Nature is always speaking to us through the language of birds, wild animals, and plants. The Native Americans thought animals and plants were our teachers. It’s worth taking the time to become quiet and still—and spend an hour or two listening to the natural world. Every aspect of nature speaks as we learn to listen through the heart.
Birds of the Air
Several years ago, Carolina Wrens nested in a storage area attached to my deck where I often meditate, admire my roses, and breathe in the fragrant air. Since the wrens were nearby, I spoke to them frequently, and I always said, “Hello, babies” to the four fledglings. As they grew, the baby birds flapped their wings to gain strength, and I loved watching them grow.
One morning I heard a call of distress from the birds. The parents were alarmed as the babies were flying out of the nest. They couldn’t fly far, and they hopped around on the storage room floor. I soon discovered that the parents wouldn’t feed them unless they were in the nest. I put them back into the nest, the parents fed them, and the hysterical cries began again. After several feedings, I closed the door.
A few hours later, I opened the door, and the baby birds hopped out on the deck. A couple of them flew to the rail of the deck, then the third one joined them. In a few minutes, the three baby birds flew to their parents in a tree. The last baby bird was tiny, maybe 3-4 inches tall. It fluttered its wings and rose a few inches above the ground, but it couldn’t fly, so I closed the door. I let it out near dusk, and s/he flew to one of the rose bushes. The parents called loudly and frequently, asking the baby to fly to them. Finally, it gained courage and flew high above the trees to its parents.
Every summer, the wrens build a nest nearby, and they answer if I say, “Hello, babies.” They also come near me to show off their new babies when they learn to fly—and talk to me with great excitement and loud chirping sounds.
Of course, I don’t know if they are the same birds. When I raised a pet mockingbird, all mockingbirds spoke to me for years with the same greeting. My father’s favorite bird was the crow, and they loved him. They flew above us in the woods, calling constantly to let us know if the woods were safe or dangerous. (We lived near a swamp with alligators, snakes, wild pigs, and sometimes strange people.)
My father taught the art of talking and listening to crows before I was allowed to walk through the woods alone, and he sometimes climbed a tree and brought back a glistening, black baby crow. We would talk to the baby and touch it, then he would put it back into its nest without upsetting its parents.
One of the interesting aspects of interaction with birds is that the family of birds will find your location, and they communicate in the same manner. They feel your thoughts and needs. Often in the last gray days when I long for color, there are pairs of cardinals, bluebirds, or occasionally a painted or indigo bunting with feathers that shine like jewels in sun.
These birds are my friends and allies, but they are not totem animals. The owl is one of my totems, and it calls to me (day or night) when my soul opens to the universe. They warn of coyotes when I walk the dog on winter nights, and they speak to me in my dreams. (The owl symbolizes death, rebirth, and wisdom.)
On the spiritual path, totem animals are extremely important. They awaken our inner powers, and they help in times of need. In a sense, they educate and alert us to hidden aspects of life. (I’ll share more on this topic in the future.)
Julia Griffin, intuitive healer and owner of One True Self, began her work fifteen years ago under the tutelage of real wolves. Following their direction, Julia sees and reads energy, including animals, plants and people. She works with people in session to find their resonance with the soul, clearing patterns and alignment with their inner path. If you would like to seek additional spiritual change and insight into your life, please contact me for information about an intuitive session.
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