Mourning doves, also known as grey doves, have long been revered for their spiritual significance and symbolism. These graceful birds, with their gentle cooing and sleek grey feathers, hold a profound place in many belief systems and cultures around the world. In this article, we will explore the rich spiritual meanings and symbolism associated with mourning doves, shedding light on their role as messengers, symbols of peace, and connections to the divine.
The Symbolism of Mourning Doves in Various Cultures
Since mourning doves are found in different cultures, they are viewed in different ways. We’ll go through some of the common views cultures have about these birds.
American Indian culture
The Native American culture views the mourning dove as a symbol of peace, while the Navajo people view the bird as a symbol of happiness, providing good luck if it nests near your home.
Christianity
In Christianity, doves are mentioned in the Bible and represent the Holy Spirit. The mourning dove is used as a symbol of peace, love, and comfort for those who have suffered loss.
Greek and Roman culture
In Greek and Roman mythology, doves were a symbol of love and devotion. They revered the goddess of love, Aphrodite, holding a dove in her hand. In the Roman Empire, doves were kept as pets as they were a symbol of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
Other cultures
The mourning dove is said to be revered in Japanese and Irish cultures, as well. In Irish myth, they’re considered to be the birds of mourning spirits or souls who need to make peace before crossing over. In Japanese culture, the coo of the dove is like a soothing lullaby that brings calm to the world.
While the meanings vary depending on the culture and religion, most people view the mourning dove as a bird of love, hope, and peace.
The Spiritual Meanings of Mourning Doves
Mourning doves are a symbol of peace, grace, and spirituality. These birds are very social and coo together as a pair, which is a symbol of unity. In many cultures, the cooing of mourning doves is believed to be a bridge between the spiritual world and the physical world.
It’s said when you spot a mourning dove, it represents the spiritual world trying to communicate with you. Maybe a loved one who’s passed on, someone you’ve lost contact with, or the universe itself.
Mourning doves aren’t just a message from the spiritual world, they also symbolize the energy of love and family. It can be a reminder that you’re loved by others and yourself. It can also be a reminder to spend time with your loved ones.
Many of us feel alone, unsure of ourselves, or disconnected from the world. For most people, this is just another part of life. The mourning dove can bring a refreshing change to these feelings by giving us support and hope.
Mourning Doves as Messengers of Love and Hope
Doves have long been a symbol of love, faithfulness, and fertility and have been used to represent those characteristics in many ancient societies.
In Christian traditions, the dove represents the Holy Spirit and is used as a symbol of devotion, purity, and beauty. Also, doves have been used as symbols of peace for centuries. Flocks of doves are released at many events to symbolize peace and unity.
If you see doves in your dreams or in your waking life, it could be a sign that love is on the way. Doves are also a symbol of hope and can be a message from the universe that you are not alone. So, if you see mourning doves in your dreams, it might be time to develop your spirituality.
Mourning doves are also known to mate for life, so if one of the pair dies, the other mate may show signs of mourning for up to six months. If you see a mourning dove, it may be a message that you are not alone during this challenging time.
Some people believe that mourning doves are a sign from the universe that everything is going to be okay. Others believe that mourning doves are a sign from the other side, letting you know that someone you love who has passed away is still with you.
The Connection between Mourning Doves and Peace
The mourning dove is the perfect symbol for peace and tranquility.
Why is that? Let’s go into a bit of history. The mourning dove was associated with peace and tranquility for thousands of years. The bird appears in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as a symbol of Israel’s mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple. And in some Christian traditions, doves are identified with the Holy Spirit. In Greco-Roman mythology, the bird was a symbol of endearment and renewal.
But the link between doves and peace isn’t just found in history — it’s scientific (that’s right, science!). In “Peaceful Doves and Overcrowded Nests: Anthropomorphism and Conservation Science,” author Michael D. Pauls writes that people started referring to animals, including doves, as symbols of peace when it was discovered that animals can play a major role in change through their lives and deaths. And after doves became associated with peace, people all around the world started to view them that way.
The U.S.A. even has a Peace, Honor, and Friendship pavilion at the Philadelphia Zoo which houses a variety of doves.
Do You Know the meaning of Mourning?
When we talk about mourning doves, it’s important to talk about the word “mourning.” The word “mourning” comes from the Middle English word ‘murnen,’ meaning to remember mournfully.
Mourning can be translated as: expressing grief, feeling regret, or being saddened by someone’s death. Mourning is a public display of sadness in which people take part after someone has died.
So when we talk about mourning doves, we know that this bird is often seen as expressing grief and sadness as a response to the death of another person or animal. We’ll talk more about how mourning doves came to be seen as symbols of mourning later in this post.
Unlocking the Spiritual Meanings of Mourning Doves
While mourning doves are an important symbol to people of all religions, their symbolism goes beyond religious beliefs and they can represent ideas that connect to our lives today.
Mourning Doves as Symbols of Spirituality and Divinity
The mourning dove’s spiritual symbolism comes from its purity and gentle nature. Doves have been used in art and literature for centuries to represent peace, love, innocence, and virtue.
