Hummingbird Shaman

Lately I’ve been thinking that as I have been leaving my patio door open during the day that at some point one of my hummingbird visitors will find themselves inside the house. I reminisce over the days in my teens when I would rescue hummingbirds that were trapped inside the boathouse, gently moving them back outdoors.

On another of those warm afternoons I did manage to get outside for a while, trimming and cleaning in the garden while my car was worked on. Like most I am not fond of times when my mobility is limited, and in this case my battery was failing. I was mostly unhappy that I could not take the lab to the off-leash park, but instead we walked the mile to the library. As I walked I passed many a thought through my mind of a car trip I wanted to take, struggling between the dependability of my vehicle vs the change I wanted within my psyche. I had stirred the ancient beliefs held deep within my unconscious mind, and many thoughts came flying to the surface.

Later that day my vehicle support team appeared. While I can easily diagnose a spirit-based situation, whether it is trapped in the mind, emotions, or other parts of the energy system, these guys could diagnose my car problems.

I finished my yard maintenance about the time they finished their work, swapping out batteries, and I packed up my garden tools to carry through the house to the back yard. As I took those first few steps through the house I heard the most unusual sound. I turned to find what it could be, and discovered a dragonfly trying to beat its way through the window.

What an unusual visit, I thought. As I worked carefully to guide this flying visitor to the open doorway I recollected the my healing process over the past few days. Much of my attention has been focused on transforming another layer of the deep-seated unconscious thoughts that molded my direction, even in their hidden form.

Dragonflies are ancient creatures, a large insect that begins, as we once did, in the water. Over time they mature and evolve into the flying form that we know. During the drier summer months, when the hummingbirds abandon the trees where we typically visit, the dragonflies appear, following a similar flight path as the hummingbirds would take.

The appearance of a dragonfly can set you free of the limiting thoughts or beliefs that have been a strong influence in your life. We do evolve, and at times we face those limitations, pushing away at the illusion until finally we break free. Dragonfly medicine is a powerful one, bringing forth the prehistoric memories that lie dormant within us.

With their origin in the water the dragon fly is associated with the emotions, and as we release those thoughts that challenge us we will likely experience an emotional release or surge as well. Emotions are healing tools, and an important part of our internal communication.

I welcomed my strange-looking winged visitor, and carefully guided him to the now opened door. When dragonflies come a-knockin’ you’ll know that an amazing transformation is just around the corner!

After a few days away from home I spent a quiet sunday morning at a slower restful pace. The day was warming quickly, and so the option was there to leave the patio door open for a while. It was not long before I heard a loud calling from just outside the door.

It was the alpha male hummingbird, perched on the hummingbird bush directly ahead of me. He was facing me, and as I greeted him he turned his head side to side. “Know what surrounds you, your life could depend on it”, he shared. This message did not come across as a threat, and was not meant to invoke fear. In this case it focused on being aware.

Our individual worlds are filled with so many experiences, communications and relationships. Knowing what is within your world is important, not just for the obvious concerns but also for the less obvious influences that manage to melt their way into our lives.

He sat on the branch, looking over his world. With just a glance he could assess his surroundings. There was no need to obsess, just observe clearly and respond.

“Look into your world, and know what surrounds you”. The hummingbird may be the smallest of birds, but is a fierce warrior. Still, with its gift of flight it is able to remove itself from harms way. As humans we may have more tools to address our situations, but it still gets down to the choice between fight or flight.

Our lives have been filled since the beginning of mankind with the fight and flight response, but we can take that concept a step further. As we delve into our own consciousness, will we see ourselves in the center? Are we able to understand that all we see and how we respond is fully within ourselves? If this is so, and everything begins and ends within us, then what does it say about our fight or flight response? What exactly are we responding to, something outside ourselves, or something within?

This focus on our inner world gives a whole new meaning to, “Know what surrounds you”. Be especially aware of those thoughts you carry with you each day of your life. The hummingbird assesses its world from a safe distance, but still knows every detail. Assess those little movements from the hummingbird’s perspective, and you may more easily see exactly what you face in your life.

Today has been a quiet day, not by choice so much, at least not the conscious side of life. Sometimes we have days when we get so overwhelmed with the inner chatter filling our head with so many streams of to-do’s that its a wonder we get anything done.

Yes, I’ve accomplished a few things today, but for some reason I have allowed the chatter to continue.

On a side note, I’m glad this is August, the weather is warm enough to leave the patio door open, and its a relatively quiet afternoon. Except for one thing: every now and then I hear this huge voice just outside the open door. It is my alpha hummingbird, talking so loudly I can hear him across the room. As I walk around the corner to confirm the source of the chatter I see him perched on the butterfly bush that I keep as dense as possible to allow them a safe perch.

As I type he chatters again. Over the past two years I have come to understand how vocal these tiny birds can be. He continues to remind me to clear away the chatter. Yes, sir!

Chatter pulls us from the present moment, dragging us from the clarity and simplicity. It consumes our attention and haunts us like a phantom presence. Life is never as complicated as the chatter tells us it is. Clear away the chatter, it never serves your higher self. Chatter never solves a problem, in fact we all know it compounds any situation that may exist.

How do we clear the chatter? It is not so much letting go, it is making a choice. The chatter is filled with misdirection and misunderstandings, things that do not help you in this moment. Clear away the chatter and your purpose and direction will be clear. Clear away the chatter and your steps will be lighter.

For more posts on animal totems and hummingbird wisdom visit http://healingdrumretreat.com. Learn more about your animal power totems, the wisdom they hold, and how you use this wisdom within the pathway of living. Private intuitive & healing sessions are available by phone or email to answer questions that arise you your own spiritual journey.