Our Amazing World

Our world is full of such amazing beauty and boundless wonder. Everyday we are the recipients of boundless Gifts from the Creator. All that is required of us is to be open to receive and understand them. When we open our sense of observation we become aware of birds, animals and insects appearing in our daily lives, bringing insights and messages to us.

For example, we have all learned that dark clouds in the sky usually tell us that a storm is approaching. There are more subtle messages that are available to us when we simply observe. As we begin to notice that certain birds, animals or insects keep appearing to us it is the first step on a journey of discovery.

The following descriptions are merely the surface of understanding. It is always helpful to observe the behavior and study not only the messenger, but their habitat, the food they eat and their behaviors. That is the key to understanding the message.

Many of the following descriptions are from Animal-Speak", and "Animal-Wise" both by Ted Andrews, as well as some of my own insights. Most of the following have pictures and a field description of these winged messengers. You will however, find some that I have really no information on, I simply found them to be of interest.

Birds: The Winged Ones

Among many cultures birds have been considered messengers and deities or the thoughts of deities.

In ancient Norse mythology the god Odin had two ravens as messengers, Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Memory).

The feathered serpent god of the air in Central America is Quetzlocoatl.

In Native American tradition, the Thunderbird lives in the West. No one living can look upon a Thunderbird for they are fierce to see. It is said that lightning is the flash from Thunderbirds' eye and thunder is the sound of Thunderbird flapping his wings.

The Egyptian god Horus is usually depicted with a hawk's head, and Maat, the Egyptian goddess of truth, is often shown with a vulture feather.

Legends, folklore and myth are filled with winged creatures. Pegasus the wondrous winged horse of the ancient Greeks, the Griffin is a combination of animals with great wings and a bird's head. The Harpies-birdlike women; the phoenix that burns itself in the fires of sacrifice and then rises from its own ashes. Even angels are believed to have wings.