Cardinals are common birds that are brightly colored and hard to miss. With their eye-catching beauty and loud melodious song, it’s no wonder they have inspired folklore and myths. In this article we’ll give you insight regarding cardinal dreams, tattoos, totems, spiritual relevance, various cardinal symbolism, and more.
What does a cardinal symbolize?
While more than one bird in the world shares the name cardinal, for the purposes of this article we will be discussing the Northern Cardinal, found throughout the eastern U.S., Canada and Mexico. Cardinals beautiful plumage, their behaviors and their songs all contribute to their various symbolic meanings.
Here is some of the most common symbolism associated with cardinals:
- Love & Passion
- Romance
- Cheerfulness
- Loyalty
- Good Fortune & Hope
- Spiritual Messenger
- Honestly
Love, Passion and Romance
Cardinals are generally monogamous birds that mate for life. Males and females work together to build nests and look after their young. Because of this, they are often associated with love. Cardinals are symbols of romantic partnership and devotion.
The bright red color of the males, which they use to attract females, is also associated with love. Just think about valentines day and hearts, we have long associated the color red with love and passion.
Cheerfulness
Male cardinals are loud singers, especially during the spring. They perch at the tops of trees and spend much of the day sending our their whistling calls. Females are as skilled, but they do also sing.
This is a very familiar sound to those that live in the same area as cardinals, and most people say their song sounds happy and brings them happiness when they hear it. In fact, bird watchers often use the word “cheer” to describe the sound of the cardinals whistle, as in “cheer-cheer-cheer”.
Loyalty
Cardinals are non-migratory birds, so within their range they remain within their territory all year. Many bird watchers feel seeing cardinals is pretty dependable, as they can be spotted in all four seasons of the year. This also means that in general families tend to stay together much longer than other song birds.
Good Fortune
Many cultures looked upon cardinals as birds with positive associations, sometimes even as favored by God to deliver heavenly messages. For this reason, seeing cardinals is often taken as a sign of good fortune. Seeing a bright red cardinal amidst the snow or dull colors of winter can be quite a hopeful and invigorating sight. This is likely another reason they are seen to bring hope and good fortune.
Honesty
Birds that are quiet and like to stay hidden amongst trees and shrubs have historically been considered secretive, mysterious, and non-trustworthy. Cardinals are quite the opposite, with their flashy colors they are easy to spot and are fairly comfortable around humans and don’t hide themselves away in thick vegetation.
But more than that, they are loud singers. Both males and females sing, which is unusual among songbirds where usually only males sing. Because both sexes have the ability to sing, and do so often and loudly, they were viewed by many cultures as honest and trustworthy, rather than secretive.
Spiritual Messenger
Cardinals have long had associations with God. They are viewed as visitors from heaven, or being able to travel between the earth and heaven. Cardinals have also been associated with angels or traveling with angels. In this way people often view them as bringing messages from loved ones who have passed away, or God sending them as messages of hope to uplift the spirit.
What Do Cardinal Dreams Symbolize?
Due to their association with love and romance, dreams of cardinals are often thought to mean that new love will soon be coming into your life. If you already have a partner, it could indicate a particularly romantic encounter will soon take place, and you may share a renewed passion with your significant other.
If you have recently felt tired, run down, or stuck in a rut, a cardinal dream may indicate that you will soon find renewed energy.
Cardinals are associated with good fortune, and when seen in dreams can indicate a positive turn of events for your career or health. If you have been worried about the outcome of an upcoming even, a cardinal indicates that you will have success.
If you see a flying cardinal: make sure you are communicating your thoughts and feelings to those around you
A Cardinal crosses your path: make sure you stay grounded in the face of success
If you dream about a pair of cardinals: you may see the ar