Some of the most well-known examples of this symbolism are the dove that Noah sent to find land (in the biblical story of Noah’s Ark), as well as the dove in Picasso’s anti-war painting called La Guerre et la Paix (War and Peace).
Wendy MacNaughton, a writer and artist, talks about her belief that mourning doves bring people hope and remind us to stay pure at heart.
The Symbolic Representation of Mourning Doves in Art and Literature
There are many references to mournings doves in art and literature, especially poetry.
The 20th-century poet, Siegfried Sassoon, wrote a famous poem about the sorrow behind a pair of doves in Not Reconciled. In one verse, Sassoon creates the image of love and togetherness, which is often associated with_ mourning doves.
“They loved each other, their tails were met, and they underlined their joy and pain in the other’s flame. ”
Another famous poet, John Keats, also made reference to doves in his poem Ode to a Nightingale. In the poem, he reveres the nightingale’s “pouring forth a flood of meaning.” It’s in reference to the doves crying and cooing in the distance.
In visual culture, doves are synonymous with love and peace. Often depicted as a couple or a single bird flying, doves are commonly used as a symbol of hope and love throughout different art forms. For example, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali inspired the art world with their surreal depictions of this beautiful bird.
In terms of music, musician Tori Amos released an album called From the Choirgirl Hotel, which features a song called “She” that talks about the mourning dove’s symbolic meaning of love and loss.
See how the poetic and visual representation of the mourning dove is a testament to how much we think about this bird and its symbolism.
Mourning Doves in Folklore and Mythology
While mourning doves may not be as well-known as other birds in mythology, they are still regarded as spiritual animals. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is often depicted with doves. This belief has carried through time and is connected to mourning doves by symbolizing love and peace. Doves also feature in Hindu, Norse, and Judeo-Christian beliefs, which further solidifies their presence in the world of spirituality.
One of the most famous stories regarding doves in mythology is that of the Mourning Dove in Native American folklore. In this story, the creator had made an unlivable world with no sun, moon, or stars. The creator’s daughter convinced her father to give her creatures such as the wolf and cougar to keep her company. She then released them into the world, where they thrived and made the world safe. In honor of the daughter’s bravery, the creator made a dove using an ember from his fire and placed it in the sky where it transformed into the sun. The remaining embers became the stars and the moon.
Another story from Native American folklore tells of a pair of mourning doves who tried to save an eagle as it was attacking a bear. The bear eventually killed one of the doves while the other flew into the treetop in grief. The Great Spirit then turned the dove into shamans who healed the wounded animals and humans. Thus, the mourning dove became known for its healing abilities.
Mourning doves signify hope and gentleness while in flight and purity and spirituality when at rest.
The Significance of Grey Doves in Dream Interpretation
Grey doves are an important symbol in different cultures and spiritual beliefs. Their presence in a dream can convey a lot about our mental state, emotional well-being, and even our relationships.
1. Grey doves as a symbol of peace
The dove is an internationally recognized symbol of peace. The grey dove, with its calming muted color, emphasizes the emotional, tranquil energy of the white dove.
This can mean that peace and love are coming into your life.
If you have relationships that are tense or are experiencing internal conflict, you might find that these problems are moving to a positive resolution. Conflicts and misunderstandings are coming to an end.
2. Grey doves represent freedom
Doves symbolize freedom and the ability to create calmness and harmony in our lives, either by working through negative emotions and experiences or by accepting them without resistance.
At times when we feel overwhelmed or trapped in the same place, a grey dove in a dream can signify a sense of relief that is on the horizon.
3. Grey doves as a symbol of love and relationships
Doves are also associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. This connection to Venus also represents love and passion in our relationships.
If you have recently met someone special, or are in a long-term relationship that is about to enter the next level, this could be a sign of good things to come. Grey doves represent meekness and humility, completing the passion-fueled energy of Venus’ love.
4. The symbolism of grey doves in religious texts
Doves are frequently mentioned in different religious texts and are a powerful representation of the human-animal connection.
In Christianity, a white dove represents the Holy Spirit, while the olive branch it carried after the flood represents peace and reconciliation.
Bible passages associate the dove with peace (Isaiah 60:8 and Matthew 10:16) and finding a place to rest (Genesis 8:8-12 and Matthew 3:16). In Islam, doves are connected to Allah, peace, and purity.
Judaism also associates doves with peace (Genesis 8) and forgiveness (Leviticus 14). In all these religions, the dove is strongly connected with peace, harmony, and tranquility. And grey doves express these feelings at a time when we need them the most.
In conclusion, mourning doves carry a multitude of spiritual meanings and symbolism. From their role as messengers to their representation of peace and connection to the divine, these gentle birds have intrigued and fascinated people throughout history. By understanding their spiritual significance, we can deepen our connection with nature and find solace in the messages they bring. So the next time you spot a mourning dove, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and reflect on the deeper meanings it holds.
