Meaning Of Native American Symbol For Thunderbird
There are so many symbols and symbolic representations in practically all cultures, and each of these symbols holds a special meaning for the people of a particular culture. The same is also true for Native Americans, who are closely bound to the world around them. Most of their symbols are taken from nature itself, and when one of the symbols is spotted, it always portents good or bad, depending on the meaning that the Native American tribe holds. One such symbol is the thunderbird that is very dear to the Native Americans. |
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While the meaning of the thunderbird varies from one Native American tribe to another based on where they are located, generally it denotes power, transformation, divine dominion, indomitable spirit and unquestionable authority. It could also denote a message from the spiritual world. There are still other Native American tribes that believe that the symbol of a thunderbird is an augury of war. This belief is given special consideration when there is thunder. The tribes believe that the spirits are fighting one another in the sky and hence, the thunder. Some other tribes believe that the symbol of the thunderbird portents victory in war, especially when the tribe has performed all the pre-war rituals and ceremonies.
The cry of the thunderbird, which is nothing but sound of thunder, was heard, the tribes would immediately begin constructing war hunts and start the war rituals and ceremonies. These were done to appease the thunderbird and ensure victory. The huts were always made from cedar wood, which was considered to be sacred to the thunderbird. The Native Americans also believed that tobacco was scared to the revered thunderbird, and hence, men would smoke pipes to appease it. They believed that when they smoked the tobacco, their souls would leave their bodies and move towards heaven where they would meet the thunderbird, who would make them braver and thereby ensure their victory in the battle.
The Native American tribes that did not believe in warring saw the thunderbird as the spirit of the nature and as an animal of the sun. They believed that when the thunderbird woke up in the morning, it eyes were the sun and this heralded the sun to rise each morning. And, when the thunderbird went to sleep, it would close its eyes and thereby causing the sun to set and darkness to reign.
Similarly, there are many different meanings attached to the symbol of the thunderbird and this meaning keeps varying from one Native American tribe to the next.
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What's Your Sign: Thunderbird as a Native American Symbol
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Every culture has its own legend of creation. These legends are told by the older generation to the younger one, and can make a fascinating story on a cold winter's day when the family is sitting around a fire and sipping hot chocolate. Many of these legends have been lost, as they were not written. Strangely, Native American tribes have several legends of creation and these too were passed down orally from one generation to another. However, these legends have some how survived the rigors of time and are still surviving. 