Snow can be both beautiful and deadly at the same time. Learn the spiritual meaning of snow, and some lore and superstitions about snow from around the world.
The glittering beauty of softly falling snow on a winter landscape has been memorialized in poetry, portrayed in art, and is both loved and feared worldwide as a spiritual and supernatural phenomenon. What is so magical and terrifying about snow, and what are the sacred meanings of it? Join Mysticsense to find out. Discover what snow really is and why it snows. Then find out some snow folklore and superstitions as well as sacred meanings of it.
What is Snow?
Snow is individual ice crystals that grow in the atmosphere. They form into clouds and fall to the ground. Snowflakes take a variety of shapes and no two snowflakes are exactly alike. Snow typically forms and then melts as the weather warms, but if it never warms enough and snow continues to accumulate, something called a glacier can form. When the snow melts, it ends up in streams, rivers, and other bodies of water and pools together to create groundwater also. Snow can create dangerous travel hazards when combined with ice to make it dangerous to walk or drive outdoors, but it also creates an insulating layer for some animals and plants for winter.
Why does it snow? Snow happens when there is a combination of moisture in the atmosphere and low temperatures. When temperatures and the atmosphere drop below 32°F, also known as 0°C and the water vapor turns into ice crystals this forms into clouds. It then becomes too heavy to stay suspended in the air, so it falls as snowflakes. Individual snowflakes can stick to each other as they fall, making bigger snowflakes. Regardless of what the temperature in the air is, if the temperature near the ground is too high, the snowflakes melt and they either turn into rain or the rain can freeze, creating something called sleet. Read about the spiritual meaning of water here: Significance of Water in Astrology & Dreams
Snow Spiritual Meanings
Snow holds powerful spiritual meanings. For some people, it represents the peace we don’t get during busy times in our lives. It also represents the rest that snow can bring when it falls across the land. It represents innocence and renewal for some people also.
Peace
A snowy landscape is often void of any signs of life. Animals are safe and warm in their nests, dens, or burrows, and people are safe and warm inside their homes. The hauntingly beautiful winter landscape sits peacefully alone, glistening in its silence. A deep peace has fallen upon the earth. The only sounds are whatever noises wind makes, and the movement of the forest. Like the quiet of the snowy earth, we, too, descend into peace during snow.
Rest
During times of deep snow, or heavy snowstorms, a lot of people hole up at home, unable to go anywhere. Work in the garden is impossible. Leaving to drive or walk anywhere is unwise, and often not done. People are forced to stop, and do little, if anything. Some people say if it wasn’t for the snows of winter, mankind would never rest, but would always be in a rush to be as productive as possible. Snow allows times of rest, deep contemplation, and deep sleep in the dark months of the year. Rest is more than welcome when a relationship has emotionally exhausted you. Find out what to do about relationship exhaustion here: Help for Emotional Fatigue in Relationships
Innocence
Snow looks perfect and untainted when it falls. A blanket of fresh snow looks even more perfect and pure. That is why snow represents purity. Visualize sparkling snow, glittering in an undisturbed garden, blanketing everything as far as the eye can see in its dazzling finery. Everything looks clean, perfect, and beautiful. Some people say a pure heart is like snow- undefiled, and whole.
Renewal
Wintertime is often a time when we take a break from events, trips, and outings in general. This provides a perfect opportunity to renew our strength, and focus on improvements. The time saved from all the things we cannot do because winter keeps us indoors can be used for other things. It’s a great time to hone skills, start new endeavors, and refocus ourselves. What have you been doing during the warm months that you want to replace with some other things? Would you like to focus on your studies instead of going out every weeknight? Would you like to commit to your health and fitness? Winter allows the time for us to focus on what matters and adjust our routines to reflect what we want to transition into doing. Throughout history, a lot of people have sought to renew themselves at a fabled fountain of youth, but does such a place exist? Find out here: Finding the Fount of Youth
Snow Superstitions
There are some interesting folk sayings about snow.
It is said that for each time there is a fog in August, there will be a snowfall in winter time.
It is also said that if the first week of August is warmer than usual, there will be long, snowy weather.
If there are a lot of mushrooms, there will be a lot of snow in the winter. If you don't see mushrooms at all, there won't be any snow.
If the ants build their hills high and the month of July, there will be a very snowy winter in store.
Squirrels too, let us know what the snow is going to be like. If they find a place high in the tree to store their nuts, that means there will be deep snow.
You can predict the winter snow with persimmon seeds also. If seeds and the persimmon are spoon shaped, that's telling you there will be plenty of snow to shovel.
Your berry harvest will indicate how much snow there is. Plenty of berries in your harvest means that there will be plenty of cold and snow in winter.
It might seem like bad luck if it snows on your wedding day, but snow on your wedding day means your marriage will be strong.
Watch for footprints in the snow, too. If nobody's been through the snow but you see footprints, that means spirits have visited you.
If you want good luck, all you have to do is eat some snow from the first snowfall of the year.
If it snows on Christmas Day, that means you will find love in the coming year.
It's also good luck if you dream about snow. Dreams about snow and mean emotional cleansing, new beginnings, and purification in general. If you dream that you fall in the snow, that means you're going to be humiliated soon.
It's believed that if you throw your hat in the air while the first snowfall is happening, it will bring you prosperity.
If the first snowflake to fall lands somewhere on your face, that's good luck.
