Sacred Feathers

Birds hold knowledge of speaking with all animals. All feathers relate to human spirit and its innate connection with the Divine. They are the "initiators of air" in opening to realms beyond physical time and space. Psychic perceptions are thus transformed into spiritual intuitions. Air separates Heaven and Earth, thus the birds are the epitome of the flight between spiritual and the physical being. With bird medicine, we learn to use our innate intuitions to ride the currents of life.

Feathers help elevate the bird to new heights. There are several kinds of feathers that help propel flight. I will only relay the most common ones without the breakdown of the specific type of feather and its function.

The flight /wing feathers are strong and vaned. These lift and reduce drag. If these feathers are found they can heighten meditation and movements in life.

Tail feathers are sturdy and strong. They are used for steering and braking. They align us with forces to help stop and steer our own lives.

Down feathers are soft and dainty. These grow continuously under the main feathers for insulation and to condition the bird's coat.

When a feather comes to you it can lift, insulate, and protect you against life's elements. Honor your feather by: meditating with it, breathing on it (activates the life force of air) and wearing them. Make prayer sticks/wands, staffs, aura dusters and feather/fetish pots. To help you determine how birds reflect your present life you may ask these questions.

What is the size, shape and color of the bird?

What are the wing structures? (Soaring, fast, slow)

What are the actions in the air and on land?

What are the sounds it makes?

If you look, listen and watch carefully you will see birds and other animals around you that accurately reflect what you are feeling and going through. They can also lead you to understanding of where you are going and how to change directions in your life. All of the actions you do reinforce your connection with the bird spirits. In nature all is one. Honor what you have, it will always honor you, therefore you honor yourself and your oneness with the Great Spirit, The Highest and Most Holy One.

Animals have never failed to talk to us, we have never listened. Only by enhancing our awareness of intuition and consciously listening to our natural surroundings can we learn from all the animals.

Anhinga:

Teaches to delve into the depths of yourself, maneuverability and swiftness with a very direct "spearheading" approach.

Blackbird:

Omens, mysticism, energy and understanding of Mother Nature, brings new surprises.

Bluebird:

Happiness, confidence, fulfillment, look for chances to touch joy in your life.

Blue Jay:

Knowledge survival, proper use of power, helps balance earthy realm with Spiritual.

Cardinal:

Renews vitality in life roles, adds color to life, everything you do is important.

Catbird:

Can teach ways of communicating:listening and "singing" your own song in life, also care and tact in how you speak.

Chickadee:

Cheerful, bird of truth, mind mysteries, joy, heals/balances/opens perceptions

Chicken:

Fertility energies, enthusiasm, new growths, balance patience with effort and rewards.

Cowbird:

Teach a time of renewal, new endeavors, creative thinking, pay attention to actions in relationships.

Crane:

Justices, longevity, feminine energies, gives proper focus in all endeavors.

Crow:

Life, death, rebirth, transition magic, watchfulness, look for opportunities coming up.

Cuckoo:

New beginnings, trust inner self and intuitions, teaches to look deeper for solutions.

Doves:

Peace, prophecy, maternity, awaken to promise of future with clarity.

Ducks:

Emotional comfort and protection, teaches how to move w/grace and comfort in life.

Eagles:

Creation, healing, illumination of spirit, stronger and quicker in actions, responsibility

Egret:

Teaches to stand in the physical and spiritual, healing, emotions, bridging the heart and mind, sharp, direct and to the point.

Falcon:

Power of insight, agility, discernment and how to attach opportunities in life, discern when and how to strike when needed.

Finch:

Energy amplification, new experiences, more active life with increase in potentials.

Flicker:

New rhythm of growth, healing love, insights, intuitions activated, perceptions change.

Goldfinch:

Awakening to nature spirits, helps w/endurance in transition of physical to spiritual.

Goose:

Questing call, travels, imagination, communication, imagination is stirred.

Grackle:

Can teach discernment in expressing emotions, helps balance the head and emotions.

Grosbeak:

Teaches a time to heal wounds for harmony, relationships evaluated, time for forgiveness and caring.

Grouse:

Sacred dancing and drumming, higher rate of consciousness, opens energy to rhythm of life.

Gulls:

Subtle lessons in behavior and communication, teaches to read people more effectively.

Hawks:

Visionary power, guardianship, swiftness, leadership, sees more in life, observant, strength.

