Peacock Feathers Meaning Bad Luck or Good Luck? (Both Sides Explored)

This really depends on who you ask, and what you believe in. In the western world, it’s generally believed that peacock feathers can bring bad luck. While most of the eastern world believes that the meaning of peacock feathers is good luck and prosperity.

So, who is right?

Well, that’s not for me to say. It comes down to personal beliefs for the most part.

However, I do find the whole topic of superstitions, good and bad luck, and spiritual meanings fascinating - so I’m going to explore the meanings of peacock feathers in this article.

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Is Keeping Peacock Feathers at Home Good or Bad Luck?

As I mentioned, there are two sides and opposing beliefs to whether or not keeping peacock feathers at home is good luck or bad luck.

As with most superstitions and beliefs, most people are going to be swayed by the history of where they’re from and what they grew up knowing and being told.

Why It's Bad Luck in the West

For westerners, digging into the history of why it’s bad luck mostly leads us down a path of not being entirely sure as to why it’s considered to be bad, to be honest.

I read a few reasons while researching this article, but none were really compelling and there was very little in the way of ‘proof’ as to why it’s believed to be bad luck.

One of the main reasons seems to be because the Mongols wore peacock feathers into battle.

With the devastation the Mongols caused across eastern Europe, word spread pretty quickly that seeing the peacock symbol being worn by warriors was a bad sign.

Why It's Good Luck in the East

In the eastern world, mostly in Japan, China, and India, just about everything to do with peacocks is considered to be good luck.

In fact, the Indian Peafowl is the national bird of India and is protected and worshiped.

Across these parts of the world peacocks and their feathers are believed to represent good luck, as well as wisdom, beauty, and a whole host of other positive things.

In Buddhism, the distinctive ‘eye’ pattern on a peacock’s feathers represents openness and vision. Often linked to lucid dreams and greater insight into one’s future.

I think just about anyone will agree that it’s easier to understand the good luck omens than the bad due to how magnificent of a bird peafowl are.

There are few - if any - birds that produce such a stunning display when fanning out their tail feathers as the male peafowl known as peacocks are capable of.

It’s for this reason that peacock feathers and items with the pattern on are in such demand. With a natural world filled with so many wonders and beautiful sights, few are as impressive and magical as the eye pattern of a peacock feather.

Related - Find out more about the prophetic meaning of peacock feathers here.

What Does the Peacock Mean In Christianity?

The peacock also has a strong presence in Christianity. This is believed to be because it’s written that the Greeks believed that peafowl flesh didn’t decay after death, so they saw them as a symbol of immortality.

Writings in Christianity adopted this same symbolism and the peacock appears in a number of early paintings and drawings depicting this.

In some interpretations, I’ve also seen the eye in a peacock’s feathers described as being an ‘all-seeing god’.

I can’t find out exactly what this means, but there is no doubt that some Christianity writings see the eyes as being some kind of symbol of vision - be that in the literal sense, or something otherworldly.

This is a theme that comes up quite a lot in different cultures. It’s no real surprise, as the eye in the pattern does look like an eye.

Combined with the mystery that surrounded peacocks all those years ago and how confusing it must have been when they spread their tail feathers, I can understand this.

Peacock Feather Feng Shui Meaning

For those not familiar with feng shui, feng shui is a philosophy and a practice that involves arranging and using certain items around the home to create balance and harness energy forces.

Feng shui originates in Asian culture and is much more popular in that part of the world. Although, it is practiced throughout the world, albeit often involving singular and specific items.

One such item is a peacock’s feather, or more so, items with the eye pattern from a peacock’s feather.

In the context of feng shui, using items around the home with a peacock pattern on is believed to be symbols of wealth, wisdom, beauty, protection, and good luck.

Quite the number of positive things, right?!

It’s recommended that you place peacock eye feathers around doorways, as the eyes symbolize vision.

I really like the idea of peacock feathers bringing good luck around the home as there are so many wonderful patterns and items to choose from - might as well try it.

White Peacock Symbolism

If you thought a Blue or Green Peacock was impressive, you should see a White Peacock in real life.

White peacocks are much rarer, and some of the meanings of a white peacock are; purity, cleansing, divine, holy, and a higher state of consciousness.

Most of the things commonly associated with bright white symbols. One thing I can say for sure, seeing a white peacock fan their tail feathers is a truly magical sight.

Related - Here's a closer look at the difference between male and female peafowl.

In Summary

There you go, whether or not peacock feathers mean good or bad luck comes down to what you want to believe.

For me personally, I like to see them as bringing good luck. I mean, how could something so beautiful bring bad luck, right?

Just keep in mind that superstitions are what you make of them. Peacocks are magnificent creatures if you’re fortunate enough to have some of their feathers you should consider yourself fortunate, if not lucky.