Roosters, or male chickens, with their impressive plumage, long flowing tails, and red combs, are one of the true rockstars of the avian world.
Throughout history, the cockerel’s warrior-like persona, vigilance, dominance, and swagger, have captured the imagination of all who encounter him. It became synonymous with masculinity and virility.
But is there more to the rooster than just his flashy exterior?
And are the common cultural associations with sexuality and aggression the same as the spiritual significance of these birds?
Perhaps pop references like the funky chicken dance and Kellogs cornflakes brand has reduced the rooster to a stereotype?
In this article, we look at the deep spiritual meaning behind these magnificent birds. Know what their appearance of them in your life and dreams could symbolize.
The rooster is typified by its self-confidence. Spoken language, art, and literature, has used rooster to describe and symbolize prowess and swagger. Particularly, such in the masculine sphere.
If you are someone who identifies with the rooster as your spirit animal, you no doubt possess an out-going and self-assured personality.
In matters of work and career, leadership roles almost certainly draw you. You also have great ambition and drive.
Just like the rooster, you like to make your voice heard in meetings and conferences. You also like to speak in public with confidence.
However, learning to listen could be the key to unlocking your full potential. Your eagerness to succeed and prove your worth must not override your ability to care for and about your flock.
When it comes to relationships, you are a confident lover but will find loyalty and monogamy a challenge.
The world will label you as a ‘player’ and maybe even praise you for your virility in your younger years. But, roosters must mature like all creatures.
Learning how to channel all your passion and enthusiasm into a single, meaningful relationship will be the best thing you ever do.
Rooster Totem Animal
As a totem animal, the rooster has a strong connection to the rising sun. More so to the dawning of a new day.
Tribes and communities have called upon the rooster totem to bring health. Also, it brings abundance to their crops and ensure that they enjoy a happy harvest.
The symbolic leap is not difficult to make. Just consider how the rooster heralds the rising of the sun each morning.
Therefore, as well as plentiful crops, the rooster totem brings optimism and hope.
So reliable and regimented is their crowing. For many centuries, roosters acted as communal alarm clocks for all those in their vicinity.
Even today, in rural villages and tribes around the world, the rooster’s morning crow is a shared wake-up call.
Farmers and workers know that the day must begin their daily chores when they hear the rooster. As such, its cry has come to symbolize hard work and diligence.
Many communities place the image of a rooster on their weathervanes. This is in order to invoke its qualities of responsibility and reliability. Also, to protect and look out for the townsfolk, as well.
Rooster Power Animal
As a power animal, you can call upon the rooster to bolster vigilance and alertness when you need those qualities most.
You see, the rooster crows in order to assert territorial dominance and ward off any imposters, and also to warn the rest of the flock of danger.
As there is only ever one rooster per flock of chickens, he must stay sharp and shrewd in order to adequately protect them.
As such, roosters have more developed eyesight than human beings and are capable of seeing colors that we have no concept of.
They can see UV rays and have three eyelids that can be closed separately in order to filter the light appropriately.
The placement of their eyes on the side of their heads means that they enjoy a 310-degree field of vision.
And their sense of hearing is just as well adapted. They can hear low-frequency sounds extremely well, but don’t hear high-frequency sounds at all.
This means they are able to hear the flapping of a hawk’s wings on the wind but do not deafen themselves with their own crowing.
It is no wonder that they can bring heightened vigilance, alertness, and powers of protection to all who call upon their powers.
Native American Symbolism
Native American tradition always see the rooster as a powerful symbol of protection and diligence.
They have made medicines from the rooster to aid healing with battle wounds, and also to help in matters of sexual performance and virility.
The rooster enters into a fascinating courtship with a hen in order to mate with her, and Native American men saw the bird as a symbol of sexual confidence and prowess as a result.
The rooster actually ‘waltz’ before a hen in order to hypnotize her, calm her, and seduce her. Therefore, many often used rooster totem as a lucky charm for courtships and matchmakers.
Ancient times used roosters as a target in local games and celebrations.
They were sometimes strapped to stakes or buried up to their heads in the ground so that local men could race and fight to retrieve them.
In this way, the rooster became synonymous with masculine competitiveness and playfulness.
Celtic Symbolism
Speaking of competitiveness, in Celtic tradition the rooster is a symbol of war and aggression. This is because they breed roosters as fighting animals for many, many centuries.