Heron:

Determination, balance, follow your own path, helps look deeper into aspects of life, innate wisdom

Hummingbird:

Ecstatic, love, happiness, beat of life, miracle of joy of living, don't burn yourself out

Kestrel:

Speed and action of thoughts must be done with a balance mind and heart, patience to act at the opportune time.

Kingfisher:

Prosperity, love, warmth, peace, prepares you for something new, exciting and wonderful

Loon:

Awakening of mind and spirit, can show how to make things manifest from our dreams and ideas. Listen, look and pay attention to subtle nuances that are coming into your life.

Magpie:

Proper use of knowledge, intelligence, use what you have, chances for advancement with knowledge

Martin:

Teaches cooperation, establishing peace, shows team work and community action

Meadowlark:

Cheerful journey into the self, teaches journey is a quest not the destination

Mockingbird:

Soul purpose, recognizing innate abilities, communicating, flushes negativity, follow your path

Nuthatch:

Teaches grounding of spiritual energies along with faith and trust in the realms of spiritual and physical. Attention to details, be sharp and aware.

Oriole:

New occurrences in life, sense of joy, helps discover the inner child

Owl:

Mystery of silent wisdom, vision, hearing, ability to pinpoint subtleties of motives, actions and people

Parrot:

Teaches a sense of diplomacy, vivid in life's endeavors: how to be bold or quiet, discerns communication effectively, intuitive

Peacock:

Watchfulness, foundation of our structure, allows greater wisdom to be seen, endurance of spirit

Pelican:

Reflection/insight, buoyancy in life, teaches to rest in spite of life's heavy weight

Penguin:

Teaches grace in emotions and actions, time to pay attention to your dreams, thoughts and ideals.

Pheasant:

Fertility, sexuality, insight and growth within family, closeness

Pigeon:

Home, love, security, fertility, family, teaches us to remember home life for answers

Quail:

Nourishment of the soul, family, teaches how to elude problems, spot danger, safety

Raven:

Creation, magic, rebirth, omens, playful aspects, stir life without fear, brings in the light

Road Runner:

Mental sharpness, quick thinking, fast responses and reflexes, running in the correct direction, time to slow down or speed up?

Robin:

New growth in many areas of life, sing your own song, independence, new life force abounds

Rooster:

Guardian, watcher, protector, awareness of surroundings, stimulate insights and forthrightness and confidence

Sparrow:

Self worth, dignity, shows how to survive, triumph in spite of circumstances

Starling:

Group etiquette, social standing, communication needs to be clear, sensitive to others words

Stork:

New birth, beginnings, time for actions in areas in your life, teaches to move in air (mind) and land (body) with balance.

Swallow:

Teaches objectivity, community fellowship, time to renew environment around you, shows how love and communication can do the most good.

Swans:

True beauty of self, power of grace, inner beauty of others is reflected in you

Swifts:

Use of speed and agility in daily life, accuracy, use opportunities to their best potential, fluidity of thought and emotion

Turkey:

Harvest time, all blessings, shows adaptability in all areas of life, energy of sharing

Vulture:

Purification, death, rebirth of the soul, changes internally, physically, conscious of transformation

Warbler:

Expression of ideas/self, center and focus your energies, socialize, enjoy life, movement, progression

Woodpecker:

Rhythm, fertility, earth's heartbeat, increase of mental/physical activities, beat of life

http://www.geocities.com/starstuffs/native/animal_totems/index.htm

Jody...what a wonderfull list this is!!!!

 

Thank you!

 

~G

The Teachings of the Feather by Violet Soosay

There has always been an aura of mystique surrounding the Eagle for Aboriginal peoples. The Iyiniw or Nehiyaw has always deemed to honor this spirit from the animal world. It soared so high in the heavens that Iyiniw or Nehiyaw held it in high esteem since it was so much closer to the Creator. The Eagle became a power of vision, strength and courage. There are many special meanings and special uses for the Eagle.

