Hummingbird Shaman

This weekend I’ve been visiting with friends in a rural setting near Chehalis, WA, and offered intuitive sessions to a group of Reiki students at the Reiki Ranch.  On arrival, Saturday morning, I was taking my computer out of the car when I noticed a hummingbird chattering nearby.  When I looked around I saw him watching me from his perch on the pear tree next to my car.  We exchanged greetings, and he moved to a closer branch. 

“You have a job to do” was his message, and I knew there was more to my visit than I had previously thought.  Later that day this message was reinforced by a hoard of hummingbirds, again choosing the airspace above my car.  There must have been 15 or so, more than I had ever seen flying together.  This was quite the hummingbird dance. “Okay, I get the message”.  The next day I followed through with my task, and lead the Reiki students in a meditation session and healing using earth energies and the healing power of trees. Everyone found value in this exercise, receiving a wonderful healing from the apple, cherry and cedar trees. 

Later that evening as I walked to my car I looked around for my new hummingbird friend. I had seen him during the afternoon, he fluttered up above the power wire to show me his presence, and then glided back to the power line for his perch.  He was no longer on the power line, and I didn’t expect it.  Then he suddenly appeared, fluttering near me, chattering the good chat.  He turned and flew quickly to the side and then up along the outline of a tree, in a pattern much like a skateboarder on a ramp.  As he reached the top of the tree he returned down his “ramp”, and returned to the spot in front of me, chattering at me as if to say “look at me, look at me”.  He turned and performed the same ramp climb again, and then a third time. Each time returning to the nearby hovering position.  I thanked him for his hummingbird dance, and as he completed his maneuver one more time he flew away.  What a great gift, something I took as a sign of appreciation for my teachings that day. 

Estee Taschereau is a Successful Living Coach and Intuitive Counselor and a Reiki Master in traditional Reiki and Laser Reiki.   Her websites include YinYangPower.com and Talk-With-Your-Animals.com.  Private phone appointments are available for informational & self-healing assistance sessions.

This was a good day for a walk, and I allowed myself enough space between my thoughts for a little energetic recess.  I must have been doing something right, for the idea came clearly into my awareness with great gusto.  “Recognition animates us”.  I stopped for a moment, gathering the thought before it could slip away.  As I continued the walk I pondered the meaning, and found it to be exciting and true.  I spoke to Great Spirit, and asked for help in defining this concept and incorporating it into my life.  The answer to my request came more clearly than ever before, for when I looked down what was before me: a four-leaf clover.  “Well now, I’ll accept this sign!”, was my response.  My energy soared as I picked up this rare gift, and I basked in gratitude and enjoyment.

As I rounded back toward the hill and journeyed back to my car, I spotted the hummingbird in the distance flying about the hillside and disappearing just as quickly as he appeared.  “Okay, that’s the way this day is”, I said, “I’ll take whatever you want to share”.  I knew they were watching me.  My pace slowed a little, for part of my energy was busy digesting the theme of this walk.  I still would not comprehend the story until much later in the day. 

I called this posting “Capivated by his Presence”, for that is what happens, I stand there fully engrossed in my dialog with the hummingbirds, facinated by their dance and magic.  They showed me on this day the value of recognition, something we all seek. 

I’ve asked the question many times, “why are intuitive readings so valuable?”  You see, each time I ask the question I am presented with another level of awareness, and even more recognition of our spiritual paths.  The hummingbirds come out to visit me because I ask them, and appreciate their presence.  I don’t know who benefits more from this interlude, but then again I can only speak for myself: with each encounter I am offered a greater awareness of myself, a new level of spiritual awareness, a big HELLO from the universe, and the chance to be captivated by my own presence.

Great Spirit joined in this festive day by giving me recognition through a simple little piece of clover.  The hummingbirds showed recognition through their appearances.  Spiritual recognition is an incredible thing, it does animate us.  To receive recognition of our presence is a precious gift, whether that recognition comes from within, from Great Spirit, other people, or the animal world.  I am truly captivated by the presence of all who cross my pathway, and every day with each and every session there is opportunity to know that animated feeling when our spirit presence is known.

