Cormorant (shag)

Meaning, Messages & Magic

Cormorant symbolizes taking action, bravery, and resourcefulness.

This regal bird knows exactly what it wants and how to get it. Cormorant is asking you to dive deep to catch your desires. Once a Cormorant commits to something they are usually able to achieve it because of their resourceful behavior and willingness to embrace the unknown.

Cormorants bravely choose to experience heavy challenges because they understand that doing uncomfortable things is necessary in order to achieve their goals. Cormorant is telling you that hard times are actually gifts that are leading you to your soul’s needs.

As a bird, you might find yourself getting caught in mental loops in your head as you soar through the air, but remember the Cormorant finds food and nourishment in the sea (heart & emotions). Try navigating your feelings through your heart more often than your head and you’ll fill your soul with abundance.

Cormorants have a shorter wingspan than other birds, which helps them swim better. This creates the need for more energy during flight. Deep breath work will help you gather the power you need for longer flight and to dive deeper into the waters of your heart field.

 

Cormorant is also referred to as a sea raven. I recommend studying Raven as it is strongly connected to the Cormorant (especially in their brave resourcefulness). Cormorants often swallow stones on purpose to help them dive deeper while fishing. Know that when you’re doing “what it takes” you will not choke. The stones/challenges will hold you down but only temporarily; you consciously chose to take it on knowing that you can let go of it once you’ve achieved a new level of growth. You are clever enough to know that bravely choosing to swallow heavy tasks leads to the deepest growth possible.

 

The Cormorant is often seen spreading their wings out to dry. This is because they don’t secrete enough oil to keep their feathers completely waterproof like other aquatic birds do. They are cleverly designed this way. Cormorants have an advantage over the other fish-diving birds because the water weighs down their feathers, making it more efficient for them to dive faster and deeper than others. You have this advantage too when you go for what you want. Drying off the wings reminds you to take a moment to open your heart and bask in gratitude after each success, instead of diving immediately into the next thing.

 

Besides fish, Cormorants actually eat a lot of eels and water snakes. Study Snake to help you better understand the predator/prey relationship you have with Snake. Snake has balancing qualities to offer you.

 

Cormorants produce pellets just like Owl, Hawk, and Eagle. This means that if you take on more than you can chew, swallow it anyway because you will be able to learn from what’s needed and let go off what’s no longer serving you.

-Tanya Casteel

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I want to hear about your Cormorant experiences. What stories or dreams have you had? Please share and join in the conversation below!

17 Comments

  1. Leila

    I met one today, he was there basking in the sun.
    This evening I was called to look up their meaning and found this page straight away, every word resonates, it’s as if my angels and guides have written it.

    And you’re free of all those awful adverts so thank you so much! Xx

    Reply
  2. Anne

    My dream was as follows:
    I was walking with my middle daughter on the roads around a hillside near my house. We went into a shop which (in my dream!) was owned by a couple I met a few years ago at a festival. The lady, K, makes clothes and her partner D is a businessman. They live life on their own terms and we got on well when we met and stayed in touch on social media.

    Anyway, we went into their clothes shop (which was pretty deserted) and looked around, we ended up searching for a loo for my daughter! D was in the bathroom having a wash and when he came out – still wet from the bath – she went into the toilet. D and I had a chat outside.

    As we were chatting I noticed what I thought was a black coloured bird flying over the hill but as I looked closer I noticed it was actually a CORMORANT but it was sitting ON TOP OF a SWAN. The swan was flying and the cormorant was just sitting on its back, being flown….
    D was still talking but I told him to look, and we both watched as they flew around the hill and then came into land just behind us in a field to the rear, ON TOP OF a black and white friesan-type cow (it was a cow not a bull). These cows are farmed a lot where I live, for their milk…

    That’s the dream…. I feel like it was really important but I haven’t figured out the meaning! All help appreciated. Thanks for your great article!

    Reply
  3. JLT

    My wife and I were riding bikes on Kelleys Island, Ohio (Lake Erie) and we came upon a sight: 2 large trees out on a VERY thin stretch of earth from the shore out into the lake – one tree was dead (all bare branches) – the other living – and in these 2 trees were over 70 cormorants (the dead tree was FULL of them) (we have some wonderful pics….) anyway it was the last day of our short (4 dy.) vacation – and this day was somewhat magical – or simply wonderful… it was a great trip, but we also had our own challenges (personal and interpersonal) that we seemingly successfully waded through – persevered through – (in our own, alternately, skillful and unskillful (or awkward) way : ) ) — This day seemed to be a fitting and very positive concluding day to this short – but long (in distance covered (?)) – trip (or journey (or part thereof…)(?))

    Reply
  4. Tamilyn

    What does it mean when a massive amount come flying around in circles into a tree then out in circles back to same tree probably around 100 of them poss more 5-6 pm every day… sometimes they fly really close to my head while walking dog…it is very odd to see so many they literally fill up a huge big tree over a small man made lake. Since they have been coming the crows that used to come at that time no longer come.

    Reply

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  1. On a Quest . – Lens of Thought - […] by swans through the archway to London, I was on my way. Two herons and a cormorant sat on…

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