Long before bears or dogs fight in a ring, people pitted roosters against each other. Indeed, the word ‘cockpit’ comes from this very tradition.
Roosters are naturally aggressive towards each other as they live in flocks of one male and many females.
Therefore, other males are regarded as competitors and rivals, rather than as companions or buddies.
People who reared cocks for fighting capitalized on this natural instinct and exploited it for cheap entertainment.
Razors were strapped to the rooster’s feet and a baying crowd roared as they kicked and slashed at each other.
This bloody sport is now illegal in most places, but in Celtic communities, the association lives on.
Roosters are thought to herald violence and aggression rather than optimism and light.
Christianity Symbolism
In all four books of the new testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, roosters are mentioned in reference to the passing of time.
Inevitability and mortality are tied up in their symbolism, and they are seen as extremely ‘earthy’ creatures, as opposed to creatures of the divine.
In the bible, the gospels say how Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him by the time the cock had crowed three times.
As such, the image of the cockerel became associated with the denial of Christ and with man’s fallibility.
Perhaps there is a colleague or rival who is closing in on something that you want to protect?
Since roosters are highly defensive and territorial, their image in your subconscious could mean your own hackles are up.
A rooster running in your dreams could symbolize lust and desire, and an excitement for future relationships.
If you are feeling particularly passionate or lusty you should not be surprised to see the rooster make an appearance in your subconscious. He is telling you to have fun and make love.
A rooster crowing in the darkness could indicate that you are feeling anxious in your day-to-day life.
Whether you are anxious about those you love, or about your own personal journey, the heightened alertness of the midnight crowing shows that you need to destress.
If you dream of a cockerel landing on your garden fence or doorstep, it is thought to indicate that you will soon receive an unexpected visitor.
Dreaming of a rooster crowing at sunrise is generally thought to be indicative of a happy and positive mental state.
You are feeling passionate and hopeful for the future, and your prospects are looking good.
Dreaming of a rooster who doesn’t crow, or who tries to fly without success could indicate that you are feeling overworked.
Roosters are constantly on guard and with that comes a level of exhaustion. If you are feeling burdened by responsibility for others you may well spy a flying rooster in your dreams.
Rooster Tattoo Meaning
It is mainly men who tend to opt for rooster tattoos, although some women choose to have them as well.
An individual’s reasons for getting a rooster tattoo will differ from person to person, but here are some common reasons why they are popular.
Guidance
Travelers and even sailors sometimes get roosters tattooed on their forearms to offer guidance on the road.
Though roosters are birds that stay close to home, they are seen by many as good luck charms and protection from harm.
Their grounding qualities and sense of duty to the flock, make the rooster a moral guide rather than a geographical one.
Vigilance
Getting a rooster tattooed on your chest or shoulder is often seen as a symbol of vigilance and alertness.
Having their keen eyes tattooed on your body, close to your own head, acts as a reminder to be cautious and shrewd.
Protection
A tattoo of a crowing cockerel is thought to bring protection, not only to the person whose body it is on but to all whom they love and cherish.
Confidence
Of course, many men choose a rooster tattoo as a sign of confidence, leadership, and self-assurance.
The image is highly masculine and is often placed in a part of the body that is visible to everyone like the forearm or neck.
Sexual Prowess
A tattoo of a rooster’s head and comb are often indicative of sexual confidence and a certain level of ‘playboy’ charm.
Those who choose it know all too well what message they are hoping to subtly convey… their expertise in the bedroom!
Aggression
The image of two fighting roosters, or indeed one rooster in an attacking stance, is often chosen as a symbol of dominance and even aggression.
Men who want to assert their own dominance and warn others of their violent nature sometimes get this tattoo to appear tough.
And there you have it. The rock n’ roll rooster is not just a symbol of sexual prowess and masculine confidence, it also symbolizes responsibility, protection, optimism, and duty.
These beautiful birds have hidden depths that we do not give them enough credit for, and those who are lucky enough to connect spiritually with them can benefit hugely from the example they set.
Diane has always been interested in spirituality and self-improvement. She is a happy and outgoing person. She started her spiritual journey with Chandra while looking for tools to bring positivity to their lives. She boosts her mind with self-care and affirmations. However, she also knows what crystals to wear based on her feelings. She also practices the law of attraction.
