Unleash Your Inner Peacock
~ sharing another post from CreaTEAvity Studio's archive, from 14 February 2018
"Unleash your inner peacock" may seem like an odd title for a post but I would love to share with you my story ...
The male peacock is an amazing show-off but with such spectacular coloured plumage, who can blame him for strutting his stuff and fanning his glorious vibrant feathers to attract a mate?
I vividly remember the first time I ever saw a real peacock: in Motcombe Gardens, Eastbourne (my hometown). I was a little girl, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, and I clearly recall asking my grandparents how the bird got to be so big and brightly-coloured. To me, the peacock was enormous – especially when they fanned out their tail feathers. I also remember feeling indignant that the beautiful colours were only to be found on the male, as peahens are still beautiful but dull browns. Ahhhh - a feminist-in-the-making at such a tender age!
The last time I saw a live peacock was during a family visit to Lille in France and they truly did look spectacular against a backdrop of crisp, white snow.
The symbology of specific animals appearing in your life at certain times has always fascinated me; none moreso than the appearance of a peacock in my world in June 2011.
First, I’d love to share a few of my favourite snippets about the symbology of peacocks. Did you know that:
the peacock is a symbol of immortality? The ancients believed that the peacock had flesh that did not decay after death; early Christian paintings and mosaics use peacock imagery and this symbol of immortality is also directly linked to Christ ♦
the peacock naturally replaces his feathers each year and because of this, they are also seen as a symbol of renewal and transformation
the peacock is also seen as a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve when we endeavour to show our true colour, and carries portents of: Nobility, Holiness, Guidance, Protection and Watchfulness; Glory, Vision, Spirituality, Awakening and Refinement ♣
in Hinduism, the peacock is associated with Lakshmi who is a deity representing benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and good luck ♣
in Asian spirituality, the peacock is similarly associated with Kwan-yin (or Quan Yin) – an emblem of love, compassionate watchfulness, good-will, nurturing, and kind-heartedness.
In a more general sense, peacocks are a symbol of openness and acceptance, and in Buddhism they symbolise wisdom.
“Peacocks are said to have the ability of eating poisonous plants without being affected by them … synonymous with the great bodhisattvas. A bodhisattva is able to take delusions as the path toward liberation and transform the poisonous mind of ignorance, desire and hatred into the thought of enlightenment or bodhicitta, which opens colourfully like the peacocks’ tail … By eating poison, the peacocks’ body becomes healthy and beautiful. He is adorned with five feathers on the head, which symbolise the five paths of the boddhisattva and the attainment of the five Buddha families … they please other beings just by being seen. Similarly, anybody who sees a bodhisattva receives great happiness in his mind. peacocks symbolise the transmuting of desire into the path of liberation” ♥
Does any of this resonate with you, as you read through these?
The peacock first appeared in my Life - in a symbolic form - in mid-June 2011.
I was attending an introductory meeting at The Haven in Fulham, London, just days before I underwent breast cancer surgery. The beginning of 9 months of intensive, invasive treatment designed to rid me of an aggressive tumour. Determined to stay as upbeat and as positive as I could manage - not easy when you are facing surgery and then chemotherapy et al with a poor prognosis - I reflected that I had dearly wished for more self-confidence and wear outrageous feather fascinators and funky, colourful hats each and every day.
I dearly wanted to view this upcoming phase of my life as my Peacock Era, where I could strut my colourful stuff and be who I yearned to be without any qualms. Wearing funky hats and colourful scarves would also be a great way of keeping my soon-to-be bare head warm and cosy!
The day after this appointment, I was fortunate enough to return to The Haven and take part in a Creative Expression Art Therapy session. Which, in many respects, was similar to the work I do with my clients. It was the perfect tonic: two hours relaxing and putting aside worries about my operation in 3 days time, while I became totally immersed in playing with circles in chalks, pastels and acrylic paints.
I discovered that I loved, loved, loved working with chalk and acrylic paints!
Oh yes, and the bigger the canvas, the better (my beloved partner became quite worried about the safety of our walls at home after this revelation). The true power of art as a healing tool had finally been unveiled to me, in all its glory.
Born out of my play-time that morning was the most amazing vision. My own personal interpretation of a beautiful peacock feather. I was truly stunned ...
This was a complete revelation, especially as at that time we were going through a major astrological transformation with three eclipses in a very short period of time. One of the items I recall reading at the time mentioned that:
“This eclipse will herald a shift in resolving the tension between what we know (Sagittarius) and what we have yet to learn (Gemini). It will allow a ‘breathing space’ between the intense amounts of information that may have been coming your way allowing you to filter what is important and what can be left on the shelf … just slooooow down to listen to your own ‘inner voice’. Know you have the wisdom of the world within you so take it easy in order to listen.” Ethereal Light – Facebook Note
The power of the peacock was all about adding vibrancy and vitality to my life during a very difficult time for me, my family and my friends. However, the peacock can help all of us on our spiritual Path too, helping to breath new life into our faith, as well as rejuvenate our self-esteem.
I also felt the Buddhist concept of the peacock “eating poison” - and thus allowing its body to become healthy and beautiful - was a very powerful expression of my own journey, as I began chemotherapy and radiation treatment. What a spectacular vision to hold on to!
I believe we all have the opportunity to unleash our 'inner peacock' and would love to invite you to explore other “power animals” as symbols of your own beautiful blossoming.
Do let me know what you uncovered, I would love to hear from you.
Note: I originally wrote a large chunk of this section in June 2011, just before my first operation to remove a large Triple Negative tumour; in my "quiet time" whilst on chemotherapy I began making matching handmade brooches to adorn my scarves, chemo-hats and handbags.
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Thank you for reading. The peacock symbol has yet again come forward to help me navigate life as I heal from breast cancer completion surgery and deal with the emotions of an unexpected second breast cancer diagnosis in May 2024.
I am really drawn to peacock images at the moment and working with those colours in my art