The Dove’s ascension represents the final journey of the soul into Heaven.
The reality is that a dove release at a funeral can mean anything you want it to. There are formal meanings to the ceremony, as well, if you’re looking for more structure:- A single dove being released signifies The Spirit
- Four doves being released represents The Trinity and The Spirit
- A twelve dove release is actually the release of thirteen total doves.
In this release, one dove is released separately from the others as a way of representing the soul of the loved one. This dove can either be released before the rest of the flock or after it, signifying the soul’s reunion with it’s spiritual predecessors.