His keynote is renewed vitality through recognizing one’s personal power. The cardinal’s cycle of power is year-around. Balancing the feminine energy linked to intuition with the male energy associated with perseverance and strength are necessary to attain personal power in order to manifest people’s dreams and goals. The cardinal offers safe passage into the realm of personal power for those who ask for his help. He represents passion, vibrancy and warmth.
Read more at Suite101: Cardinal Pagan Bird Symbol of Renewed Vitality: Winged Power Animal’s Lessons Include Having Pride in Oneself
The cardinal’s bright red feathers represent blood, the life force, called kundalini by Yoga practitioners. It’s in the root chakra located at the base of the spine. This chakra is related to survival, a person’s identity as an individual, health and security. The kundalini lies dormant until it’s activated by meditation or happens spontaneously.
Read more at Suite101: Cardinal Pagan Bird Symbol of Renewed Vitality: Winged Power Animal’s Lessons Include Having Pride in Oneself.
Lessons Cardinal Teaches
He teaches people that balancing spiritual ideals with physical needs and pleasures is important for all levels of harmony in life. Another lesson is helping people learn to express truth clearly and confidently.
The cardinal reminds people that diet is very important for physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual well being. He reminds people to maintain a sense of pride and to walk with confidence, nobility and grace.
Ojibwa Cardinal Legend
The tribe called the cardinal "Redbird." A long time ago, Raccoon passed by Wolf on a path. As was his habit, he insulted Wolf and Wolf began to chase him. Raccoon ran to hide on a tree limb was over a creek. Although exhausted from a day’s running, Wolf pursued him. Wolf stopped to drink from the creek and saw Raccoon’s reflection in the water. He dove into the water, realized the illusion and almost drowned before he reached shore. Wolf quickly fell asleep, drained from his ordeal. Raccoon saw this, slid down from the tree and plastered Wolf’s eyes shut with clay from the creek’s bottom.
Wolf awoke and struggled to remove the clay. He howled and whined in frustration. An unattractive brown bird heard Wolf's cries went to see if he could help. Wolf told him what had happened. The bird pecked and finally removed the clay. Wolf was so grateful that he asked the bird what he could do to repay him. The bird said it wasn’t necessary. Then, Wolf had an idea. He took the bird to a place where the red rock was. He painted the bird red and said he was “Red Bird” and that his children would be born with beautiful crimson plumage. And, so the boy children bear vibrant red feathers.
Read more at Suite101: Cardinal Pagan Bird Symbol of Renewed Vitality: Winged Power Animal’s Lessons Include Having Pride in Oneself
Read more at Suite101: Cardinal Bird Symbol of Renewed Vitality: Winged Power Animal’s Lessons Include Having Pride in Oneself
SOUTH -- THE SUZAKU (aka THE PHOENIX)
Red Bird, Big Bird, Suzaku, Phoenix
Jump to Main Phoenix Page for More Details
Chinese = Zhū Qiǎo 朱雀 or Zhū Niǎo 朱鳥
Korean = Chujak 주작
Japanese = Suzaku, Sujaku, Shujaku 朱雀
Japanese = Shuchō 朱鳥 or Suchō, Akamitori, Akamidori; aka the Vermillion Bird. Shuchō was also a Japanese era name for a few months between 686 and 687 AD.
In Japan, the term “Suzaku” is translated as “Red Bird” or “Vermillion Chinese Phoenix.” In both Japan and China, the symbolism of the red bird seems nearly identical to or merged with that of the mythological Phoenix. At this site, I consider the Suzaku and the Phoenix to be the same magical creature, although I am not certain if this is entirely true. Scholar Derek Walters (see resources) says the Phoenix was supplanted (replaced) by the Red Bird, for the Red Bird more accurately reflected the astronomical iconography associated with the southern lunar mansions.
Corresponds to summer, red, fire, and knowledge; makes small seeds grow into giant trees (need to give source). Often paired with the dragon, for the two represent both conflict and wedded bliss; dragon (emperor) and phoenix (empress). Portrayed with radiant feathers, and an enchanting song; only appears in times of good fortune. Within the ancient Imperial Palace in Japan, there was a gate known as Suzakumon 朱雀門 (Red Bird Gate). See JAANUS for a few more details on this gate.
Modern cartoon of the Ho-oo, the Japanese PhoenixSuzaku’s seven seishuku (constellations) are:
2. Tamahome Boshi (Chn. = Kuei 鬼)
3. Nuriko Boshi (Chn. = Liu 柳)
4. Hotohori Boshi (Chn. = Hsing 星)
5. Chiriko Boshi (Chn. = Chang 張)
6. Tasuki Boshi (Chn. = Yi 翼)
7. Mitsukake Boshi (Chn. = Chen 軫)
* Learn more about the Red Bird’s seven constellations (this site).
* See star charts for the Red Bird at this outside link.
Red Bird, discovered in tomb near Nara in early 1970s
The Red Bird of the South (Suzaku)
Found on tomb wall at Kitora Kofun
Photo courtesy Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara
Archaeological dating places its construction to the
Asuka period (7th to early 8th centuries)
Native American Plains' tribes attributed the return of the sun (inception of spring) with the red robin too. Indeed, many Native American beliefs attributed solar symbolic meaning to the red robin because its rosy red chest is symbolic of the dawning sun. Also, its bright yellow beak is symbolic of sun rays lighting the earth with hope. Omaha tribes believed the sun rose and set on the wings of the robin.
The robin's bright yellow beak is also symbolic of sun rays to the Native American. Native Americans attributed their beak color with being mindful of the spoken word. The robin was a sign to only present the highest truth when speaking.
Further, Iroquois and Shoshone tribe lore indicated the white ring around the red robin's eye was symbolic of prophetic vision, clarity, and great wisdom. The robin would be called upon during ceremonies when clear understanding was needed, and quality judgments needed to be made.
The robin brings a fresh new perspective to situations that are otherwise foggy and unclear. Try calling on robin energy for clarity when your judgement is clouded or when you need light shed on an issue.
The red robin reminds us it's time to shake the sleepiness out of our head (both figuratively and literally), get alert, get moving, and start enjoying life! Spring has sprung, tides have turned, and no matter how crummy or grey our world has been it is time for new beginnings! Enjoy the bright road ahead because it's only going to get brighter!
Not only is the robin a promise of new beginnings with the new cycle of spring in our midst, it carries symbolic meanings of cheer, joviality and light-heartedness. We can see this in the spring of the robin's step, and it reminds us of that wonderful song I quoted in the intro of this post. The song also hails the message: "Live, love, laugh and be happy" and that is precisely what the symbolic meaning of the red robin tells us too.
I hope you have enjoyed this page on the animal symbolism of the red robin.
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