Skull, Cow

COW SKULL -  The skull connotes death.  It’s long been engraved in our minds that when we see one, we “know” it signifies death.  And death in most cultures doesn’t sound inviting.  But for others, it’s some kind of a new beginning. And the skull it represents also suggests a happening beyond death that’s not always negative. A s for cows, it’s widely known that they are gentle creatures and are patronized in some religions as the sustainer of energy.

As a symbol of nurturing, power, and fertility, the cow has been closely associated to the concept of Mother Earth in many cultures.  For hundreds of years, cows have been very generous with their life force and have always behaved in a selfless manner that their symbol is married to the concept of provision. The cow totem is connected to the Earth, nature, and reproduction, much like the bull.

Because of their maternal auras, “new beginnings” or birth are also associated with cows.  They depict the beautiful cycle of life from pregnancy, giving birth, taking care of their offspring, and as a medium for new life.  They’re also a lunar symbol connected to the feminine side or yin of the Yin-Yang dynamic.  They signify a grounding kind of sustenance, but also with abundance and prestige as they have an important role in the course of living.

Early tribes such as the Balinese indigenous people and the Native Americans believed that nothing should go to waste.  So when they hunt for food, every part of the animal is used in something meaningful; may it be for food, shelter, clothing, or sacred relics, everything is used up.  Since these animals provide so much for their daily living, they are highly respected and treated as sources of life.  The cow skull is made into a tribute for the well-appreciated animal who had played its significant role.  It is hung on their walls and brought to sacred ceremonies to pay homage to what was. It is also etched in stylish carvings so as to bring a new kind of beauty to the former emblem of death.  As it’s turned into an artful reminder and a sacred insignia, what they only see is how the cow has given them the fruits of life instead of the former meaning associated with skulls.