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Parrots in World Spirituality

© Mary Wilson

Of all the creatures that represent the element of air, parrots fascinate me the most. Not only do they come in such a wide variety of species, colors, and sizes, but parrots can also interact with humans in their own language. My pionus parrot, one of the many species, greets me with "Silly boy," in the morning and mimics my laughter. Parrots form close bonds with their owners, and all of this adds up to a creature of air that brings home the deities' wisdom.

Should you be fortunate enough to have a parrot as a companion animal, you'll find a wealth of knowledge hidden behind your friend's gaudy feathers. If you're not sure where to look for the gems of wisdom in your parrot's scream, here's a couple of places to start.

In Animal Speak, Ted Andrews tells us that a parrot is a bird of the sun. Its bright colors, combined with its sunshine aspect, make parrots magickal. Parrot feathers may be used in prayer sticks for powerful healing rites or to invoke the energy of the sun at any time of the year.

The Pueblo tradition expounded in the parrot's sun magic. To the Native peoples, the parrot is the bird of gathering salt, because the places where the Pueblo people found salt, were considered to be gifts from the sun. In this aspect, parrots also show their ability as ambassadors.

Several cultures held parrots sacred. Kama, the Hindu god of love, had a parrot for his emblem. The people of India held the parrot sacred as a prophet and a bringer of rain.

In Rome, the writer Ovid discussed a cult of parrots, although little is known about this group. Ptolmey's procession at Alexandra had parrots.

The Hopi clans of the Native Americans held the Parrot Clan as the second most important, behind only the Bear Clan. To these people, parrots represented the South and fruitfulness. They called parrots the "Mother of the Hopis."

The ability to mimic human speech is one of the things that make parrots endearing pets. This talent has made them diplomats or interpreters for the bird realm. In watching wild birds, one sees the same characteristics of parrots, and thus, acting as ambassadors, parrots bring us closer to mother nature.

However, it is the parrot's ability to talk that makes these animals infamous. To parrot something in the English language means to repeat something without thinking about it. Parrots teach us that there is an area between thought and speech through which all words need to pass. In this area, we humans can think about what we wish to say, before we say it in an attempt to avoid hurt feelings. The parrot warns us about idle gossip.