There are many different ways to work with birds from a spiritual viewpoint. And in fact, you can work with birds beyond just observing them in their natural environments, or coming across their images in films or books. Here you’ll learn how to consciously work with the powers and concepts represented by each bird by connecting to the bird’s energies through meditation or other methods.
If you’re looking for personal direction from a winged messenger, try this freeform technique. You can find guidance quickly by going outside to a park or a garden and sitting quietly. Wait for the first bird to appear. Instead of noting what kind of bird it is and reading about its associations, look at the following things:
The most basic of these is noting whether the first bird you see appears on your left or right. Traditional Western association with left and right suggests that if a bird appears on your left, the answer to your question is either no or the outcome is negative; if a bird appears on your right the answer is yes or the outcome is positive. If you are left-handed, or have a special preference for the left, you might want to flip these associations. Another way of approaching this kind of quick divination is to associate the left with the past, suggesting that the root of the problem or clues to its solution lie in the past. The right indicates that an issue associated with the future is affecting the situation.
If the bird appears directly in front of you, this could be the universe’s way of saying “maybe” or “try again later.” Or, it might mean that the answer is right in front of you and you only have to allow yourself to see it. If the bird appears behind you (you might have to rely on sound for that identification), it might indicate that things aren’t ready to be revealed yet. General folklore suggests that if the bird flies away from you, the augury is unfavorable; if it flies toward you, the augury is favorable.
Apart from actually seeing or hearing a physical example of a bird in real life, how can you work with birds as symbols or omens if you come across the mention of one in a book or article, or see one in a film or on television? What if you want to seek guidance from the bird kingdom, but can’t go outside?
If you are in need of guidance from a particular bird, or if you wish to work with a bird’s energy for a period of time but don’t know which one to choose, you can do one of several things:
Alternatively, if you want to call a bird to you without knowing which one to work with, you can use the Find a Bird Guide meditation later in this section.
A totem or spirit guide is an entity that guides or protects you. Some people use them as identifiers of various parts of their personalities. Traditionally, a spirit guide was an entity that shamans worked with. This entity served as a go-between or companion on the shaman’s journeys to the spirit world to bring back information that would help or guide the shaman’s tribe or clan. Spirit guides are generally not chosen; they are either assigned to the shaman when she or he is initiated into the mysteries of the Otherworld, usually by otherworldly forces, or the spirit guide chooses the shaman.
A totem is an animal, plant, or entity that serves as an emblem or identifying symbol for a clan, tribe, or other family group, or a specific individual. For example, the Cherokee nation consists of seven clans, some of which are identified by animal totems such as Deer, Wolf, and Bird. A totem is sometimes considered a tribal ancestor of sorts. It is given honor and great significance, and there are often taboos surrounding the killing or eating of it.
In contemporary parlance, we often talk about voluntarily working with totems or the energy of a specific bird or animal. In a way, looking to birds as a kind of divinatory system is a form of perceiving them as temporary spirit guides. In this instance, we are seeing them as messengers from the Otherworld, from the Divine, or from the universe at large.
You may already have a specific bird that is a personal symbol or totem. Is there a bird that you have been drawn to for most of your life, or a bird that has popped up repeatedly? Do people give you images or art featuring a particular bird, even if you don’t consciously display a liking for it? This bird may be a personal totem, representing and reflecting part of your spirit. Read about the bird; explore its symbolism; research mythology and cultural folklore beyond what is presented in this book. Thank the bird for being a part of your life by formally welcoming it, either with a poem, art, or simply a heartfelt spoken thanks.
On a very basic level, you can mentally visualize the bird you’ve chosen. You could carry a photograph or postcard of it, or draw your own picture. You might find a piece of jewelry with the bird’s image on it, or a piece of art featuring the bird to display in your home. Educate yourself about the bird’s habits, its habitat, and its lifestyle. Read about conservation efforts, and if you have the resources, engage in helping to spread the word or donate to a reputable charity that works with that particular bird.
If you do choose to work with a specific bird for a period of time to get to know it better or because you think its energies could strengthen yours in a time of need, then you can consciously call that bird to you by following the meditation below.
Meditation: Attune to a Specific Bird
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You may wish to prepare the area by burning a purifying incense such as sandalwood, frankincense, or cedar. If you are familiar with smudging, the practice of cleansing the energy of an area with sage smoke, then you may choose to do this. You may wish to play quiet music, or a recording of birdsong or nature sounds. Keep the volume low.
Sit down and close your eyes. Make sure your clothing is unrestrictive and you are sitting comfortably. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling softly after each one. Feel your muscles release any tension they may be holding, starting at your feet and moving up through your body. Clear your mind. Your goal is to be in a relaxed state, undistracted by your surroundings.
