Stamp Art: The Bewick Swans ‘Spirit & Totem’ project

The Stamp Art 1993 GB Bewick Swans First Day Cover collection showcase, presents an infomative and educational review of The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust with reference to the ‘Spirit & Totem, meaning of swans. – Limited Edition Bewick Swan’s conservation issue (including insert cards and individually numbered) – MINT . Presented in Artwork Layouts for the public to enjoy and critque. ‘Exhibition Artworks’ of the Bewick Swans ‘Spirit & Totem’ project are available for private commission exhibition’s only. For more information, please contact info@stampartist.co.uk.

The meaning of a swan is grace, beauty, love, trust, and loyalty. 
Swan symbolism is also linked to inner beauty and self love. White swan symbolism is related to light, grace, beauty, love, and purity, whereas black swan is found in occult symbolism. A pair of swans represent soul mates for life.

Bewick Swan’s

Bewick swan adults are white all over and young birds greyish with a pinkish bill. Compared to the similar whooper swan, these swans have proportionally more black and less yellow on their bill. They’re also smaller than both mute and whooper swans and have faster wingbeats. Bewick’s swans are a Schedule 1 species. This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season. Two species of swan come to the UK each winter: whooper swans migrate from Iceland and Bewick’s swans make the journey from Siberia. They both have yellow and black bills and can be difficult to separate; the patterns are unique to each individual bird and can be used to tell them apart.

Bewick swans have more oval, rounded yellow patches on either side of their bill. They are the smallest swan species to visit the UK, not very much bigger than a Canada goose. Their calls are more reminiscent of an excited dog. The yellow on a whooper swan’s bill forms a pointed ‘v’ shape on either side. They are bigger birds than Bewick’s swans and have a honking voice which can sound like an old-fashioned car horn!

Swan symbolism and meaning

A swan personality is mixed–so it is an ambiguous symbol of light, love, romance, death, transformation, poetry, and melancholy passion and is especially highly represented in ballets and operas.  In 1848, the white swan became the hero of Wagner’s opera Lohengrin and other tales of the swan knight. Similarly, in 1876, Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake, depicted feminine softness, beauty, and grace.

In Roman mythology, the swan symbol is connected to Aphrodite’s beauty as well as with Apollo – the God of poetry, prophecy, and music. There is a Greek fable, which tells us about the swans’ last unearthly song as they die, which tie them up to poetry as well as death. There is also a legend that connects the swan to the ‘waters of the Underworld’ and, through many cultures, the swan has been linked to the ‘loss of love.’

Swans never plunge beneath the waters. That is why; sailors believed that swan symbolic meaning is a sign ‘against shipwreck.’ The swan’s fresh white plumage is considered as the symbol of purity and grace. 

The Swan As Your Animal Spirit & Totem

If you have swan as your animal totem, then you have the ability to look into the future and accept healing and transformation that is a constant presence in our lives. When you are in relationships, you prefer monogamous relationships. Often individuals with the swan power animal find their true love at a very young age and remain together for years to come. You have the ability to balance work, family and play as well as recognize the importance of personal solitude needed to recharge. In crowds, you are comfortable and are able to maintain your individuality.

“Swan of beauty, swan of grace
A queen among her ancient race
She glides across the mirrored lake
No ripple does the surface break“

Realizing your own true beauty will unfold the ability to bridge new realms and new powers. Swan will show you how to reach your inner beauty within you as well as in others. She teaches about the songs and poetry, which enliven the inner child and beauty within each of us.

Swan Sprit & Totem Animal Meaning

Swan celebrates beauty, culture, art, love, faith and the depth of the soul. She is sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and brings romance, stimulates fantasy, creativity and allows for true love to blossom making her a lucky totem for soul mates. She let’s single individuals know that true love is near by. Those who are apart from their lovers, she teaches about love through time and space. Couples are blessed with harmony, joy and longevity.

The Stamp Art Bewick Swans ‘Spirit & Totem’ collection uses the history and mystique of the ‘Swan’, displayed in a modern day stamp art work for the art enthusiast seeking valuable one off art works, using rare material with vibrant colours to show off the hidden meaning of the ‘Swan’ for the modern art collector.

Swan in dreams

What does a swan represent in dreams? When interpreting your own dreams about birds, in this case, swans do not limit it to what this guide says but come up with your own special meaning and symbolism. After all, dreams are as unique and individual as the people who dream them.

However, dreaming of swans means persisting. A swan does not fly, nor does it plunge under the water. It keeps swimming, rather floating gracefully on the surface of the lake or pond. Thus, the swan is telling you to be graceful and silent. It is asking you to simply relax and let go and surrender to the Higher Power. Be like the swan: beautiful, graceful, and silent.

Yamatotakeru – a guardian deity in the Buddhist Mountains of Reishuzan and Tendaizan, upon his death, becomes a swan. In Chinese swan mythology, it is a “fairy” among the birds who often fly towards the sun and glides back down, bringing blessings to the human world. 

Dreaming of a pair of swans indicates a strong and loving relationship. It also means fidelity and loyalty. A swan may also be telling you that transformation is on the way. Just like the ugly duckling becomes a graceful swan, so will you!

Swan totem animal

The swan is one of the most ancient and powerful totems. This is reflected in its name, as well. The name ‘swan’ is one of the oldest in the English language handed down from the Anglo Saxon Times and it hasn’t been changed since.

The swan is a graceful and sensitive bird, which is why people with this totem are also rather sensitive. They find themselves becoming sensitive to the emotions of others as well.

In swan totem, you become aware of your own inner beauty. You also unfold the ability to bridge to other realms and powers. 

The swan medicine helps you see the inner beauty of yourself as well as of others despite outer appearances. And that ability makes you like a ‘magnet’ that draws other people to you.

Swans thrive in cold conditions and they hate the heat and summer warmth. That is why; people with swan totem do well in cold climates. For the same reason, the swan has an affinity to the Northern Direction. From Greece comes the mystery of the swan song. The swan sings its most beautiful song just before it dies. This swan song has become tied to poetic fantasy. That is why; the swan animal totem also teaches mysteries of song and poetry that touch the child and the beauty within.

Conclusion

The meaning of a swan is grace, beauty, love, trust, and loyalty. Swan symbolism is also linked to inner beauty and self love. A pair of swans represent soul mates for life. We hope this guide on swan symbolism helps you decipher your own swan meaning so you can get in touch with your powerful inner beauty and love yourself more deeply.

For ‘Exhibition Artworks’ of the Bewick Swans ‘Spirit & Totem’ project, which are available for private commission exhibition’s and corporate displays only. Please contact info@stampartist.co.uk. for more information.

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