Yesterday I honored my dogs with a walk at the off-leash park.  We skipped the day before, it was rainy and cold in comparision to my earlier days in the desert.  Angie was not going to let me skip another day, and demonstrated her anxiousness by pacing and whining.  Enough with the whining, let’s go!! 

When we entered the dog park I whistled to alert my friends, the hummingbirds living within the park.  Silly me, it’s not as if they do not know, for on my walk I could feel thier presence, and at one point I turned to see who was watching me.  I saw the erratic flying pattern in the distance, knowing it had to be a hummingbird, and then he disappeared into the outline of the tree behind him.  So, today is watching day, eh?   But now I have jumped ahead in the story.  Let’s go back to the beginning.

Within the minute that it takes to get settled into our walk my upper-level hummingbird friend appeared.  I was already past his tree, so I called out to him, “Hello, why don’t you join me on the walk today?”  Oh sure, why not?  He sat quietly on his tree, without his usual commentary or “lesson of the day”.  I continued on in the walk, still keyed-up from my busy day and all the things I felt I needed to accomplish, and now I needed a fast-paced walk to burn off the kinetic energy.  As we passed each meeting place, and to this day I have found four regular ones where the hummingbirds meet me, I called out to them.  The foliage is heavy now, and its becoming more difficult to spot that little body in so much greenery.  

I kept a good pace this day, for it was cold, especially for late May, and there was a good chance that rain could encourage an even faster pace back to the car.  I did not see any hummingbirds at any of my other stopping points, not on this round.  At some point my focus turned to the meaning of my hummingbird encounters.  What was the meaning of this journey?

To be continued in part II – Captivated by his Presence

Estee Taschereau is a medical intuitive and clairvoyant counselor and consultant, offering sessions for personal and professional growth toward a healthier self. Sessions by phone can be scheduled through the contact form, in-person sessions are also available in the Greater Seattle area.

It’s been a week since my last visit to the park.   After returning home I brought the dogs for a quick walk on this cold May evening.  On arrival I was surprised, but not, to see my hummingbird friend near the parking section of the park. 

After exchanging hello’s and “you look great” comments, I asked for today’s message.  “Patience”, he said.  “Patience for what?” was my reply, then I laughed at the ironic nature of my question.  He did one more flutter of wings, and then took off to another side of the hill then straight down to the lower level. 

I continued on my walk, and made a call during my brisk walk.  I was still talking as I returned to the upper deck.  We talked of hummingbirds earlier in our conversation, she stated that they know when I’m visiting, that the hummingbirds perform some unusual flight patterns on those days.  I shared with my friend the message of the day, and as I walked up to the hummingbird I asked my friend to focus on the energy, to which she replied, “it’s affecting my heart, in a good way”.  I agreed.  The hummingbird was giving me a healing, and I could feel the energy surrounding me.  I described the colors, and the warmth, the joy and love radianting toward me.  Then the remaining message became clear:  “Be patient.  You have to slow down if you want to receive.”  Oh.  Darn it, that was a good message. 

I look forward to tomorrow’s walk.

Today’s walk was quite mellow. I began with a greeting from my upper-park level hummingbird friend from his less-obvious perch in a larger tree, but he always picks the same spot, a little more barren and visible. When I recognized him, he flew up from the tree, then up above me, zoomed in an erratic pattern of zig-zagging back toward his perch, but instead of landing he circled up over me again and disappeared into the sun. Now I will admit that the brightness made it difficult to watch him, but no matter which form he took at this point he was gone.

He reminded me of a story shared during one of the Peruvian gratitude ceremonies of the condor and the hummingbird. Both birds claimed that they were strong enough to fly to the sun. The other animals thought this should be settled, and so the next morning the hummingbird and the condor were to compete, and show who would be the first to fly to the sun. In the morning all the animals gathered, and the condor was ready to fly, but there was no sign of the hummingbird. They waited, and waited again. Finally the condor decided that he had waited long enough, and he would prove his great strength. He began his flight, working his strong wings hard as he rose higher and higher. Finally he began to tire, and slow in his movement. All the sudden the hummingbird appeared, having remained hidden in the feathers of the condor’s neck. The hummingbird continued the journey onward into the sky, proving he could fly higher than the condor.

