The hummingbird is my totem, my guardian spirit. I have placed it here on my pages not only as my way of showing that which is precious to me, but also as a symbol of adaptability to life's situations and the importance of inner joy to all who travel through these pages.

I have been fascinated by and drawn to hummingbirds since 1993 when a friend gave me a special birthday present - a beautiful glass hummingbird. With it she included the following note:

"You must hang this by your computer as a reminder of the talented and beautiful woman that you are. If you have ever seen a hummingibrd hover in mid-air, it looks as though it is effortless for her. In truth, her tiny wings are beating faster than the eye can see - her heart, too? I wonder. We are like that, you and I. To the world we look at perfect ease. Only we know our wings are going a mile a minute to keep us afloat! Fly and write. I know you can."

Her gift and her note touched me deeply, as did her belief in me and my dream to be a writer. To this day, it makes me cry.

After receiving this, I found myself reading more about more about hummers and noticing them in my life. With each piece of information, I would discover another connection.
As you can tell from the graphic above hummingbirds are totem animals and there are many people who believe in hummingbird medicine. The Sunangel named in the totem is another species of hummingbird.

Sometimes an animal will mysteriously come into your life and begin to haunt your consciousness. You notice it everywhere. Or you dream of it, by day or night. The image of the animal becomes connected with who you are.

In "Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through The Ways of Animals" the authors state that:

When we assume hummingbird consciousness, our life becomes a wonderland of sensuous delights. We live for beauty, delighting in flowers, aromas, fine mist, delicate tastes.

Hummingbirds awaken us to the beauty of the present moment.

One little known characteristic of hummingbirds that appeals to me is their need for regeneration, known as a torpor. When they sleep their pulse drops from 210 to 50 beats per minute and they go into a deep sleep from which they arise rejuvinated. Many times in my life I have felt the desire to awaken a new.

Hummingbirds are incredibly powerful. They are the only bird whose flight power comes from the upstroke as well as the downstroke. They teach us not to judge power by appearance.

The spirit of the hummingbirds reminds me that I have the power in me each day to create beauty in my world and reach out into places where I have never been. I like to think that I have accepted both the flighty and serious sides of my nature, and as such I think I will always feel a loving connection to these birds.

With the guidance of a friend I recently began to use flower essences to balance my life and spirit. Knowing the connection that hummers have to flowers, it is no wonder that I responded well to this form of "medicine".

These are some wonderful quotes about hummingbirds (the sources for these can be found in the links below). I think you will understand why I allow myself to be guided by this glorious creature:

"... hummingbirds are fairies -- or messengers of the gods."

"Hummingbirds are fully alive and insanely happy. These dazzling little creatures have a radiance about them. They give the human heart something it deeply needs."

An Aztec legend tells the story of how the god of music and poetry took the form of a hummingbird and descended into the underworld to make love with a goddess, who then gave birth to the first flower.

Do you feel a connection to an animal spirit?
Let me know when you sign my guestbook!

Some Wonderful Hummingbird Sites
(the graphics are a link)





Hummingbirds!

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