Life Savers: Chasing After The Animals That Represent Life
Throughout history, humans have turned to animals and their various symbolisms to give their experiences a deeper meaning. While our interpretations may vary, different animals carry distinct symbolic meanings that help make going through the many challenges of life more manageable.
From the calmest and most attractive to the most reviled and ferocious, we have employed animal symbolism to essentially communicate ideas, foretell events, and awaken our inner consciousness. Often appearing to provide support for our views and opinions, here are some of the animals that represent life.
“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”
― James Herriot
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Butterfly
- 3 Spiders
- 4 Rabbits
- 5 Deer
- 6 Protection needed?
- 7 Crane
- 8 Turtle
- 9 Snake
- 10 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10.1 Why is the butterfly considered a symbol of life and transformation?
- 10.2 What does the spider represent in animal symbolism?
- 10.3 How do rabbits symbolize the value of life?
- 10.4 What makes deer a symbol of life and growth?
- 10.5 Why are cranes associated with longevity and life?
- 10.6 How does the turtle embody life and perseverance?
- 10.7 What does the snake symbolize despite its feared reputation?
- 10.8 How do animals help us understand and navigate life’s challenges?
- 10.9 Which animals represent different aspects of life’s journey?
- 10.10 What is the cultural significance of animal symbolism in life philosophy?
Key Takeaways
- Life gives us the courage to go through a period of change and transformation. While life is already a celebration in itself, times of tests and hardships will always find a way to present themselves. The butterfly and the snake tell us that though things may be tough at the moment, it won’t be long before transformation and growth change everything.
- Life teaches us to be resilient. Since life is a journey of ups and downs, the spider inspires us to bounce back and weave through life’s never-ending challenges.
- Life is delicate and we should take care of it. As we all strive to be both healthy and happy, it is quite sad that our journey can never be one without trials and risks. The rabbit and the deer teach us how to use our gifts as our weapons against those threats as we aim for a long and prosperous life.
Butterfly
A beautiful flying creature that thrives in the sun’s warmth, the butterfly has long been recognized as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. Observed to be more prominent in spring, which is known as the season for new beginnings, it doesn’t come as a surprise how this charming critter flies in as an animal that represents life.
Featuring remarkably see-through wings, they reflect a wide range of colors that give butterfly wings an amazing array of hues and patterns. Admired for its ability to emerge from a reviled caterpillar to a brilliant and gorgeous creature, the butterfly symbolizes the many changes and transformations that we go through in life.
Further reading about the butterfly
Spiders
A crawler that has been around for more than 300 million years, the spider is a popular symbol of creativity, patience, and ancient wisdom. Its amazing ability to lay up to 600 eggs at a time to produce a bunch of creepy crawlies makes it one of the strongest symbolisms for life.
Relatively small yet capable of making anyone squirm, at first sight, spiders are able to produce and weave intricate webs that provide them shelter and are used as a tool for hunting. Several traditions view this as motivation for us to weave through the web of challenges that life throws at us.
Further reading about the spider
Rabbits
While the rabbit’s fearful nature is considered a negative symbol for some, its shy, curious, and affectionate traits are admired and welcomed. Favored by farmers and breeders for their incredible ability to produce up to 15 babies in a single 5-week pregnancy, there is no question why these cuddly little creatures are included in our list of animals that represent life.
Regarded as incessantly inquisitive individuals, rabbits have been observed to take their time emerging from their holes in search of food to ensure their safety. This reminds us how we should also give great value to life. Their unique and adorable way of jumping and twisting mid-air when happy indicates that we too should celebrate life’s victories regardless of how small or big.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
― Anatole France
Deer
An impressive animal that can be seen across the globe, the deer is only one of the few mammals that can walk minutes after being born. Such eagerness and enthusiasm have made these delicate creatures a powerful symbol of life.
Featuring antlers that separate them from almost every other animal, their natural ability to grow them back each time they fall off every year indicates our own capacity to grow and flourish in life.
Along with eyes that are placed on the sides of their heads and remarkably sharp 310-degree vision, they remind us of the importance of life and its protection. Gifted with a great sense of smell and hearing, the deer is able to sidestep potential risks from its many predators. This is seen by many as a natural way for these shy creatures to preserve life and ensure their survival.
Protection needed?
Throughout the centuries, people across different cultures have consistently come to a similar conclusion- an amulet that you can wear every day wherever you go is your best defense against evil. We put together the top 3 most potent amulets for you.
