Cow Symbolism & Meaning (+ Spirit, Totem & Omens)

Are you interested in the Cow Spirit Animal? Then this guide is for you!

In most cultures across the world, cows are seen as a good omen. They are believed to have a powerful connection to the earth.

When the cow spirit animal comes into your life, it awakens the energies of fertility, growth, and progress.

This spirit guide calls on you to have a positive mindset in everything you do.

What’s the Cow Meaning and Symbolism?

Purity and Holiness

In many myths and cultures, cows are believed to be holy. For example, the Hindus have a cow holiday in which cows are washed and dressed in flowers.

This reminds us to keep ourselves spiritually clean.

Family and Nourishment

The cow has a deep relationship with its calves. It provides nourishment for its young ones and humans as well.

As your spirit animal, the cow encourages you to be there for your family and loved ones.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Cows have a strong sense of commitment to communal affairs. They often stick together in a herd, doing the same things and going to the same places.

They provide us with important lessons on how to collaborate with one another.

Symbolic Meaning of Cow Spirit Animal in Various Cultures

Cow Symbolism in Christian Culture

In biblical times the cows were seen as a source of nourishment not only to their young ones, but to human beings as well.

Christians believe that the cow teaches them to take care of others. Joseph and Mary had been ordered to Bethlehem to take part in a national census.

They could not find anywhere to lodge in the city as it was thronging with people who had come from all over for the same exercise.

Being heavily pregnant, Mary urgently needed a place to lie down as the baby was due at any moment.

Joseph had no option but to take her to a cow shed, where Jesus Christ was born in a manger. This shows that cows have a very close connection to divinity.

In the Old Testament, the ‘red heifer and the red cow’ was a special kind of cow offered for sacrifice before the High Priest.

Some Christians and Jews believe they’ll rebuild the Third Temple in Jerusalem when a red cow is born.

Cow Symbolism in African Culture

In Africa, cows were treated with a lot of respect because they literally give everything they have to humans.

Every part of the cow has some use. The meat and entrails were used as food. The skin provided clothing and was also used to make bedding and drum skin.

The tail, hooves, urine, dung, and horns were used for medicine by shamans. Horns also acted as vessels for serving the ancestors with libations.

Cows also acted as a rich source of milk for humans. The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania have been known to live on cow blood for months at a time.

Africans kept cows and bulls as a status symbol. The more cattle a family had, the wealthier they were considered to be, and the more respect they attracted from other members of the community.

In African cultures, dowry was paid to the bride’s clan in terms of cows. Girls that were considered pure and untainted would fetch a lot of cows for their clan.

This tradition encouraged young girls to uphold moral values and desist from wayward conduct and behaviors.

Cow Symbolism in Native American Culture

The first cows to come to North America were introduced by Christopher Columbus in the late 15^th century.

As they settled in the Caribbean islands, Spanish explorers and settlers continued to bring in more of these animals.

This means that the Native Americans don’t have a very long history with cows. You’ll find more myths and folklore about the buffalos than you will about cows in this community.

For the few centuries the Natives have interacted with cows, this animal has taken on a special spiritual significance.

The myths and legends that feature this animal show cows as symbols of protection, motherhood, fertility, and nourishment.

The Natives appreciated the cow because it does not hold anything back. It gives everything it has to humans.

The Native Americans used it as a source of food, shields, tent material, clothing, and medicine.

The Great Plain Indians became experts at making cows shields and cow medicine, and would often be contacted by friendly neighbors for these services.

Cow Symbolism in Celtic Culture

Like Africans, herds of cattle were used as a measure of family wealth in ancient Celtic culture. The more cows a family-owned, the higher was their social status.

If you did not own a cow in the Celtic world, you have no voice in public matters. You were a nobody.

Cattle owners were called boaire – keepers of cows. These people were respected because they provided the community with milk and other cow products.

They also provided the calves and cows needed for spiritual rituals. Cow meat was particularly important in rituals that had to do with fertility and Mother Earth.

