Need to stretch your resources? Hoping to develop more self-confidence? Wren, as a Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal, can help! Wren teaches you how to be resourceful and how to become self-assured and poised. Delve deeply into Wren symbolism and meaning to find out how this Animal Spirit Guide can stir, inspire, and uplift you!
The Wren’s song delights the ears. It seems so content and carefree. Perhaps in another time, this tiny Bird was a bard, and his song continues in this form even as our souls never fade, but simply find a new form.
Churchgists will give you all you ask on spiritual meaning of a wren, Cheerfulness and contentment, Wrens Dream Interpretation and so much more.
Spiritual Meaning Of A Wren
Wrens are well known for picking up and leaving whenever they feel the need. There is no hesitation here. If it’s migration they want, it’s migration they will have. Wren is somewhat of a gypsy spirit in this, finding that home can truly be anywhere if you fill it with warmth, welcome, and love.
An Irish adage gives us a peek into how the Wren has affected our thoughts. It says, “A Wren in the hand is better than a crane out of it.” In other words, celebrate the beauty of a small success rather than chasing after that BIG crane and failing. Another quote from William Blake paraphrased tells us that anyone harming a Wren will never be beloved by men. In this case, the Wren’s diminutive, sweet spirit alludes to humans and the way we treat the smallest or weakest among us.
In the wild, the male and female Wren share their domestic duties, including child-rearing; This is an excellent example of how nature doesn’t “fix” gender roles throughout creation. Where there is a need, either of the Wren couple can step in and meet it without controversy.
As you observe the Wren, they constantly seem busy. They work hard at their nests, gather food, socialize. Nearly every moment fills with positive actions and enthusiasm. Being with others of a like mind and having that outlet to balance daily tasks is important, even among Birds.
Some of the Keywords and characteristics of Wren Animal Spirit include accuracy, adroitness, cleverness, cordiality, dexterous, graciousness, family bonds, focused, handy, joyousness, liveliness, movement, playful, quick-witted, shared responsibility, skill, spritely, versatile, and watchfulness.
By far, the characteristic that defines much of Wren’s symbolism and meaning is the happiness of its song. The talent of this tiny creature has been placed into infamy by many a poet who hoped, somehow, they could capture Wren’s language with words and pen. If one listens closely, there are lyrics on the air, bringing a unique message to those within hearing range. Wrens know as many as 130 different songs, each of which has a purpose, even if it’s only spouting off about their bliss. Some Native tales claim Wren Spirit can bring a person back to life just by their magical singing.
Song alone isn’t Wren’s only talent; He is an adept flier. During migration, it may span over 1500 miles to reach a suitable home. When the weather turns, cold 10 Wrens may huddle in a nest together for warmth.
Speaking of nests, you can never be sure where a Wren may choose to make one. You may find them nuzzled in a mailbox, old boots, and even spare tires. Truthfully, they simply build where it seems pragmatic and safe. Maybe that’s why the scientific name for Wren is a Troglodytidae, or cave dwellers. Even so, the small in stature is high in courage when it comes to protecting their territory.
Wren as King of the Birds: Languages around the world indicate the Wren’s royal lineage. In Latin, it is Regulus, in Welsh dryw king, Teutonic – King Bird, Dutch – Little King, and so forth. The Gaelic language calls Wren the Druid Bird, believing them to be just as cunning and wise. At New Year’s, an apprentice Druid traveled to the countryside seeking wisdom. If he found a Wren, it was a sign of blessed knowledge coming ahead. The Wren was also sacred to the Great Bard, Taliesin, the Fairy Queen, who could take the shape of a Wren, and a Wren feather acted as a charm against disaster.
Plutarch tells a fable that says the Eagle and Wren both wished to be the highest flier. Wren, however, was quite sneaky. He hopped on Eagle’s back, with none being the wiser. Thus, Eagle flew and flew, getting tired, and the Wren then flew out above him; This is not the only fable in which Wren shows his clever nature. In the story of the Wren Among the Hawks, Wren hunts the boar that the hawk cannot by flying into the boar’s ear and driving it mad.
Wren Meaning
While humans have been able to see the beauty of birds, their mysterious appeals have remained largely a mystery. Whilst we can see one another, and observe their actions, we still struggle to understand what lies behind their bright and enchanting feathers.
In our quest for a deeper understanding of birds, many people have turned towards the spiritual world. Superstition and spirituality are closely linked; something which you will learn as we look into wren symbolism and spiritual meaning.
The wren is a small bird, widely considered a harbinger of spring and rebirth. It’s also a symbol of the arts, because of its association with poets, songwriters, musicians, and anyone who writes or crafts written works. Wren symbolism includes rebirth, immortality, and protection.