The story offered from within the story is about moving through the earth plane as high as one can go, like the condor, and only then can we emerge as the hummingbird to continue the journey further. This is also a story that shows us that no great feat is ever a solo journey.

As I continued my walk I was greeted by another friend along the long winding road. Today was a good day for walking. These photo’s were taken on this day during my walk. The upper photo was a surprise, I thought he was long gone before my camera could complete it’s slow cycle.

Estee Taschereau is a medical intuitive and clairvoyant counselor and consultant, offering sessions for personal and professional growth toward a healthier self. Sessions can be scheduled through the shopping cart or through the contact form.

He sang out to me, and I looked around trying to see where he was calling from. As he rose into the air I could see, he had hidden in the small tree a few feet from me. He flew away, landing high up in a huge tree, barely within sight. “Come back”, I said. “No”, he replied, “From here I can see so much, all through the eyes of heaven.” I knew a lesson would follow. “When you rise up to the level of spirit you can see all around you, and revel in its beauty. When you are captivated by the world you see only your own little part, and wonder what you are missing.”

Join us for The Healing Drum Retreat, an event in Yelm, Washington June 20-22, 2008. Weekend passes includes lodging and meals. Day passes include lunch and dinner. Friday evening drum making and medicine bag making is open to everyone, $10 to attend, plus costs for kits. Stories, offerings, safe space for spiritual exploration.

Estee Taschereau is a medical intuitive and clairvoyant counselor and consultant, offering sessions for personal and professional growth toward a healthier self. Sessions can be scheduled through the shopping cart or through the contact form.

Did you think “The Healing Drum” is all about pounding on a drum and finding a synchronized pattern, a rush of energy, a release through movement? To benefit fully from the tones arising from the drums we also need the silence in-between.

Our cultures have pulled us away from silence. We’ve filled our heads with commercials, traffic, music, and an endless loop of thoughts. This is a sad road to take, into the never-ending stream of activity contained within all this noise.

The Sound of Silence is a meditation process we will include in The Healing Drum, a weekend long event we will be offering in Yelm, WA over the Summer Solstice weekend of June 21-22, 2008. In this meditation we will guide you to a clearer, quiet space, where you can hear your own inner guidance.

To reserve for this event see our posting in the Marketplace section of this website.

The Great Spirit Hummingbird flew quickly down the road, with great care taken to assure my attention. He rounded a small tree, and as he emerged from the other side a hawk appeared. The hawk could not have come from this tiny tree, it was far too small and unable to support the weight of a hawk. I would have seen this hawk as well as I passed within feet of this tree a minute before. My mind tried to reason through this experience, but I quickly caught hold of my rampant thoughts and accepted the vision.

What message was shared with me that day, and why did it take me all evening to finally hear it? The totem spirit Hummingbird manifested from the energy of joy. The totem spirit hawk is a messenger, a teller of truths, and brought clarity and conclusion within my vision.

“It is that easy.” Ah, of course I could not hear it earlier, I was trying too hard! Catch-22, isn’t it, trying so hard to hear something so simple? This was a story of shape-shifting, but to bring it into a new light, it’s just about change. Change within our heart, mind or soul and the concept of shape shifting are so much alike: one moment it is one thing, the next moment it is different. As I walked up the hill I spoke to Great Spirit, and I knew this interaction was a powerful one. The communication given to me was amazing as is, but hey, why not bring it to form and really make a point? Thank you Great Spirit!

My conclusion on this interaction with hummingbird, hawk, and Great Spirit:

1. This gift came to me when I was most receptive to receiving. I was enjoying my physical environment, yet had my connection to my source. For that moment I stepped out of trying.

2. I was open and in-the-moment. Sometimes I jump ahead of myself, and form a conclusion or opinion of what I should be receiving. That’s a very limiting way of receiving, and gives no grace to the giver, but how often do we use this tactic? Far too often. Some call this state of openness as “come as a little child”.

