What is the significance of a white dove

White Doves in particular are seen as special throughout many traditions. From Judeo-Christian references to White Doves in the Bible to spiritual practices around the world, White Doves hold powerful lore and symbolic meaning. Yet these majestic birds are also associated with Death. See The Powerful Reading to tap into all future events heading your way It works.

In many cultures, the color white is associated with purity, beginnings and healing. White Doves in particular are said to be symbolic of the soul or spirit. This is because of a combination of their white color and their ability to occupy the skies, the terrain of Spirit. Thus the White Doves are seen by cultures around the world to be symbolic of spiritual travel between Earth and the Heavens. This was said to add to the purity and affirm the holiness of the moment.

Some believe the White Dove to be emblematic of the Holy Spirit and therefore a constant reminder of the essence that connects humanity to God. So strong is the connection between the White Dove and purity, that Alchemists believe a White Dove flies down from Heaven to carry a wafer to a sacred well, ensuring the transition of purification of substances. White Doves are therefore symbolic of transitions and of the most significant transition anyone can make, the journey from physical life to death and spiritual rebirth.

This process itself is also considered a phase in which the soul is purified and refined, in preparation for what lies in the hereafter. In the biblical story of the Great Flood, after 40 days, Noah sends a raven or crow or, more likely, an earlier ancestor of the two birds to find dry land after the flood.

The raven does not return. Next, Noah sends a dove to see if she will find dry land. At first, the dove returns. So, Noah realizes there is still no suitable land on which to dock the ark.

However, a week later, Noah sends the dove out again and she returns with a freshly plucked olive branch. So, he realizes that the Earth is finally habitable again. Olive trees also have symbolic meaning, and one of those meanings is that they symbolize peace.

So, the combination of the gentle dove carrying an olive branch has come to be a universal symbol of peace and hope. Doves are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. In Christianity, the dove symbolizes gentleness, the divine, and the Holy Spirit.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. In Matthew While many Native American tribes used pigeons and doves as a food source, they also viewed them symbols of gentleness and peace.

For the Blackfoot tribe, the dove was a sacred bird. They viewed the dove as a protector who would help warriors safely return from battle. Thus, warriors wore dove feathers as protective talismans. For the Algonquian tribes of the Eastern U. And for the Pueblo of the Southwest, the dove could help to bring rain. For California tribes, such as the Miwok , the dove was more of a mischievous bird, like the crow, who could get into trouble.

Some Native American tribes have dove or pigeon clans. In addition, the Cherokee have a sacred Pigeon Dance. The Aztecs associated their goddess Xochiquetzal with doves. And as in other myths, the dove in the story of Xochiquetzal is connected to a great flood. According to the Aztec creation legends, Xochiquetzal came to the Earth in the form of a dove after a cataclysmic flood. And like her Middle Eastern counterparts, Aphrodite was often depicted with doves around her. For the Greeks, the dove symbolized love, renewal, and immortality.

The Greeks also associated the dove with the columbine flower. The name columbine comes from the Latin word columba , which means dove or pigeon. Like the dove, columbine symbolism includes peace. As they viewed the raven, the Celts saw the dove as an oracle bird. They would watch their behavior and flight patterns for signs.

So, for the Celts, the dove was also viewed as a messenger. In addition, the dove symbolized healing. On earth, they are intimately aware of their environment and demonstrate a highly developed sense of presence. As creatures of both the earth and the air, doves serve as liaisons between intuitive thought and common reality. This ability to move between two worlds sky and earth , bird totems are uniquely posed to funnel higher knowledge down to our human conscious awareness.

They link intangible knowing thought, dreams, intuition with physical practicality hearth, home, security. Doves represent the balance between thought air and matter earth. It is also a prompt to open yourself to all the good things in life, including wellbeing, hope, happiness, and truthfulness.

Despite their gentle and innocent appearance, doves are still wild birds. So, when a bird of the wild such as a dove, visits you , it might have a special meaning. There are different spiritual meanings when a white dove visits you. Have you been feeling anxious and out of balance? By surrendering to reality, you will open yourself up to greater clarity and great renewal.

It is common for a dove visitation to occur in times of great sadness. Your spirit guides are with you at all times, and by sending over a dove, they are letting you know that your sadness, grief, trauma, or whatever hardship you are undergoing will soon dissipate and give way to a new day full of hope. A white dove might appear during or after the funeral of a loved, or after experiencing a great tragedy. The resources for dealing with grief in the physical world might not always feel enough, and sometimes, during such low points in your life, all you want is help from a Higher Being to help you cope with the current situation.

Your spirit guides may send you a message in the form of a dove to offer you some comfort. Such a sign can be comforting and may give you the courage to face life without them.

What about a dead white dove? Coming across a dead dove can be alarming depending on the meaning you give to the concept of death.

In the spiritual realm, death symbolizes change and is an event that calls for soul searching, embracing silence, and even engaging with your inner critic. If there is a big change you know you need to make but are avoiding it, the appearance of a dead dove could be a nudge to go ahead and make that big move.