Hummingbird Shaman

After returning from a busy conference this past weekend, and a day of travel, my focus today began as a day of resting. Awakening came well after the sunrise, and the day was surprisingly sunny. My first course of action was opening the shades and be a part of the light.

From there, where do I go? Where do I start today? This question is one that arises every day, but on this occasion it was a conscious one. Within a blink a bird pulled me away from my self-centered attention, and I turned to see what had so gracefully shifted my thoughts.

It was a thrasher, with his light speckled feathers, red patch on his crown and black chest. He landed on the primary branch of the small cherry tree that had been a resting place for the hummingbirds. His head turned to and fro, surveying his surroundings. I don’t often see the thrashers unless there is suet for them, and even then they flee if there is any movement around them.

The thrasher is in the woodpecker family, with a long beak used to gain access to insects deep within the rotting wood of a snag tree. The tapping is reminiscent of drumming, rhythmic and resonant. The motions move beyond what is on the surface, a place we should all venture towards.

I marveled at the coincidence between my thought, “Where do I begin”, and the appearance of the thrasher. Within a heartbeat or two one of my hummingbirds made his own appearance, and while he stayed clear of the thrasher, a bird that far outweighed him, he still took dominance, landing above the thrasher in a position that centered him within the tree.

Where do I begin? What better place than within. Do we actually listen to the beating of our own heart? Even if we treat this reference as symbolic we can still find intuitive or spiritual meaning.

I turn my head again to focus on the motion seen out the corner of my eye. The hummingbird returns to his feeder, followed by chickadees and sparrows in search of food. I’ve returned home to something I resonate with, and my day’s focus clearly includes reconnecting to my own purpose and direction. Where do I start today? With the beating of my own heart.

Estee Taschereau, Hummingbird Shaman, offers individual sessions by phone to clarify and clear your focus and find the beating of your own heart. For more articles on spirituality and metaphysical focus visit IntuitiveMeaning.com

Many readers ask if the sighting of a bird or animal outside of their normal experience as an omen or sign, and follow with the question: “What does it mean?” We ask for the intuitive meaning for many things that reach outside our typical day-to-day world, seeking to expand our consciousness through the greatest gift we have available to us: the questions that arise from unusual observations.

Omens are signs, neither good nor bad, yet they are often associated with danger or undesirable events. When we turn to “see” what will come about, are we attempting to give ourselves more power, or are we placing the balance of power on something we perceive as “outside of ourselves”?

This thought reminds me of an observation I’ve made in my hummingbird walks. This tiny birds have perched in very visible places, on barren branches directly along the pathway. Yet many do not see the hummingbirds. Is it being lost within our own thoughts, or moving at a pace that loses so much of the moment?

With this we will return to the question of vulture sightings: We cannot overlook our own awareness. For whatever reason we align ourselves with an opportunity for an altered state of awareness. This altered state is not necessarily something outside of ourselves, simply a shift outside of our mental processing.

Does the vulture appear as a guide or totem animal spirit for our enlightenment? Is the appearance something that we choose to latch on to, giving us the means to slow down our thinking and ricochet into a different perspective? Maybe the two work togethe. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. You can lead a soul to a insight but you cannot force them into consciousness.

The intuitive meaning of the any sighting, whether it be a hummingbird, eagle, or even a vulture is always associated with the current events. It could be the culmination of many events as an opportunity for release, or a chance to make a decision that logic would not allow us. Still we can ask ourselves, “How does this serve me?”, and most often we have achieved another step in the right direction: to shift our consciousness long enough to observe with eyes beyond the physical.

Hummingbird Shaman Editor and Author Estee Taschereau offers clear, compassionate assistance to individuals who seek to understand their own path and abilities. Phone sessions are available in the US, as well as sessions via Skype. Visit IntuitiveMeaning.com for more articles on totem spirits and shamanism.

After a fun holiday weekend I parted ways with a good friend as they prepared for a long drive home. “Have an uneventful drive”, was the sentiment, but it took several takes to come up with a good way of saying it. What we finally decided on was a few great sitings of the hawk and eagle kind.

Hawks, eagles, vultures, and falcons are in the raptor family. What exactly defines raptor? These birds are carnivorous, meaning they eat other animals. Vultures typically select dead animals, like road kill, while others go for life prey.

It was not so long ago that I stood outside my home and saw an eagle circling. The eagle moved quickly across the sky, never repeating any portion of its path like the hawks I see more often.

Raptors are honored in the native cultures and the world of shamanism. The attributes of these magestic birds are encouraged as virtues to emulate. The most common perspective is the strength of these birds.

What stands out most with the raptors of the world, the eagles, red tail hawks, falcons, and vultures is their awareness. All attention is given to the moment – now is the key to achieving any goal. Their focus is honored in expressions such as “an eagle eye”. We’ve all heard the expression, “a birds eye view”. It has been found that our human brain only registers a small portion of what our eyes see. How much of our observations are vision based, and how much is achieved by conscious focus?