When you feel ready, in your mind’s eye see a landscape. Depending on your preference it may be a meadow, a forest, a beach, or a cliff. Allow a request to form in your heart, and the image of the bird upon which you are focusing to form in your mind. Make the mental image as detailed and precise as possible. Reach out with your feelings or mind for the bird you have chosen to meet and ask the bird to come to you. Speak aloud to call it, if you so desire, or imagine yourself speaking in this landscape.
Visualize the bird coming to you. It may circle around you, land on the ground near you, or land on your hand, shoulder, or head. Welcome it; thank it for coming, and for agreeing to work with you for however long you require, or until it decides that you have learned all that you can learn from it and it leaves.
Tell the bird why you have chosen to work with it. You may want to talk about its energies or traditional associations, and your needs or the weaknesses you would like to bolster. The bird may communicate with you in some fashion: It may speak to you, it may communicate silently mind to mind, or you may receive impressions of ideas or emotions from it. Be open to receiving any and all communication from the bird. Remember, you have chosen to work with this bird for a specific reason; you may not like what it has to say, but it’s for your benefit.
When you feel ready (or when the bird decides this session is over) thank the bird again for agreeing to work with you, and bid it farewell for now. Allow the landscape and environment that you have visualized to fade away, and slowly become aware of your body again. Slowly take deep breaths to reawaken your physical self, and wiggle your fingers and toes gently, then move your arms and legs carefully.
Write about your experience in either a daily journal or meditation journal if you already keep one, or start a journal devoted to working with birds. Make an initial record of what you instinctively feel the bird represents to you, then look up its traditional associations. Building up a record like this allows you to assemble a reference balanced between what tradition or the general perception of the bird says it means, and your own intuitive connections. This reference will help you deepen your understanding of the bird and its meaning to you.
Sometimes you need a guide to address issues that you aren’t consciously aware of. If you are open to the idea of working with a bird that chooses you instead, that bird will be the right one for you at this moment in time. Use the following meditation to call one to you.
Meditation: Find a Bird Guide
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You may wish to prepare the area by burning a purifying incense such as sandalwood, frankincense, or cedar. If you are familiar with smudging, the practice of cleansing the energy of an area with sage smoke, then you may choose to do this. You may wish to play quiet music, or a recording of birdsong or nature sounds. Keep the volume low.
Sit down and close your eyes. Make sure your clothing is unrestrictive and you are sitting comfortably. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling softly after each one. Feel your muscles release any tension they may be holding, starting at your feet and moving up through your body. Clear your mind. Your goal is to be in a relaxed state, undistracted by your surroundings.
When you feel ready, envision a landscape in your mind’s eye. It may be a meadow, a forest, a beach, or a cliff. Just allow a landscape to form in your mind’s eye. Don’t consciously direct it; allow it to form on its own.
Allow a request to form in your heart. Reach out for a bird to come to you, a bird whose energies will support yours and bring you the strength and energies you need in your life right now. Speak aloud, if you desire, or imagine yourself speaking in this landscape.
Wait for a response. You may hear a particular song or call, or you may see a bird as it joins you in the visualized landscape. Don’t be disappointed if nothing appears immediately. Repeat your wordless appeal for a guide, or your spoken invitation for a guide to join you. If a bird does not appear, end your meditation journey and try again another day. Over the next few days, be on the alert—the bird may appear to you in real life, so watch for feathered messengers crossing your path, or watch for birds appearing in films or books.
If a bird does appear in your meditation, welcome it. Absorb what details you can about the bird who has replied to your appeal. You may be able to identify the bird right away, or you may not recognize it at all. Take a good look at its size, shape, and the color of its plumage, and listen to its call. If it flies, note the silhouette it makes against the sky; this might help you identify it later. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t hold still long enough for you to get a really close look at it.
The bird will be welcoming and willing to be with you, or it wouldn’t have appeared. Talk to it; thank it for coming, and for agreeing to work with you until it judges that you no longer need its support. The bird may communicate with you in some fashion: It may speak to you, it may communicate silently mind to mind, or you may receive impressions of ideas or emotions from it.
Be open to receiving any and all communication from the bird. Don’t expect a certain message based on what type of bird it is, or limit yourself by listening for something specific. Clear your mind, and be open to the bird’s love and energy. Know, too, that the bird’s message may be positive or negative, and don’t judge it based on the content of its message.
When you feel ready (or when the bird decides this session is over) thank the bird again for agreeing to work with you, and bid it farewell for now. Allow the landscape and environment that you have visualized to fade away, and slowly become aware of your body again. Slowly take deep breaths to reawaken your physical self, and wiggle your fingers and toes gently; follow this by carefully moving your arms and legs.
Write about your experience in either a daily journal or meditation journal if you already keep one, or start a journal devoted to working with birds. Make an initial record of what you instinctively feel the bird represents to you, then look up its traditional associations to learn as much as you can from your own observations, feelings, and the available existing lore concerning the bird in question.
