There has been a red winged blackbird visiting my bird feeder and I have found myself singing the Beatles’ song, Blackbird. Since the weather change I have left the windows open and I have heard birds singing in the dead of night, which both the blackbird and robin do sing in the night. (I mention the song because this is one way an animal messenger can make itself known too.)
This morning there were several grackles on my lawn. The grackle is often called the common blackbird since it appears solid black from the distance. This is a return for the grackle since I haven’t seen one in years.
This friendly bird (grackle) used to visit while I was working in the garden, often moving closer and closer to me until I threw it a worm, which it snapped from the air. This was a bird who went after what it wanted. As I peeped out my window, a Mallard duck landed, a frequent visitor, to partake of the birdseed. The grackles didn’t leave or even move from their place proving they were more fearless and confident than many other birds who fled at the appearance of the duck.
So, what can the blackbird and grackle teach us?
All messages the animals bring us can be spiritual in nature, and this is especially true of the blackbird. Most of us would not acknowledge to being on a spiritual path, but we are. There is no requirement to be a monk or a minister to grow spiritually. The blackbird’s dark color represents the infinity of space and its vastness. If it wings your way it can serve as a reminder to be your most authentic self. It can serve as an affirmation that you are indeed on the right spiritual path.
The blackbird is considered a cosmic messenger bringing us information from the cosmos. I find this doubly significant since I started listening to Carl Sagan’s book, Cosmos. (Often, you can find parallels to confirm the information an animal messenger brings. You need to look for both the animal messenger and confirmation.)
Astral travel, feminine energy, and mystery are attached to the blackbird. The mystery relates to the unknown and the spiritual. Feminine energy due to the bird being associated with the night. Both the moon and the night were considered feminine while the sun and day were masculine aspects. Blackbird people, those with blackbird spirit animal, are intelligent, serious, and often quick acting. They rarely do anything out of impulse, but followed a deeper instinctual knowing. Those born under a blackbird totem are also devoted to family and friends. They do not hold onto anger, realizing the person, is much more important than the issue under discussion.
Blackbirds are nocturnal, which may make spotting one difficult. I’ve usually seen mine in the early hours of the morning. Seeing one outside of these hours is significant. Their preference for the dark could also be a reaction to predators. The blackbird does not conceal its nest well and often fledging birds are victims of predators. The male blackbird is very defensive of its territory for obvious reasons.
Poets, writers, and musicians have been inspired by the mysterious blackbird. Not everyone regarded the bird with a benign interest, though. In earlier times, people feared seeing the bird believing it was an omen of death or a tool of the devil as many black animals were regarded.
The blackbird is part of the thrush family and eats insects, berries, and seeds. Because it feeds close to the ground, it picks up parasites, which often lead to its early demise. Blackbirds only live a little over two years on the average. The blackbird reminds us to beware of the psychic vampires who will drain our energies.
Take time to listen for the blackbird’s song…often in the middle of the night.
Blackbird Connections
Mystery
Feminine energy
Family loyalty
Seriousness
Intuition
Intelligence
Cosmic messenger
Astral travel
Nocturnal
Overlooks trivial slights
Fearless
Confident
Magic
Dreams
Awareness
Defense
Balance
Courage
Wisdom
Transformation
Spiritual
Authentic self
This morning there were several grackles on my lawn. The grackle is often called the common blackbird since it appears solid black from the distance. This is a return for the grackle since I haven’t seen one in years.
This friendly bird (grackle) used to visit while I was working in the garden, often moving closer and closer to me until I threw it a worm, which it snapped from the air. This was a bird who went after what it wanted. As I peeped out my window, a Mallard duck landed, a frequent visitor, to partake of the birdseed. The grackles didn’t leave or even move from their place proving they were more fearless and confident than many other birds who fled at the appearance of the duck.
So, what can the blackbird and grackle teach us?
All messages the animals bring us can be spiritual in nature, and this is especially true of the blackbird. Most of us would not acknowledge to being on a spiritual path, but we are. There is no requirement to be a monk or a minister to grow spiritually. The blackbird’s dark color represents the infinity of space and its vastness. If it wings your way it can serve as a reminder to be your most authentic self. It can serve as an affirmation that you are indeed on the right spiritual path.
The blackbird is considered a cosmic messenger bringing us information from the cosmos. I find this doubly significant since I started listening to Carl Sagan’s book, Cosmos. (Often, you can find parallels to confirm the information an animal messenger brings. You need to look for both the animal messenger and confirmation.)
Astral travel, feminine energy, and mystery are attached to the blackbird. The mystery relates to the unknown and the spiritual. Feminine energy due to the bird being associated with the night. Both the moon and the night were considered feminine while the sun and day were masculine aspects. Blackbird people, those with blackbird spirit animal, are intelligent, serious, and often quick acting. They rarely do anything out of impulse, but followed a deeper instinctual knowing. Those born under a blackbird totem are also devoted to family and friends. They do not hold onto anger, realizing the person, is much more important than the issue under discussion.
Blackbirds are nocturnal, which may make spotting one difficult. I’ve usually seen mine in the early hours of the morning. Seeing one outside of these hours is significant. Their preference for the dark could also be a reaction to predators. The blackbird does not conceal its nest well and often fledging birds are victims of predators. The male blackbird is very defensive of its territory for obvious reasons.
Poets, writers, and musicians have been inspired by the mysterious blackbird. Not everyone regarded the bird with a benign interest, though. In earlier times, people feared seeing the bird believing it was an omen of death or a tool of the devil as many black animals were regarded.
The blackbird is part of the thrush family and eats insects, berries, and seeds. Because it feeds close to the ground, it picks up parasites, which often lead to its early demise. Blackbirds only live a little over two years on the average. The blackbird reminds us to beware of the psychic vampires who will drain our energies.
Take time to listen for the blackbird’s song…often in the middle of the night.
Blackbird Connections
Mystery
Feminine energy
Family loyalty
Seriousness
Intuition
Intelligence
Cosmic messenger
Astral travel
Nocturnal
Overlooks trivial slights
Fearless
Confident
Magic
Dreams
Awareness
Defense
Balance
Courage
Wisdom
Transformation
Spiritual
Authentic self