Our best to the Rueppell’s griffon vulture named Gandalf, with wishes that this 7 year old vulture makes it home to the safety of World of Wings, where the diminishing population of this bird is brought into the spotlight.

This story, and the focus on this amazing bird’s ability to fly to great heights reminds me of the story of the hummingbird and the raptor, talking one day of their own abilities to fly so high. Both boasted of achieving great heights, stating they could touch the sun. After great debate as to who was the mightiest it was decided that they would have a contest and prove once and for all who was the greatest.

On the day of the event the hummingbird was nowhere to be seen. The raptor still chose to take flight, showing its own ability to reach great heights. With great force the raptor spread its wings and took flight, lifting high above the ground. With every stroke of its wings the raptor soared higher, far higher than any could imagine. Eventually the raptor lost momentum, tired from such hard work. Suddenly out of the neck feathers of the raptor came the hummingbird, grateful for the ride the raptor had given, and the hummingbird continued on the flight, reaching heights far beyond what the raptor had achieved.

This story often leads to discussion on the morals of the story. Is the hummingbird right for its ingenuity, or at fault for using the power of the raptor to its own advantage? Let’s look at this from a different perspective:

There are many great singers in this world, and I smile as I hear in the background behind my typing the song “Many the Miles” – strongly connected to the same idea of achievement and dedication to a great cause. This randomly playing song, playing on Pandora, just happened to come along as I typed this passage. Delightful!

There are so many great singers, producing songs that use the same notes that have been used since the beginning of time. They are accompanied by instruments invented by others, oftentimes singing words someone else wrote. Yet their songs are amazing, lifting our spirits in times when so many other parts of life seem to leave us dry. These artists build upon what already exists, yet bring it to the world in a unique, renewed way.

We can all take the story of the hummingbird and raptor, and carry those thoughts into our life. Whether we coast on the wings of others, or are the force to carry others far along the journey we can always give our best, and share in the wonder of something new.

Author Estee Taschereau, Spiritual counselor and consultant, and creator of HummingbirdShaman.com offers unique, individual sessions for recognizing your own abilities, helping you to soar to your own greatest heights.

It is an amazing site, watching the vultures drift around the bend, almost as if they followed the highway, as they return to their roost for the night. At times they appear to be playing, weaving around the tall trees in groups, a pattern very different from their typical hunting circling.

The mornings are my favorite time, watching the vultures warm themselves in the morning sun. I stand and watch, then I stand and emulate, bringing my awareness inward, awakening and vitalizing for the day.

In honor of the totem spirit of the vulture I share with you a photo from last year’s trek. This photo is not one of flight, it is one of rest. The question is: how many vultures are perched in this tree? They look almost as if they have been drawn into the picture in a kindergarten style.

This is my version of the “Where’s Waldo” game – enjoy, and give comment as to how many vultures you can see in the trees?

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.

Vulture Watch

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 – a Symbol of Divine Feminine

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”.

The Meaning of Seeing a Vulture

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.

Hummingbird Moments – Fierce Spirits Taking Action© 2011 Estee Taschereau. To make an appointment for a private life clarity session please use the contact form.  Sessions are available by phone in the U.S. and Canada and Skype internationally. Weekend times are available.

Being Here Now: Find Your Center, Stand Your Ground

A collection of simple to use tools and techniques for recognizing and maintaining your own energy “space” and finding your focus. This self-aware approach to living is offered with compassion and a light-hearted appreciation. Estee shares with us her philosophy on helping others in their path to self-realization: “The greatest motivator we have is the natural magnetic draw toward being in a place that is safe and encouraging, that is the key element I’ve woven into every page of this book.” You can purchase Estee’s book Being Here Now in paperback or ebook format. The concept is simple yet amazingly powerful: “Find your center, stand your ground.”

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