Air is the element most frequently associated with birds, and for good reason: Most birds fly in some way, shape, or form. Only a few are completely limited to land or water. Here you’ll find a meditation to attune yourself to the element of air, so as to deepen your understanding of it. If the birds you wish to work with are earth- or water-based, you can tweak the meditation to reflect their elemental affinity. Instead, imagine yourself settling on the surface of the water, into the leaves of a forest floor, or whatever your chosen bird might do in the environment it prefers. (Working with a bird from a snowy habitat? Use a water meditation, but think cold.)
It must be emphasized that this meditation is not dependent on the laws of physics. It is imagination, pure and simple. It is meant to help you explore the energy of the element of air, and how it pertains to birds.
Meditation for Attunement to Air
Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. If possible, you may wish to sit outside or by an open window in order to feel the flow of air around you. Failing that, you might consider having a fan on hand, of any material, with which to fan yourself gently at some time during the meditation.
You may wish to prepare the area by burning a purifying incense such as sandalwood, frankincense, or cedar. If you are familiar with smudging, the practice of cleansing the energy of an area with sage smoke, then you may choose to do this. You may also wish to play quiet music, or a recording of birdsong or nature sounds, but keep the volume low.
Sit down and close your eyes. Make sure you are wearing unrestrictive clothing and are sitting comfortably. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling softly after each one. Feel your muscles release any tension they may be holding, starting at your feet and moving up through your body. Clear your mind. Your goal is to be in a relaxed state, undistracted by your surroundings.
When you feel ready, visualize a landscape in your mind’s eye. Depending on your preference it may be a meadow, a forest, a beach, or a cliff. Envision yourself standing in this landscape. Now, close your eyes in your visualization as you have them closed in real life.
Feel yourself standing in this landscape. Feel the sun on your body, the wind on your skin. With your eyes still closed, note any sounds around you. Is the wind rustling through the leaves on the trees? Do you hear the sound of surf, of waves on a beach? Can you hear birds calling somewhere, or other animals? What scents do you smell? If you open your mouth, does the air have a taste to it? All these things are connected with the element of air. Take time to explore your environment with your senses other than vision.
When you have explored your environment with your senses, take a few more deep relaxing breaths. Visualize your arms lifting slightly away from your body. Feel the air stirring around your torso, moving your clothing. How does it move your hair?
At this point, if you feel comfortable doing so, visualize yourself shapeshifting easily into a bird of your choice. (For this meditation, choose a flying bird as opposed to one limited to land or water. It doesn’t have to be a specific bird; it can be a generic one, so don’t get bogged down in detail.) Now feel how the air flows through and around your feathers, how it feels against your legs.
When you feel comfortable, open your wings fully and allow the wind to flow under them. Feel the lift, and begin to flap your wings. Launch yourself into the air, feeling your strong wing beats working with the air and wind to lift yourself higher and higher. Imagine how it feels to soar, to glide, to dip and dive and play in the air. Experiment with how the air presses against various parts of your wings and body; move your tail and discover how it affects your trajectory through the air.
When you are ready, glide back down to earth. Allow the wind to release you, to slide away from where it has wrapped your body. Take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and then visualize yourself returning to your human form. Thank the air and the wind for your experience.
Take a few more breaths, then slowly open your eyes and see the physical environment around you. Wiggle your fingers and toes, then gently move or flex your arms and legs to help you return fully to the real world. Stretch your neck gently, tilting your head from side to side.
Write about your experience in either a daily journal or meditation journal if you already keep one, or start a journal devoted to working with birds. How did you feel at each stage of the experience? Write down details about the sounds, the smells, the sensation of the air. Write about how it felt to fly, what differences you felt when interacting with the element of air as a human and as a bird, and whatever other important observations or feelings you experienced to learn as much as you can from your own observations, feelings, and the available existing lore concerning the bird in question.
However you choose to begin your spiritual relationship with a bird, it is good manners to honor it regularly. You can do so by producing or displaying art featuring the bird, by wearing jewelry inspired by it, or leaving offerings for it. If your guide is a native local bird, you can probably leave a food offering suited to its diet, but if you end up working with a bird whose habitat is thousands of miles away from yours, feel free to leave symbolic offerings for it in a place set apart for that purpose, such as a home shrine or altar. Honoring it by leaving an offering for the local birds will do, but this should be a last resort. (Be sure to research the dietary requirements of your local feathered friends, and also your municipal bylaws on the feeding of wild animals.) You can also donate to a charity or ongoing conservation effort as an offering to the bird spirit with which you are working. Look up local bird sanctuaries or biodomes, too; they always need financial support, or perhaps volunteers.
As you can see, birds can be a rich spiritual resource, both as guides and inspiration. Constructing your own relationship with such a beautiful, omnipresent aspect of the natural world is a rewarding undertaking, one that can enhance your own connection to the world around you as well as allowing you a glimpse into your own soul. So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most commonly encountered birds of North America and what messages they can bring us.