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Crane
While cranes may seem like the typical large birds with long necks and legs that have no end, their symbolic meaning of purity, balance, and living life in harmony clearly separate them from the rest. Recognized as a symbol of positive change in various cultures, these highly territorial creatures indicate our ability to renew our lives and transform into better versions of ourselves.
Admired for developing lifelong relationships with a single mate, they remind us of the value of loyalty and devotion. Believed to have the ability to live up to a thousand years, it isn’t any wonder why they represent wisdom, longevity, and life.
Further reading about the crane
Turtle
Known to have once shared the planet with the ferocious dinosaurs, turtles are well-loved creatures that represent tranquility, protection, perseverance, and life. Revered for producing up to 200 of some of the most adorable hatchlings, they remind us to constantly look for life’s beauty and its great abundance.
“You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you they will be there long before any of us.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson
Known for their hard shells that they use for shelter, turtles remind us that life can be fragile and that we must not allow it to be affected by our hardships and trials. Perhaps the only animal that can live up to 100 years, they are unquestionably an image of wisdom, longevity, and life itself.
Read more about the turtle
Snake
While the mere thought of snakes is likely to send shivers down the spine, these fearsome creatures carry symbolic messages which prove that they are not always something to be afraid of. Much like most of their peers in the animal kingdom, they are often misunderstood because they are actually powerful symbols of fertility, transformation, life, and rebirth.
Known to lay up to 100 eggs at a time, it is hardly surprising that they symbolize fertility and life. Their habit of naturally shedding their skin just to grow a new set in no time reminds us how we are also capable of change and transformation, as well as opportunities for a new and better life.
Read more about the snake
Read also our post about animals that represent creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the butterfly considered a symbol of life and transformation?
Butterflies symbolize rebirth and transformation because they undergo a dramatic metamorphosis from caterpillar to gorgeous winged creature. Their emergence during spring, the season of new beginnings, combined with their colorful, transparent wings, makes them powerful representations of life’s changes and personal growth.
What does the spider represent in animal symbolism?
Spiders represent creativity, patience, ancient wisdom, and life’s resilience. Their ability to lay up to 600 eggs and weave intricate webs symbolizes how we should navigate life’s challenges with patience and creativity, using our gifts to survive and flourish.
How do rabbits symbolize the value of life?
Rabbits represent life through their remarkable fertility—producing up to 15 babies in a single pregnancy—and their cautious, curious nature. Their joyful jumping and twisting mid-air celebrate life’s victories, reminding us to appreciate both big and small moments with gratitude and awareness.
What makes deer a symbol of life and growth?
Deer symbolize life through their ability to walk minutes after birth and regenerate their antlers annually. Their exceptional senses, 310-degree vision, and defensive instincts represent our capacity to protect and preserve life while continuously growing and flourishing.
Why are cranes associated with longevity and life?
Cranes represent life, wisdom, and longevity due to their legendary lifespan of up to 1,000 years across various cultures. Their lifelong pair bonding symbolizes loyalty and devotion, while their territorial nature represents positive life transformation and personal renewal.
How does the turtle embody life and perseverance?
Turtles symbolize life through their extreme longevity—living up to 100 years—and remarkable survival, having existed since dinosaur times. Their protective shells represent resilience against hardship, while their capacity to produce 200 hatchlings symbolizes life’s abundance and beauty.
What does the snake symbolize despite its feared reputation?
Despite fear, snakes powerfully symbolize fertility, transformation, rebirth, and life. They lay up to 100 eggs at once, and their natural skin-shedding process represents our capacity for renewal and transformation, offering hope for fresh starts and better futures.
Animals provide symbolic guidance through their natural behaviors and characteristics. They offer concrete examples of resilience, creativity, protection, and growth, helping us process difficult experiences and view challenges as opportunities for transformation and personal development.
Which animals represent different aspects of life’s journey?
Different animals embody distinct life aspects: butterflies symbolize transformation, spiders represent resilience and creativity, rabbits celebrate joy and fertility, deer emphasize protection and growth, cranes showcase loyalty and renewal, turtles display perseverance and wisdom, and snakes embody rebirth and adaptation.
What is the cultural significance of animal symbolism in life philosophy?
Animal symbolism across cultures provides accessible wisdom about navigating existence. These symbols communicate universal truths about resilience, growth, and adaptation, helping people find meaning in their experiences and connect with deeper spiritual consciousness through observable natural behaviors.