Wrens are first and foremost known for their wit, ingenuity, and cleverness. Despite their small, fragile form, these birds have asserted their victory over birds much larger and stronger than them by virtue of their quick-thinking. Besides, they are also highly-energetic and happy, determined to enjoy every moment of their life.
The symbolism of Wrens
Many of you might not know this, but wrens possess many qualities that could inspire us to become a better, happier version of ourselves. Given below are some of their important symbolism. Take a look:
Ingenuity and cleverness
If the story behind how the little wrens ended up becoming the king of all birds is any indication, these birds are too smart for their own good. Their ingenuity enables them to protect their fragile selves from all the dangers in the world.
Cheerfulness and contentment
It doesn’t take much to make the wrens happy. These little birdies are innately jolly and enjoy every moment to its fullest. There’s a popular Irish saying associated with these birds that give us a peek into their personality.
It says, “A wren in hand is better than a crane out of it”. It means that we should try to celebrate our small wins instead of running after something unachievable and failing. This is exactly what the wrens stand for.
Sociability
Wrens are highly social birds that are known for interacting not only with their own species but with other small birds as well. They teach us that socializing, to some extent, is an essential part of our lives; without it, we could grow lonely and bitter.
Wren totem
The wren totem enters your life when you are sad and depressed and are unable to cheer yourself up. If their totems are good at something, it’s spreading the joy that they have inside of them all around.
Under their influence, you will learn that life is too short to be wasted by being upset about things. If you can find even the smallest reason to be happy, you must hold on to it.
Wrens Dream Interpretation
Have the wrens been visiting you in your dreams lately? These cheerful little creatures in your dreams are usually symbolic of happy times ahead. However, specific wren dreams could have specific interpretations as well. Take a look at what these common wren dreams along with their interpretations:
A wren on a tree
If you see a wren perched on the branch of a tree in your dream, it indicates that you will either be called overseas for work purposes or will receive good news from a relative who lives overseas.
A flying wren
Dreaming of a flying wren indicates that you might have to resort to unfair means to achieve something because everyone else is doing so. And if you don’t, you will be left behind.
A wren singing
Wrens are melodious singers. To hear them singing in your dream has a positive interpretation and suggests that the coming months of your life will be filled with joy and happiness.
A wren feeding on insects
If a wren is feeding on insects in your dream, it is a good sign. Such a dream suggests that either you or your partner will be offered better work prospects with a higher income soon.
An injured wren
Dreaming of an injured wren has a negative interpretation. Such a dream is symbolic of problems in your intimate relationship. Perhaps your partner is not as happy with you as they appear to be. You should try to have a heart-to-heart with them to find out what’s bothering them.
Killing a wren
Killing a wren might sound horrifying but can actually be a good sign as a dream. Such a dream signifies that you will soon find the opportunity to take revenge on someone who has wronged you in the past. You must use it wisely, for it might be the only chance you will get.
A wren in a cage
Wrens are the kind of birds that value their freedom above everything else. Therefore, dreaming of these birds trapped in a cage has a negative interpretation. Such a dream indicates that the people who are close to you might feel hesitant in sharing their problems with you.
Perhaps you must have appeared disinterested in something they had to say at some point, and now they just don’t feel comfortable in sharing their vulnerabilities with you.
Wren symbolism in the Celtic culture
Before we delve into the wren symbolism in the Celtic culture, let’s first discuss how the Celts perceived things around them.
The Celts were keen observers of nature; everything in nature, be it a tree, an animal, a bird, or even a blade of grass, filled them with awe and reverence. This is why they associated everything natural with some aspect of life.
To the Celts, the wrens were free-spirited and witty birds that knew how to take care of their own. Although they were small and fragile, they were also fiercely protective of their younger ones and used their clever minds to keep themselves out of trouble.
Wrens in the Celtic Astrology
In Celtic Astrology, thirteen animals and birds are represented as zodiacs, and the wren zodiac is in the seventh position among them. The people who are born between June 10th- July 7th fall under their zodiac.
The people with the wren zodiac are considered to be highly enthusiastic about their lives. They’re witty, smart, fast, and bold, often surprising others by their actions. However, at heart, they’re gentle and caring.
Why is Wren called the king of all the birds: the story behind it
All of you must have heard about wren being the king of all the birds at some point. But doesn’t it sound illogical for a bird that small and fragile to rule all the birds in the world? Well, there is an interesting story behind this coronation, and we’re going to narrate it to you here.
Once upon a time, all the birds in the world gathered at one place to discuss having a king. All of them were of the opinion that they would prefer to be ruled by one single bird to maintain uniformity and order in their community.