The Celts reared special cows that would be slaughtered on special feast days. One of the most valued wartime loot was cows.

To be deprived of this treasure by one’s enemies was a great loss for the entire tribe.

Cow Symbolism in Eastern Culture

In Hinduism, cows are associated with Krishna, one of the most important goddesses in Hindu culture.

Cows are believed to represent Mother Earth because they provide almost everything a human being needs.

Unlike most other animals we keep in our homes, cows give everything they are and they have to humans.

They provide us with milk, ghee, cheese, urine, dung, hides, and cow medicine.

Being vegetarians, Hindus do not eat cows. Contrary to popular belief, they also do not worship these animals.

Although cows are considered sacred, they are not gods.

Cow products are used for devotion. For example, the Hindus use butter, milk, and cheese as offerings to the gods.

These products are used to show one’s commitment and devotion to matters of faith.

Hindus believe in protecting and shielding the cow from harm for the role it plays in the Universe. For this reason, this animal is given free rein to do as it wants.

It is not uncommon to encounter cows roaming the streets. People have given them this leeway as a sign of respect.

During the Cow Holiday every year (Gopastami), cows are washed and dressed with flowers as a sign of reverence.

In Hindu culture, it is taboo to kill a cow.

When the Cow is Your Spirit Animal

As with all spirit animals, the cow spirit animal chooses you – you don’t choose it. However, you can appeal to this spirit guide to come your way when you feel you need its support.

The cow spirit animal comes to your side if you are struggling with fertility or productivity issue. Maybe, you have been looking for a child to no avail.

Trust in this spirit guide to see you through this difficult phase of your life.

The cow spirit animal will also come to the rescue if you are going through a particularly tough phase in your professional endeavors.

This spirit guide opens your mind to the options and possibilities that were previously closed to you.

The Cow Power Animal

Call on the cow power animal for support at home. This power guide will help you create a strong relationship with your family and young ones.

It will show you the need to be there for your loved ones in good and bad times.

The cow power animal enables you to meaningfully connect with the mother earth. You will be well-grounded, and you’ll learn to appreciate your life for what it is.

When the cow power animal locates you, you’ll be inspired to change your life for the better.

The Cow Totem Animal

As your totem animal, the cow teaches you the value of life. It helps you create a solid connection with mother earth so that you are well-grounded in everything you do.

The cow totem is an important companion if you are looking for motherly advice. It will guide you through issues of fertility and how to make the best of the resources at your disposal.

Although you may not always like the advice given by your cow totem, know that it is for your own good.

Cow Encounters and Omens

Almost all encounters with the cow signify a good omen.

If a cow approaches you, it wants to alert you of important changes coming your way. With these changes come great growth opportunities.

Being surrounded by a herd of cows is a sign of spiritual protection. Your angels want you to know they are with you at all times.

Generally, an encounter with a cow brings new knowledge and wisdom about your world.

What’s the Meaning of Cow Dreams?

• Dreaming of a cowherd alerts you that things are looking up in your professional pursuit. Keep up the energy.
• Dreaming of a calf indicates that someone close to you needs your help. Reach out because this person may be too ashamed to talk about their needs.
• To see a cow in your dreams is a confirmation that you are on the right path to success. Keep up the tempo.
• To dream of a black cow indicates you’ll get an opportunity to show kindness and generosity to someone. Do not waste this opportunity.
• To see a brown cow in your dream signals that you should be calm and contented in life.
• Dreaming of being attacked by a cow is a sign that you should pull back from your busy schedule for some time and relax.
• To see a white cow tells you to get ready for an important journey. This journey could be either spiritual or physical.
• To dream of milking a cow could be a sign that you are battling issues of fertility or productivity at work. This dream challenges you to try new approaches to problem-solving.

Final Thoughts…

When the cow spirit animal comes into your life, it means you stand to benefit from the important lessons it provides.

You must acquaint yourself with the cow symbolism to benefit fully from your interactions with this spirit guide.