Learning self-reliance from Herons

Today I lead an Animal Experience to the Heron Rookery.  This is an opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat while holding an intention or a curiosity of learning about life from them.  

While researching  Herons as a totem I listened to my body to feel what resonated with me and then  formulated it into an intention - a curiosity to learn from the Herons.  Here is what resonated:

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 Heron symbolism is asking you to follow your path and not those of your peers.
In other words, heron meaning is asking you to find unconventional ways
​to be self-reliant and productive.

xThe Heron Rookery overlooks the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.  Boat traffic is going in and out all day long from the Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Union and Lake Washington.  There are 25 heron nests high up in alder trees swaying with the wind in various stages of construction  .  Holding my intention of wanting to learn self-reliance I observed a pair of herons who were adding new twigs to their nest.  The gatherer heron would stand on the edge of the nest open his wings and glide forty feet down and over to the same tree to gather twigs.  For his return he launched himself into a graceful half circle to alight on the branch of the nest and tight walk over to his mate.  Usually there would be an elaborate welcome of necks extending and beaks raised to the sky before the twig was exchanged and tucked into the nest.  They would be with eachother looking at the nest and then off he would go again.   


The gathering Heron taught me about how self-reliance can be effortless and easy. It does not need to be hard and exhausting. The receiving Heron taught me about celebrating and acknowledging the effort. As well as accepting the resource and putting it to use. The pair taught me about being, pausing and being. Then letting the moment inform the next action needed. And then effortlessly letting the energy flow into the next self-reliant action.

What a delightful way to start the morning and allowing the teaching to ripple through me day. Thank you Herons! The web of life is always engaging with us for we are all interconnected.


The web of life is always  engaging with us.

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