There are things you can do to make it snow too. Place a spoon under your pillow and it's believed to encourage snow.
Some people believe that eating ice cream for dinner will make it snow.
Another way to summon snow is to put a penny in the freezer before bed. There's an even stronger chance that it will snow if you freeze your penny in an ice cube.
One of the most fun ways to summon snow, and a snow day in general, is to wear your pajamas inside out and there's an extra strong chance that it will snow if you wear them backwards also.
It is believed that snow holds pure energy as it melts and you can use it for purification. You can wash your face, hands, or your entire body and purify yourself. You can also use it to cleanse the house.
Spirits and Deities of the Snow
Throughout history, people have believed in goddesses, and spiritual beings of the snow. Some are terrifying, others are gentle, and just misunderstood. Read on to learn about beings like the Cailleach and the Yeti, beings of snow.
The Cailleach
Various ancient Celtic people spoke reverently about a great goddess who was at times characterized as ruling the winter land, and at others of being the earth itself. She has been known by many names including Beira, Carlin, Birog, and the Cailleach. Some stories say she appears as the cold creeps in, and strikes the land with her staff, freezing it, and making winter come. Other people say she washes her plaid clothes in a specific body of water, and when it is pure white, she lays it across the land, making it snowy and winter. Some say she is the older form of the Spring and Summer goddess Brigid, who turns into a hag when it is cold, before being reborn again every Spring as the youthful Brigid.
One story about her is where modern Groundhog Day originates. Instead of watching to see if a groundhog sees its shadow or not, the sky was observed. It was believed that if it was a sunny day, the Cailleach made the sunshine so she could see to gather firewood. This was a sign she would make winter last longer. If not, it meant she overslept, and would soon be out of firewood. She would let spring begin because she would not want to be cold. Some say she would fight the Spring awakening because once it was no longer winter, she would turn to stone. That is why there are so many Spring snows, and frigid days! Other people say ancient people characterized the seasons as beings, but is this true or is the Cailleach a goddess? Find out here: The Great Celtic Goddess of Winter
Yuki-onna
This Japanese yokai, or spirit, was first written about in the Muromachi period when the poet Sogi wrote that saw her. She sometimes appeared and spoke to people, and at other times, hurt them. In Akita prefecture, it was believed speaking to her would result in her eating them. In Ibigawa, she took the form of a monster asking for water. If you gave her water, she would kill you. Give her hot tea instead and you will be spared. She has also been known to appear to people and ask them to hug a child. Usually, this results in being laden down by snow and dying, but one samurai was able to use his sword to help him hold himself up as well as hold the child, and the Yuki-onna thanked him and blessed greatly.
Stories disagree on how she was born. Some say she was murdered, and became what she is to get revenge. Other stories say she was born from snow. Some say she is the spirit of a woman who fell over on the snow, and others say she is a moon goddess. One thing is certain, it is believed winter is a time when gods and goddesses visit earth, and if they are not respected, bad things happen. So respect the Yuki-onna, and perhaps she will smile upon you.
The Yeti
In the Himalayan Mountains, it is believed a simian creature lives, and travels the region. It walks on two legs and is covered in fur sometimes described as pure white, brown, or gray, and with large teeth. Also called the Abominable Snowman, this large, furry creature resembles a fur covered giant human. Many have claimed to see the Yeti, but nobody has any proof. Pre Buddhist people worshipped a god of the hunt, called a glacier being and a wild man who used stones as weapons. Tibetan Buddhists consider him a non-human living creature. They teach that although this animal is not human, it can follow Dharma, and images of it are worshipped or used to protect against evil.
Multiple explanations have been proposed. One is the Yeti is a kind of animal that people have spotted, but have not been able to identify and study. A scalp believed to be from a Yeti kept in Khumjung Monastery was analyzed, and declared fur from a hooved creature. Some say the Yeti is just a view of some animal or person a snowstorm distorted the view of. Another winter being has been proven to be real- if only you believe and you can read about him- Santa Claus- here: Is Santa Claus or Real or Just a Myth?
Skadi
Daughter of the Frost Giant, Thazi, Skadi is at times called a Frost Giant, but other times, a winter goddess of snow. The Aesir gods killed her father, and felt terrible for her loss, so they offered her any of the single Aesir gods in marriage. She had to choose her groom by looking only at their feet. She wanted to marry Balder, most beautiful of the gods, and selected a pair of the most beautiful feet, thinking they must be his. They were the feet of Njord, sea god.
She was a goddess of snow, ski slopes, and cold winter winds. Njord was freezing cold in her domain and said the howling of winter wolves drove him mad. Skadi did not fare better near the sea. They split, she became one of the wives of the god Odin instead, and they had many sons together. Her name means “shadow” and it may be a form of the name “Scathach”, who is a legendary Scottish warrior woman in the Ulster Cycles of Ireland. The name Skadi means “harm” or ‘damage”, possibly alluding to the harm winter snows can bring.
Beautiful snow blankets the earth bringing the spiritual meanings of peace and rest. To make it snow, freeze a penny into an ice cube, and make sure to catch the first snowflake on your face for luck. Be aware when the Yuki-onna asks for water, what she really wants is hot tea, and the Yeti may or may not be a mistaken view of another traveler dressed in furs. May the snow bring peace, and renewal instead of chattering teeth or electrical outages! So Be It.
Would you like to know more ways to bring peace into your life? Speak with a psychic to find out today.
