds, the shapes and the colors, all of these can be representative of something in the greater picture of the world. Here are 9 symbolic interpretations of clouds in literature and art.
Calm before the Storm
Many of us are familiar with this saying and it’s true. More often than not, a storm will come with a quick change in weather. When there is a clear blue sky with few or no clouds, you can rest assured that the day will remain sunny.
Cloud Nine
When we feel great about a certain situation or accomplishment, we say we are on cloud nine. This is actually a modern saying that many people have embraced over the years. Its origins, however, can be traced back to Buddhist mythology.
Buddhist texts mention nine different levels of consciousness. The ninth level, also known as the Cloud Nine realm, is reserved only for gods and goddesses. This realm is described as one of infinite happiness and opportunities for growth. The concept has made its way into mainstream media and popular culture as a result.
Birth and Rebirth
In Roman mythology, clouds were used to symbolize birth and rebirth. It was believed that each drop of rain held a human soul within it. As it fell from the sky to Earth, it would join the bodies already in existence on Earth.
Struggle
Writers and artists have often used clouds to symbolize struggles or obstacles in life. In medieval paintings, clouds were often depicted symbolizing struggles between heaven and hell.
Unknown Mysteries
Since ancient times, when people didn’t quite understand cloud formations yet, they were considered spiritual or cosmic occurrences. As a result, people believed that clouds held unknown mysteries within them.
Impermanence
The idea of impermanence is deeply rooted within Buddhism. According to this belief system, all things are impermanent or everchanging. This includes each human soul as well as nature itself.
In this context, clouds are often seen as a way to illustrate impermanence. In fact, many poets and other writers often use images and symbolism associated with clouds to illustrate their own feelings of impermanence.
Enlightenment
In Hinduism, an image that is often depicted is that of Shiva who is surrounded by smoke clouds. This art form is called lingam yoni or linga yoni.
The image represents Shiva as embodying the entire universe; thus the smoke clouds to symbolize his grandeur and connection to the cosmos.
Lamassu
Lamassu is an ancient Assyrian deity that is often depicted as having a human head and body with wings spread wide open. These deities acted as protectors against evil spirits. They were often shown with water clouds coming out of their shoulders which can be seen as a sign for protection against droughts.
Hope
In art from the Baroque period, artwork often depicted hope in various forms; including celestial events such as sun rays and rainbows peeking through thick storm clouds.
In conclusion, clouds have played a significant role in human symbolism and spiritual beliefs. They represent a connection between the earthly and the divine, embodying various qualities and meanings. From their association with divinity and spirituality to their representation of emotions and transformations, clouds continue to captivate and inspire us. Next time you gaze up at the sky and see clouds above, take a moment to reflect on the deeper symbolic meanings they hold.
