As we established in our last article, a feather can symbolize a lot of things. Although the meaning behind a feather can vary between religions and beliefs, a feather’s symbolism will vary between its colors.
We’ve already established the meaning behind a blue feather and what a yellow feather means, but what does a brown feather represent?
We tackle that question in this article.
Color Symbolism: What Does the Color Brown Mean?
Brown is one of the natural colors to exist. In color theory, when light of all colors are mixed, you get a pure white. But when you mix liquid forms of color (i.e. paints), you get various shades of brown.
Brown is a natural color because you see it on natural objects, like earth, wood and stone. It’s also known as a neutral color associated with the fall and winter seasons. There are various shades of brown, a few of them being:
Because of its association to nature, the color brown is associated with concepts, like foundation, stability, warmth, healing and home. Brown is comforting, nurturing and dependable. The color brown is mostly associated with the bark of a tree, which is strong and stable, able to withstand the wind of most storms.
There is an energy of balance and comfort in the color brown.
Most people would consider brown to be ugly, dull and reminiscent of mud, but it is also simple, friendly and healthy.
To quote a paragraph in George R.R. Martin’s “A Dance with Dragons,” “You could make a poultice out of mud to cool a fever. You could plant seeds in mud and grow a crop to feed your children. Mud would nourish you, where fire would only consume you, but fools and children and young girls would choose fire every time.” This means that even if fire is more vibrant and popular, the brown mud is much more dependable and reliable.
What Does a Brown Feather Mean?
In our last few articles, we tackled what feathers mean and what feather tattoos mean. Because there are various reasons depending on religion, beliefs and circumstances, among other factors. But generally, feathers symbolize freedom, transcendence and the ability to live fearlessly.
So what does it mean when a feather is brown?
A brown feather can symbolize someone who lives freely but is grounded, stable and well-balanced. This can refer to anyone who fits this description, from a middle-aged woman retiring at an early age because she has enough to live comfortably, or a young woman who has made a sustainable career pursuing her passion in the arts. They feel free, but that doesn’t mean that they live unstable “live-free-or-die” lives because they managed to do what they want without sacrificing safety.
A brown feather, in a religious sense, can also refer to someone stable in our lives but has passed away. This can be a parent who has nurtured us until we became adults, a partner who has been our source of inspiration, or a friend who has been with us through thick and thin. A brown feather can symbolize their departure from this world as they flew into heaven. If you believe in guardian angels and find a brown feather in an unlikely place, it’s also possible that it’s a sign that they are guarding you nearby.
In addition, bags for women made entirely of brown feathers are quite common in the mainstream fashion industry. Further, brown feathers can be used as decorative elements on handbags, such as embellishments or trims. Brown feathers can be used for jewelry, like necklaces and earrings. They’re often mixed with other materials for a unique, meaningful, and stylish appearance. Lastly, you can use brown feathers in your home decor by incorporating them into pillows, rugs, or wall hangings. This is a great way to add texture, color, and interest to your living space.
A brown feather reminds you to live freely but to set healthy boundaries.
If you want to travel to someplace different, like Itaewon in South Korea, for instance, go do it. But make sure you’re healthy and travel as much as you’re financially capable of doing so. Reach for your goals, but don’t step on people or do anything untoward to get there. Aim for the top of your dream career, but don’t forget to live in the present even if you’re still at the bottom.
Find a balance between being wild and restricted.
What Brown and White Feathers Mean
Of course, like a bird’s plumage, you may find a feather or feather accessory that isn’t purely brown. There are also other meanings for multi-colored feathers.
For example, a brown and white feather may mean you have to combine the purity, cleanliness, or peace symbolized by white and the stability symbolized by the color brown. White usually has holy meanings, so brown and white feathers can signify your guardian angel promising to be there for you.
The Symbolism of Feathers in Brown and Other Colors
Finding a feather floating from nowhere is often considered a sign that a loved one or guardian angel is watching over you. Its appearance is especially telling if you happen to be going through a rough patch in your life. Maybe you need some form of assistance with your personal or professional life.
Another superstition believes that it means someone you are thinking of at that moment is also thinking about you.
Either way, if the feather happens to be brown and white, it could be a sign that that person is both of pure intentions, as well as stable and dependable.
Feathers do represent different meanings, and those representations are typically associated with color and your current situation in life. But no matter what color your found feather is in, if it appears out of nowhere in a room or floats down to you on the street, it is usually a sign of caring from the realm of the spirits or from heaven.