Birds – General

[JanCarolSeidr]

There is an Art to Divination with the birds. It is called Ornithomancy

First, put the bird’s flight or path on the Medicine Wheel. Are they flying East to West? Thought to Emotion? Or perhaps they are flying South to North – Passion to Manifestation.

Here are some examples, from: Ornithomancy – Divination from the Flight and Cries of Birds

1) The Actions of Birds Have Different Meanings
If a bird flies horizontally, you will reach your goal, but the going will probably get tough.

When a bird flies from right to left, it’s a sign that you will achieve your goals with ease.

If the bird flies from left to right, be prepared for some delays or obstacles—you may need to rethink things. You may need to seek advice.

A bird flying straight toward you means things are quickly improving, and happy days are ahead.

A bird flying high and fast—or better yet, flying straight up—means excellent and speedy success!

A bird flying quickly away from you warns you to proceed with caution and delay plans for a short time to get your bearings.

If you see a bird land and take off several times, or flying erratically, you need to go back to the drawing board because there are unseen problems to be resolved before you proceed.

If the bird in question takes off and then changes direction mid-flight, you’ll need to be flexible, because of a change of heart may lie ahead.

A bird that flies against the wind—those that seem to hover—this usually means that someone you’re dealing with is not what they appear to be; someone who you think is your friend may not have your best interest in mind. Beware.

2) Bird Colors
Sometimes flight patterns are not enough to give you the knowledge you need. What color is the bird?
Red: a sign of good luck
Orange: excitement and bliss
Yellow: keep your guard up; a warning
Green: an adventure is ahead
Blue: love and joy
White: happiness and joy; a very good omen
Gray: peace and contentment
Black and white: you will avoid trouble
Brown: good health; healing; assistance
Brown and white: happy hearth and home
Black: a warning of danger or a show of the unseen

3) What Specific Species Mean
Blackbird: a fortunate omen
Bluebird: happiness, spiritual awakening
Cardinal: life-changing events, take care of your health
Crane: use all the wisdom at your disposal
Crow: usually a bad omen; cawing means you may have enemies working against you, so its time to bump up your shields, but if it cries three times it is favorable; a crow in flight foretells of upcoming travels.
Dove: highly fortunate, indicating peace, love and happiness; a goddess bird, promise for the future
Duck: a sign of a stable relationship; a quacking duck is lucky
Eagle: usually indicates misfortune, but can represent power, strength, and the matters of empires and leaders; Using your skills wisely will bring about success
Gull: you may soon travel
Hawk: soaring above your head means you will be victorious
Hummingbird: faithfulness, joy, prosperity
Jays: being tough when it is called for, success through perseverance
Magpie: good or ill fortune depending on the number seen, as in the rhyme “One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy”
Owl: hooting three times foretells a big change in status or an impending death; otherwise, its appearance can mean magic and wisdom
Raven: if met before going up against an obstacle, you will be victorious
Robin (North American): if you see one in the morning, you may have guests later in the day; if one nests near your home, it’s very good luck
Sparrow: means domestic tranquility; a nest near your window may mean strife in your love life
Woodpecker: your work will be a success
Wren: The luckiest of birds, seeing a wren means good fortune will definitely come your way; current situations are improving

[JanCarolSeidr]

From Scott Alexander King’s Animal Dreaming:

Black cockatoo — The void

Bowerbird — Dowry

Brolga — Dance

Butcherbird — Arrogance

Crow — Law

Cuckoo — Freeloading

Dove — Peace

Eagle — Spirit

Fig-bird — Conception

Frogmouth — Secret keeper

Galah — Joy

Hawk — Messages

Ibis — Sacredness

Jabiru — Vigilance

Kookaburra — Healing the self

Lyrebird — Genetic memory

Magpie — Balance

Owl — Deception

Raven — Magic

Wagtail — Motion

[JanCarolSeidr]

Drongo – Spangled Drongo (in Australia)

Spangled Drongo is a migratory bird – but unlike most, he comes to Queensland for winter, and goes to New Guinea for summer. It’s called a “backwards migration” and gives the drongo his reputation as a head-shaking fool. 

BUT – he is not stupid – he catches his food on the fly, insects in the air mid-flight! 

In our lingo, a “drongo” is a fool, but in shamanic terms, that is sometimes the best teacher of all. In North America, we call it “coyote teaching” or backwards teaching, where the best way to learn is with the fool, the clown, the idiot. The king keeps a fool on hand, often the only one who will tell him the truth. 

Backwards learning is sometimes “the hard way” as the fool often shows you what not to do. Sometimes you need to “play the fool” in order to learn the same thing. It could’ve been learned another way – but not for you. The backwards way is a deeper way of teaching, once you have learned the lesson, it sticks, or, at least, you recognize it better next time around!

[JanCarolSeidr]

Many birds together:

I was reminded of the way all the birds come together at Lake Eyre, when the waters flow. When the emotions are moving, and overflowing with fertility, then, all the birds, of all the nations of birds, come to this place. This place was in you.

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