It is common knowledge that Iyiniw or Nehiyaw depended on animals for knowledge of the world around them, the environment, of life and of themselves. Animals had a sense for changes in the world, the changing of seasons and of things to come. Iyiniw or Nehiyaw does not possess the animal sense. The Eagle was the leader in all those things and it represented foresight and courage. The relationship to the earth and nature has always been intimate and intensely personal for the Aboriginal peoples and because of the special relationship, they are closely related to sacred beliefs. The Creator had given each group of people tools for survival. We must trust ourselves to ensure that our needs are met. The Cycle of Life is holistic. The Creator is the centre of all life. The life of a person follows a pattern of the seasons or pattern of a day, from childhood, to youth, adulthood, and old age. The completeness of a circle indicates no beginning and no end but eternity. The path of life calls for balance and harmony but there are no landmarks to guide from birth to death. The Iyiniw or Nehiyaw can only give an ideal interpretation as to how that could be done. It is only once that the path of life is trod upon and each person must walk in a sacred manner. The ways of an Aboriginal are the ways given from the Creator. It is in these ways that a balance or equilibrium in an ever changing world can be achieved. The gift of life is the greatest gift and must be respected. In the Creator, everyone is good, valuable and beautiful. The culture, history, customs, ceremonies and beliefs belong to the Aboriginal to take along that walk. Only then can one attain a peaceful balance in mind and body as each is also the guardian of their own spirit. Their spirit will be reflected by thoughts, speech, emotion and touch. A gift of an Eagle Feather is a great honor. It is a mark of distinction, one that could indicate that a rite of passage has been earned. The Eagle Feather represents the norms, responsibilities and behaviors that are all a part of the conditioning, learning and commitment to a spirit. It is in this way that life is honored and becomes whole. The law of nature calls for one order of life to depend on another.

The quill of an Eagle Feather represents stability, strength and foundation. In the Cycle of Life or wheel of life, it represents the spirituality of the people. This is where the beginning and ending meet. The quill represents the beginning and ending in the spiritual journey of life. Birth and death are represented here as rites of passage from and to the spiritual world. Conception, the nine month journey and childbirth are sacred and begin here. Traditionally, there were ceremonies or celebrations for the beginning of life.

The plume of an Eagle Feather or fluff is white, billowy and soft. It represents the purity, lightness and gentleness of a child full of the spirit and so new to the cycle of life. The plume is distinctive and usually a token of honor. The plume in the Cycle of Life is the beginning of the formative years, childhood. It is the age of innocence, pride and dreams - a time for bonding and attachment to relationships, values, attitudes, behaviors, personalities, character and to the environment. It is a time for security and integration. The vane of an Eagle Feather represents flexibility and adaptability with gentleness and firmness. The vane has a unique design as each feather is unique. Each individual is also unique. This is the expanded part of the feather just as youth are now expanding into the world and each is responsible for themselves. In the Cycle of Life, the vane is the continuation of the formative years. The children have achieved their rights of passage, a boy becomes a hunter or warrior and a girl has reached womanhood. During this phase, there is learning and guidance. The mind, the mouth, heart and hand (avenues for the spirit) are being nurtured. Example and reinforcement are given in the proper direction to strengthen their spiritual well being and identity. It is a time of enrichment, logic and proof. The entire feather is straight, strong, firm and gentle. The top portion represents the peak of life. The conduct of adulthood is to bring out the best in beauty and goodness. Men have achieved bravery, skill or character and have been renamed accordingly. Women have achieved a level of knowledge basic to the survival of the people. Self-discipline, survival skills, loyalty, solidarity, and respect within family are above all individual interests. The foundation laid for them is intact. Interdependence, empathy, insight and foresight enables them to be keepers and protectors of the culture. It is at this phase that marriage and child-bearing are foremost.

The opposite vane continues to represent flexibility and adaptability with gentleness and firmness. In the Cycle of Life, a level of seniority is established. Conduct of parenthood has been proven and movement into grand parenthood is inevitable. Relationships, community and nationhood are important. Responsibility for the welfare of others, young and old is the purpose of guidance. To encourage and support others is to give back what was given and to give more of one's self. As in the opposite, the plume of the Eagle Feather represents purity, lightness and gentleness. Purity in mind, body and spirit is achieved in old age. Elders become frail and weak like children. It is a very honorable age that speaks no arrogance or greed but the fulfillment of life to the best of one's ability. They become the keepers of the wisdom with peaceful energy, authority and purpose. Elders are as highly esteemed as the Eagle. Once again the quill represents the beginning and ending in the spiritual journey of life. Death is at the end of the Cycle of Life and is also a rite of passage into the spiritual world. The spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of loved ones into eternity. One has known his natural space, only once does he pass this way, he has made his journey. To honor death is to honor life as both are important in the spirit world. The Aboriginal peoples have been given many gifts from the Creator. The gift of the Eagle spirit is one such treasure. Now is the time to revitalize our knowledge and understanding of these gifts so that the Aboriginal cultural beliefs, values and customs are not lost forever.