There are 290 Falconiformes, or raptors, worldwide. This includes the noctural or night hunters, such as owls. In the U.S. there are regulations that restrict the ownership of raptor feathers or other body parts. These regulations are in place to protect the population of threatened species.

My friend followed up that evening with an email to let me know that the prediction was close, with the sighting of a hawk, a falcon, and two eagles. No vultures this trip, they are currently residing in the southern states for their winter. What a great way to add a little excitement to any drive!

What does it mean to

Intuitive Meaning Editor and Author Estee Taschereau offers clear, compassionate assistance to individuals who seek to understand their own path and abilities. Phone sessions are available in the US, as well as sessions via Skype.

Making decisions and taking action are two abilities we are capable of and expected to exercise in our daily lives. There are times though when we linger in our thoughts, and postpone choosing our path. Doesn’t our direction come from divine guidance? Shouldn’t the road be illuminated and clear?

I was visited by a client who stopped by for what should have been a few minutes but transitioned into an hour. We spoke of many things, some having to do with decision or actions on my part.

As we walked out the door to her car we summarized our talk and recapped comments made earlier. The conversation at the car seemed to go far beyond the the time needed for hugs and goodbyes. Times like those are worthy of accepting at face value, they need no hidden meaning or reasons. Let’s suppose though that the extra time spent was intended.

Hawks are seen on occasion circling the sky, and in the springtime they are often followed by diving crows trying to protect their nest and offspring. On this day there was a single bird circling, searching for prey. As it approached I could not help but see the white feathers on its head. This was an eagle, a bird I had seen only a few times in the many years I had lived in this area.

We smiled and raised our voices in excitement, watching this majestic bird circle and disappear. Could there be any significance to this appearance?

Any correlation between the eagle and the discussions that day was a sharing of strength and dedication. We do what we do best, and balance ourselves either in learning to build our abilities in areas that are not our strengths, or outsourcing those tasks to others.

Either way we are intended to move forward, to grow and experience and step past what is complete. The sign of an eagle is a powerful one, but it is also a sign or symbol of our own power and strength.

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.

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!

One afternoon I sat next to the front windows, working on my soon to be published book. The day was cooler than prior, and the door was open, allowing a refreshing breeze inside. I could hear the sound of the birds in the background, with the welcoming tones of life amongst the trees.

Suddenly there was a large thud against the window. I knew immediately what had happened. Curiosity pulled me from my work, and I headed for the door. As I rounded the corner a cat dashed away. I could not see if this cat had any great catch within its teeth, I could only see the tail as it rounded the side of the house.

I turned the other way, to see what had made such a commotion. There, dangling between two branches in the flowers was a red winged blackbird, wings spread out and holding it in place almost like it had been hung out to dry. This bird looked at me with a dazed, non-reactive glare.

Thinking the cat might return before this bird could recuperate, I grabbed the wrapper off a potted plant and gently removed the bird from the flowers. I gave him a healing of love and intent for recovery, and carried him to the back so I could place him in a more protected space.

By the time I reached the back porch he recovered enough to perch, and I left him outside the door on top of a suet feeder. Later I returned to the porch to check on his progress, and as he saw me peak around the corner he took flight and returned to the trees.

The Blackbird Totem Animal

Darkness and the color black often invoke thoughts of the mystic world and magic. It is true sometimes that when we open ourselves to receiving its like reaching a hand into a cosmic grab bag – and you get that invigorating experience of seeing the great surprise that awaits!

The totem spirit legends of the blackbird are no exception. It is thought that the blackbird serves as the crossover between the worlds, its song acting in almost a hypnotic fashion. Those who carry the totem of the blackbird may have a hypnotic quality to their voice and their manners.

In legend the blackbirds of Goddess Rhiannon perched on the tree outside the entrance to the celtic otherworld, singing and serving as the doorkeepers. Their sweet voices allowed many to enter. The blackbird is also found in other celtic legend.

How can you use blackbird energy in your life? If you feel uncertain about your abilities or situation you can call upon the blackbird totem for confidence. These birds are strong and powerful totems, bringing a cheerful energy into the day through song.

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.

Since this site focuses on shamanism and totem animals, I’ll give you one guess on today’s topic. What appears in the darkness?

Dusk changed the day at first like a subtle nuance of color in the evening sky, but with each breath the darkness grows. Small figures flitter through the air, darting to and fro in a pattern that defied its own definition.

The wind blows through the trees, demanding everything in its path to follow its direction, but the small winged creature penetrates the force of the wind, carrying its own message into the silence of its flight.

First one, then two could be seen. How do you count something that appears so quickly, and vanishes within the blink of an eye? At one point it seemed that four were darting around the area, satiating their appetite on insects that would otherwise be a nuisance.

As I stood on the walkway these small winged creatures flew across the opening between the trees, darting within inches of my head. Camera in hand I knew my that the odds of capturing a bat in one picture was astronomical, but my desire persisted. One comes into view, then another, and they dance before me and disappear before my finger can complete its own message to the shutter. Magically on this night I find two images of these creatures of the night.

