A Surprising Symbol Of Protection
Muse Messages Newsletter
by Catherine White-Gardner
A Surprising Symbol of Protection
She appeared one morning as I quickly sketched out her face.
An urge came to add a swan.
Specifically, “add a swan above her eyebrow.”
It was a fun idea. I hadn’t drawn a swan before.
I obliged my inspiration.
This is one way symbols enter into art. They simply show up. Wondering what this swan meant for me and this sketch, I thought of things assumed about them. Everyone knows a swan is about beauty.
I lifted my pen and listed other descriptive words that came to mind.
They were the usual associations. I still didn’t know what it all meant for me. That question prompted me to Google the beautiful creature that had come to my imagination.
Okay, all wonderful attributes.
Yet, the words felt generalized and didn’t speak to me.
At the time, I wrote a haiku about the feminine face on the drawing, but nothing about the swan.
That would need some time to figure out.
I placed the image of that swan in my heart and let it leave my consciousness until it came back with more information.
The intention of the Guided Imagery was to uncover an object that symbolized protection.
I didn’t get an object.
Instead, the swan from my drawing showed up.
It appeared small and alive at the time.
About six inches tall.
I was in a meadow covered in dry grasses. The air felt warm. A deep blue pond shimmered in the distance. As I stood in place, the little swan walked up from the water’s edge and stood facing me. Now, it had become a large white feathery swan. It met my eyes with his. What I didn’t realize was that the swan was multiplying a flock all around me. When I finally looked around, I was surrounded by a circle formation of swans. The swans became larger again, giant in fact. They lifted their great wings, interlocking them to form a wall of white feathers. I could see over and through the circle of wings.
It was a gorgeous vision.
I felt protected.
Did you know that swans have enormous strength? They are fierce and strong enough to topple a boat. They peck and also bat with their powerful wings. People have been injured by the aggressiveness of swans, especially when they’re mating or protecting their young.
My message:
The swan is my protector, an example of a very personal symbol. A surprising symbol discovered through art.
What does your symbol of protection look like?
May the light of the Moon illuminate your life.
May the light of the Moon illuminate the wisdom within you.
And remember, if things don’t work out as expected,
there is information on the side we don’t see tonight, that carries unknown information. ©cwg
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