For the past four years I have been the recipient of
feathers of different sizes and colours , each one unique, but with a familiar
feel. Each one touches me in some precious way and calls out to my heart “I am
here for you.”
The first was given to me on the soft breeze of a summer
evening. The sun was setting and two ravens cavorted above me overhead. My mother had been buried that day next to my
father and as I looked up thinking of how they were now reunited a small black
feather dropped down, down, down and I ran to it and caught it before it
reached the ground.
The second was on the first anniversary of my father’s
passing and as I watered some house plants, a tiny yellow feather captured my
attention.
The third was white and mysterious on the grass outside my
house. It was for my eyes, only, placed in such a way for my discovery on the
second anniversary of Dad’s passing. I didn’t know of any birds in my neck of
the wood with white feathers, other than Bald Eagles, but this size was unlike
those of the great, majestic bird. I ran inside with my find and did a Google
search typing in the words “white feather” and within an instant the first
image that appeared on screen was that of a white feather, just like the one I
held in my hand, with the words “Angel Feather” .
Recently, after attending “The Gathering” a beautiful
production about a First Nations youth’s search for meaning, I got into my car
and pulled my seatbelt across when something pricked me in the side. I looked down
and a mini version of an eagle feather was stuck in my dress.
And two weeks later, on the night of Oct 31st,
while assisting my granddaughter with her hummingbird Halloween costume, I
again felt a poke and looked down to see an orange feather stuck in my sweater.
I was wearing an orange shirt and I smiled because it seemed the angels had
chosen a perfect match for my attire.
Many indigenous tribes, the Aboriginal, The Egyptians, the
Celts, and our own American First Peoples believe that feathers are symbols of
The Creator. They are highly revered and sacred gifts from the sky. Some
believe that they bring stories of the next life. A connection between us and the Divine. In the
Middle East, Peacock feathers have great significance. Some cultures believe
that the hollow shaft of a feather carries your prayer up to heaven and God
answers and sends your answer back via the same means.
There are many quotes from the Baha’i writings which reference
the soul, the spirit, and the heavenly realm and they provide such solace. Reading the words of Baha’u’llah and Abdul- Baha
about heaven , or the “next world” and the use of metaphors containing images of
birds , such as ….”enable this bird trained by Thy hand to soar in the eternal
rose garden” and “He hath flown to the
Kingdom of Immortality”, and “The hearts of such as are devoted to Thee have
winged their flight towards Thee” are a source of great assurance and joy.
Whatever the true purpose is of these soft signs coming my
way, even if whimsy, are pure delight and
I look forward to seeing further confirmations in feather form and adding them
to my growing collection.
