On Dreaming
The Meaning of Birds (and other animals)
in your Dreams, Waking and Sleeping...
According to Native American, and most indigenous cultures, every bird and animal has a specific message or symbolism associated with it. But there's always more to the story...
The Inquiry, from Bird Talk Magazine
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The article appeared in the January/2000 issue of Bird Talk. |
Birds: Symbolizing Messages, or Wisdom, or Supernatural Activity, or..
You would find the book "Animal-Speak" by Ted Andrews (Animal-Speak, the Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews ISBN 0-87542-028-1) a very useful guide to the symbolism of birds and various species of birds... for example, an eagle, a falcon, a hawk and a crow all speak in some way of connections with supernatural forces, but each has its own unique symbology and message. While birds are often known and perceived as messengers in most dreams, the nature of the message is dependent on the type of bird and the context of the dream.
I think most of us at one time or another have had a bird appear in our dreams - these are one of the more common symbols or archetypes seen in dreams, like snakes and spiders, horses, cats and dogs... And you are probably right in perceiving that non-bird owners and bird owners would likely find that the birds in their dreams had different meanings.
In my experience, birds can be highly communicative and highly responsive to their environments and owners. It would be natural for them to work with their owners through their dream-worlds, and vice versa. While we have no statistics, nor even a backlog of stories to prove the point, I think it would be highly likely that bird owners would dream more frequently of birds, and that the messages in these dreams would probably be more complex, sophisticated, richer in meaning and message.
While our dreams are typically rich in archetypes and symbols, we encourage our visitors to see their dreams as highly personal experiences - water may have an entirely different meaning to me than it does to you for example, and the same would apply to dreams of birds... each of us needs to assess the content and meaning of the dream, the message it contained based on our personal experience with it. From this perspective, then, it would be natural for bird-owners to find their pets communicating with them through their dreams more frequently than it would be for those who don't own birds... that said, the appearance of a pet bird in a non bird-owner's dream could have all the more meaning, simply because it is an unusual experience. Have I confused you yet? here are more responses from our team, to help you... Lotsa LLLove, Danielle
Bird Connections
Alliances with the spirit of birds is as common as with the spirits of animals, and in our work we group all of these communications under 'communications with nature'... Look up this interesting sample reading done for Amy, a very special parrot - Amy was so skilled at communicating that she knew how to use her body to transmit a message. We often find tame birds like parrots are very keen to talk when they discover someone is listening...
I once visited friends who owned two little love birds - the moment I arrived these two started raising a ruckus. After some time I realized that they wouldn't settle down until I turned and spoke directly with them... so I interrupted the conversation with my hosts to go and talk with the birds, and sure enough, as soon as I acknowledged them and listened to what they had to say about their owners, they quieted down and we could go on with our discussion. If you listen, wild birds also can be very clear about their messages, but often their messages are about the weather or the planet as opposed to about individuals... then again, that depends on the species and the situation. In our belief system, we are co-creating this world, and the birds play their roles in this process too - thus their purpose and meaning in our lives at any given time will be dependent on specifically what we are co-creating in that moment... Dreams are a mixture of subconscious unloading, the Soul travelling and experiencing learning experiences, and our Higher Self communicating with us. Depending on our openness to these facts, we get certain dreams that will teach us what we sometimes block with our ego while being so- called conscious. The relationship between each individual and the bird and animal kingdom also affects the extent that birds and animals will assist each one of us, either by entering our dreams or by talking to us while we are awake.
From my experience with birds and dreams, I would have to say that the matter is a bit more complex than most people realize. Let me attempt to simplify the data as much as possible so it can be useful to you and to your readers.
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Questions and Answers
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Not to freak out. I find for myself that a crow or Raven feather means protection.. I usually pick up the feather and place it In a flower pot outside or even inside.. Count to see how many feathers you see and then read up on the bird of the feather.. There will be messages for you there. Depending on how many feathers you count standing you will receive news in that many days of that much news.. So relax!!!!!!!! Also if birds are your Totem then perhaps you should pick up a book Animal-Speak by Ted Andrews.. It may help you. Barbi |
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I would say that it is a message that is going to be coming to you. What do you need to stop and take notice of? Are you spending too much time getting caught up in things and not noticing the good things of life? Depending on the bird you could probably attribute more to that, but it was a gift sent to you and It does feel like a Spirit from the other side. Love n' Laughter Kimmi I would certainly consider it a harbinger of good news and blessings. Victoria |
Some say that a bird flying into the home is a signal of a death - or change of life, but in your situation, I got the clear impression that this bird was a messenger... the singing was about the bird delivering its message to you, and once you had the message, it left... fascinating! Try to remember the sounds of the singing, and ask the angels and devas to help you understand the message... and keep your eyes and ears open, pay attention to what goes on around you, my sense is that you have some news coming. That said, I must tell you that last summer as we were leaving our friend's cottage, my son found a hummingbird in the living room - 6 weeks later, our friend was mourning the death of her son, killed in a hit and run accident on a week-end visit to the cottage... so do beware. Lotsa LLLove, Danielle |
More Bird Stories
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Well, I could relate many a story about birds, from ravens and eagles pointing me in the right direction, reminding me to BE, you name it. The most memorable is the one concerning my grandfather who came back as a seagull.
Before he died, he and I spend many hours alone together and he kept saying he wished he could fly like a seagull. Then, we would go into the most spiritual conversations. Keep in mind these were the only conversations I had ever had with my grandfather. During his lifetime, he kept to himself, was a very nice man but a complete stranger, who just happened to be a neighbour and, for about a year, even lived with us.One summer day, my family went to Jacket River, N.B., a few km from my home town Petit Rocher, and for a picnic. I ventured onto the beach and saw a seagull sitting there quietly on the sand. I was about 14 at the time. I felt drawn to the bird, feeling that it had something very familiar and that I had to get closer and closer. To my surprise, the seagull did not move. At first, I thought it was injured but it wasn't. I got closer, talked to it, and then had an unexplainable (at the time) feeling that he was my grandfather. I went over, picked him up, brought him to our picnic table quite far away, spent the whole afternoon with him, my parents watching with amazement, fed him, connected on a Soul level, and, when I was told it was time to leave, said my farewell to my grandfather, told him he had to fly off, and watched him take off, circle me 3 times, and then fly away. My parents and I never spoke of this again, they never questioned the incident, and I felt grateful that my grandfather not only got his wish but that he returned to teach me many things that summer afternoon. I was brought up Catholic so the concept of reincarnation, was not taught, mentioned, nor accepted but I knew it was a fact and that it would take years before I could share this story with someone who would understand. Gilles |
I was told by one of my teachers that snakes in our dreams. . .are trying to give us messages. . .wisdom messages. . . .and it seems like you've pretty much figured it out. . .I mean how much more explicit do you have to have it get??? They're telling you that they're going to be around for awhile so you might as well get used to it!! I think it's kinda funny actually. . . . Yup the energy IS getting more intense as we head towards the Galactic Center. . .and the gateway to the gods. . . .remember the Mayan people had this winged serpent guy. . . .perhaps one of our outer space brethren who is more reptilian-like than humanoid. . .who knows. . . . My favorite symbol is the worm oroborous. . .the one with his tail in his mouth. . . .life is a circle of death/rebirth. . . .and all things have continuity... So, Danielle. . .sounds like you've got a pretty powerful critter there. . . .enjoy. . . and perhaps arrange to hang out with one sometime. . . Love Geri
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