Birds Fly Away

As I was driving, I swerved to avoid a bird on the road. At this point, I know I don't need to swerve as birds are excellent at flying off at the slightest hint of danger. This is one of the bird's strengths; they know the exact right time to fly away.

Birds are free; they are messengers, harbingers, powerful creatures. Most birds I encounter in the city are delicate, small, vulnerable. What are they telling us about ourselves? Is it that when we sense danger of any kind, we are instinctually free to fly away at anytime? If we don't like a situation, we can leave at will. Birds remind us of our freedom.

However, sometimes we can fly away out of an instinctual fear, even when there is no true threat. Why? Thousands of years of evolution has created impulses to protect ourselves, the vulnerable, soft part of ourselves. Perhaps someone is coming closer, not to harm us, but simply to be next to us? Maybe they are admiring our feathers or they have a message to deliver from the universe.

As we go deep into our internal worlds, the outside world reflects back what's inside of us. When I was in the thick of my own deep transformation, I murder of crows joined me on the roof where I sat looking at the D.C. skyline. Hundreds of them filled the space, lining every edge. I sat with them, in awe, as they convened and allowed me to be a part of their energy. I viscerally felt their collective power and intelligence, the symbolic gift that it was, and watched as they all took off in flight together. They all knew it was the right time. It was mesmerizing and deeply spiritual. It never happened again, even though I wish it would. But of course I've made it through that time, and now I spot goldfinches and cardinals. They are light, hopeful.

The universe is always speaking to us, if we listen.

Soul-Prompt: What are my instincts telling me about who or what to fly to? To fly from? How does the universe speak to me through birds?

P.S.: Apparently Lily Taylor wrote a book on birds. I would like to read it, but since it will most likely be years before I do, I recommend it to you instead 😄