"God's Wings"

Nature we Love! Yet, it often creates havoc with our planet's environment...earthquakes, tsunamis, severe flooding and forest fires...each being, extremely devastating!

I share with you an article in the National Geographic several years ago providing a penetrating picture of God's Wings:


“After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

'He will cover you with His feathers.
And under His wings you will find refuge. Psalm 91:4'

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and be different because of it.”
(Author unknown for all the foregoing)

Take Care, Everyone! “Don't drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!”

FEATHERS

I have long had a fascination for feathers. At a home in North Burlington,
I had an Oriental ceramic umbrella holder (would also hold canes)
in shades of wedgewood blue, old rose and oyster white.
In it I placed long-stemmed artificial flowers in these co-ordinated colours
combined with greenery and three gorgeous peacock feathers.
Loved them! Instilled in me, they depicted magical beauty!

Today, I have three feathers that I discovered...in a parking lot, a playground and below a spreading maple tree. I was impelled to claim them...to admire the symmetry of their shape, their fine texture and their colour! The largest one is black, the other two shaded in silver gray and charcoal. These are displayed in a small container on a shelf where they are daily seen in the living room.

Visiting a boutique shop in the Six Nations' Indian Reservation, I bought two “dream catchers” beautifully adorned with beading and feathers...truly intrigueing, hanging at door entries in my home.

Recently, a dear friend gave me a decorative comb for my hair...numerous feathers (off white, stripes of charcoal and shades of brown) clasped together with a silver-encircled ivory looking cameo. Gorgeous! She hadn't known about my feather-fascination.


In a previous blog article, I referred to Mourning Doves...and my great opportunity last summer to observe a pair nesting on my balcony. To be present when the eggs hatched, and watch the growth of these fledgelings, was wonderful. To note their rate of development...especially their wings was amazing...from tiny hairs to mini-feathers, then beginning to exercise them to gain strength for flight!

Avia Venfica, in 2007, wrote about the “Symbol Meaning of Feathers”.
Feathers were worn by Native American Chiefs to symbolize their communication with Spirit, and to express their 'celestial wisdom'. Also in the American Indian culture, feathers represented the power of thunder gods, along with the power of air and wind.

Native American Pueblo Indians would pay homage to the Feathered Sun which is a symbol of the cosmos and 'centre of existence'. Another symbol meaning of feathers also revolves around prayer, and the Pueblo use feather sticks as they dance in prayer for rain during solstice rituals.

As a Celtic symbol meaning, the feather was worn by Druids in the form of ornate feathered robes. Celtic Druids donned these robes in ceremonies to invoke the 'sky gods' and gain knowledge of the celestial realm. It was believed that the feathered cloak along with the presence of the sky gods would allow the Druid to transcend the earthly plane and enter the ethereal realm.

The Egyptians believed that feathers were symbolic of sky gods too.

In Christianity feathers represented 'virtues'. In fact, an image of three feathers were made into signet rings – each feather symbolizing Charity, Hope and Faith.

In dreams, feathers mean travel or the ability to move more freely in life. White feathers in dreams indicate 'innocence' or a fresh start in a spiritual sense.

It is commonly believed in most cultures that feathers are symbols of higher thought and spiritual progression. The line of thinking here is that birds were considered divine creatures in primitive/ancient cultures because they were creatures of the sky (heaven) and therefore close to God.

When you find a feather upon your path, it could be taken to mean that you are on a higher spiritual path (whether you accept it or not) and it may be a sign of encouragement as you philosophically travel on this path.

Peacocks are a deeply symbolic bird, and as such their feathers have become steeped in meaning. The precise meaning often depends on the 'culture and context' the feather appears in. Peacocks are often regarded as vain and foolish birds...yet, their feathers represent pride...even nobility and glory.

At craft shoppes and bazaars, I've seen artists paint on standard hand saws. The rural scenes they create of fields, marshes, geese and ducks, of red barns and hayfields, of streams and skies are magnificent. Because of the uniqueness of these paintings, the buyers buy.

The finale of this article is to refer you to the “Top 10 Amazing Paintings on Feathers” by Julie Thompson...on the Internet. You will be enthralled by these fabulous illustrations of her talented ability! Truly Exquisite!


Merle Baird-Kerr
May 17, 2011