Birds and The Native American Beliefs
The Native Americans all believed in the powers of the birds and many cultures were saved because of the Bird.
The Chickadee:
To the Cherokee Indians, the chickadee is the bird of truth. It helps us to pinpoint truth and knowledge.. One tale speaks of a witch by the name of Spearfinger who terrorized the entire tribe.. She would wait in hiding to kill any passer-by. And after killing them, she would stab the liver of the individual with her spearfinger and eat it.. Nothing seemed to be able to stop the witch because she was made mostly of stone. Then one day a chickadee landed on her, showing the warriors exactly where she was vulnerable to attack.. After many tries they were able to send her away and they were no longer terrorized by the Witch known as Spearfinger..
The Bluebird:
The bluebird is a native bird of North America, although once common, they are now rare. This often is a reminder that we are born to happiness and fulfillment, but we sometimes get so lost and wrapped up in the everyday events of our lives that our happiness and fulfillment seem rare. When a bluebird shows up it should first remind you to take time to enjoy yourself. Bluebirds are part of the thrush family. Males are entirely blue, while females have blue only on the wings. Occasionally there will be some warm reddish tones on the chest as well. Pay attention to the colors and where they are located to provide you with insight. To the Cherokees, blue is the color of the North, while in many magical traditions, it is the color of the East. Blue is associated with the throat chakra and creative expression. Blue is symbolic, so ask yourself what blue means to you. It is unknown whether or not the bluebird played a major role in Indian myths or tales. The bluebird always has a plaintive song and a modest unassuming appearance..
The Eagle:
The feathers of the Eagle are sacred to the Native Americans, and the eagle is now protected by the United States government. No one is allowed to possess a Eagle alive or dead, or the feather from the Eagle unless they are of Native American blood. The feathers are used in powerful healing ceremonies (cleansing of the aura) and even for shape shifting. White and black tipped feathers were often used on the masks of the Pueblo Indians to give the appearance of white and black clouds. You can see the ancient connection to the mysteries of the sky and all of its phenomena. Both the bald and the golden eagle have come to symbolize heroic nobility and divine spirit. The eagle is the messenger from heaven and are the embodiment of the sun spirit..
The Flicker:
To Native Americans, the feathers were considered religious articles. A red feather on a prayer stick usually reflected war against some enemy either physical or spiritual. When the feathers were worn in the hair, it indicated the individual was a member of the medicine society. The same energy that can be used for war, can also be used for healing. This is what flicker teaches..
OWLS:
the owl has a heart shaped face, which is unique among owls. This reflects the ability to link the heart and the mind as one. And is part of what the owl teaches. It also has darker eyes. It has a golden buff feathering on top, and white feathering beneath. When seen at night from below it has a ghostly appearance due to its white feathering. It is this appearance which has earned it the name of ghost owl. It is an owl, whose medicine can connect you to the Spirits of properties and homes that are still be lingering about. Its medicine can also be used to help contact the spirits. The owl is the master hunter. Many farmers have killed owls and tried to replace them with cats. Unfortunately, the farmers often do not realize that one pair of nesting owls can eliminate more mice in a night than ten cats put together..
SWALLOWS:
The swallow has its own legends and tales that are unique to it. One Indian legend tells how the swallow stole fire from the sun and brought it to the earth, carrying it on its tail feathers. It is because of this, that its tail feathers are now forked and spine like. Because of this myth and because the swallow comes with warm weather, it is associated with the sun and fire. The southeastern Indians hung hollow gourds for purple martins, a member of the swallow family..
The TURKEY:
The turkey is sometimes called the earth eagle. It has a long history of association with spirituality and the honoring of the Earth Mother. It is a symbol of all the blessings that the Earth contains, along with the ability to use them to their greatest advantage. The turkey can live to be twelve years old. Twelve is a significant number,because the earth revolves around the sun in twelve months. Showing the tie between the turkey and the honoring life cycle of the Earth. Turkeys are native birds to this continent, and they were even raised by the Aztecs and Mayans. Nearly every part of the turkey has usefulness. They were used as food, and Their feathers were used for decorations, and even their bones were used to make whistles. Turkeys have an intricate mythology among Native Americans. Turkeys helped create the world, showing the indians how to raise corn and fight off evil spirits. Some stories tell how Indian shamans would turn themselves into turkeys and prowl around other villages..
WOODPECKERS:
In the Native American tradition it is the Woodpecker that is connected to the heartbeat of the Earth itself. The drumming has many mystical connections, from new life rhythms to applications of shapeshifting. Many shamans learned how to ride drumbeats into other dimensions..
The Wren:
There are more than a dozen species of wren. It is a small, stocky bird. It is usually brownish in color, and it will often cock its tail feathers up in the air. It seldom shows itself in the open. Its feathers were magical and were suppose to guard against drowning. It was considered unlucky to kill one. In pagan traditions, wrens were considered sacred to the earth gods and goddesses. It has been thought a bird that stole fire from the sun and brought it to earth was magical also giving it, its short, cocked tail feathers. In medieval Europe it was considered the pet bird of the Virgin Mary, especially among the lower classes. This is probably due to the fact that most often the ruling classes were depicted in story and legend as eagles, hawks, bears and the birds and animals of prey. The wren is a most resourceful and adaptable bird. It will build its nest in any convenient home. Usually their homes are built close to the ground or even upon the ground, especially in marshy areas. The male wrens do most of the building, and they will build several false nests before building a true nest. this was for protection, although some believe it was also a way to charm the female. The wren is a bold and resourceful bird. One Native American story, tells us about how the wren tricked a boasting eagle into carrying it far into the heavens, until the eagle could go no higher. At that point the wren hopped off eagle's back and flew beyond the clouds, laughing at how much higher it was flying than the eagle. The wren has the vocal power of a bird much larger. It will sing from daylight to dark, as if overflowing with confidence. It is also known to be quite brave, and it will not hesitate to confront any threatening bird or animal..
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