A dove is among the most popular birds worldwide. It has been used for decades to symbolize peace, love, hope, and purity.
A brown dove, also known as a mourning dove, is the most common among the fifteen dove types in North America. Its soft drawn-out coos sound like laments, thus the name mourning dove.
A brown dove is wild, and seeing it approaching people is unusual. So an encounter with it is an extraordinary experience with a deeper meaning leaning towards spirituality than physical appearance.
So what’s the spiritual significance of a brown dove? Is it trying to send you a message?
This article will take you through five spiritual meanings and messages of the brown dove.
Dove Spiritual Meaning
Doves are seen as messengers. Their spiritual meanings vary from one religion, culture, or region to another.
For instance, in Christianity Noah sent out a dove which brought back an olive leaf, signifying the waters had drained and vegetation had grown.
The Holy Spirit took the bodily form of a dove when Jesus was baptized.
No matter your religion or beliefs, there’s nothing to be worried about. Brown doves (or any kind od dove) only bring good things into your life.
The brown dove may be sent your way when you’re confused and praying for directions.
But it indicates that you’re on the right path. You’ll enjoy clarity and know what to do if you’re attentive.
Be open to love or be loved.
Doves are monogamous birds that stick with a single mate for life. Seeing two brown doves communicates that it’s time to open up your heart for a serious relationship coming.
You should love your partner more affectionately if you’re already in a relationship.
Seeing a brown dove when you’re going through difficulties communicates that things will get better.
You may also see this dove when you have fears and low self-esteem. It signals that it’s time to have confidence, speak up, or stand up for yourself.
Be hopeful or bold!
I believe you’ll also enjoy reading about what it means when a mourning dove visits you.
What Does A Brown Dove Symbolize?
A brown dove is often considered a symbol of sorrow and mourning, but it also symbolizes:
- Hope;
- Love;
- Freedom;
- Peace;
- Faith;
- Patience.
It’s a new beginning. Seeing a brown dove after the demise of a loved one tells you to start living without them.
They’ve begun a new life too, in the spiritual realm. A brown dove represents change and encourages growth and personal development.
If you’ve been planning to venture into business or a new career, a brown dove is a sign you’ll be successful. Thus, it’s time to try new things.
Rediscover yourself. When you hear a brown dove cooing, it’s time to analyze your inner self. Consider your thoughts, actions, and imaginations.
These communicate to the world around you more than words can speak, just like the dove coos without opening its mouth.
Are you sending out positive energy? You’re being called to meditate.
Brown Dove: 5 Spiritual Meanings & Messages
Before decoding the spiritual meaning or message, the following points may help you streamline your interpretations accordingly.
- The time you saw it;
- Whether it was alone or with others;
- Whether it was cooing or silent;
- How you felt (scared, happy, sad…)
Let’s now explore the 5 spiritual meanings and messages of seeing a brown dove:
1) A Warning Sign
Your job or group of friends may be quite challenging and sometimes lead you to wrong decisions.
A brown dove may appear along your way as you go to work, visit a friend, run errands, or during your routine walks.
This may help you discover your intuitions. This dove comes as a sign that your intuition is right about that thing that has been going around in your mind.
Someone will try to force you to do something bad (and they know it) but you don’t. Be careful.
It means that you need to trust your intuition right now and do what’s best for you. If you don’t, something bad will happen…
2) Sign of Hope
Seeing a brown dove when grieving reminds you to let your loved one go.
It shows that spiritual abundance surrounds you to comfort and help you heal from grief. It is a reminder to have hope and not fear death.
Thus death marks a new beginning for both the departed soul and the living.
Brown doves have also been reported to appear to people long after their loved ones were gone.
Such doves are perceived to convey the message that all is well in the spiritual world where the departed souls dwell.
Christians believe the brown dove reminds them of the eternal life the Lord Jesus Christ promised. So, when Christians die physically, they continue to live spiritually a life without an end.
You should also read the spiritual meaning of a bird following you.
3) You Are Being Protected
The brown dove often has a similar meaning to the white dove. When Jesus Christ was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon him as a dove.
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as gentle and speaking softly. His voice is so gentle and soft that only a few who are attentive can hear Him.
These qualities resemble the characteristics of a brown dove, which is also gentle and coos softly.
The whistling sound of its wings as it takes off and its ability to clap the wings as a warning sign to fellow doves or a way of scaring off predators is another feature that qualifies it to signify the Holy Spirit.
This is because the Holy Spirit warns Christians against wicked deeds and prepares them to defeat evil by giving them courage.
4) You’ll Find Peace
Even though doves are over 300 species, they don’t discriminate against each other but coexist in harmony irrespective of color or size.
Thus a dove is universally used to signify peace.
It means that you’ll find peace in your life. With the protection and guidance of the brown dove, you‘ll soon find the peace and joy you’ve been looking for.
5) Symbol of Love
Like other dove species, the brown dove likes hanging out in male and female pairs.
Their soft coos and romantic interaction with each other make them the perfect symbol of love, loyalty, and devotion in marriage.
For this reason, some people release brown or white doves during weddings.
In Christianity, the dove can symbolize God’s eternal love.
As a dove came upon Jesus Christ during his baptism, the heavens opened, and God’s voice proclaimed that he (Jesus) was his son.
From the context of this story in the Bible, it is evident that God used the dove to represent his presence among humans.
In Greek culture, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is always pictured with a dove. Similarly, Venus, the Roman goddess, is featured with a dove.
Are Brown Doves A Good Omen?
Brown doves are a good omen. It assures you of spiritual support and protection.
They predict that good things will happen despite the challenges or uncertainties you’re going through.
Brown doves have high adaptability and survive in different environments; seeing them signifies resilience and inner strength.
It’s a call to explore your inner being for unrealized potential and aim at achieving higher goals. It discourages procrastination and shows you can go beyond your limits.
Seeing brown doves at night portends a bad omen in some cultures. It shows that someone wants to hurt you. It could also indicate that a loved one is in danger.
Brown doves are reminders to reach out to your friends and relatives and know how they are doing. They also remind you to rekindle your spirituality and visit your place of worship.
You’ll also enjoy reading about the meaning of a bird landing in your car mirror.
Should I Be Concerned?
Brown doves are wild, and seeing them isn’t a daily encounter. So, you should be concerned when you see or hear them at close range.
Their sight could be a message that could improve your life, and seeking to know the meaning could save you from future regrets.
So, if you hear or see a brown dove you need to figure out what message it was trying to give you.
Brown doves could be communicating your spiritual neglect and signaling your reawakening. It could also indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit around you.
They could signal you to forgive others and release grudges or hurtful feelings.
Brown doves are signs of opportunities, prosperity, and abundance, so you should embrace the experience and expect great rewards.
Love and marriage could be challenging, for no one can read their partner’s mind. Seeing a dove couple can inform you that your spouse yearns for more of your love and care.
For a single person, it indicates that you’ll soon find your true love.
It could also communicate between you and your departed loved ones. The appearance of brown doves could answer your wishes about them.
Final Thoughts
Brown doves can convey various spiritual messages. From warning you about the loss of something or someone you love, to signal divine presence, guidance, comfort, hope, and emotional stability.
These birds are worth your attention. Have you encountered brown doves? Open your heart to be more receptive to spiritual insights, love, and ideas that could enrich your life.