omens

For many centuries, our ancestors looked to nature to bring them important information on their health, love, prosperity, and more. Many of our ancestors relied heavily on the messages that birds brought to them, including Native Americans, the Celts, and many more cultures. Why not use the same methods as our ancestors and listen to what nature has to say to us?

In this article, we will learn how to look at birds as omens and signs and how to listen to the messages that they bring to us. We will examine the following birds and meanings:

Birds as Omens

Crows, ravens, and blackbirds bring news of good passage and protection.

Hawks represent clear-sightedness and vision.

Owls are birds of ill omen.

When a hummingbird hovers nearby it means you are capable of achieving the impossible.

A bird in the house means different things depending on the bird and its behavior.

When a bird flies in the window you may encounter an obstacle in your life soon.

If a bird follows you it wants to be your guardian.

Augury is using the flight patterns of birds to answer life questions.

Dead birds represent metaphysical death and change.

Blackbird Misconceptions

There is a misconception about black birds in much of Western society. Why is this? Is it simply because black birds are black and the color black seems to be associated with evil? Or is it due to many years of stereotyping the crow or blackbird to be a witch's familiar? Either way, the black bird omen seems to be one that sticks out in many people's minds when hearing the words "birds as omens".

I have to disagree and state that this black bird omen being an ill omen is an incorrect thought. Even the Native American medicine man Bobby Lake Thom who wrote "Spirits of the Earth" states that the black bird always has a message to bring, and it usually is not an ill omen. While the crow or black bird can play the trickster, they are usually benevolent and bring news of good passage and protection. The black bird's reputation as a bad omen is not based in experience or fact.

The video below is one that I took of a black bird (I believe it's a Raven, others tell me it's not) fighting off an attacking blue jay. I took this as a good sign and not a black bird omen. I had a great day and an even better week that week that I saw this huge black bird cross my path. I also immediately associated this black bird omen (albeit a good omen) with the god Bran and the goddess Maeve . . . two deities that had been trying to get my attention for quite some time.

As much as I love and adore birds in the wild, is there such thing as a bird of ill omen? I absolutely hate admitting this fact, but I have to. I have personally experienced the owl as a bird of ill omen and read about this in medicine men's writings. That was quite difficult for me to admit, as I am a big fan of owls. I find them to be beautiful and majestic creatures. However, every time my owl familiar has shown up at my home, within a week one of my neighbors dies. So in my personal experience, the owl (no matter how lovely) is a bird of ill omen because it brings news of impending death.

In Eastern Europe, if an owl lands on a person's roof, it is said to portend a death in the home. Some Native medicine men say that the owl can be work for evil forces to spy on you or perform other evil tasks.

Another bird of ill omen, according to some Native American tribes, is the buzzard. While I have no personal experience with buzzards, many find that they bring news of blockages during travel and other aggravating circumstances. Is the buzzard a bird of ill omen to you? Or have they been a bird of protection? Messages can vary from individual to individual.

What Does a Dead Bird Symbolize?

If you've seen a dead bird in the road, or perhaps accidentally hit a bird, it may feel like a bad sign. It may actually be a good sign, showing you that an end to turmoil or pain is coming. A dead bird doesn't necessarily portend physical death, but metaphorical death. Perhaps you're going through the heartache of a break-up. Perhaps you are struggling to find a job. This dead bird marks the end to your search and struggle. A new beginning is just around the corner.