The psychology of the swan symbol

A swan has often been seen as a symbol of wisdom and includes awakening the power of self, balance, grace, inner beauty, innocence, self-esteem, seeing into the future, understanding spiritual, evolution, developing intuitive abilities, grace in dealing with others and commitment. In Celtic tradition, the swan represents the soul, our eternal essence.

The Ugly Duckling is a widely known children’s story, about an apparently ugly little duckling, who doesn’t look like the others and is rejected and labelled a misfit and is different. In the end, all are surprised when he grows into being the most elegant of birds, the swan. This highlights the deceptive nature of first appearances and also reminds us that true beauty grows from within. The swan teaches us that we all have inner grace and beauty, and this teaches us self-esteem. As we begin to realise our own true beauty, we reveal the ability to bridge new realms and new powers.

Swans gracefully glide through the water leaving hardly a ripple behind. Their natural, effortless beauty reminds us to move gently through the currents of life and not fight against them. Swans do not dive into the water like other birds when feeding. Rather, they skim the water dipping their long necks and heads in and out. Water is linked with the feminine intuition and emotion. By following the swan’s example, we learn how to view our emotions without getting trapped by them. Our intuition and awareness help us comprehend our feelings and the reflection of this assists us to process and better understand them.

Contact us to make an appointment to see one of our psychologists in either Camberwell, Fitzroy or McKinnon Reflection Psychology Group’s counselling services can set you on the path to awareness and understanding.