Doves have held symbolic significance throughout history, primarily representing peace, love and the divine. Their association with peace stems from biblical stories like Noah's dove returning with an olive branch, and their symbolism as the Holy Spirit in Christianity. Doves have also been linked to love, fidelity, and even good luck in some cultures.
Some people believe that the sight of a mourning dove is a message from God, angels or other spiritual guides. In the Old testament of the Bible, a dove is a symbol of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace. Many dove species ae known to be monogamous and mate for life. Once a pair is formed they typically remain together to nest and raise young.
For Christians the dove is a powerful symbol of the Holy Spirit and God's love for us such as the one that landed o Jesus as he was baptized.
Doves capacity to find their way home over hundreds even thousands of miles is unrivalled in the animal kingdom. This uncanny ability has seen them used for centuries to deliver messages for royalty, military leaders and other notable figures.
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From Gilbert White August 23rd 1785 in Hampshire
'Martins and swallows congregate by hundreds on the church tower. These birds never cluster in this manner, but on sunny days. They are chiefly the first broods, rejected by their dams, who are busyed with a second family.
From Alfred Tennyson August 25th 1860 in Cornwall
'Tintagel. Black cliffs and caves and storm and wind, but I weather it out and take my ten miles a day walks in my weather-proofs.'
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Katie's Angels
At dawn, driving eastwards,
mist still covering the fields,
trees ribboned in cobwebs,
sky blue and white,
she saw a rabbit, a pigeon,
and two hen pheasants,
but no cherubs, no bright light.
Much later, lost, tired,
rounding a corner she saw
gathered in the road
twenty white, white doves.
They flew up,
a breath of sunshine tipping their wings.
Ecstatic, she recognised the sign;
recognised her angels.
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With best wishes, Patricia
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