Cormorant
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.
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
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
Cormorants produce pellets just like Owl. 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
Animal Cards & Guidebook
I want to hear about your Cormorant experiences. What stories or dreams have you had? Please share and join in the conversation below!
2020 -terrible year -my mother died suddenly , Than during the Covid rubbish my love (boyfriend)had a cardiac arrest in A&E –
Gross neglect from the NHS -(i was a qualidied nurse in the 80s &90s ) told he had brain damage !!!!! HOW ????
I went up daily to care & wash for him myself & mentally stimulate him ,talked & prayed – despite my best efforts. plus the lack of input from staff & doctors – they decided 2months later to end his life = no fluids , Morphine etc –Again the died 5 days later & no one noticed !!!! OMG no one on my shift ever died without a hand to hold –
was told id see unusual birds – while thinking to my self -“well i havnt seen any ” – looked up -there was a black Cormrant or Shag ? River Thames Greenwich —any advice
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Reading about Cormorant, as if I was reading about me.
I have been taking advantage of pictures occuring on my espresso for years, I have decided lately to write about them on my blog. I found your amazing page thanks to todays cormorant appearance. Thank you!
I was walking down on the beach collecting crystals. I noticed a black cormorant on the beach acting funny. He was hopping around like a penguin and did seem to follow me. I walked slowly down the beach wondering if he needed help.
He then went to the water and I noticed two seagulls following his actions. I turned and walked towards the seagulls who decided to move off, because of me. The cormorant was swimming around and seemed to be ok diving too. So I continued my crystal picking.
Then I noticed the cormorant following me in the water. He was swimming beside me. I thought I have lost my mind. Why would a wild bird follow me? I thought I was just imagining it. I turned around to walk back on the beach to see if he was REALLY following me. Sure enough he got out of the water to the beach and waddled 2 metres away from me. He did stand there watching me and I did not know what to do. I asked if he needed some help, but did not get any definite answer (he did not speak human). While I did stand there transfixed he started to groom his feathers.
A couple stopped by and asked who is my new friend. I got a phone number from them so I could call for animal rescue for help.
After they left, my cormorant friend put his head under his wing and started to sleep. I felt that he was feeling safe, because I was watching over him. The tide was rising and darkness was falling. I did not know what to do.
I called to the animal rescue number for advice. My cormorant woke up for my voice talking over the phone. He decided to jump to a higher perch on the rocks and promptly fell to sleep. Advice was to leave him to be. He probably wasn’t in any real trouble. Just an youngster who did not know how to be a real cormorant yet and he needed to dry his feathers before he could dive again.
It all sounded so reasonable and my cormorant seemed so content sleeping on his high perch. I promised to return the next day if he was still there needing my help.
But today the storm hit the coast and it’s been too bad to go for the beach. I wish that my cormorant is all ok out there, weathering this storm and I hope that he got his feathers dry before the storm did hit the coast.
I feel very strong bond to him now. I probably will never know how things ended with him, but it was truly magical encounter. I am a bit shaken afterwards. How did he trust me so much to look after him while he fell to sleep?
Got up this morning to find an injured Cormorant in the fountain at the condo complex where I live. He was swimming in the fountain underneath the main entrance and I was worried because I grew up in the wilderness so I know that wild animals don’t choose to be near humans unless they are in distress. So I came out numerous times during the day (and by numerous, I mean more than 20 times by 10AM.) I observed him swimming in the fountain and noticed he was only using his right leg to swim. Later, I managed to get close enough to him when he was out of the the fountain to observe him walking along the edge of the fountain and noticed he was “limping” on his left leg. I got quiet and managed to get closer so he wouldn’t get back into the fountain and was able to see that his left web was partially sliced off. He had about 1/2 of his left web remaining. i decided to run my Sunday errands and see how he was when I got back. When I got back, he was still in the fountain and looking more stressed. I decided to call around to see if I could find a wildlife rescue. After many, many calls I got a call back. The moment I was about to pick up the call, Charlemagne (that’s what I named him) flew out of the fountain and squeezed his body through the fence to the back courtyard behind the complex next to the lagoon. Unfortunately, the fence around the back courtyard to the lagoon is a chainlink fence so he couldn’t get into the lagoon, although he kept trying! I went back with him and saw a gate that led to the lagoon. I have a gate key that opens every outside door to the complex and figured, “What the hell, let’s see if works” AND IT DID!!!! I took off my shirt (no worries, sports bra underneath,) and managed to “shoo” him to the gate that led to the lagoon. He went through and started swimming. Once I knew he was in his own habitat, I collapsed into tears. I cried so hard that a neighbor from the next complex over, yelled out his window, “Are you ok?” Yes, I said. Just having a feels.”
Wow, that sounds like a profound experience. I love how much compassion you have for Charlemagne. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I felt that I should have done more for my cormorant, because you are so correct. Wild animals don’t come near human if not in need of help! But the odds were really against me in doing anything else last night. If there had been a clearly something wrong with my cormorant I would have rescued him. I still feel maybe I should have done it. But also, maybe I did all what he needed. It is not easy to be alone in the wide world not feeling that nobody cares about you. Maybe he just needed somebody standing over him while he fell to sleep. I wish it was so.
Wonderful! Thanks a lot. Love
Was ilout at a local pond saw a cormorant come up with a fish eat it whole in in gulp?I have named him George?George Cormorant sounds like a ex Navy man?✌
I was out in my kayak tonight in the gathering dark enjoying to the peace, when I felt to look to my left. Two birds sat up very high in the trees on shore: an Osprey flew off and across the water with a pee pee pee call. While a cormorant started behind in beautiful silhouette against the clear sky.
She looked small and young. And acted curious and relaxed twisting her head to look up and around and back again. She seeemed settled in for the night on her branch.
I also encountered two beavers swimming in front of me and slapping their tails.
I have been very very ill and trying to see a new healer plus move to a healthy home. But I need to complete an inheritance for the money it would help me with. There have been some hoops to jump through and I had been busy all day trying to find answers. Very trying time. Yet I know clearly that I want to move ahead in my life-no linger disabled. And doing my heart career. And living in an oasis of a home and land-a retreat for me and for my future partner and for clients, family and friends.
Hello, I was just watching 2 cormorants swimming and diving in a lake near me. I loved watching them look around. They kept moving their heads side to side. I was fascinated by them so I came home and googled cormorants and animal symbolism and came across your website. I love what you wrote about what they mean and I love your watercolor painting. I also paint watercolors! We can learn so much from these birds and their bravery and courage.
Thank you! Yes, I love observing nature and learning from them too
I’m glad you have clarity within yourself about what you want and need, and I love hearing about your connection with nature. Sending you many blessings on your journey.