This was a thrilling experience, one I hope to experience again. I don’t think I could ever lose the state of excitement and awe in seeing this transformation. I do, at times, cloud over the beauty of my own transformations. This event took place in April 2008, and yet today, May 13, as I complete my rendition of the story, I remind myself of that feeling, of complete surrender to the guidance of the Great Spirit in whatever form it may take.

The photo shown above is a view of Mt. Rainier in Western Washington State. The tree that the hummingbird circled around is next to the shelter at the bottom of the picture. This tree has delicate branches, not able to support the weight of a hawk.

Estee Taschereau is a Spiritual Counselor, providing individual sessions in Life Optimization and Energy Release through Awareness. Phone Sessions can be scheduled through the marketplace at:

www.shamanstore.hummingbirdshaman.com

Yesterday was Mother’s Day as celebrated in the U.S. I was staying with friends in a beautiful country setting, overlooking the newly planted vinyard. It was only 7am, but I was awake and ready for the day. I stationed myself near the kitchen, and as I turned on my computer and sipped my coffee I allowed myself to drink richly of the vision before me. Sunlight streamed across the room, and rows of light filtered through the garden and over the pond, only interrupted by a branch or post. This was a beautiful morning.

Tom was the first to greet me. “Good morning”, he stated. He sat near the windows, and we spoke of the day and events to follow. We spoke of the simple acts that make mother’s day a special day. Rebecca soon joined us, and Tom gave her a mother’s day card to start her day. The love that naturally radiates from Rebecca brightened deeply as she read her card. I felt blessed to witness this display of appreciation and love.

Later that morning I drove down the road to the healing clinic event. We had an amazing turnout even with the mother’s day distractions, thought this did not surprise me. In fact, I felt drawn to be present at the healing center two hours before the official event starting time of noon, and for good reason – a group showed up at 10am, ready for the day! This was great, it gave me time to give individual clairvoyant readings, and each recipient marveled at the clarity. Recognition of spirit and our divine direction is a wonderful thing to bring into consciousness. Soon more people arrived, and I switched to healing clinic mode, though I still continue to use my clairvoyance during this type of event.

We had many women attending this day, ranging from early 20’s to 80’s. Some are mothers, some are not. Regardless, we brought honor to all. On this day we honored our true mother, mother earth, who provides for us our physical form and nourishes us throughout our earthly days. Eyes brightened with this focus on our great mother earth, for as we each gave honor that honor was echoed back to us ten-fold. Every person attending this event left with a stronger connection to this planet, feeling warmth even on this chilly spring day.

Happy Mother’s day Gaia, we appreciate your never-ending support.

Estee Taschereau is a Spiritual Counselor, providing individual sessions in Life Optimization and Energy Release through Awareness. Phone Reading Sessions can be scheduled through the marketplace at: www.shamanstore.hummingbirdshaman.com

Legends of hummingbirds cover the western hemisphere. The Mayans said that hummingbirds were actually the sun in disguise, courting the moon, our divine feminine. Hopi legend speaks of hummingbirds intervening with the elements to bring rain, aka water, aka the feminine. The Pueblo Indians echo this belief, using hummingbird feathers in rituals to bring rain. The Pueblo shamans also used hummingbirds as the messengers to send gifts to our great mother earth.

What was the message given to me? That evening, during the gratitude ceremony, I take time to meditate with the graceful guidance of the group leader. I asked for the answer. I did not hear it. I asked again, still no answer. Later in the evening, as I allowed myself to slip out of the day-to-day rush and mental overload, I was able to hear the answer. What could that message have been? And what’s more, how was I graced with such an amazing vision? You’ll find this, and more, in part 3 of “Is Anything What It Appears To Be?”.

Estee Taschereau is a Spiritual Counselor, providing individual sessions in Life Optimization and Energy Release through Awareness. Phone Sessions can be scheduled through the marketplace at: www.shamanstore.hummingbirdshaman.com