The bat totem is one that is often overlooked, or likely avoided. Folklore has cast a shadow of darkness over this totem of transformation, and those who worship this typecast creature do so in a manner that perpetuates their own darkness.

The bat is the only mammal that flies. Their eyes do not guide them, instead they find their way through their amazing ability to perceive their environment through a wave of energy that begins and ends from within.

The bat totem is often associated with darkness and fear. Some believe it to be the shaman’s symbol of death, not of the physical death but the spiritual transformation that is the amazing combination of release and renewal.

In my perception I see the bat as a sign of walking your own path, and surviving in situations that cannot be resolved in the obvious ways. To see without vision, to be of the earth yet take to the sky, to cross that line between night and day, that is amazing.
This is the way of the bat, a symbol of the subtle power that is so often unseen, but definitely exists. What appears in the darkness may just hold the key to our inner light.

This story is available for reprint in its complete form including credits. Photo and story are originals by http://HummingbirdShaman.com author Estee Taschereau, and are protected under copyright law. Learn more about your totems and totem encounters in a private consultation by phone.

Note: Most bats are of no threat, and bats typically avoid interactions with humans and pets. If you find a bat and are able to approach it the bat is likely wounded or ill. Do not handle, contact animal control. Bat guano is an excellent source of nitrogen for your garden. Protect bats, provide housing for them, and they will repay you a hundred fold by clearing your yard of mosquitoes, consuming up to 500 per night, per bat.

What does it mean, to find the sign of a vulture in your path? Is it an omen? No, this totem animal appears on occasion, and can be seen for its gift and reminder, beyond its worldly task. The vulture, in our day and culture, certainly gets a bad rap. Their looks are far from appealing, and their duty turns the head and likely the nose of many. These birds are scavengers, seeking out the remains of bodies no longer inhabited by spirit. Their job is vital to the health and well-being of the living, and supports the dualistic balance of the planet. Life cannot and does not exist without death.

During my visits to the Oregon desert I watch the vultures that next nearby. In the morning I see the vultures in the schoolyard, each perched on a fencepost, spreading their wings and warming in the morning sun. In the evening I watch as the vultures round the bend at the end of the road, gliding toward the tall pine trees known to be their home each summer. They seem to float as if suspended motionless in the air. In the branches they appear as darkened shapes, almost haunting in appearance.

Though not the most beautiful of birds the vulture has its place in history. Vultures are found in many ancient texts and symbolism.

The vulture is a symbol of the principal female divinity. This bird is found throughout every country where Maya civilization can be traced – Polynesia, Japan, India, Chaldea, Egypt, Greece, and the Peruvian Andes.
Within Egyptian mythology the vulture adorned the headdress of the Goddess Isis, also known as Mau. It was believed that the myth may be traced back to Mayach, for the vulture was the totem of Queen Moo, who’s name means “macaw”. (Augustus Le Plongeon , Queen M’oo and the Egyptian sphinx, Pg 12-14.)

Yesterday the vultures flew in great number over the house in which I am staying, circling around as if they were saying, “finish your story, please”. This morning I walked out of the yard, across to the field where they greet the morning to capture a few photos. As I returned I see a small vulture feather in my path. “Finish your story, please”.

Everything in this world has its purpose, including the vultures nesting down the road. Vultures do not necessarily mean death, and we need not look at them as dark or gloomy. They show us a quiet grace, and help us to transition with that same grace. Look for the sign of a vulture in your path, it may be a happy moment and a sign of change.

This week I have returned to the Oregon desert for a working visit, which means sleeping within mere feet of the vulture roost.  This tree is the seasonal home to 30 vultures, give or take.  My first night here was a restless one, waking often to hear the breathing of the animals that had gathered in my room or notice a flickering light.  By early morning, just before dawn, each time I awakened I brought in awareness of writing a posting about the day as it appears in the Mayan Tzolkin calendar.

The date given in my dream was not in synch with this actual day, but my nocturnal writings did focus on Cib, the vulture.  In this current 13 day cycle Cib does not appear.  The last occurrence was July 31st, giving us 12 Cib.  The energy of this day was present to aid us in our expansion of thoughts by bringing understanding of where we have been and through this awareness we will have a better grasp of where we are going.

On this upcoming day, still months away, I look forward to seeing how this dream-state interpretation of two Cib unfolds.  The presence of source is best found not to the events that surround us, but in the offerings of the universe and how we carry those gifts into the world in which we live.

I could not have imagined earlier that I would dream of vultures, or write about them.  We never know where life will take us, or how our awareness will unfold.  To my surprise I found out that the vultures were sunning themselves, warming their wings in the early morning sun.  This day has truly been an adventure, and its only just begun.

This posting contains a clairvoyant interpretation of the Mayan Tzolkin Calendar, a spiritually focused calendar, presented by Estee Taschereau through her venue YinYangPower.com