Animal Wisdom Speaks - Month of the Swan 

Swans are the Guardians of the Gates and teach us about our roles as guardians in our lives, as custodians on Mother Earth and the Sea of Stars.

​They tell the stories of their own metamorphosis and transformation, like Hans Christian Andersen did in his fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling”. Swans do not know their own beauty, they shine unbeknownst to them. 
​

Gliding gently across the Sea of Emotions, Swan says, “Be gentle and compassionate, when going deep within and when touching the souls of other beings. Breathe calmness into your heart. Calm waters reflect your beauty, the light within your heart, a raging sea casts shadows and tears your world apart.”

As cygnets they are unassuming, brown and black. They radiate their beauty from within, but their surroundings are blind to it. In the fairy tale, a cygnet was adopted by a family of ducks. It was ridiculed and made fun of, because it did not look like they did.

The cygnet albeit stayed true to its heart and transformed into its beautiful adult swan self, never belittling those that had belittled it, but becoming a beacon of hope and resilience embracing others with love unconditional.  

Gliding gently across the Sea of Emotions, Swan says, “Be gentle and compassionate, when going deep within and when touching the souls of other beings. Breathe calmness into your heart. Calm waters reflect your beauty, the light within your heart, a raging sea casts shadows and tears your world apart.”

​The Swan listens to all stories alike, for there is none that cannot be told. Our shadows are nothing to be afraid of, but they are to be seen, acknowledged, honored and loved. They have formed out of remnants of our wounds, protecting us and defending us their way. ​ 

The moment we look at them, befriend them, ask them, what their needs are, they turn into gifts and aspects of ours we thought we did not possess or talents we only saw in others. 

Shadows don’t destroy or devour us, they lead us deep into ourselves where the seeds of light are hidden. When we embrace both our shadows and our light, we come into balance. We open our hearts unconditionally to those who answer our soul’s call with an equally open heart or set a firm boundary, become the guardian and the gate of our world and keep those that try to either come in telling lies, making compliments devoid of honesty or invade using violence out of our sanctuaries, our hearts. 

​We are both shadow and light, we are the in-between, the side of us that simply is, non-reactive, non-responsive, calm and filled with serene peace. Never however, threaten a swan or try to force your way into their heart: They will protect the gate that leads into their heart and those living within.

​Kristin Raphaela Otti

"Shadow Swan", black pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Café de L'Europe, Vienna)

"Swanheart", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)

"Shadow Swan Weeping", black pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Hotel, Café & Konditorei Hecher, Wolfsberg)