But how would the king be chosen? It took them weeks of debates and disagreements to settle on one way: a contest. In the contest, the bird who could fly the highest for the longest interval of time would be declared the king. This seemed like an unfair competition for the smaller species, but they were afraid to stand up to the larger, dangerous birds.
And so, the contest began. Within the first hour, small birds like jays, sparrows, and cardinals were all tired and returned to land. Not long after, they were joined by ducks, crows, and pigeons. After two hours had passed, only the larger species remained in flight. There was a competitive eagle in the contest who desperately wanted to win, and so, he kept flying even as owls, hawks, and falcons began to tire out and fly downwards.
At last, when the eagle could see no other bird in the sky and was completely exhausted, he smugly began his descent to the land. As he was about to touch the ground, he heard a chirpy voice screaming over him, “I am the king! Yes, I am the king!”.
Shocked, the eagle turned upwards to see the wren fluttering over him. The clever little wren had carefully hidden on the back of the eagle and was riding him all this while to conserve his own energy for this moment. The furious eagle tried to catch him, but he was spent and couldn’t manage to fly any longer.
All the small birds were ecstatic to see someone like them win the contest. But the larger species discarded the contest furiously, saying that the wren had won through trickery. To this, wren replied by saying, “if you’re dissatisfied with it, you can organize another contest, and I shall win it as well”.
After giving it much thought, the large birds said that in the second contest, whoever can swoop the lowest would be their king. As the contest began, all birds began to fly close to the surface. This time, the wren saw a mouse-hole dug in the soil and entered it, declaring, “I am the lowest! I am the king!”.
The larger birds were now enraged; let the wren be the king, they thought, he could never rule us. They decided to kill that cunning bird as soon as he stepped out of the hole.
But the wren was stubborn, too; days passed, and he remained inside. The large birds began to take turns to watch the hole’s entrance.
One night, the owl was given the guarding duty. Wren saw an opportunity. As soon as the first ray of sunlight touched the horizon, the owl was blinded by it for a moment, and taking advantage, the wren flew away. As that’s how the king of birds stayed alive.
While all the smaller birds still consider wren to be their king, the larger ones are always hunting these birds down.
Wren spirit animal
If you are someone who is appreciated for their quick-thinking and energetic manners, the spirits of the wren could be watching over you. The people guided by wren spirit are smart, funny, and lively; they are also great at crisis management, which is why everyone at work loves them, even the boss.
These people are great at balancing work with fun and are, therefore, ahead in both domains. In their family life, they’re always the ones who throw everyone surprise parties and hype up their smallest achievements. All the kids in the family love them and look up to them.
Wren-spirited people are often flirtatious and flattering, always looking for a fun time and nothing serious. It takes them a long time to decide to settle down in life, and it’s best not to hold your breath for them.
The celebration of Wren Day
On December 26th, the next day to Christmas, many European countries celebrate Wren Day. This day is also called “Hunt the Wren Day” and “St. Stephen’s Day”, and its Irish name is “La an Dreoilin”. To celebrate this day, a group of boys gathers on the streets, dressed in straw suits, masks, and colorful clothing. They call themselves “straw boys” and are out to hunt a fake wren and tie it to staff.
While a fake wren is used in the tradition nowadays, before the 20th century, a real wren was hunted and tied to their staff (often alive), taken from house to house, and asked for donations. But what could the poor king of the birds have done to deserve such a harsh treatment?
There are many different theories associated with the origin of this tradition, and in many of them, the wrens are portrayed as traitors. One of these theories mentions how these birds betrayed St. Stephen.
St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was once hiding from his enemies when a wren exposed his location by chattering to those who were looking for him. The noble saint died, and so, the citizens avenge by hunting and killing a wren on his death anniversary.
Another Irish version relates wrens to a mythical creature of Irish mythology, called “Cliona”. Cliona is a beautiful seductress of another world who used to seduce the men, making them follow her into the sea, leading to their deaths.
Once, when the men came to know of her vile seduction and tried to capture her, Cliona transformed herself into a wren and flew away. Therefore, on the day after Christmas, people hunt the wren that Cliona had turned into.
Although the tradition of Wren’s Day seems to be disappearing from many urban settlements, there are many countries where this festival is still celebrated with the same vigor.
Conclusion
Whenever the wrens find themselves in trouble, instead of cribbing about it, these resourceful little birds take a thorough look around and make the best of whatever they can find. There’s so much that we can learn from them; perhaps we’ll not be the most successful or richest person in our circle, but at least we will be happy. And in the end, that’s what really counts.